Hoops

Truth or Lie

Revisado: 06-21-22

The Tangled Fae series is full of rainbows and unicorns?

Lie.

But, there are unalived unicorns and a downpour of rain from the blood of, well, everyone. 😁

Desire to read this series again? 5!

Best part of any fantasy romance for me is the interaction between the two main characters. And, wow, can I just say thank you for a series that delivers the most amount of time I’ve seen, in any series, with the main characters flirting, fighting, yearning, and dying. There is no lack of creativity when it comes to constant banter here and it’s always fresh!

The revelations come just at the right time in this series, and I found even after events unfold, I still absolutely wanted to read to the very end.

What an amazing tale! No idea how she comes up with this stuff. The imagination brought to life here is really incredible and this series fulfills all my dreams of the perfect pacing, romantic situations, witty banter, and complete endings that I have for all of my fantasy romance reading.

This is one of those series where a second reading is a must, because knowing all the revelations will make it even more romantic given the completely new understanding of all that Scouvrel does and says!

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My Nightmare

Revisado: 06-18-22

Rivers of blood, Fae vs. human, and all-you-can-eat betrayal. *Shudders. But also yasssss!! So. many. emotions. I usually don’t like time-jumps, but its clearly because Sarah Wilson didn’t write those. I’m 100% sure she could write an actual neverending story and you would be on the edge of your seat for life. The romance in this series is a one-sided slow burn….I think? Haha Honestly, my favorite part of this book was listening to Scouvrel wax poetic darkness to Allie and still being unsure of his end game. So much action happens here and I’d say this is definitely one of her darkest series imo, giving me some Titus Andronicus vibes, and I’m loving the change-up. Caitlin Kelly, as always, does an amazing job!! Love her Audio narrations ❤️ And now…. I gotta keep reading cause the cliff hanger 🔥🤌😍

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I better not die before this series ends

Revisado: 05-01-22

This review is ridiculously biased even for a perpetual 5 star reviewer, I would know, but in the name of objectivity, you can scroll to the end for the 1 star why no’s (I’m just gonna go ahead and tell you they’re weak, but I tried).

Netflix for Romantic Fantasy Readers >
I spent the last 2 months binge reading all 16 of Sylvia Mercedes’ currently released romantic fantasy books on the market (except the Scarred Mage Trilogy, which I’ve strategically waited to read until after the Prince of the Doomed City series is complete), and I felt like I was starring in a Pringles commercial - her books being the Pringles.

It all started with a Stolen Bride >
I read “The Stolen Mage Bride” first, and was intrigued by how Mercedes’ world-building elements (eg soulmate flowers 😭😭😭) elicited significantly more powerful emotional responses to her characters’ Mordor-like trek to their happily ever after.

Plot >
So, I jumped into the Prince of the Doomed City series next, because I mean come on, the heroine is a determined, fiercely protective librarian on an Enemies to Lovers path with a powerful, broody (for good reason) Prince (of a Doomed City I might add) in a hauntingly dark library with evil books > yes, please!

This is not a TBR book >
The mix of dark (read - scary as hell) elements with the truly likable hero characters, whose brokenness leads to totally justifiable actions, gives this series a permanent place on my bookshelf with many re-reads in its future. Don’t wait to read it, with the Audible available all barriers are gone, and while I hate the torture of waiting for completion, this series is a noswraith waiting to happen on a TBR list.

I don’t need this Audible, but it’s Emily Lawrence soooooo >
I work from home. And I read a lot (esp. this year, currently at 107 since Jan 1st - all romantic fantasy) - to point, I have no commute, which basically, for me, makes this audible totally unnecessary. Emily Lawrence is THE reason I purchased this Audible. Her soul-crushing, fear-inducing, world-shattering performance that was the 7 Venatrix series novels, had me freaking out when I learned she was doing the PotDC series. Her male voices defy believability. I know Sylvia’s writing is clearly responsible for the imagery, but Terryn’s voice!! gosh I hope she does the newly added epilogue to that series 🙏🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🪦 Anyway, who better to voice Prince? Answer, no one. And it was everything I wanted it to be! Surprisingly more actually, because of the epic snark from both Clara and her Prince (she’s oblivious, but, and I may be reading into this quite a bit with the first book, he’s def. hers).

And now for the “Why, no’s” >
1) The set-up
The first book is setting the scene for our H/H. This means world-building, and literally 0 interaction between H/H until later in the book, and I LIVE for H/H moments and dialogue! If you go in knowing that, the end will be that much more satisfying, and it IS satisfying. B1 supporting evidence, look no further than the subj lines of reviews for Book 2. Also, reading “The Stolen Mage Bride” first might help, or it could cause deeper trauma - what can I say, blame Sylvia. Lol.

2) The Audible fine print
I find listening to pretty much all Audibles (except a very select few, very, very select) at 1x speed is completely intolerable. I listened to PotDC at 1.3x speed, which is actually much slower than my normal 1.8+ speed. Also, with this reading, Emily’s emphasis on the first word in a sentence, along with a deep breath in, is pronounced in some places. It was a bit jarring initially, but faded as I got drawn in. Prince’s moments, make it for me. Gonna have these allll on audible, come on books 2,3, and 4!

I will end this review with two words:

“Clara Darling”

Footnote: I have an unpopular opinion on some super trendy books, but they’re only slightly unpopular opinions, not like “how can you even 1 star that tripe?”-type unpopular opinion. But in my defense, I’m in my 30s and I started reading adventure in 2nd grade with Choose Your Own Adventure and then began loving Fantasy fiction with my first Goosebumps from the 4th grade book fair, so I know what I like. I read for the happily ever after; to laugh, smile, and re-experience P&P for the first time.

**This review is brought to you by the feelings of “pissed off” and “justified outrage” that were felt upon seeing a 3 star review with no comment as the 1st review for PotDC B1 Audible on launch day. To quote David from the Creek, “I have never heard someone say so many wrong things, one after the other, consecutively, in a row.”

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

wonderful!

Revisado: 07-12-18

I loved it!! couldn’t stop listening. so magical. i’m a sucker for beautiful adventure stories 😁

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas