review – Page 66 – Amy Leigh Reads

The Kiss Quotient Review

May 29, 2019May 30, 2019by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

81TaR7kzn7L This was a random spur of the moment pick up and I was not disappointed!

The Kiss Quotient is about a thirty year old woman names Stella who is obsessed with her job as an economist. She comes up with algorithms that help predict future purchases for online shoppers. It’s recently come to her attention that she may be a bit under experienced in terms of relationships and sex so she hired a male escort to help her practice.

Stella was a really relatable character I felt. I loved her arc over the course of the storyline, how eventually she wasn’t ashamed of her little flaws and her quirks and just accepted herself for who she is. I like how honest she was with Michael from the start and how she stood up for him and spoke her mind after her father grilled him.

I like the fact that Michael wasn’t just a one dimensional character. Even though he is an escort he had a backstory and familial problems that lend to why he is that profession currently. I also enjoyed the fact that he wanted to be a designer; it was a nice change from a lot of other male protagonists in these adult romances who are usually tradesmen or executives.

The relationship and how it progressed was definitely a little awkward and cringey at first but evolved and become something a little more believable in my opinion. A bit more graphic than what I originally thought it was going to be but I did still enjoy it nonetheless! I did love how the sexual tension built up between Stella and Michael and how accommodating he was of her.

Overall I really enjoyed the read. I just needed a little romance in my life and this was exactly what I hoped it would be! I will definitely need to pick up The Bride Test by Helen Hoang soon and continue on my spree of adult romances!

⭐️4.5/5 the perfect amount of romance and drama to keep me entertained!

Reviews

The Crimson Crown Review

May 27, 2019May 26, 2019by amyleighreads2 Comments

8069828 My new favourite fantasy series ever??

This was absolutely perfect in my opinion. Everything I love about fantasy all wound together to make this absolutely wonderful conclusion to a series that may have made its way to the top of my all time favourite list!

Raisa was everything that I needed her to be in this book. She followed her gut and her heart and never strayed from what she believed in until she thought all was lost and even then she still tried to figure out a way to prevent war in the Vale and save as many people as she could. She is more than willing to trade her life for the good of her people and she didn’t let me down in this book. I had a few misgivings about her throughout the series but she really took everything she has learnt and put it to play and ultimately went with her heart, which I absolutely loved!

What can I say about Han… ever since The Demon King he has steadfastly been my favourite character in this series and he has honestly gone above and beyond my expectations. He has proved time and time again that he will do anything for the people that he loves and is loyal to a fault. You never know what to expect from him and he is such an entertaining character. His arc over the course of the series as well was momentous; from a street lord at Ragmarket to the High Wizard of the Queen. I loved seeing him manipulate and also struggle in his attempt to overthrow the Bayers and how eventually his plan unfolded and came to fruition was everything that I hoped for. There was so many obstacles that Han and Raisa had to overcome and knowing that it didn’t come easy and without loss only made it more satisfying.

It delved so much deeper into the history of the Seven Realms and all my questions about what happened between Alger and Hannalea was unearthed and I was completely blindsided. I honestly didn’t predict anything that happened and I tried to go into to the book without thinking to much about what plot twists could happen next and I was rewarded with so many convoluted, intricate storylines that shocked and amazed me!

I truly loved this book and the Seven Realms series as a whole. Cinda Williams Chima is now one of my favourite fantasy authors and I will without a doubt be picking up the Stormcaster series as soon as I can get my hands on it!

⭐️5/5 stars Perfection!

Reviews

What If It’s Is Us Review

May 24, 2019May 23, 2019by amyleighreads1 Comment

36341204 This gave me Serendipity vibes!

This book follows the story of Arthur and Ben who ran into each other at the Post Office. Arthur is in New York for the summer and has an internship at his mother’s law office and Ben just broke up with his boyfriend and was trying to post a box with all of his ex’s things. They have a conversation and immediately feel a connection but loose each other in a crowd.

First of all this was hella cute! I was pretty much immediately enraptured by the storyline and was highly engaged throughout. I loved seeing them going about their lives after this pretty small interaction but unable to forget each other because of the connection that they felt for that brief period of time.

I found Arthur terribly endearing and adorable. He felt very genuine and real in his awkwardness. He hasn’t had a lot of experience with other boys and he has lived a very sheltered life in comparison to Ben. I like how honest Arthur is with everyone and isn’t afraid to share his feelings. I liked that he finally spoke up and shared his feelings with his friends and they eventually explained what was happening and why. Ben I liked but didn’t really love. He has his own insecurities and idiosyncrasies and also isn’t afraid to speak up for himself. I loved the relationship he shares with Dylan and how comfortable they are with each other.

