#like caraval? a complete waste of time

[permanentreverie]

anyways here’s a list of books i’m debating:

stardust by neil gaiman - the movie is fun but i’ve heard the book is not that great. i don’t even love the movie as much anymore and skimming the book it does not seem worthwhile

if i never met you by mhairi mcfarlene - the most basic of plots. literally have read the exact plot 100 times pls fake dating is SO overdone

the bookish life of nina hill by abbi waxman - was suggested by a mutual years ago, wasn’t quite interested then and not interested now

when night breaks by janella angeles - i read the first book years ago and tbh it was kinda mid. i have no interest of rereading the first book in order to read this one (i know abby @likeclarabow has read the first one. bestie support me on this)

the atlas six by olivie blake - this one i think i may keep to give it a try. i’ve heard very mixed reviews and i have wavering feelings on olivie blake as an author

the prison healer by lynette noni - tbh i was hesitant to add this to my tbr for the longest time. i’ve heard it’s boring and it’s one of those booktok books that are no longer circulating so i no longer feel pressured to read

where the crawdads sing by delia owens - another booktok book i didn’t get around to reading when it was popular. i’ll be completely honest i don’t think i would like this book i already got rid of my copy

the court of miracles by kester grant - reviews seem meh and i’m not quite interested in the story

firekeeper’s daughter by angeline boulley - this actually is highly reviewed and seems good but i have very little interest??

kate in waiting by becky albertalli - idek where i heard of this one

the lost apothecary by sarah penner - another t*ktok book i was hesitant to add to my tbr

josh and hazel’s guide to not dating/the soulmate equation/something wilder/the true love experiment by christina lauren - i’ve read two christina lauren books and they’ve both let me down and i have major issues with the last 1/3 of the book. i have a feeling their writing will be the same in the rest of their books

eliza and her monsters by francesca zappia - recommended to me by a mutual. eh.

no one is alone by rachel vincent - all the reviews i’ve seen are not above 3 stars

the wicked deep by shea ernshaw - *shrug emoji*

every summer after by carley fortune - tbh i’ve heard her books are not that great and i’d rather not waste my time

lunar love by lauren kung jessen - does not. look worthwhile. like i wouldn’t remember a thing after reading it

when you wish upon a lantern by gloria cho - see above.

i’m a fan by sheena patel - meh.

duet me not/house of koi by lillian li - i downloaded these and read the first couple pages of house of koi. seems totally not my thing.

you, with a view by jessica joyce - meh. the plot does remind me of letters to juliet though

one dark window by rachel gillig - i’ve actually seen a decent amount of love around this book. but. it’s romantacy.

the snow child by eowyn ivey - i got this from the library then never read it. had to return when i ran out of renewals. now i got it second hand. but i dont have much inspiration to ever read it?

the continuing battle of me wanting to purge my tbr severely vs the eye twitching reminder that i’d be the only mutual who had never read those books

[maisha133]

I totally agree that while I really enjoyed the rest of the series, ACFTL was a little underwhelming. It almost seemed, to me, like she had a bit of writers block and instead of taking the time she needed to write the story she wanted to tell, she rushed to finish SOMETHING because she had to.

Also I feel like all of Apollo’s scenes were to, like, ASSURE us that he really is the bad guy? And idk. I feel like it wasn’t really needed, or could have been told without making him a narrator.

I also really liked your analysis that Jacks’ and Eva’s relationship never really GREW. It was very static, as shown by the “snark-save-swoon-snark” thing you mentioned.

Some more pining would definitely have been nice.

My biggest plot hole though was in the Caraval series (stop reading if you haven’t read that one yet or this is a spoiler) says that immortals become mortal if they fall in love? And that’s just not brought up this whole time for jacks. So what the heck.

I agree with everything you said!

I am so grateful for Stephanie for writing this story and completing the book as soon as she could considering that some authors taking years to write one. As you have mentioned, everything felt so rushed and did give off a feel that she didn't really know what to do with plot, like she had a vision and she tried to execute the best she could and it just didn't hit. However, I think the problem with that is that Stephanie tried to "subvert the expectations of the audience" ie Evangeline not being the reincarnation of the first fox to make the storyline engaging, but it just came off as confusing. I only mention Evangeline being the reincarnation of the first fox because of the very obvious hints throughout OUABH and TBONA-there is a great post explaining this theory very well + a good portion of the audience already suspected that as well? I just felt that she didn't need to make things complicated, she could have just kept the plot simple.

