Tag: book review

Reviews

Powerless Review

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This had all the makings of a solid romantasy, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. I can see why it’s captured the attention of so many readers, but I struggled to stay fully invested in the story.

The plot is packed with familiar tropes (trials, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers) which some readers will find comforting, but I found it a bit too predictable. At times, it echoed The Hunger Games so closely that it became hard to see the book as its own. While the writing itself wasn’t bad, the reliance on cliché moments left little room for originality or deeper world-building.

Paedyn was easily the standout. She’s sharp, confident, strong-willed and I genuinely enjoyed following her journey. Her friendship with Adena added some much-needed heart and those scenes were often the ones I looked forward to most. Kai, on the other hand, didn’t fully land for me. He had moments of charm, but his dialogue often felt repetitive and at times unintentionally cringey. The tension and banter between him and Paedyn, while initially fun, became a bit much by the halfway point.

The middle of the book dragged and the ending felt rushed, with too much crammed into the final chapters. I kept waiting for a big twist or something to set the story apart, but it never really came.

That said, I wouldn’t call this a bad book, it was entertaining in parts and there’s definite potential in the world Lauren Roberts has created. I’ll be curious to see how the series develops, especially if future books offer more original storytelling and less reliance on tropes.

⭐️2/5 stars A fun ride, but I was hoping for a little more spark.

Reviews

Deep End Review

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Deep End was a quick, enjoyable read, but it didn’t quite match what the blurb promised. It was marketed as a kinkier romance, but the so-called “kink” was mostly just discussed rather than explored. The scenes were steamy, but nothing out of the ordinary for the genre. If you were expecting something bold or edgy, you might be left wanting more.

Lukas was definitely the highlight for me. He was mature, caring, and grounded, with a thoughtful backstory that made his character feel real. I liked how he showed up for Scarlett even when things between them were supposed to be casual. His actions made it clear how much he cared, even when he tried to keep it light on the surface.

Scarlett was a bit more complicated. She’s kind and relatable in some ways, but her constant uncertainty about Pen (Lukas’s ex and her friend) dragged on longer than it needed to. Pen had moved on and given her blessing, yet her presence still caused unnecessary tension. Scarlett often seemed to put Pen’s feelings ahead of her own, which became frustrating.

I also couldn’t help noticing how often Lukas being Swedish was mentioned, it got to the point where the repetitiveness was annoying and I’m still undecided on the “troll” nickname. The chemistry between the leads had its moments, but I wanted to see a bit more emotional development alongside the physical side. I believed Lukas was all in, but I wasn’t completely convinced about Scarlett.

That said, the pacing kept me turning the pages, and the ending was sweet. While it wasn’t quite the romance I expected, I still enjoyed the ride.

⭐️3/5 stars I was pretty engaged the whole time and it was quite charming.

Reviews

Phantasma Review

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Phantasma is one of those books that hooked me with the promise of a dark, witchy atmosphere and a high-stakes games-and-trials plot. The vibes? Immaculate. That gothic, eerie tone mixed with the paranormal was exactly the kind of setting I love getting lost in. Think Squid Game meets The Hunger Games with a heavy dose of the supernatural. Unfortunately, while the concept was strong, the execution didn’t quite live up to it.

The trials Ophelia faces throughout the book were definitely the most compelling part. They were intense, creatively structured and had me flipping pages. But despite the tension, the repetition wore thin. Most chapters followed a formula: survive a trial, argue with Blackwell, then fall into each other’s arms. Their romance developed at lightning speed and didn’t feel convincing to me. I found it hard to connect with either of them, even though Blackwell had his moments. He was very charming, supportive and the kind of morally grey love interest many readers adore.

What really let the story down was the lack of depth in the world-building. There’s this intriguing magical system and a whole supernatural cast, but it all felt surface-level. I kept waiting for more background on the Grimm family or the lore behind the trials, but it never came. The side characters also felt underused, which made the stakes feel lower than they should’ve.

That said, I did appreciate how OCD was portrayed through Ophelia’s character, it felt authentic and layered, even if some of her decisions made me want to scream. The ending also had a few surprises I didn’t see coming, which gave the final chapters a welcome jolt of energy.

Overall, this had potential and a killer atmosphere, but I wanted more depth, more connection and more clarity.

⭐️2/5 stars The vibes are strong, but the story leaves you hungry for more!

Reviews

The Knight and the Butcherbird Review

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*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Knight and the Butcherbird is a short, moody read that mixes fairytale vibes with a gritty dystopian setting. The world has clearly fallen apart and what’s left feels like some kind of medieval society where oral storytellers and knights still have a place. It’s a really cool concept and I was hooked from the beginning just trying to figure it all out.

The story is told by Shrike, a seventeen-year-old who acts as the town’s historian. A knight rocks up to kill a demon, but it turns out the demon is actually Shrike’s wife, May. From there, things get complicated. You start to realise there’s more going on beneath the surface and Shrike’s not just telling the story, she’s in it. The twist hits hard, but I couldn’t help feeling like I wanted more time to sit with it all.

That’s kind of the main thing for me. The ideas and themes are solid (grief, love, transformation, letting go) but there just wasn’t enough space to really dig into them. It’s one of those stories that makes you wish it was a full novel. The world building is interesting, with little hints about sickness, poverty and something deeper going wrong in society, but we don’t get much more than a glimpse.

I also found Shrike’s age a bit jarring. She reads much older than seventeen and her relationship and choices felt more believable for someone in their twenties. The knight, though, was a great character and brought a lot of tension and mystery.

The writing itself is beautiful, lyrical, sharp and easy to fall into. Harrow’s style definitely carried the story and made me want to keep reading. Even with the rushed pacing and lack of detail, it still had an impact.

⭐️3/5 stars If you’ve got an hour to spare and want something different, this one’s worth a look. Just go in knowing it might leave you wanting a bit more.