Sasha > Recent Status Updates

I’ll be honest, the pacing of this book is off and it doesn’t really feel like there are stakes. The mystery isn’t too compelling that we need to wait this long for a reveal. Probably would have DNF’d it if it were another author, to be honest.

Okay… this style of writing is honestly off putting at first, but now I’m into the story so it’s tolerable! Let’s go down the purple prose rabbit hole some more and see if it pays off.

This is way more interesting than the first book. Less pining and insta-lust, more plot and lore. I have no idea how the author is going to thread this needle, though.

Maybe I'm feeling extra "eat the rich" cynical of late, but the sisters/family being disgustingly rich even *before* the inheritance and insufferably perfect and successful across the lot just rubs me the wrong way. I am not sure I'll be able to get into this book, but I'll give it a fair shake.

Sorry, the inner monologues are such a lazy and weird plot device.

I'm sorry but Margaret is absolutely f**king insufferable. If I have to hear one more time about how embarrassing and awful it is that she is this elderly crone @ 36, previously married, blah blah I will throw this book off a cliff. WHYYYY are we pushing the narrative that 36 is dried up?? Yes, the age difference is icky imo. But honestly Margaret's emotional age is in her early 20s anyway so it works out. Ugh.

Ah. Yup. The “twist” that’s been referenced in other reviews. I am not sure how to feel about it.

Okay the worldbuilding is actually insanely good. A great balance of showing and telling that doesn’t spoonfeed through clunky expository dialogue! And a Black female badass lead?! I’m sorry where has this book series been?? Danielle Jensen I did not respect your game. You have my interest.

I guess I am just not getting the hype. This is soooo slow and kind of boring so far.

I mean this is fun and OTT, but would have appreciated a bigger distinction between the male MC and the other dude in her other series who is basically the same thing. Violent type and uber rich, etc.

Okay I have no idea why this is rated so low when it is a banger so far. Maybe the writer fumbles the ending?? Idk.

Really resenting how the author seems to be completely erasing a certain Merlin's connection with the main character?! Was the entire last book a waste then? This feels like a filler book so far. Lots of telling and not a lot of showing. Ugh. Not happy

I feel like the only person who feels this way but this book is just so boring in comparison to the first two…!

Okay Xaden having “gold flecks” in his otherwise black eyes is kind of corny ngl

Is it just me, or is this… boring so far? 😬

Finally back to reading this in earnest. Yes, I realize the irony.

Ugh. I can’t believe how much I was looking forward to this. I feel like I have to power through because I spent money on it, but the writing is godawful. I don’t think I’ve been this disappointed with a much-hyped book in a really long time. I’m not sure what Red Tower Books’ standards are for publication, but this is the third or fourth one that’s fallen short for me.

I forgot how much I love this series and the worldbuilding. It’s like coming home.

The writing has honestly been such a letdown. The story is interesting, but the way it is written is just... bad. Not the worst I've read, but it's wild, considering that I've read another book by this author and it was pretty good. Some people just have a talent for romantasy, and some don't, I suppose.

Starting to get better, but still super slow moving. Hoping that the book gets to the point soon.

Okay… the caliber of writing for this is astoundingly bad. Like… I know it gets better because I’ve read a later book in the series and other books of Maas’ but… Christ I can’t believe I have to slog through this to get to the rest of it. I wonder at what stage in the series the writing improves…

I feel like there are more red-haired white female MCs in fantasy books than in the entire world combined 🙄

How can you be almost halfway through a book and absolutely nothing has happened yet?!

The jarring switch between Bela's POV and then her parents speaking in monologue fashion (in a way that people don't really speak in real life) is kind of annoying. I honestly just skim those.