I agree about Apollo. We really didn’t need to read chapters on what a villain he was. He was just a waste of of writing imo. I don’t know if Stephanie was trying to make us understand him from his pov, but him erasing Evangeline’s memories was so irredeemable, that I couldn’t sympathize with him at all.

On Jacks. Yes! I get his playful and teasing nature, but other times his "cold" moments came off as annoying. The condescending and patronizing dialogue he would have with Evangeline at times pissed me off considering all that she went through.

So I haven't read Caraval, but I am aware of this plot point! I also think it was not mentioned as to why Evangeline and Jacks are telepathic with each other and does it continue after the curse is broken????

At the end of the day, I am grateful that we got a story with a Evajacks ending. Really hope sometime in the future Stephanie writes a follow up with Evajacks. Evajacks wedding plssssss. Still love Evangeline and Jacks tho, just wished there relationship could have developed better.

[kaimaciel]

Top Worst Books I’ve read in 2018

It’s that wonderful time of the year again, where I scream and rant at books that disappointed or pissed me off all the while trying to avoid hate comments.

This is my personal list of books that I did not enjoy. If one of your favorite books is in here, don’t take it as an insult towards you. I’m not saying these books are bad, I just did not like them. 

Alright? So, let’s start.

The Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

There was a lot I didn’t like in these series. First of all, the writing style. I understand what the author was trying to with the crossed words that represented Juliette’s true thoughts, but it really got on my nerves. 

Then there was the plot. This is supposed to be a dystopian future, but that’s really a backdrop for the romance and, a love triangle. While I agree that Adam was not suitable for Juliette, I really couldn’t get into Warner. In the first book, he was straight up a sadistic psychopath, then the rest of the books he does a complete 180º, it felt like a completely different character was created so that he could be a good love interest for Juliette.

And if the romance is the most important thing in the plot, it’s a bad sign I was mostly interested in the secret connection between the Adam and Warner and how much I wanted to see that developed. At the end of the third book, I sort of wanted to follow another character but Juliette.

And what the hell was that ending? It was one of the most anti-climatic endings I have ever seen.

I know the series will continue with another 3 books, but I doubt I will continue it. I’m not interested enough.

The Fandom by Anna Day

Okay, what the hell were the people in charge of the Portuguese cover thinking?

It’s so ugly! At first, I thought I was looking at a Jo Nesbo book. Oh well... I could forgive the cover if the story made up for it, but it did not.

This book had so much potential. A group of cosplayers is transported into their favorite dystopian series and realize how reading about it is a lot better than living through it. 

The main character Violet was so annoying and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Everyone except for Katie, Nate and Ash were scum or really annoying. I couldn’t connect with any of them. And the way they went after Alice for her looks and her fanfictions (she dared to write stories in the bad guys POV!!!) it really pissed me off. I understand in the context of the story but my God! I write fanfiction. If someone said stuff like that to me I would kick them in the gonads. 

And that ending. What the hell?! 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I like plot twists. One plot twist is fine. Two is awesome. Three... it might be too much. Four, five... just what the hell am I reading?

There were so many twists and lies in this book I honestly can’t give you a synopsis because I can’t remember what happened and who was supposed to be who.

This book felt like being drunk and high during a festival. A lot of pretty colors, but nothing substantial. 

The Savior’s Champion by Jenna Moreci   

Oh, Jenna... why?

I've watched Jenna's videos for a while and I was pretty excited to finally read one of her books. First the positives, the writing style was very good and the plot very intriguing. I could not wait to read the next chapter and find out who lived and who died. Unfortunately, I must admit that in the end I was disappointed with the story. For someone who makes such good list of tropes and character pet peeves, there were a lot of characters who felt tropey, with their trope being the only characteristic they had. I did not really like the relationship between Tobias and Leila, most because they became each other's whole world. I also felt disappointed on how Flynn's character was handled, the selfish, coward rich boy has been done to death and I wished that trope could have been avoided for something different. Regarding the twist, I saw it a mile away and kept reading hoping it wouldn't come true, that I would be surprised, but no.

It was not bad, but it could have been a lot better.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James

Pride and Prejudice with a murder mystery written by the great P. D. James. This book had everything to be a blast and it felt so flat on every front.

The characters we know and love from Pride and Prejudice are boring caricatures of themselves, the mystery was dull and resolution equally boring.

This was a bad fanfiction from start to finish. What a waste!

