Lela

Unlikable characters

Revisado: 06-26-23

I’m confused by all the positive reviews. Despite my best efforts I was unable to finish this book, primarily because both characters were completely unlikable. Additionally, the entire premise of the forced marriage is really unbelievable (especially as someone who grew-up in the conservative south.

Light spoilers follow:

FL’s (Dallas) defining characteristic is that she really likes food, and loves to read (mostly smut). I love to eat and read as much as the next person, but I was 3/4 through the book and nothing else has emerged about her other than she wants to have a baby. She wastes all her time spending insane amounts of money, ruining furniture, partying until midnight, watching reality TV, and sleeping until 3pm. I finally gave up when she implied getting a college degree was a waste because she is already incredibly intelligent and that degrees are just to impress people. Dallas TRY to improve yourself. Nothing about her is endearing. I spent most of the book waiting for her to surprise both the readers and ML with her hidden depths (as implied at the beginning) but they actually aren’t there. Using your wits to arrange liaisons with your ex to get your husband’s attention and trick him into getting you pregnant is not impressive.

As for the ML, he is just a nasty human who appears to actually despise the FL (concur ML) but cannot help himself when it comes to her because she is just so hot?

Lastly, as for the romance, neither character appears to grow on the other character in any meaningful way, as tends to happen in the standard enemies to lovers plot. They just continue to hate each other, but still come to care for each other?

The whole book is vapid, and painful, and terribly unbelievable. Save yourself the credit and time.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

So good!

Revisado: 05-16-23

This book is excellent and the series needs finished!

I think some people were turned off by the world building in book one. It wasn’t slow by any means, but it was a little confusing as things were not explicitly explained until later in the novel. That being said everything came together beautifully and this series is SO MUCH BETTER than the glittering court. The third books needs its day in the sun! What a fantastic cliff hanger.

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Whoa

Revisado: 09-09-22

There is a lot to unpack in this layered and deep novel. First, let me state, there is a disturbing amount of ugliness and trauma in the book, but it is not glamorized or dramatized. The author takes on a difficult subject by objectivity staring it in the face. None of it was gratuitous. This is a difficult topic that is examined by many many angles. While I do agree that there should be some sort of trigger warning in the description,
I do not agree that survivors of sexual trauma would want to steer clear of The Last Housewife.

This book examines the perceived and real power and control mechanisms between men and women. From the physical, mental, emotional, and probably most disturbing, deep social norms and expectations.

While attempting to uncover what happened to two of her college friends, our often very unlikable, but somehow also relatable, heroine slowly reveals her past via interviews with a childhood friend who runs a very successful podcast. Readers are left wondering not only what happened to the girls, but often sitting on the edge of their seat trying to decide who and what kind of person our protagonist is.

Windstead’s storytelling mechanism provides an almost kaleidoscope of shifting views from chapter to chapter allowing readers to constantly challenge their own views about men, women, sexuality, and their roles and expected behaviors.

I won’t reveal any more, other than to say I highly highly recommend this book. It will leave you reeling and with many thoughts, from disgust and disbelief at the character’s ability to fall prey to a cult, to a concerning realization that maybe it isn’t that unbelievable.

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esto le resultó útil a 53 personas

Masterful! I loved this book!

Revisado: 11-22-16

I am a huge fan of Marissa Meyer and this book is her best yet.

I am so impressed with how much thought, texture, depth, and forethought went into this novel. There are so many rich plot lines that come together to make this a masterful work that really paints how a whimsical and sweet girl can be twisted by tragedy into a heartless monster. Please do not let the tragedy part keep you from this book, the novel is fun and light while also covering deep topics. I was so enamored of the characters and fully impressed in the plot that I could not stop listening. I feel hung over from finishing this book and sad that it will be awhile before something new comes out from Ms Meyer. Highly HIGHLY recommend.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Story is good, but the narration made it painful

Revisado: 11-22-16

I have a hard time writing this since I generally try not to be too hard on narrators, I know they put an enormous amount of time and effort in bringing these books alive for us, but this performance can only be described as mildly painful. The story itself is original and engaging (or I wouldn't have finished it). The love story develops rather quickly and misses some of the texture or depth I would have expected, however, it doesn't detract from the overall book. The world Linda has created is exciting and interesting. I could have dealt with out all the "my sweet"s though, it got old extremely quickly.

Unfortunately, the flaws in the writing were made worse by the narration. To be honest I am not sure if the flaws would have been apparent if I had read it on paperback. I gave her two stars since it wasn't atrocious, it was just unimaginative and flat. She maintains a cheerful pleasant voice the entire time, no matter what is happening or who is doing it. While the antagonist about to beat and rape the protagonist he sounds like Siri on your iPhone politely giving you directions. It sounds like this THE WHOLE TIME. The two love interests having a quarrel? Sweet polite voice. Someone getting killed? Sweet polite voice. I wanted to scream.

I liked the book enough that I am excited to read the sequel, but unless it is published (if it is produced as an audio book) with a different narrator I will not be listening to it.

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Don't take the bad reviews to heart

Revisado: 11-17-15

I almost didn't download this book due to all the negative reviews, even though it has excellent reviews as a paper or ebook. I am pretty picky about my narrators and thought Mae did a great job. Her accents were not annoying, forced or fake. It is a very light British accent and I have no idea where the other customers were coming from.

This is a fun light read. It sets up an interesting world to explore with characters that are interesting and engaging. No it is not great literature, but it is a great fiction book! I highly recommend and am so happy I downloaded City of Bones!

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Anemic at best

Revisado: 08-10-15

I have loved J.R. Ward's other books, but this one just fell flat and was an endless slog to get through. The mystery, and interesting part of the story, was never fully resolved, and the romance was boring. The book is journey into stereotypes of the rich and famous, making almost all the characters weak and worthless. Even the male love interest spent two years on his friend's couch doing nothing but drinking and playing poker. And somehow that is supposed to make him alluring? Additionally, he somehow managed to keep a friendship with a hard working, driven man who works on Wall Street and maintain a perfect body this whole time? There are so many things wrong with this story I can't even list them all. It could have been redeemed if it had wrapped up the scandal at the end, but to leave the reader hanging is just low.

SPOILER BELOW:
And of course in the end the hard working woman who has spent her life saving and sweating to buy her own place GIVES the rich spoiled playboy her farm? Wth?! He has a trust fund, he has a Porsche... We have spent the entire book being immersed in his incredible rich life and now we are too believe that this guy who has never worked for anything deserves her farm? This is supposed to be romantic? It's strange. I'm sure he won't take it, but regardless the gesture is weird and the fact that he has rejected her offer yet when the book ends is awful.

I do not recommend this book.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Misleading cover - excellent story!

Revisado: 03-13-15

It took a lot to convince me to read this book, but I loved Kim Harrison's other books so much I finally decided to give it a try. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Harrison doesn't disappoint, delivering another saucy no-nonsense female lead who is fun and relatable. The cover and title hints at a bodice ripper romance, but the story itself is about magic, loyalty and finding oneself. The romance is subtle to non-existent, the story being a new adventure through an intriguing world. I highly recommend this novel to any Harrison fan! It is a great listen!

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esto le resultó útil a 24 personas

Fun Romance

Revisado: 11-22-11

How to Flirt with a naked warewolf is funny, modern and entertaining. An excellent light read! I highly recommend this book.

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