I like that both characters are flawed and regularly make mistakes and say the wrong thing but the other will definitely call them out on it and they both grow together. Their whole relationship was quite charming and their dates were hilariously disastrous.

The premise as a whole I thought was interesting and had me intrigued. The overall plot was a little bit predictable though and the ending was a little underwhelming for me but it was also pretty realistic so I can’t really complain. Happy endings don’t always happen in real life and summer flings sometimes don’t last.

⭐️4/5 A super cute, diverse, contemporary summer romance!

Reviews

The Poppy War Review

May 22, 2019May 24, 2019by amyleighreads1 Comment

*SPOILERS, SPOILERS*

y648 Very immersive!

The Poppy War follows the story of a young girl Rin, who is a war orphan. She grew up with a very abusive foster family who used her for free labour in their shop and also as a drug mule. Wanting to be free from that life Rin decides to study for the Keju an Empire wide test that if she passes could see her out of her home town and off to the capital to the revered Sinegard the most elite military academy in Rikan.

The world is super expansive and well developed and is one of the things I loved about this book the most. You are really able to get lost in this world and delve into the histories surrounding the Empire and how it came to be. I think R.F. Kuang really took her time developing the back story and the origin of Rikan and that is something I always appreciate from an author.

Rin is basically the reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars. I love me a strong female protagonists and seeing her arc over the course of the storyline was definitely inspiring, but some of the decisions she made kind of grated me. She was definitely right when she said that the Gods have no sway over her, she made all of the decisions that led her to that ultimate conclusion and most of those decisions didn’t sit well with me. When she chose to side with Altan over Master Jiang that’s really when I knew I wasn’t feeling her anymore. She wouldn’t heed the advice of those who have had years and even decades more experience than her. Even though she only found out she was a Speer a few months ago she already knew everything and could handle the Phoenix god just because she’s Rin. That arrogance and overconfidence was a bit of an overkill for me.

The first half of the book when Rin was in Sinegard I absolutely loved! Magical/military style school settings I just love to read and this was no different. Seeing Rin struggle to fit in, being at the bottom of her class and then clawing her way to the top was wonderful to read. All of the characters were distinct and interesting and the feud with Nezha was so entertaining! The second half however, kind of dragged a little. The siege was just a little boring for me personally; it was just a lot of Altan locked away in his office and Rin wandering around or on guard duty. I like a lot of action and intrigue and this was just waiting around for the action to happen.

The overall premise I found highly original and engaging and the magic system was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Definitely enjoyed the majority of my reading experience however, I’m a little bummed I wasn’t as in love with the story as much everyone else seems to be.

⭐️3/5 stars Really enjoyed, didn’t love!

Reviews

Sky in the Deep Review

May 20, 2019May 16, 2019by amyleighreads1 Comment

*Some Spoilers*

34726469 This was great!

Eelyn has been raised to be a warrior alongside her clansmen the Aska from the time she could walk. In the midst of an ancient feud with the Riki clan her life has been a brutal one. Fighting for survival, losing her mother and brother over the years all she has left is her father and her fighting mate Myra. That is until one day on the battlefield she sees the impossible, her brother she watched die 5 years ago.

The plot of the book was quite simple but I was so engaged and entertained that it was easily overlooked! It was fast paced, rich with lore and culture and I loved the Viking aspect I thought it was fresh and original, unlike anything I’ve read in a very long time.

I loved Eelyn’s arc over the course of the storyline. Unable to shed her warrior nature even when she is captured she is still trying to look for any and every opportunity to escape and return home. Seeing her struggle with her beliefs and preconceived notions about the Riki whilst she lives amongst them was a joy to read. Living with that deep rooted hatred all of her life and to see her brother accepted and one of them has shaken her to the core and thrown everything that she has ever known up in the air. I like that she adjusts her views slowly throughout the course of the book, rejecting everything at first because she is so hurt and angry and then slowly coming around and seeing how pointless all of the fighting is, especially when they have an even bigger enemy coming for them all.

The romance aspect felt right to me as well. It wasn’t pushed upon us too quickly and kind of happened organically. Some of the scenes between Eelyn and Fiske were so charged and almost electric and I thought it was perfect honestly. Again it’s that hate to love trope that gets me every time!!!

There were so many moving scenes in this book and I was super invested from the start. The hard-core fighting and tense impasse to the eventual peace in the end and how it all came together I really loved! I was so impressed that this is a debut novel and I will definitely be reading anything else that Adrienne Young comes out with!

⭐️5/5 stars 100% pure Viking awesomeness!