Fantasy – World of Bai

Book Review: “Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Parade Of Horribles” By: Matt Dinniman

Now Before you ask “Wait Bailie, where are the other seven book reviews for this series?” I will tell you. I read the first 7 books in the last half of 2025, and if you look at my blog post history you will see hardly any posts during that time. I was in a writing slump. So some of my DCC series reviews are on my Bookstagram and some are not. I just honestly wanted to enjoy these books and not have to think too much about my thoughts and how they would be perceived. Lets just say this is an all time favorite series of mine and upon my re read I will post deeper reviews for the rest of the series.

I have been waiting for this book to release since early December when I finished the 7th book. I even requested May 12th off months in advanced so I could just read on release day. So lets just say I had very high expectations for this book. Did this book meet my ever growing expectations for this series? Read to find out!

“Sometimes we don’t need to know someone’s full life story to understand them.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

** There Will Be SPOILERS Ahead!!**

About The Book

Author: Matt Dinniman

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Published Date: May 12th, 2026

Page Count: 704 Pages

Main Genre: Sci-fi

GoodReads Rating: 4.73

Format: E-Book

“And what about the biscuits!” “The what?” Mordecai asked. “Biscuits, Mordecai! I need to make biscuits!”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

Synopsis

It’s off to the races in the explosive eighth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

As chaos and mass panic spread outside the dungeon in the wake of Faction Wars, Carl and Donut find themselves on the tenth floor, where they’re forced to compete in a surprisingly normal set of tasks. Well, normal for the dungeon.

Races. Get from point A to point B, and don’t come in last. After each race, they pick an upgrade for their vehicle and the track gets more challenging. It all seems a little too normal, a little too simple.

Ignore those strange glitches that are occurring with increasing frequency. Don’t listen to those whispers about what’s happening on the mysterious eleventh floor, something the system AI calls A Parade of Horribles. Nobody, not even the showrunners, knows what that means. Just that the AI has ominously dubbed it “a coming-out party for the ages.”

Everything is fine, Crawler. I repeat, everything is fine.

Carl hates that it’s business as usual. The rules of this floor have taken away his agency. That just will not do.

So Carl is planning a party of his own. It’s a plan so dangerous, so insane, he can’t even consult his friends lest the AI put a stop to it. Because if it goes wrong, it’s not just the end of Carl and Donut. No. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.

Synopsis from Goodreads

“Sometimes there are no good choices, and we just do what we have to.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

Rating

Review

** NEW ACHIEVEMENT**

“Way to go! You have officially finished 8 books in the most gut wrenching series you have ever picked up!”

REWARD

“Emotional trauma while you wait for books Nine and Ten. “

Okay but in all seriousness this one wasn’t as gut wrenching as I expected it to be. And again one finally time there will be spoilers so if you have not finished this yet DO NOT READ the rest of this!

I think I only teared up once in this whole book which is really odd for me. In the past I have sobbed my way throughout most of the books. I am not saying I hoped for some of my favorite characters to die or anything but maybe a bit more plot that tried to rip my heart out or something. I think the most I sobbed at was when Rend “Died” and literally came back to life.. Like okay not that big of a deal I suppose.

I personally thought that floor ten was quite boring compared to the rest of the floors we have seen. We hardly spent any time on the floor when you consider that each heat of the race was pretty different and the timelines were relatively short for most of the heats. My favorite parts were in between races as this is where most of the plot happened.

By no means is this me saying I hated this book. I really did have fun reading it but it did remind me why the series was so addicting at the beginning. I was missing the atmospheres of past floors, The consistent loot box opening but mostly, I have been missing the character interactions. We used to spend a lot of time with our fellow crawlers getting to know them but now everything is so high stakes that they don’t get those brief moments to breathe and develop as much with other crawlers. But that is the nature of this series and I do need to remind myself this is exactly how it is supposed to feel. Like we are in the dungeon with them not getting a second to take a break and relax. Did you notice they just didn’t even mention sleep at all? So sad that something as simple as sleep is just non existent now.

