Sandra > Recent Status Updates

Written by someone whose first language is not English? A fair amount of words misused or ordered incorrectly which changes their meaning. It’s happening enough to be distracting. Maybe every 10-15 pages

“His perfect posture, which betrayed no visage of weakness…” visage does not make sense.

“”Agree,” Gabe agreed.”

Not the first example of lazy writing.

Sigh. This is a contemporary story plopped into a historic setting. Contemporary language & mindsets. #girlbosses who obliterate a man for offering to row a boat during a garden party because women can do anything a man can

It feels like a character Rolodex for about three series that end with this book - and I haven’t read any of those books, so I’m just getting slapped in the face with 30 fan-service cameos.

Still enjoying overall, we’re at ages 18 & 27. She’s very much “not like other girls” - doesn’t brush her hair or care about clothes and has zero friends (aside from a kitchen maid we’ve seen 3x). she gets gifted a gown & goes nude under it, even tho women wear undergarments. Starting to notice odd language like “wearing…upholstered scarves,” “his trust was like an offering to gods long extinct”

She’s now 17, so he’s 26. Still yikes. But I so badly want to ignore that because the writing is better than average (half a soul HA). Just rolled my eyes at “his voice was like a sword hidden within its scabbard”… what does that even mean? Is his voice muffled? Deadly but not deadly? I have no idea

I really like it and the fleshed out world and characters…but I’m trying so hard to not be annoyed that our characters are beginning this book with her being 14 and him 23. Yes she turns 15 early on and by 25% she is 16…but come. On. We see her go through puberty and he’s a full blown adult already.

Stupid details are bothering me - how did she wiggle out of her BALL GOWN to rinse it in a fountain and then put it back on hmm? The auntie planning her marriage to a man she spoke to once? When she was out unchaperoned (and knows better)

Reads as very juvenile, lacking knowledge of society, conversations are very unnatural. Not loving MFC walking through life like she’s medicated, kind of gives her zero personality. Elias isn’t giving enemies-to-lovers, he’s just a brash jerk. Thinking of DNF

I’m skim reading now. It’s well written and delved and fleshed out so I feel guilty. But lord almighty. It’s the angst of 16 year olds! “I want you so much and I’m so witty and intelligent for my age and I’m so wet” “I’m so hard for you and I love your mind but I shouldn’t because I’m too damaged/old”

With a handful of side characters experiencing emotions and attractions.

There is a. Lot. Of. Angst. And. Yearning. And it’s so damn boring. She’s 22, but oh so mature for her age. He’s 35 And just too jaded for her. But it’s simultaneously boring as hell and not? I think it’s so well written and the characters are so well fleshed out yet it’s just so…lame and angsty

this book feels very long. Already bored of the sex scenes. MMC is supposed to be flirty teasy but is more just annoying and teasing. She’s a lady of her time and opening up to life but she’s just. So. Boring. Everything about this plot is right up my alley; enemies to lovers, enemy actually in love the whole time, forced marriage, she’s a lady in waiting he’s an ambassador. But they’re just boring

needed more proofreading. Multiple scenes that don’t logistically make sense - someone standing up twice (within 3 paragraphs) from their seat, someone doing/holding things that would require 3 arms, a woman w long 1827 skirts goes from standing to being walked across the room w her legs around his hips (no mention of skirts being lifted for this to work) Then her skirts get lifted once she’s sitting on a desk

Also sick of being TOLD over and over that he’s the ruthless king of the dials! But never ONCE being shown a smidge of that ruthlessness. All were shown is his self doubting, and zero self confidence

Sigh. I feel like the whole book just repeats itself over and over and over and over and we’ve only made like 18hr of real-time progress in the characters lives. The scary threat from pg 1 is still there & unchanged, her secret feelings from pg 1 same thing, on and on. Going to skim the end I’m so bored

Not good. Was very excited about this on the first few pages only to find that this is ALL a tell-don’t-show book. Have no idea why Regina has been in love with him for a decade, honestly, no idea. We’re just told she is. Stephen is a massive nuisance that should be kicked to the curb. I didn’t read any previous books but feel like they have been sledge hammered into me. I get it. They’re FAMILY. Barf.

I’m yo yoing on this one! It’s got corny language (“badass” used way too many times) and uses our calendar system which is always so lazy to me in a fantasy world. But the action or intense scenes are written wonderfully and really suck you in! Was also not prepared for the detailed sex scenes, I just assumed this was another YA where everything is behind closed doors.

Not the light fluffy read I was assuming, has about two books worth of events happening but at a measured pace? Better than anticipated

So many strengths and so many weaknesses. Random contemporary phrases “lived in my head rent free,” “whatever.” Really enjoy Ash and his realm, Sera is the weak link. She swings from strong killer to dumb whiny 14 year old. Hot sex scenes

Over halfway through and the “plot” is meandering. Started strong a with a “what do you do when you’ve been rejected for the only task you’ve been raised to do?” And a (boring) side story of “these gods are up to know good, I wonder who/what/why they’re doing that.” And a dash of “my magic hands bring back the dead.” And now just wandering a palace

So much promise but also such a let down.

Pretty sure Hardy thinks women are idiots and he hates them...

so good, have not had a single WTF moment reading this

So good

Anddddd this just turned into some insta-love bc of reincarnation shit. No thank you. Cheap and lazy way out of developing a relationship.

I have to take a boredom break from this series

holy moly if I have to read the phrase "Lady of the Acoma" once more...

It feels like it's on every other page. Can we just call her Lady by now?

Other than that, it's a bit slow moving but hopefully that's because we're laying some groundwork