Laurens.Little.Library > Recent Status Updates

Let me get this straight. There’s a population issue with the Spartans. And an issue with the number of female god-babies being born.

But there’s a massive annual gladiatorial fight to the death for all 19-year-olds, followed by a year-long, prove-you’re-worthy-by-staying-alive?

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

Also: while I believe that kids who grow up in messed-up homes, poverty, and daily abuse by their parents do indeed need to grow up fast, I can only suspend my disbelief to a point.

I don’t care how precious Alexis is as an 11-year-old. Her thoughts are that of a fully grown, fully cooked adult.

= more dissonance within the novel that just gnaws on me

thousand of people…like this book?

The info dump right at the start made me go cross-eyed. I’m still confused—by more than just the world. (Which is a strange combination of extremely 2024 language, but takes place 70-some years in the future.) Mas cherry picks the fantastical elements, and what we’re left with is little cohesion.

Points for dark, nihilistic humour though? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That spice scene came out of nowhere

I’m perplexed.

An immaculate slow-burn.

Olivia King, the narrator, is perfectly cast and elevates an already moving and engrossing story

Knew nothing going in. And I *adore* this 🥹🤍

Very much in the vein of Addie LaRue, with moving, poignant prose. I’ve slowed this right down to savour it

Shaping up to be a GREAT one!

I appreciate the thought that’s gone into Josie’s character; an omega who’d been through a lot of trauma and has the cruel self-talk that can come with that. It doesn’t always make for easy reading, so review the content warnings seriously. Nevertheless, it’s been highly predictable so far, with insta-love.

If I’d known they’re all brothers, I’d never have picked this up. I get that format of why choose is for some people, but it’s not one I love 😬 I also tend to struggle with why choose’s that aren’t queer. Not because I *need* to always read queer characters, though. Without other intimate relationships being explored, these ones end up being blatantly Mary Sue-ish, riddled with silly wish fulfillment

How did we get here? Well, I periodically scroll through *all* the new audiobooks added to my library’s catalog. I’ve never heard of this—apparently—well-known why-choose. Clearly I’ve made a solid dent, so is it good? Not really lol. The writing has its moments, and equally, I wish there were at least another round of edits. The handling of trauma is… okay? [1/2]

A fair amount of the writing sparkles with tender beauty, and the relationship between the two main characters *is* quite special.

But good lord, does this book move slow.

Slow moving and very focused on political machinations, this one’s for lovers of The Bridge Kingdom

I’m enjoying the entire cast of characters and loving the tension and rather wholesome attraction between the two MCs

Okay fiiiiiiiine this is pretty addictive

The usage of things like knock knock jokes in a completely different realm/world is throwing me 🫤

Feels like sloppy worldbuilding

Also both narrators do a wonderful job and are *perfectly* cast

I’m really enjoying this! It’s angsty and above all, believable 🙌

This is more like it. A sports romance that has more going on than just two people having the hots for one another (The Striker, I’m looking at you.)

She has loads of responsibilities as the main carer to her younger brothers and household earner. He’s dealing with severe PTSD & depression following an injury sustained during a previous hockey game

I credit my gigantic list of errands for getting me to the 40% mark.

Problem is, I just don’t care. I’m bored out of my mind with this story, these characters, and the complete lack of connection.

Huang can tell me all she wants that there’s tension… she’s not SHOWING ME

Stella Hunter’s English accent is 🫣😵‍💫

Couldn’t they just hire a local instead??

Giving this author another shot!

Sadly, BOBH has been deeply predictable. You can see everything coming a mile off. Paired with the simplicity of the story, I’m left wanting.

I guess I thought there’d be more to chew on

This is surprisingly good!

Please let this be a 5⭐️

🙏🙏🙏

(So far, this has been very fecking cool)

Sadly, after such a fabulous series opener, OHaH is listless and meandering. Who is Torren? Who is Cali? The character work is incredibly surface level. Likewise, the plot suffers from its simplicity

Boring. Boring. Boring.

If you asked me to describe these protagonists personalities, I’d struggle to come up with more than three descriptors each.

Plot is a snooze, even with the storyline of one daughter being late-diagnosed dyslexic. I simply do not know why I’m supposed to care about these two

I have a migraine, so this update will be blunt and to the point: the storyline makes not a lick of sense and the writing is pretty terrible

Many thanks to MLA for the ALC

It’s immediately apparent that I’m listening to something special.

I wish this happened more often.

Right. So. My mental health is in the shitter. (There’s a point to this, stay with me.) My partner says I need to get out of the house and be around people. There’s a small book club local to me that’s meeting tomorrow night to discuss this book, Happy Medium.

I’m not too concerned about finishing it in time, just enough to know what folks are talking about 👍👍

Not terribly excited by this one, but I want to finish the series