Despite me missing “simpler” days of the early dungeon, I truly did enjoy this book. We are getting so many more details into the AI and outer world that my brain feels like its swimming with nonsense. I can’t wait for all the dots to connect, even if that means the series and the crawl all come to what I assume will be a classic explosive Carl plan.

Seeing Donut drop her guard more in this book and see how the Dungeon has been affecting her has been breaking my heart. She is so strong but the strongest people tend to hold everything in till the metaphorical river overflows and everything comes streaming out. I love seeing her step up so well into a motherly role for Mongo and Rend, its the one thing outside of a performing that she can really fall back to and feel like a “normal” being.

Carl is even more Unhinged than ever. One of my favorite quotes is from Chapter 94. (see below) Somehow Carl’s chaos plans seem to always pan out, god knows why but everyone is so very thankful for them.

“Carl: Plan C. Gotta go with plan C. Donut, be ready. Elle: Of course. The Psycho Plan. Got It. Donut: It’s CALLED PLAN CARL. Florin: We really need to start making plan C the primary one.
DCC 8 Chapter 94

Imani and Chris! Enough said there, but dang, I need a side book just for their relationship. I really hope that they can reconnect soon. They both have been through enough!

Okay, Now it is time to discuss my favorite character from this floor, Drum Roll please! Prepotente (AKA Pony)!! Ugh the few background pieces we got for him were everything! Merium Dom in the apartment living a life where she never had Pony nearly Broke me! Basically all of chapter 77 had a hold of my heart,

“Carl,” Prepotente said, stopping me. He wiped his eyes again. “yeah?” “You can call me Pony if you like.”
DCC 8 Chapter 77

Now that I have discussed some of my favorite characters I would like to discuss the ending of this book. The ending was literally where I felt like all the meat and potatoes were. All shoved into the last 100 maybe 150 pages of the book.

So much was revealed on floor eleven. I can barely even process everything that happened. I am so glad that all of our main characters made it through this floor despite the craziness. I mean Carl really said “fuck it” but somehow those things work out well for him.

I am left with so many more questions than answers. Like who the heck is Samantha? What kind of Chaos is Eris going to bring? The history of the AI and how a Princess lost everything just to give the universe another chance.. Does that mean Donut will live while everyone else she loves dies? What do you mean everyone went to the 15th floor and not the Pineapple Cabaret?

Ugh so much yet to unfold and we only have two books left? I have no clue how Matt is going to pull this off but lets just say I am terrified! I can’t get all my thoughts out here but hit up my DM’s and lets chat!

Quotes

“It’s okay to forgive yourself. Sometimes there are no good choices, and we just do what we have to.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“You keep trying to divide us. Don’t you realize what you created? We have been tempered in the fires of Hell, and we are now passed the point of being broken. Your downfall has already been written in the stars. You may hurt us. You may kill us all, but it’s not going to matter. Don’t you realize? Don’t. You. Realize?”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“If you go to war against drugs, drugs will always win. Drugs will win because what you’re really doing is going to war against the biological imperative all living creatures have to find comfort and happiness. And if you’re unwilling or unable to first provide that, artificial alternatives, no matter how destructive, will always prevail.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“Since you’re new to this, let me give you your first lesson on being a princess. Lesson one, don’t put yourself in situations where you’re so afraid that you piss yourself. It shows a lack of decorum.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“I don’t even know what the hell this is. This bitch is coloring outside the lines.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“We sluggalos have a code. That code is ‘unity, support, family, and kneecapping bitches.”
Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

“Elle: I’m alive. Barely. Someone help me dig me and Bodi out of this truck. It’s wrecked pretty good. I haven’t been folded like this since Brandon showed us how to use Tinder.”
DCC 8 Chapter 96

Book Review: “The Rose Bargain” By Sasha Peyton Smith

I have owned this book since the day it was first released. I have been wanting to read it since I laid my hands on the beautiful cover but kept putting it off as I didn’t want this five star prediction to let me down. I am glad I waited as I think I picked this book up at the perfect time. I had just finished reading book six of the Bridgerton series and got fully caught up on season four of the TV Adaptation. I even went to a Bridgerton styled event on a local book store. So picking up this book and falling right back into the Regency Era felt like coming home but with a twist.

