Pleasure Unbound (Demonica #1) - Larissa Ione

What is it about?

In a nutshell- Tayla Mancuso, a Demon slayer, lands at a Demon hospital after being beaten half to death by some Demon. Eidolon, an Incubus Demon, fixes her up and duh is attracted to her. Thus begins the classic enemies that want to fuck each other's brain out story and of course some exciting action occurs on the way.

I can sense that this series is going to become my guilty pleasure.

With a name like "Pleasure Unbound" one would expect this to be a sex-centric novel, but I hoped the name was just an eye-catching scheme and that the book would have a solid story. I was both satisfied and disappointed.

I was satisfied because the "main" story line was good. A demon hunter lands in a Demon run hospital and learns that everything she's ever known about Demons is wrong and that some of them are actually good or strive to be good. It was interesting learning about the different demon species and their version of creation. Some very good ideas there. The action plot was good, someone is kidnapping Demons and selling off their parts on the black market, interesting, want to know more...

On the other hand, I was disappointed because what was supposed to be the primary story line, really wasn't and just felt like a side dish or an appetizer for the sex plot (because there has to be one with a book called Pleasure Unbound) which was quite ridiculous to be honest. I can't take a book seriously when a conflict that takes up half the book is the fact that the main female character can't cum and the main male character who is a Seminus Demon ( A type of Incubus) makes it his mission throughout the book to bring her to Orgasm
[ The main female character can't cum and the main male character who is a Seminist Demon ( A type of Incubus) makes it his mission throughout the book to bring her to Orgasm (hide spoiler)



And the reason the conflict occurred in the first place along with the resolution... oh my god no! Psychologists are crying everywhere in the world.

Hence why this is going to be a guilty pleasure. Cause, who are we kidding? If those books are about Incubi, they're going to be about sex. Fullstop.

She did end with an unresolved "main plot " (the actual good one) which made me download the second book ASAP. Also, I really liked the relationship between Eidolon (Incubus Demon) and his brothers. It was a respite from the " I'm a Seminist demon, I'm horny all the time" trope.

All in all, good effort, entertaining book, looking forward to the rest of the crew's romantic shenanigans.

Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire Part 1)- Mark Lawrence

This is a tough one to rate. I've been putting off reviewing this for a few weeks as I'm confused about it. Let's break it down and start with the positives:

1. The Writing



Bravo Mark Lawrence! Fantastic writing, the book is filled with noteworthy quotes and witty dialogue. I'm beyond impressed; this is his debut novel and it is world class. Aspiring authors seriously need to take notes from this guy, who clearly put a lot of effort into editing and fine tuning instead of producing crap and tagging it as New Adult.

2. Story Telling

No doubt about it, Lawrence can spin one hell of a tale. Prince of Thorns is engaging, fast paced and exciting. It's the kind of novel that forces you to stay up till 4 am in a reading marathon, the type you ditch your friends for, a novel you'd rather spend valentine's day with. Yes, it's gripping.

So why the 3 Stars? The following points retracted from the book's worth IMO:

1. The Hero Syndrome

This is the same issue I had with The Name of the Wind.
What is the Hero Syndrome?
The Hero Syndrome is when a novel completely rests on one characters shoulders. This character is EVERYTHING. All writing tools are used towards progressing this one character's story line/personality. etc. This person is usually amaze balls as well. They can do everything and anything, they are superman, just because.

In this novel, obviously Prince Jorg is the Hero. Lawrence attempted to give the brothers some form of personality by ending each chapter with a one line about each one but that didn't help at all. In fact, other than the Nuben, all the brothers melded into one for me. All the magic people had the same characteristics as each other. And everyone else is now just words on a paper. Nothing worth mentioning or remembering.

Side Note: What was up with his OBSESSION with Katherine?

2. World Building

Nonexistent

What is the Empire? Who is the Empire? Why is any of this even happening?



Perhaps this will be explained in the second book, but why would I want to read that when I have no clue what is going on.

3. Plot Holes and Convenient Coincidences

Does anyone realize that this kid is NINE YEARS OLD at the start of the novel?!?! How does a seemingly normal nine year old become a murderous psychopath? From a traumatic experience? HE'S NINE. Perhaps a trauma could lead him to depression or night terrors or schizophrenia FFS! But to suddenly become a murderer? Is this a psychologically sound argument? I don't know. I think Lawrence tried to justify it somehow by referencing the thorns and the ensuing disease or whatever, but sorry, makes no sense to me.

Also, Lawrence relied a lot on convenient coincidences whenever there was a seemingly impossible situation. Most of them were justified by voodoo magic but not all *cough* THE VERYY CONVENIENT ENDING *cough*. Perhaps it will be explained in the next book, but for now...



Will I read the second book? I really don't know. I'm not a fan of Jorg and his immaturity but the writing was just so spectacular I might be tempted.

The Trial- Franz Kafka

‘There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.”
- Bertrand Russell

I definitely picked up Kafka to boast about it, what a dumb ass reason. I knew at my core that I would hate it. I knew it. Serves me right I guess.

This book is described as : "an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism" What a load of pretentious bull shit. I CALL BULL SHIT. If you have to describe a book as " prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism" to get people's attention then you're trying too hard.