The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

A bit of context. Mary Higgins Clark was my favorite mystery author when I was a teenager. I collected all the books I could find and read them on the same day. They were compelling and easy to read. 

As I grew up and started reading other books by different authors, I found myself looking for more complex themes and characters. 

Clark’s books are good and simple, just like her characters, but they were too simple for my adult tastes now. The good guys are practically saints, the bad guys are evil. They became too flat for me to truly enjoy like I used to.

The mystery part is fine, but I can’t for the life of me remember the plot or the ending a few months after reading the book. A forgettable book is sometimes worse than a bad book. It left no impression on me.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

DNF (Did Not Finish) around page 200

Long story short, this book wasn’t for me. 

The premise looked very interesting. People are tested and only the very best get sent to a prestigious magic school, it looks like Harry Potter in college and, sure enough, it is a lot more mature.

But the plot was all over the place. The main character, Quentin, was such a boring and annoying protagonist that staying inside his head was giving me a migraine. His lack of interest on anything unless it’s magic related or the Fillory books seriously pissed me off. 

The plot felt rushed and very weird at several parts of the book. I lost interest. I don’t care about the characters, the magic or the weird sex stuff happening in animal form. 

I’m out!

And finally, it pains me to announce my number 1 worst book of 2018. I can handle bad books or forgettable books, but this was my most anticipated book for 2018, from a series that I love with all my heart. It let me down so much... 

The Testament of Loki by Joanne Harris

Now, let me say this isn't a bad book, it was well written and ties the events between Gospel, Runemarks and even Runelight quite well. I'm glad this book promoted a bit of friendship between Loki and Thor. My disappointment with this story was mostly due to my dislike of the whole body sharing, switching and stealing, which I personally hate. 

Also, Loki's love for Meg felt rushed and confusing, as if it was only there to give Jumps a girlfriend and a damsel in distress for them to save. Meg was nice and BAM, both Loki and Jumps were in love with her. What? Are we talking about the same Loki from Runemarks? I know human emotions were influencing him and all, but that was one of the worst cases of insta love I have ever seen. 

And the fact that Jumps’s eating disorder and other mental health problems get resolved because Loki makes her eat pizza and gives her a makeover. That is not how mental disorders work, not by a long shot. 

The human characters were flat, merely vessels for the gods to inhabit. Evan is his disability, Stella is a shallow beauty, Meg is nice and likes girls, and Jumps, the human girl sharing her body with Loki, was little more fleshed out but, honestly, aside from her problems with her body image and her sexuality, I can’t remember anything about her. I really wish this sequel didn’t happen inside a YA contemporary novel.  

This isn't a bad story, but it fails to capture the magic and wonder I felt while reading Runemarks. 

[roscoegrinder0-blog]

Primitive Blueprint 101.

