Cottage Hoe
- 11
- opiniones
- 1
- voto útil
- 13
- calificaciones
-
The North Wind
- De: Alexandria Warwick
- Narrado por: Carlotta Brentan, Travis Tonn
- Duración: 16 h y 41 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Wren of Edgewood is no stranger to suffering. With her parents gone, it’s Wren’s responsibility to ensure she and her sister survive the harsh and endless winter, but if the legends are to be believed, their home may not be safe for much longer. For three hundred years, the land surrounding Edgewood has been encased in ice as the Shade, a magical barrier that protects the townsfolk from the Deadlands beyond, weakens. Only one thing can stop the Shade’s fall: the blood of a mortal woman bound in wedlock to the North Wind.
-
-
absolutely love it!
- De JennyJac en 10-01-24
- The North Wind
- De: Alexandria Warwick
- Narrado por: Carlotta Brentan, Travis Tonn
a nice solid 4 star listen
Revisado: 02-06-25
I really enjoyed this. I think it would be perfect for people who like the IDEA of Acotar but didn't like the execution nor the writing.
the premise and overall story isn't anything crazy or new, but the writing was beautiful and I really liked the chemistry between the different characters.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
Forged by Blood
- A Novel (The Tainted Blood Duology, Book 1)
- De: Ehigbor Okosun
- Narrado por: Nneka Okoye
- Duración: 14 h y 13 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
In the midst of a tyrannical regime and political invasion, Dèmi just wants to survive: to avoid the suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland of Ife; to escape the King’s brutal genocide of her people—the darker skinned, magic wielding Oluso; and to live peacefully with her secretive mother while learning to control the terrifying blood magic that is her birthright.
-
-
Had a lot of potential but some weird chouces actively detracted from my enjoyment of the story
- De Cottage Hoe en 12-20-24
- Forged by Blood
- A Novel (The Tainted Blood Duology, Book 1)
- De: Ehigbor Okosun
- Narrado por: Nneka Okoye
Had a lot of potential but some weird chouces actively detracted from my enjoyment of the story
Revisado: 12-20-24
Honestly I have mixed feelings on this book.
The writing itself is very beautiful and poetic. Initially I was super hooked, the world building was probably some of the most fascinating and inspired I've seen in a while. The narrator did a really good job imo
But then at times the book makes some really weird and cringy choices. we get a lot of annoying tropes that really end up detracting from the gravity of some of the subject matter in the book. A terrible love triangle, fated mates, "let's kiss as a distraction", knife to the throat etc etc. Like going through a laundey list of whats been popular in booktok books.
Will I buy the second book? Probably. But I definitely think this had so much potential that ended up going unused and squandered.
I have a lot more thoughts and issues, though I don't think I can say anything about that without spoilers, so be warned.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
‼️Spoilers ‼️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
So, the romance. This was by FAR the books weakest point and at times actively retracted from how good the story could have been.
First of all the attempt at a love triangle felt so pointless and contrived, because it was SO obvious from the very start who'd she end up with. which was very obviously Jonas who she is gushing over from the very first chapter. This was extra frustrating because Dèmi had genuinely fantastic chemistry with Colin, while she and Jonas pretty much just have insta love/attraction, that just doesn't feel earned. It was always about how he made her feel hot and bothered essentially.
Especially when you think about how before she kidnaps him, she legit only knew him for less than a SINGLE DAY.
Instead of a love triangle between Colin, Jonas and Dèmi, it would have been so much more impactful for the story (imo) if Dèmi and Jonas had developed a strong friendship/kinship, while Colin could have stayed a love interest.
This also would have solved the issue of this being a COLONIZER romance. I don't care if Jonas is Oluso or not, he is still a COLONIZER PRINCE. Which is kind of made worse by the fact that when the nobles don't want to accept that she won the crown later in the book she just kind of relinquishes it to Jonas 🙃
Dèmi I also have mixed feelings on, because at times she was such a wishy washy person about her convictions and opinions. One moment she's like "ew I don't like the gods deciding who my mate will be, I don't want a mate" but then the moment Jonas becomes her mate, she just unquestioningly accepts and welcomes it.