What. Does. That. Even. Mean. and who even says that?!



Maybe I am not intelligent enough to see the mind blowing concepts Kafka introduced in this book but frankly I don't care. I'm confident in saying that as a novel this was a complete failure and, at least from what was displayed in this book, as a writer Kafka is neither good nor engaging.



Yea, I said it. Better believe it.

But why Lilyan? Why!? Why are you shitting on one of the major figures of 20th-century literature?

Because, you could have amazing ideas and never be a novelist. What's the use of writing your powerful ideas in novel form when you don't have the capacity to engage a reading audience or build characters?!

The Trial is a "novel" about Joseph K a banker who is suddenly arrested one day for an unknown charge. He is technically arrested but is allowed to roam free until the trial concludes. He spends the rest of the book meeting with bizarre characters that are all linked to the court in an attempt to exonerate himself. And that's it. That's the story. The main character, K, has the personality of a lamp shade. All the women in the novel are either whores by trade or linked to sex in one way or the other. The rest of the characters all blur together as tools to aid/hinder K.'s trial.

So what do we have here then? We have a book with pages containing writing that's completely void of characterization, plot progression or an engaging tone. Where are the "novel" elements then? How can you call Kafka a novelist? Perhaps a philosopher or a progressive thinker, an influential person, whatever you want to call him. But not a novelist.

Towers of Midnight- Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

This is it people!

I've managed to drag this re-read for 3 years but it's time to face the music.
I don't even know where to begin. I'm so attached to this series, I've created the characters in my head and their settings. I can imagine the whole continent as if it actually exists. I'm really excited about finally reading the last book but I'm also dreading it. Especially after the emotional rollercoaster Towers of Midnight put me on.

Wow, so many touching moments that we've been anticipating forever (Moiraine, our super boys FINALLY embracing who they are, characters who should have been together ages ago hooking up at long last).

A Memory of Light, here I come! Please don't fail me and maintain your Epicness!

Emma- Jane Austen

It pains me to give an Austen novel such low ratings but perhaps I have outgrown this writer, or maybe she just had a bad spell when writing this.

A ridiculous story with ridiculous abhorrent characters. Emma is quite simply a BITCH with a capital B.

Why is she a Bitch? For the following reasons ( Major Spoiler Warnings for those who have not read it):

Reason Number 1:

She spends 60% of the book dissuading Harriet, a poor senseless creature of unknown heritage and low stature, of marrying the man she loves because he is of a lower class than her. She then convinces her to set her sights on someone who's way above her, inflating her ego and filling her head with thoughts that she is of high society, only to find out that the man is actually interested in Emma herself! After that disaster, Harriet finally sets her eyes on Knightly and when Emma discovers this, she suddenly realizes she's in love with Knightly herself.. so.. she sends Harriet out of the way to London, announces her Engagement to him then slowly cuts ties with the girl!!! Oh. My. God. What a disgusting person!

Reason Number 2:

She openly bitches about Jane Fairfax to everyone. Starts rumors about her. Is extremely catty to her and her poor aunt. For no effing reason whatsoever. Just because!

Reason Number 3:

Flips the fuck out when she thinks Mr. Knightly has a thing for Jane and reasons that she does not want Knightly to ever marry because it will disadvantage her nephews!!!! HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE. I want to destroy her.

Plenty of books have bitchy characters and that's fine. But this character was glorified S
She acted like an absolute beast to everybody, yet still got the man in the end and apologies from people... WHY WAS ANYONE APOLOGIZING TO HER!?!?! She should commit suicide from shame. Selfish piece of shit.

I hated her and I really wished she would get the ending she deserved. I would rewrite this and have Harriet marry Knightly and Emma end up old, alone and miserable like her father

Up from the Grave: Night Huntress Book 7- Jeanine Frost

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Frost should have quit at book 4. This book is no different. It's nice that we got to see all the characters together and Cat and Bones' relationship is as cute/strong as ever, but there really was nowhere to go after book 4. The rest of the books have been pure desperate fillers. It's heartbreaking.

This installment has yet another wild addition to the plot. It reeks of desperate measures. While the plot is all over the place, I still enjoyed the book once the action started, Cat, Bones and their crew are entertaining no matter how ridiculous their situation is.

I'm glad this is the final book and I am looking forward to the Ian spin-off if it ever happens.

Goodbye Cat and Bones, you have been good to me and you will be missed.

Enchantress of Paris- Marci Jefferson

Reviewing a free unpublished copy from NetGalley.

The only redeeming factor of this book is the last chapter. Besides the bittersweet ending and the cliché yet cute closing line this book is an absolute waste of paper and electricity for those reading on e-devices.

The book's main genre is YA, not historical fiction as it's marketed. Primarily, this is the story if an annoying girl in love with a spoilt POS King. That's it. That's the story, thank you for reading 350 pages of nothing. The End.

Despicable characters and repetitive chapters make for an extremely boring read. I couldn't care less about what happened to either the King or Marie because they're horrible people. The only reason I plowed through is to publish my review for NetGalley.

Republish this book as a Y.A., sell it to sappy teenagers and you'll have a winner. Historical Fiction? I don't think so.