“Sometimes I feel like one day every other girl was given instructions on how to grow up, and I missed the lesson.”
Sasha Peyton Smith, The Rose Bargain

About The Book

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published Date: February 4th, 2025

Page Count: 389 Pages

Main Genre: Romantasy

GoodReads Rating: 3.94

Format: Physical Book

Synopsis

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“But I know now, the thing about love is that you don’t realize you’re in it until it’s too late.”
Sasha Peyton Smith, The Rose Bargain

Rating

Review

I picked this book up during a busy time in my life and that is what I regret the most. I could not stop thinking about this book, I was trying to sneak a chapter in where ever I could. It even got to the point where the characters started to sneak themselves into my dreams. That is how I know I am truly obsessed with a book.

I believe that if I had more free time on my hands I would have finished this book in one sitting. The writing had every ounce of my brain power turning over the plot and trying to figure out any hidden secrets that might have been seeping through the pages.

The characters in this book were a little hit or miss for me at the beginning but I started to appreciate them more as we got to know their background a bit more. The way Sasha formatted this book, sprinkling in different POV’s as we went along, really helped this story build a plot with a lot of depth.

The different POV’s gave us as readers insights into the book that we would have never of gotten from our main FMC. I am not saying Ivy was an unreliable narrator but she truly did not have all the insight into what was happening around her and why. So the little added tidbits we got from the other girls POV’s really helped our characters grow in my eyes.

My favorite character is Emmett, I mean come on, when is the MMC not my favorite character in a book? Emmett has a tough exterior and a reputation that precedes him but there is more to him than meets the eye. I adored getting to see him from Ivy’s eyes as she was forced to be in his proximity but you could feel his attitude changing as we moved through the story. Even though we see him mostly through Ivy’s eyes the little tidbits from Faiths storyline that we were given gave us enough information about Emmet’s true character to know when he started to fall for Ivy. A man who falls first will always make me melt.

The family dynamics seemed to play a pretty big part in this story. Each person had a different relationship with their families that shaped their individual characters and their motivations. I think this is a big reason why I ended up caring for each character in their own way. Everyone seemed to be facing their own battles internally so by the time you finally read first hand what issues they were facing you could grasp why they were saying and doing the things they did. I really appreciated that part of the story telling as it really felt integral to the plot and didn’t just get swept aside like they so often do in these kinds of books.

Sasha really had me trying to guess how this story was going to go, it felt like she was leaving me little bread crumbs that had me thinking one thing but then by the next chapter I was second guessing everything I had came up with. There were a few plot points that I caught onto pretty quick while others left my mouth gaping. I am so glad I waited to read this book until closer to the release date of the second book as I am not sure I can wait to find out what happens.

“I’ve spent my whole life on my hands and knees, clamoring for crumbs of love. I don’t know if there will ever come a time I am not hungry for it.”
Sasha Peyton Smith, The Rose Bargain

QOTD: Do you like Regency Romances?

Book Review: “Glow Of The Everflame” By Penn Cole

Immediately after finishing the first book in this series I dove right into the second. The cliff hanger at the end of book one might have been predictable but it did its job well as I am very intrigued as to what happens inside those palace walls.

“Perhaps, for the right person, we endure the pain, because the torture of never having them at all is the more unbearable fate.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

“Spark Of The Everflame” Full Review

*Possible spoilers ahead*

About The Book

Author: Penn Cole

Publisher: Atria Books

Published Date: July 18th, 2023

Page Count: 610 Pages

Main Genre: Romantasy

GoodReads Rating: 4.34

Format: E-Book

“It’s a reminder that no challenge can destroy the parts of us that truly matter. We’re not reborn in the flames. We’re revealed.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

Synopsis

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything. Keeping it could cost Diem her life.

The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates the royal family of House Corbois.