She also is really just leading both of the MLs on without really even attempting to make up her mind. It feels like Colin is just waiting in the wings until she can make up her mind about whether or not she actually hates Jonas, which she obviously doesn't.
Or how she literally witnesses a man about to have innocent people and CHILDREN slaughter each other to the death, like animals for the chance of 3 of them being able to live, stripped of their magic, FOR THE SAKE OF ENTERTAINMENT of nobles, just for when she has the chance to kill him (like she said she would) she goes all "oh no killing is wrong". Don't get me wrong, this CAN and HAS worked in media that I've liked. It worked in Avatar the last airbender for example. HOWEVER. this doesn't work after the reader witnesses a woman being dipped into molten iron in a sort of witch trial and then SET ON FIRE in front of her own child and family. It doesn't work when we've gotten very detailed information about how Oluso Women and children are raped and sold because of this man. How people are tortured and massacred for fun.
And when someone offers to kill the person for her SHE STOPS HIM because she wants him imprisoned instead, saying that his greatest punishment would be to see her people thrive. Girl. No. Nope. Nopedy Nope.
I feel like the only reason this is done is to set up conflict for the next book, which would have still worked even if she HAD killed him.
It just made Dèmi feel silly, naive and childish for her to not actually accept that there is literally way this conflict could be resolved without any bloodshed. Because Lord Ekwensi is kind of right and so is Colin. Liberty DOES come at a price.
like why are we protecting the perpetrator of the suffering of her people with more grace and mercy he was ever willing to extend to them? Like again, right before the showdown between him and Demi, he literally told the 300 innocent people he rounded up to massacre each other for entertainment, that he'd advise them to kill the children first out of "mercy". Yeah. no.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
The Hanging City
- De: Charlie N. Holmberg
- Narrado por: Amy Bentley
- Duración: 13 h y 19 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Seven years on the run from her abusive father, and with no hope of sanctuary among the dwindling pockets of human civilization, Lark is out of options. Her only leverage is a cursed power: she can thrust fear onto others, leaving all threats fleeing in terror. It’s a means of survival as she searches for a place to call home. If the campfire myths of her childhood are true, Lark’s sole chance for refuge could lie in Cagmar, the city of trolls—a brutal species and the sworn enemies of humanity.
-
-
Not what I expected
- De Gigien en 08-30-23
- The Hanging City
- De: Charlie N. Holmberg
- Narrado por: Amy Bentley
Disappointing
Revisado: 10-23-24
Yeah, this was certainly a story?
Honestly I had such high hopes for this book because I've adored the 2 other Charlie N Holmberg books I've read. The premise was so interesting and unique, the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
Initially I was very drawn in the story, but once I was past the halfway mark I was just waiting for something to happen. This book is simultaneously too long and not long enough. So much drags on an on, but then certain interesting things are mentioned in throwaway lines that I wanted more info on.
The world building had so much potential, but I feel like so much was more a backdrop for the romance. I wanted to know more about the different cultures, the deities, the world overall.
Speaking of the romance, I was so very not invested in the romance. Neither Lark nor really any of the characters were particularly interesting, multifaceted or likable. Larks only defining feature was her being scared. Also being PAINFULLY naive and way too quick to trust for someone who has been on the run for nearly 10 years.
Some of her apprehension about her ability literally didn't make ANY sense. Why on earth would the trollus, a people who value strength over literally anything else, hate her for having an ability that can literally bring monsters and the most terrifying of foes to their knees??
At 70% I was literally thinking about DNFing the book because I was just bored. The story wasn't really going anywhere.
While the Trollus and their culture were interesting at first, they are just kind of the literal worst? Whoop whoop, they aren't sexist, but otherwise they are genuinely awful and Lark is way too accepting of their caste system. Humans are actual indentured servants, who have no right to currency, no right to arm themselves, no right to DEFEND themselves if attacked etc.
Lark being so cool and accepting of the trollus
I was hoping that maybe Lark could have been a bridge between Trollus and Humans, but in the end nothing changes and everything still sucks, except Lark and MMC are leaving.
