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so many books to read but not enough time

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Every Sunday I have breakfast in bed and read for at least an hour, and it’s something I look forward to every week

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“We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men.”

Taylor Jenkins Reid, Carrie Soto Is Back

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“We never stop reading, although every book comes to an end, just as we never stop living, although death is certain.”

— Roberto Bolaño

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“It doesn't matter. I have books, new books, and I can bear anything as long as there are books.” ― Jo Walton, Among Others.

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some pretty pink spines 💖

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Me: I hate cliches

Writer: The enemy goes to the main character for help because “they didn’t know where else to go”

Me: THE ENEMY GOES TO THE MAIN CHARACTER FOR HELP BECAUSE “THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO” !!!

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Kingdom of the Wicked - Kerri Maniscalco

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved the first book but by the end of the trilogy I felt there were quite a few loose ends. Yes there are supposed to be some spin offs but as a trilogy I expected more bits to be tidied.

I found that some parts of the last book were rushed and there was a section of info dumping. Still I did enjoy the world created and the twists and turns we got to experience so I would recommend it to others but don't bump it ahead any on your TBRs.

Also I loved the Princes and how morally grey they were 🖤🖤🖤

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That feeling when you start reading the first book in a series and you’ve already fallen in love with its world 🙌🏼👌🏼

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At first, I thought I'd be an amazing water Siren, because of my zodiac sign and all that, but damn, I think I'm a water sphynx just for the fact that they recharge their energy reading books, prefer the company of a book instead of talking to people and are very smart, and I see so much of myself in that!!

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“If I was to ask what direction a clock’s hands go, what would you say?” “Um.” Beth twisted her napkin. “Clockwise?” “Not if you’re inside the clock.” Pause. “See?” He smiled. “… Yes,” said Beth Finch.

-The Rose Code, Kate Quinn

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"Not quite sure how far she’d already fallen, she imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars came out."

-Caraval, Stephanie Garber

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⭐️⭐️⭐️I have been struggling with what to say in this review. Not because I hated this book. In fact, this book was fine. If you like dark academia, if you like 18th century Venice, if you want to read Phantom of the Opera but Lesbians--you will have a good time reading this book. I did not love this book. I did not hate this book. I wanted more from this book. I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. Look, my online handle has Baroque in the title--I love Baroque music, I love fantasy, this should have been my jam. And I was really enjoying the set up for this book. The vibes, as the youths say, are immaculate. I just wanted a little more pay off. Some other reviewers have taken issue with the purple prose, but I didn’t have a problem with that. This book is luxurious, this book is plush. Yes the prose are a part of that experience. I think I just wanted this book to lean in to the horror genre instead of away. To go “full gothic nonsense.” Ultimately it felt like it took itself a little too seriously. If you’ve read Mexican Gothic--I kept waiting for *that moment* and it never happened. If you like Dark Academia and Horny Lesbians Making Bad Life Choices in 18th Century Venice. This book will deliver on that, but ultimately the best Genre books transcend the tropes that comprise them, and this book couldn’t quite make that leap, so it’s just fine.

I received a free advance copy in exchange for this honest review.