A lot of evil minute: Betrays Ned Stark at the end of Time One, making use of the Urban area Watch to capture him as well as deliver him to the brand new King Joffrey, who beheads him for treason. An upgrade program where you could purchase reduced versions of Virtual Console activities bought on previous systems is actually said to become in the jobs. Welcome, thanks for visiting Caraval-- Stephanie Garber's sweeping tale from 2 siblings who escape their fierce dad when they get in the hazardous intrigue from an epic video game. I work with video games given that I enjoy activities, and also I'm fairly damn efficient at making all of them. Gearoid replicates both the Professional Device and Video game Equipment in the exact same app, and acknowledges ROMs off either console. The original Myst's 'slideshow' type from movement has actually been actually transformed in to a free-roaming journey, renewing an activity that's still a traditional, along with sensibly sturdy touchscreen navigating. While we have actually referred to the future video game as Red Lifeless Atonement 2, the label is presently unfamiliar - therefore start your hunches. And appearance, discharging re-mastered games on a new body works on Sony and Microsoft's devices as a result of the high variety of headlines discharged on either console. An arithmetic board game provides a wonderful technique to include math, board design as well as activity rules. Gradac Playground, on the outskirts of the famous centre, is the setup for the comically scandalous Joffrey Baratheon's wedding banquet as well as subsequent comeuppance, while the atrium of the deserted Hotel Gazebo is actually where Oberyn Martell experiences a gruesome finishing in time 4. The hit collection off Bethesda Softworks is actually lastly getting the parlor game therapy. Ok, I am actually performed Game of Thrones.Water Landscape, stupid.Gratuitous statutory offense scene horrible and was actually a rocky trip that simply finished. I have created smoothie mixes for many years, however simply lately encountered your weblog as well as began including green spinach to my combinations. I am actually consistently at your blogging site trying to find recipes that can help him get used to his brand new lifestyle, but keep it full as well as healthy from nutrients for my increasing child. I happened your blog site today to catch up and look into and also I uncovered you are expecting! The concept seemed to be demystified in Period 6 after our experts eventually got to view the High rise from Delight scene, and there was actually a single infant presented: Jon Snow But, just like Jon Snow, the idea might be going back from the dead. But in spite of this being one of the enduring greats, there's an actual secret that's impossible to ignore: It is actually a five-year-old game. Activity of Thrones supporters food craving their personal Ghost, Nymeria or even Gray Wind may fortunate. I do not believe there is any person on the market who hasn't check out any one of the Video game On publications however and those of you who have been enthusiasts of this particular series are going to ONE HUNDRED% fall for this set!! A ton of preferred Vapor activities as well as console titles owe their attraction to sites like Miniclip as well as Newgrounds, lots to plenty of free-to-play titles from little centers with limited posting budgets. Should you loved this information along with you would like to receive more info relating to mouse click the following web site kindly stop by our page. As a video game manufacturer for Zombie Studios, John E. Williamson works with all the different parts of taking a whole brand-new globe into life. About Weblog - Kinda of like dinner, you certainly never know what you'll obtain, but there's generally something really good! However this was actually the E3 2000 trailer - duplicated on this page in the most ideal premium offered online - that showed the globe that PlayStation 2 was actually an effective item from equipment, while the March 2001 launch of the usable demonstration validated that Kojima and also his staff can deliver. I envy the capability from my friends to swerve in their review space as well as tell me an account which somehow was motivated through one thing in guide they simply read through, or even its own blurb, or - god forbid today, in the property from GR blackout of just about anything that carries out not look like a book report - author behavior, the brand-new distressing censorship-causing expression around, in addition to the now-used 'OFF SUBJECT MATTER' justification. Nomura incorporated that though the wait for the activity would certainly be actually a bit longer" he is actually organizing to show the advancement progression at a contest somewhere" which advises one more E3 presentation. The next primary turning point will be the completion from a usable demonstration - a demo that would be actually launched alongside one more KCEJ game in development, Region of the Enders. To start with, I have to claim how thrilled I am actually that I found your splendid blog site. One of the most distinctive shooting places are Downhill Fiber, a seven-mile seashore ignored by Mussenden Holy place, which is actually gone to through Stannis Baratheon and his often disrobed buddy Melisandre (for the night is actually total as well as dark of terrors"), the oft-photographed Darker Hedges, an amazing selection from beech trees that edge a road near Stranocum, Area Antrim, as well as the little seaside community of Ballintoy, which becomes Pyke, principal city from The Iron Islands, in Game of Thrones. Chris Smalling and also Phil Jones could come back for the final Premier Game suit from the time and are assumed to become available for the Europa Game last, if United progress to that stage, yet Juan Mata possesses fat chance of playing again this term. I produced these oat meal areas today and helped make a handful of substitutions - I try to steer clear of all (or very most) sugars, as I have gotten out all types of glucose for 7 years and my taste buds has actually transformed. Reviewing this book was just one of the largest wastes of my attend the past twenty years.

[usuallypleasantprince]

Read November 9(3) online free by Colleen Hoover

November 9(3) Author: Colleen Hoover I exit the bathroom and head back toward the booth, disappointed to still see the back of my father’s head. I was hoping he would have had some kind of emergency and been required to leave while I was in the restroom.It’s sad that I’d rather be greeted by an empty booth than by my own father. The thought almost makes me frown, but I’m suddenly sidetracked by the guy seated in the booth I’m about to walk past.I don’t usually notice people, considering they do everything in their power to avoid eye contact with me. However, this guy’s eyes are intense, curious and staring straight at me.My first thought when I see him is, “If only this were two years ago.”I think that a lot when I come across guys I could possibly be attracted to. And this guy is definitely cute. Not in a typical Hollywood way, much like most of the guys who inhabit this city. Those guys all look the same, as if there’s a perfect mold for a successful actor and they’re all trying to fit it.This guy is the complete opposite. His five o’clock shadow isn’t a symmetrical, purposeful work of art. Instead, his stubble is splotchy and uneven, like he spent the night working late and actually didn’t have time to shave. His hair isn’t styled with gel to give him the messy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. This guy’s hair actually is messy. Strands of chocolate hair sweep... Continuous reading: Read November 9(3) online free by Colleen Hoover #Romance #Billionaire Romance #New-Adult #Young-Adult #Hot Book Series #fantasy #Vampires #Others Books #Science Fiction #Thriller #Horror #Classics #New Releases #Mystery/Suspense #Hot Authors #November 9(3) #85 pages: #Previous #Unfinished Hero series #Colorado Mountain series #Chaos series #The Sinclairs series #The Young Elites series #Billionaires and Bridesmaids series #Just One Day series #Sinners on Tour series #A Thousand Letters #Wasted Words #My Not So Perfect Life #Caraval (Caraval #1) #The Sun Is Also a Star #Everything, Everything #Devil in Spring (The Ravenels #3) #Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels #2)