Like Lark just saved ALL OF THEM and that's not gonna change the trollus perspective a little?? Not even an Epilogue to tie up some loose ends at least a LITTLE. There could have been so much unpacking of stereotypes between the two groups, showing the consequences of the romance and maybe show glimpses of the relationship between humans and troll us bettering but no, let's just completely skip that by having them skip town.
By the end of the book everything still sucks and nothing changed, besides yay rain.
A shame.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
- A Novel
- De: Sue Lynn Tan
- Narrado por: Natalie Naudus
- Duración: 15 h y 1 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
-
-
Yawn. Unable to Complete this Snoozer.
- De Patrick Egry en 01-17-22
- Daughter of the Moon Goddess
- A Novel
- De: Sue Lynn Tan
- Narrado por: Natalie Naudus
sp much potential, such a dissapointing ending
Revisado: 07-11-24
I was so invested. but towards the last third I realized just how little nuance this story had. Somehow by the end I was supposed to not root for the villains, despite the fact we see again and again throughout the story how genuinely terrible the celestrial emperor and empress are. they are vindictive, egotistical tyrants, unfit to rule. we are supposed to be glad that in the end everything works out for Xingyin, but Im just left hollow, because the immortal worlds worst ruler is still in charge, still terrible and still an unopposed tyrant.
It sucks because the worldbuilding and writing were so beautiful.
the twist was pretty predictable imo and I really didnt care for the love triangle.
i liked Liwei initally, but kind of turns into an egoistic asshat, stringing Xingyin along, while he is literally betrothed to another. he is jealous and petty, when he has no right to be. the implication that he hoped Xingyin had asked for HIM in exchange for the royal favor (like that wouldnt have absolutepy set of his terrible parents) is so self cemtered. Wenzhi was a much better love interest, but is done SO dirty by the plot. betrayal this betrayal that. Oh no. he betrayed an aweful, despicable tyrant who would do much worse than him given the chance.
im just so dissapointed.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
One Dark Window
- De: Rachel Gillig
- Narrado por: Lisa Cordileone
- Duración: 12 h y 44 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it.
-
-
Unique magical world with an annoying HEERTH
- De April en 07-15-24
- One Dark Window
- De: Rachel Gillig
- Narrado por: Lisa Cordileone
A lovely dark fairytale
Revisado: 05-02-24
Just up top I need tk mention that the narrator did and absolute stellar job! words cant even begin to describe how insanely good her narration was. She managed to give every notable character an entirely distinct voice. I always knew who was meant to be talking.
To the book itself. I adored the story and plot. As someone who grew up on most of the original versions of fairytales, I loved the vibe this had. I loved the nods to red riding hood and the wolf type of relationship that Elsbeth and the nightmare had.
The world building and plot felt really unique to me. it felt new and refreshing and yet so well developed that it almost felt like a forgotten old fairytale.
The romance was nice, it didn't take away from the plot at all.
Elsbeth felt flawed in believable ways. While her stubbornness could get frustrating at turns, it felt always believable and true to her character. She was a lot more interesting than Raven to me, who is a bit more cookie cutter. But the ensemble of characters was all very fun to follow. I loved the side characters and their motivations.
I loved how real so many of the characters felt. they were complicated all in their own right and I can't wait to see what they'll get up to in the next book.
The prose was beautiful to me. I adored the excerpts of the Old book of Alders being quoted at the beginning of chapter's. All the rhymes of poems were masterfully done and added to the old fairytale vibe. the imagery evoked by the prose and the providence cards war beautiful.
Overall the book was fantastic!
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
The Voicemail
- De: Jack E. Davis
- Narrado por: Katie Hagaman
- Duración: 7 h y 55 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
After listening to a brutal murder take place over her phone's voicemail, schoolteacher Samantha Harris sets out to discover who's responsible for the crime. Unfortunately, while trying to solve one murder, she inadvertently uncovers another. Now, pulled into the center of her normally quiet town's latest murder, Samantha begins to see her enigmatic friends as cold-blooded murderers.
-
-
Truly one of the most frustrating and insufferable books I ever had the misfortune to read.
- De Cottage Hoe en 03-06-24
- The Voicemail
- De: Jack E. Davis
- Narrado por: Katie Hagaman
Truly one of the most frustrating and insufferable books I ever had the misfortune to read.
