SparksofEmber > Recent Status Updates

This "training and torture" montage is really dragging down the usually rapid-fire pace.

"Everyone and their mom" is supposed to be an expression, not a literal description of who runs to peer over the parapet walls when the manor is under siege. *Eye roll* I'm finding myself very annoyed at the "bratty kid getting into constant trouble but everyone coddles her" trope, as well as the "super sensitive mother who's completely useless." I enjoyed the opening chapter in Kingsley's pov.

Tristan just got sent to "the trench" and everyone is just sitting around saying, "he'll be fine...I hope..." and Evie isn't attacking everything in sight demanding to go after him. Could she behave a little more out of character? *Eye roll*

Also, pretty sure this book would be 2/3 shorter without all the neverending exposition.

This is the longest, most drawn-out, least-exciting, rescue I've ever read.

My audiobook rental expires in two days. Don't think I will renew. I listened to another bit today and realized I am not enthusiastic at all about it. I don't like Marcello, and don't feel their insta-attraction and Gabi is just annoying all the time.

The convenient coincidences are starting to get a little annoying. Gabby apparently hated history and learning and school and yet she speaks and reads both ancient Italian and Latin, rides horses both bareback and sidesaddle, can wield a heavy sword (albeit clumsily), rappel down castle walls, and cure asthma.

I'm not feeling the chemistry between Gabby and Marcello - at all. At this point, I like the sick Fortino better. But I'm not even half way through the book and have no idea where the plot is going so we'll see.

Gabby is driving me insane - she keeps doing crazy things that go against the culture and the time and then it always bites her but she doesn't seem to learn. And then she swooned - she literally swooned. My eyes rolled right out of my head. lol

So far...
Not a fan of the loud music between chapters. Or the heavy accents the narrator is giving all the Italians.

I was really confused in the beginning as I thought she'd landed 300BC and there were knights and everything felt to middle-ages. But eventually the book cleared up that she was in the 1300s.

Hot damn, this book is good!

So far, I'm massively bored with this book. There has been way too much rambling about her dogs, her soggy salad, weird daydreams in the shower, lengthy descriptions of her friends restaurant - and not enough actual movement of the plot. I'm going to give it about another hour or so and if it doesn't pick up ...

June story - not romantic or very relatable - it's all about a reality bachelorette planning to marry her TV groom while still pining over an ex. Though I suppose anyone trying to mend a broken heart with a replacement might be able to relate.

May story - in some ways this may be the most realistic story so far. A parent with some major hang-ups that could use some biblical counseling, a love interest with a realistic temper, a main character struggling with prioritizing family and her potential spouse. Was Publix a sponsor? They could have been. lol Having gone to school near there, I enjoyed all the Atlanta references.

April story - my favorite so far due to the unique twist of PTSD and a head injury. I really liked Marshal. I was confused about Stella though - they kept saying she had an amazing faith and was so godly but all I saw was constant doubts and really, some selfishness. (Also what kind of rich people are these having 15 different kinds of themed bridal showers?!)

March story - I picked up this anthology for this story since I read the main story this is related to. There was A LOT of talking and very little doing. And the conflict felt a bit repetitive from the book.

Feb story - I liked the unique direction this story went. I thought the resolution happened a bit suddenly/easily though.

Jan story - was cute - You've Got Mail vibes due to the letter writing and I loved the misunderstanding between the two as they wrote each other but hadn't met. A bit anticlimactic once they did meet though. Also, it's always a bit odd to read when the MC is a famous author and bits of their own work are included in the story...