[its-btrz-blog]

Caraval (by Stephanie Garber) Book Review

Caraval is the first novel of author Stephanie Garber, published in 2017 by Flatiron Books.

What made me want to read it:

It's a new book on a genre I like and it received a lot of promotion. I've been seeing it everywhere and it seems like everyone has been reading it and enjoying it.

What is it about (no spoilers):

Scarllet Dragna lives with her sister Donatella under the tyrannical roof of their father, who has arranged a marriage with a mysterious count for her, with whom she corresponds.

She has dreamed, ever since she was a girl, of visiting the magical Caraval, a performance that happens once a year. This year, Scarlett receives an invitation, and along with her sister and a mysterious sailor, goes to Caraval. Once she gets there, her sister has been taken by the master and finding her is the way to win this year's game. At the same time, her wedding day approaches and so she has to find her sister and return home as soon as she can.

What I thought about it (no spoilers):

If you read the book's summary, you think you're going to be swept away to a magical world where you can get lost in. That's hardly true. I'm going to start with the world besides Caraval.

The protagonist lives on a colonized island and her father is the governor. The world seems basically some version of 1800's Britain, in terms of technology, fashion (more or less, basically the girls just wear pretty dresses anytime), morality (I guess? Since propriety and virginity seem so important). For some reason the colonized island and the island where Caraval takes place are Spanish-inspired. We get some vague mentions of continents and other colonized territories but it's barely there. There's a religion that is basically some modified Catholicism: angels, God, saints, heaven, novices, priests and a version of  a confession. You can see there wasn't much effort put into this. I guess what really mattered was the magical Caraval so the rest of world was just some slight modification of a vaguely inspired historical setting.

As for Caraval itself, it seems a weird mix of Oz and Wonderland, with colorful and odd-shaped architecture and a touch of Venice, with travel by boat in the channels. It is exhaustively described with so many metaphors and pretty words and adjectives that it gets overwhelming. However, you don't really get a grip of what Caraval is. There are magical shops, selling magical objects for unconventional paying (secrets, fears) and it's said that many people go there just for that. But the magic itself is left unexplained. Supposedly magic doesn't exist and it's simply a myth of Caraval, but you get there and that's actually not true. But we never get a hint or an explanation of how this magic works, or how it is acquired, who possesses it or not. In this way, it feels lacking because it's just used as it is convenient.

Moving on to our protagonist, Scarlett. To put it simply, she is stupid, selfish, shallow, and a hypocrite. That's not how she describes herself, or how other characters see her, but it's what you get from reading the text. Let's start with stupid. She jumps into the cold sea fully clothed and with shoes. She is told specifically not to do that, but she is oh so modest that she does it all the same (one of her more irritating traits is her obsession with being a proper young woman – points for being shallow). Guess preserving your modesty is more important than preserving your life, oh, and others' lives too, since she ends up having to be saved by someone, putting their life also at risk (selfish, no?). Then, at some points in the game, she is given clues to find her sister. One of these mentions a very specific trait that one of the 3 people she's met has. Instead of figuring it out, like someone with a normal intellect, she spends a chapter or three after the wrong person. I find it very hard to relate to dumbed down protagonists and seeing them chase after clues that we know are obviously wrong is not entertaining. She is so obsessed with an informed trait of the master of Caraval (people say he wears top-hats) that she thinks that, of course, he is in a top-hat shaped store and everyone else didn't figure it out because she is so much smarter than them (oh, it's so obvious they ignore it). What's worse is that she think she's smart:

“She knew when she was being deceived”.