Revisado: 03-06-24
This book was truly awful. I bought it on sale for 7$ and even that feels like I was cheated.
First things first Samantha is probably the most insufferable PoV character in existence. She is a self important idiot with neither survival instinct or any sense of priorities.
This book truly felt like an overwritten, both over and under explained fever dream with not a single person actually feeling like a human being.
Also the author strikes me as misogynistic with his cartoonish character Suzy, the evil, mean, slutty Barbie Bimbo with even less depth as her description would lead you to believe. Her character literally has no other purpose besides making Samantha look like the "better" woman, but this book is so poorly written, that the author even fails at that.
this book gave me severe tonal whiplash several times, like when it goes from "let's confront a murderer" to "but first let's talk about how HOT this character looks in their skintight shirt"
the writing is incredibly repetitive during dialogues, with constant he/she verb adjective-ly. characters are constantly shouting and yelling or shrieking during regular conversations.
everything in the book is so painfully overwritten, as if the reader isn't trusted to understand ANYTHING. no you don't have to remind the reader Samantha saying something persuasively, when she's actively trying to persuade someone of something.
The entire book I spent frustrated and baffled at every persons behavior.
there is an honest to god "and everybody clapped" moment in this book. Sam arbitrariy puts people on her suspect list with no real rhyme or reason. Suzy she just puts on there because she's mean. and honestly? suzy has a point in disliking Sam Sam. I couldn't stand her the entire book.
the author loves dragging out so much of the story and every reveal. he gives so much information, but hardly any information that is actually important. people routinely forget a bunch of stuff to make plot happen.
I wouldn't listen to this again if someone paid me. I ended up putting it to 1.5x speed to just get through the book, since I read this for a book club. So disappointing, because the premise was genuinely a great one, but the execution was dreadful.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña

-
Until I Get You
- De: Claire Contreras
- Narrado por: Joe Arden, Kasha Kensington
- Duración: 15 h y 12 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
My reputation at Fairview University preceded me. I was the projected number-one pick in the NHL draft and the fan favorite at the rink. People wanted to be me or be with me. Except for Lyla James Marichal.
-
-
Tried so hard to keep listening
- De LINDA H. en 04-18-23
- Until I Get You
- De: Claire Contreras
- Narrado por: Joe Arden, Kasha Kensington
Cliche, Cringy and Juvenile
Revisado: 01-28-24
I really tried giving this story a try but Jesus. this is so bad. It's a typical "she's not like other girls" story with a male love interest that is so incredibly unlikable and who talks like a 14yo who just discovered the word fuck" for the first time.
Lachlan literally only becomes obsessively interested with Lyla because she didn't jump on his dick the first time they met, she wore baggy clothes and she was mildy sassy. that's it. it's so unrealistic that this man has never in his life met a woman who wasn't immediately into him. there are world famous actors known for their looks, who still encounter people who are just not attracted to them like that. Lachlan complains that the women he uses for sex at his convience, only want him for his looks and the bragging rights to have fucked him, but also says that they ALL get attached if they do it more than twice. Seriously which one is it?
He will over and over again claim that Lyla is just soooo different, when she really isn't, at all. there are countless sassy depressed girls who are into Taylor swift and Disney movies. And when we finally get her POV for the first time it's confirmed that she really only likes him for his looks, just like every other girl, she just is too occupied with trauma to let anyone in... Lyla tries to convince the listener that there is a deep connection somehow and that he puts her at ease but at that point they had a total of 4 fairly short conversations. By chapter 5 they are suddenly super touchy feely out of nowhere (again, after like 4 conversations)
the book tries to convince the reader/listener that a lot of things are happening that literally happening. multiple character state how "hard to get" Lyla is, but she really isn't. by chapter 5 she is internally swooning over the guy who called her beautiful twice.
off course he is a giant amongst men and she is smol, fragile and teeny tiny, but also perfect in every way conceivable with the face of a goddess, but also her beauty is understated.