But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.

Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.

War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Burn, my Queen. Glow so bright, the darkness trembles.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

Rating

Review

I had a false hope that wearing the crown would force Diem to make better choices. She claims her choices are for the betterment of all but girl your emotions are going to get everyone killed.

This book started to feel more YA than Adult and I think that is the main reason why this got a lower rating than the first book. I just really expected more from Diem now that she became queen but maybe that wasn’t fair of me to expect.

While the World building and politics were amazing and kept me interested in the book The character growth was still not up to my standards, at least not for Diem. If any of our characters had strong developmental growth it would have to be Teller. Teller really stepped into his role towards the end of this book and I appreciated getting to interact with him more.

Every decision Diem was making I was saying “ohhhh Girl, no.” I just really need her to step up and make some decent choices for once and not just giving in or giving up. She really needed to practice her magic but was acting like a baby whenever she did. Going into the challenging felt useless to me cause she clearly can’t use her powers. I truly believe the only way she could destroy her opponent is because of the goddess herself. I just needed more from Diem herself and not just pure luck from being “The Chosen One.”

The ending of this book really pissed me off as well because I completely saw every step of it coming. Diem is her own worse enemy which bleeds into basically sabotaging the whole world.

My only wish is that we see more of her and Luther and less of them fighting. If she self sabotages this relationship anymore I might freak out. He literally tells her the most romantic and cute things and she just doesn’t let herself see his intentions, its annoying! Please no more Henri, nothing about that relationship is interesting.

“That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

QOTD: At what point do you start to DNF?

Book Review: “Spark Of The Everflame” By Penn Cole

I remember seeing these books pop up all over the book spaces early in 2025 and deciding I would not be falling for the hype. Well this was the official last book I read in 2025 and I am not upset about it, but was the hype really worth it?

“If you cannot be stronger, be smarter. Choose both your battles and your enemies with care. Know when to flee a fight to win a war.”
Penn Cole, Spark of the Everflame

About The Book

Author: Penn Cole

Publisher: Atria Books

Published Date: June 1st, 2023

Page Count: 438 Pages

Main Genre: Romantasy

GoodReads Rating: 4.17

Format: EBook

“You think I fear my own death?” he whispered in my ear. “Every day I draw breath is as much a curse as a gift. I’ve been living on borrowed time for longer than you can imagine. If you’re the way my fate finally catches up to me, I can’t fathom a more beautiful end.”
Penn Cole, Spark of the Everflame

Synopsis

In a mortal world colonized by the gods and ruled over by the Descended, their cruel offspring, Diem Bellator yearns to escape the insular life of her poor village.

Her mother’s sudden disappearance—and the discovery of a dangerous secret about her past—offer Diem an unexpected opportunity to enter the dark world of Descended royalty and unlock the web of mysteries her mother left behind.

With the dying King’s handsome, mysterious heir watching her every move, and a ruthless mortal alliance recruiting her to join the growing civil war, Diem will have to navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics in order to save her family—and all of mortalkind.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Hope without reason is… it’s cruel.”
Penn Cole, Spark of the Everflame

Rating

Review

I remember trying the first chapter of this book maybe 8 or so months ago and not immediately connecting with the book and putting it down. I am not really sure why I gravitated to this book as my next read but I am glad that I did.

There is always a part of me that hates to pick up the hyped books as I want a unique experience at times but I always feel the FOMO at some point. What if the hype is truly worth while? I could be missing out on one of my all time favorite books!

With all of that said I did enjoy my time reading this book, for the most part.

The world building was probably my favorite part of this book. The world seems beautiful and complex. The politics of this world seemed to pique my interest and kept me wanting to know more.

The magic system is still a bit hazy to me as we don’t dive too much into that aspect yet in this book but I am interested to learn more for sure.

The part that I struggled with was quite literally just our main character. Diem is honestly so annoying. I am struggling to want to root for her as every decision she makes just makes me angry. And I understand that not all main characters need to be or should be likable but it makes me more invested in the story if they are.