Since she is deceived by everyone and their brother, over and over again, I think it's safe to see this as a blatant lie. She accepts sleeping in a stranger's room because he's handsome, too. Life-saving skills here. Then, we are constantly, and I mean constantly, being told how much she loves her sister and how it's the only thing she can think about. Except… it's not? There is more than once instance in which she has a choice to take an action that will help her find her sister. You know what? She wastes the effort for a guy she barely knows, the first time, because he's handsome and maybe he's her true love! She can feel something special in him. The second time:

“She felt as if it shouldn’t even have been a choice. But it was a choice, which made her feel like less of a sister. Or maybe (...) mattered even more than she realized.”

At one point she says her biggest desire is to find her sister and a truth-telling device doesn't accept it. So, honestly, trying to make her this altruistic character who loves her sister so much was a very poor choice, being obviously contradicted by the actions but enforced by the narration.

We are also told she never really cared much about how she looks, but we get a detailed description of everything she wears (and others, for good measure). When meeting someone she doesn't like, her immediate reaction is:

“She imagined her to be sullen and unattractive.”

As for her hypocrisy, there are two glaring instances of it. The first is when she tells a guy that they should both turn around so they can't see the other changing clothes. After securing her modesty and her proper lady status, she then proceeds to turn around to admire his back with its hard muscles or something. He didn't ask for privacy, but she insisted on it and then does this. The second one is more hilarious, since, she is absolutely in love (and thinking of a possibility of marriage) with a person she has known for 5 days, more or less. When her sister tells her she is engaged to a man she has known for the same amount of time:

“Tella, this is wrong (...)You can’t be in love with someone you just met.”

OK, I'm going to stop talking about her. The other characters are: her sister, who cares as much for her as she is cared for, since she makes plans for both their sakes and thinks keeping her in the dark is a good idea; their abusive father, whom at last she recognizes for what he is and stops blaming herself for the abuse; her mysterious suitor, whom she never met but who sends her loving letters; the dark, handsome, mysterious stranger who is love interest number 1; the dark, handsome, mysterious stranger number two, who is the decoy and serves to complete a pseudo love triangle, or at least to create jealousy; the more mysterious Legend, whose face is unknown and who is the mastermind behind Caraval and Donatella's abduction. There are some more characters who are mostly part of the background.

About plot and narration. The plot is more concerned about Scarlett's love life than about her sister, although it tries to disguise it by repeating five times a chapter how much Scarlett loves Tella. It also keeps telling us (and everyone else) about her fiancée and how she can only stay 2 days because of her marriage. It's supposed to be some sort of obstacle for the romance but it only occupies space. Authors need to understand that their readers can retain a piece of information, even it is only mentioned once.

Also, this protagonist has a very interesting trait in that she sees her own emotions as colors. However, colors are used to such an extent, along with some nonsensical metaphors, in descriptions that sometimes I didn't even know what I was reading anymore. I get it that it's trying to be different and deep and beautiful and magical, but there are limits and this crosses over to the ridicule.

“She felt five different shades of berry-colored foolish.”

“ (…) yet she felt… disappointed. It came in cool shades of forget-me-not blue, which wrapped around her like evening fog”

It's a bit silly, but could be excused if not used to exhaustion with some very elaborate and idiotic prose. Her sister's smell is “Sharp molasses and wild dreams”. Other things are “smelling of flowers and flutes and long-lost love.” And then:

“Death was the color purple. Purple wallpaper and purple temperatures.”

“Cerulean blue. Apricot orange. Saffron yellow. Primrose pink.”

We also fall on the ridicule and end up with redundancies like this one. Cerulean is a shade of blue already, isn't it? It's not evocative of a specific shade from an object, like the other elements, so it destroys the effect. This is trying too much.

To finish, the handsome men have “a look made of lies and sinful things”, “smile turned seductive, all shameless curves and immoral promises”, and are  “made of polished boots and neatly tied-back hair.”  and “all kinds of tragic and lovely”, with eyes “two hungry pools of liquid amber fringed by dark lashes” and “Light brown, the color of caramel and liquid amber lust.”

Enough of these, then. I'm only going to add (without spoiling) that the story itself ended with little impact and that the recourse to some events for shock effect and angst and dramatic declarations followed by making them inconsequential the next chapter is a cheap recourse that I personally hate seeing used.

Conclusion:

As a fantasy it is a lame attempt and as a romance or as a compelling story it is equally mediocre. If you like easy reads and simplistic stories that make you not think and are a fan of elaborate senseless prose that is good for pretty quotes, and some splash of instant romance (I wouldn't call it that) with handsome strangers, maybe this is for you. It wasn't for me though, and I rated it one star.

[My review of this book is also here.]