The men in this book talk about women in an absolutely repulsing , hyper objectifying way. Lachlan will complain when other men do this but his own leering and sexualizing of Lyla is excused because he don't "ONLY" want her for her body, he has a superficial "interest " in her (again. this boils essentially down to Lachlan doing the surprised pikachu face when a woman who isn't a lesbian isn't into him immediately)
I'm so upset that I spend a credit on this and can't return the title.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
Butcher & Blackbird
- The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 1
- De: Brynne Weaver
- Narrado por: Joe Arden, Lucy Rivers
- Duración: 8 h y 43 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country.
-
-
Listen, I'm a 'sympathetic retcher'
- De J. Scarlyn en 10-25-23
- Butcher & Blackbird
- The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 1
- De: Brynne Weaver
- Narrado por: Joe Arden, Lucy Rivers
A dark romance that doesnt take itself too seriously!
Revisado: 01-18-24
first of all I really appreciated all the trigger warnings at the beginning. more books should do this to be honest.
I don't love a lot of popular dark romance titles because oftentimes the stories are really REALLY edgy, lack substance and take themselves way too seriously for what they are.
I bought this one on a recommendation of a friend and honestly the sample alone had me hooked. Sloan and Rowan have fantastic banter and are both really fun interesting characters. Rowan has depth and his day job adds a touch of groundedness to his character that I really appreciated.Just in general knowing what these two did for jobs was really fun I LOVE that the couple had a safe word and that clear consent was established. having both protagonists be morally not great was fun because the dark brooding devil and smol fragile virginal saint dichotomy gets really old, really fast. I think the story still dealt with Sloan and Rowan being bad people being aware of that themselves well.
the humor really made this book for me. These moments of levity and fucked up humor really turned this into a really really fun read.
and the narration was PERFECTION. Honestly so glad I bought the audio book rather than the paperback because the voice actors really hit it out of the park. their performances were stellar! I loved that we didn't have these awkward moments of male narrator doing a bad female narrator impression and vice versa. it made the experience a lot more immersive. I liked the sloeburn romance which made the smut scenes towards the end all the more rewarding.
I was a huge fan of the prose! Not overly flowery, but at times so so beautifully written, in scenes when it mattered.
overall a really fun listen!
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
Legendborn
- De: Tracy Deonn
- Narrado por: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Duración: 18 h y 54 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
After her mother dies in an accident, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC - Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.
-
-
A well done debut
- De LexiLikesLiterature en 01-27-21
- Legendborn
- De: Tracy Deonn
- Narrado por: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
in my opinion legendborn is a fantasy story about a black person. by a black person for a non-black audience.
Revisado: 12-28-23
I really really wanted to love this book. so many people have been singing its praises. I'm a black mid 20s reader, who recently got back into reading. The longer I listened the more emotionally exhausting it became. Instead of a fun and exciting fantasy story with a black female character, what I got was racial trauma porn that I could have played Microaggression bingo with. Pretty much any Microaggression you can think of is in the book from being mistaken for the help, accusations of affirmative action, a black girl being labeled as angry/having an attitude etc. it's the type of story in which a black character can't exist without racism constantly rearing it's ugly head. it reminds me of stories white people write about black people, where there is always a huge focus on racial suffering and trauma, instead of literally all the other facets of black existence.
I get that this can have appeal to some, I probably would have enjoyed it as a cathartic read when I was a teenager but now it just feels gratuitous and like as an introduction for a white readership into black struggles packaged as a YA fantasy.
the narration did not make things better. the narrator sounded constantly on the verge of tears and the often stilted delivery of the narration with odd breaks, at times weird cadence made it hard to get into.
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña
-
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
- De: Axie Oh
- Narrado por: Rosa Escoda
- Duración: 8 h y 50 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.
-
-
Terrible Narration
- De Kitty en 03-12-22
- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
- De: Axie Oh
- Narrado por: Rosa Escoda
A tale that feels familiar but wholly different at the same time!
Revisado: 12-10-23
Loved the book so much! once the setup was done and the story took off I couldn't stop! the characters were fun and lovable. Certain story beats and twists were set up well enough to be able to piece together organically while still not being predictable. I could imagine this book being animated as a ghibli movie!
Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.
Has calificado esta reseña.
Reportaste esta reseña