What really saved this book is the side characters. I love Diems family, her brother and father both have interesting side stories that we vaguely hear about that I am dying to know more! Also Luther, our MMC, is swoon worthy! I feel the romantic tension steaming off of him at every turn.

I think this series has a lot of potential! There is so much we don’t yet know about or might only have small snippets of information at our grasp that keeps you coming back to the pages. This book left off on a pretty big cliff hanger, all be it a pretty predictable cliff hanger, that made me immediately download the next book. So despite my hate for Diem I think I will probably finish this series sooner rather than later.

“Don’t choose a mediocre life for a mediocre man. Go be exceptional. If he’s worth it, he won’t judge you. And if he’s really the one, he’ll come along for the ride.”
Penn Cole, Spark of the Everflame

QOTD: If a main character is annoying in your eyes do you DNF a book or push through?

Book Review: “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” By Sangu Mandanna

This has been a very talk about book ever since it was released a few years ago. I think I personally have owned this book for at least a year with full intentions to get to it “soon”. Well, I finally made time for it thanks to an unused Audible credit and no other books being on the top of my mind. I am honestly surprised it took me this long to read but I do think it is a bit overhyped…

“We’re part of the earth below us and the sky above us. Our veins echo the patterns of rivers and roots. There’s sunlight and moonlight in our bones.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

About The Book

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Berkley

Published Date: August 23rd, 2022

Page Count: 318 Pages

Main Genre: Magical Realism

GoodReads Rating: 4.07

Format: Audio Book

Synopsis

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Trust is earned.”
“It is. But that’s only possible if someone’s willing to give you a chance.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Rating

Vibes Rating

Dynamic Rating

“It’s a leap of faith to love people and let yourself be loved. It’s closing your eyes, stepping off a ledge into nothing, and trusting that you’ll fly rather than fall. I can’t step off the ledge for you. It’s something only you can do.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Review

I listened to this book via audio and I do think that I would have liked the book more if I had physically read it. The narrator was good just not for me.

I think this book was written really well! It was beyond cozy and kept me entertained which I really hope for when I read an audio book. In fact I almost finished this book in one whole sitting which is really rare for me and audio books.

I think I may have an unpopular opinion about this book but I kind of wish it was more young adult or even middle grade. I would have really enjoyed this book if we saw it from the girls perspectives or if we didn’t have the romantic connection between out FMC and MMC. The romance took a back seat in this book which I appreciated but honestly I felt like it just wasn’t needed. Either I blocked most of the romance out or their was so little of it that there was really no point in having it there? I think what I am trying to get at is that it could have been a cute found family story without the romance sub plot.

I think the character growth was really prevalent in this book and I think that was what I appreciated the most from it. You saw pretty much every character that was mentioned throughout the story change and grow which was done in a cozy way that left you feeling so happy and relieved for everyone involved.

I thought the magic system was easy to follow and grasp which is what I would expect from a cozy fantasy book. However, I always do struggle with magic realism books as I am trying to imagine this happening in our world and finding a lot of things that come up just so unrealistic. This is for sure a me problem as you are supposed to suspend your disbelief for these books anyways.

Overall, I do recommend this book if you are wanting a quick and cozy read in between all of your romantasy books as a much needed pallet cleanser.

“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong. Sometimes we need to make that place.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

QOTD: DO you have a favorite book about Magic Realism?

“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Book Review: “Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates” By Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

The ending of book four made me upset and left me hanging so I had to pick this one up immediately so I could get some answers! Honestly, this book left me even more upset than the fourth one which I thought would have been impossible! I am honestly taking a break from this series due to the trajectory it has started to take which makes me kind of sad.

“That’s what love is, Tor,” Darcy said in exasperation. “It’s taking a leap of faith. It’s opening yourself up and letting your walls down and allowing someone to see every dark and broken corner of your soul. It’s truth and honesty with yourself and them. It’s raw and brutal and terrifying and real. You can’t just claim to want it, but refuse to allow yourself to be vulnerable to it. That’s not how it works. If you love someone, truly love them, you’ll bear you soul to them and let them be the keeper of your heart no matter how fragile or damaged it might be. And if they love you then they’ll do everything in their power to keep it safe, to nurture and protect it and heal over all the old wounds.”
Caroline Peckham, Cursed Fates

Other Zodiac Academy Reviews

Origins of an Academy Bully: Book 0.5

The Awakening: Book 1

The Awakening: As Told By The Boys: Book 1.5

Ruthless Fae: Book 2

The Reckoning: Book 3

Shadow Princess: Book 4

The Big A.S.S. Party: Book 5.5

Spoilers are ahead if you have not read the books I have reviewed up till this point! Proceed with caution.

About The Book

Author: Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Publisher: Kings Hollow

Published Date: December 21st, 2020

Page Count: 886 Pages

Main Genre: Romanatsy

GoodReads Rating: 4.32

Format: E-Book

“Because in my heart I know I deserved the answer you gave me,” I replied honestly. “I wasn’t worthy of your love then and I’m still not worthy of it now. But if you gave me forever then I’d spend every second of it trying to be.”
Caroline Peckham, Cursed Fates

Synopsis

After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this darker world we’re faced with.
Lionel seeks to hurt us, the Nymphs seek to hurt the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we just have to try and survive each day as it comes.
I’m afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Vibe Rating

Dynamic Rating

“Darius would have spent the rest of his life making up for all he’d done to her, he would have watched over her more fiercely than the moon did the Earth. He’d have given her the world.”
Caroline Peckham, Cursed Fates

Review

This book was so slow compared to some of the other books in this series. I wanted to like it so bad but I found myself more so waiting for the book to end. It took me two weeks to read where the other books in the series before this I was bale to finish in just a few days. I don’t think it is a good sign to be pushing on till the end of the book. I should be sitting on the edge of my seat biting my nails with anticipation and I just didn’t get that feeling.

The fourth book made me so upset by the end so I was really hoping this book would close some of those wounds and start looking up for these girls but I was completely wrong!

Orion got arrested?! I mean I should have seen it coming but I think I was just in denial. Darcy and Orion are my favorite romance as I like both of their characters and their POV’s but that all went up in flames when the FIB showed up to take him and then him lying in court made me so upset! Our one stable relationship just got destroyed and my interest in the books went right off with it. I know we have to have some new plot points to keep the books moving or else we would run out of books but honestly this series probably could have been shorter but all be it less dramatic.

Tory and Darius are both starting to grow on me more, I hate Tory a tad bit less this book as she was finally starting to find her footing but still… This slow burn is trying to take me out! I love how in love Darius seems, he literally makes me swoon and I am thankful that Tory is starting to notice these details! Them running together every day was becoming one of my favorite parts and the gifts they were giving one another were chefs kiss!

Gabriel is the twins lost brother?! That was a plot twist I didn’t expect at all but I am here for it! Gabriel is quickly climbing to the top of my list of favorite characters and I only wish him the best bit I am terrified something bad might happen to him just cause everyone seems to like him so much.

The ending of this book pissed me off even more than the last book which I didn’t think would be possible. Lionel is already too powerful so the fact that he now bonded Tory to him is crazy! That should be illegal honestly and should be taken to court.. Also he just attacked all the Heirs so the other counselors better be prepared to do some ass Kicking next book. I don’t understand how Lionel can keep getting away with so much, it is beyond exhausting at this point.

Next book they better free both Tory and Orion from their misery or at least give me something substantial to root for as it feels like everything I liked about these books has now been tossed aside. I am just struggling to find my love for the books like I had at the start of the series.

Knowing me I will probably pick up book 6 here soon just cause I can’t stop myself from being curious about how it all ends, I just don’t want to be disappointed anymore.

“Don’t talk shit about my Mate.”
Caroline Peckham, Cursed Fates

QOTD: What’s a series that disappointed you?

“You can’t just claim to want it, but refuse to allow yourself to be vulnerable to it.”
Caroline Peckham, Cursed Fates