Rowan's Bookshelf (Carleigh) > Recent Status Updates

It really bothers me that the world building is so flawed. Like the wolf thing is barely explored, and the whole thing about the founders being able to control the witches makes no sense at all. They shouldn't be struggling to be in business, it's just a badly done capitalism metaphor.

Mc attitude is way better but this feels more middle grade mystery than cozy YA romance. The foreshadowing is SO obvious, the constant recapping of clues and suspects and numerous pop culture references is annoying. And the magic stuff seems underdeveloped
Like the plants are her friends but it's never talked about until they're magically making her feel better? The WHOLE wolf thing is barely talked about

Wow I REALLY don't like this mc. She's so childish!!!

Then going to the fantasy fest and the fancy restaurant was great. Meeting the parents was sooo awkward. And "maybe my Grandma is right. I do need more spice" like way to tease specifically the smut obsessed girlies lol

Yessss men who list the actual qualities they like in their partners rather than stuff like "she gets me / she sees me / me me me"

okay bunjee jumping to force physical contact because he literally holds her through it lmao okay i see you colby

I actually appreciate that she's a hard ass lmao yes no special treatment for athletes!! Romanticize your coworker!! Lol
And he honestly wants to take her bunjee jumping like OF COURSE SHE WONT LIKE THAT

I can see why people may not like the FMC, she's got snooty nerd energy, thinking she's sooo unique for liking Lord of the Rings and fantasy festivals. Though I do like a nerd character that the author is not afraid to dress like an elf lol

When he's listening to a steamy hockey romance in the tub and he literally gets scared of the spice LMAO that's a real guy move
But listening to the biography and being happy with the memories of his grandfather was really sweet

Yessss Mitch breathing techniques from your therapist!!
I like that this is more focused on the mmc

This guy soooo has depression but I am liking both of them better. Andie is very much a caring person but just doesn't know how to handle it in the most mature way - Mitch hopefully will embrace therapy soon lol

So she's a sex starved Karen and he's an asshole lmao maybe they do belong together - what guy instantly screams his head off at children the manhandles a woman??

Interesting premise. I like Ro as a character, a bit petulant but cares for her sister and is understandably afraid of the best boy that attacked her. Her and Colette are cute, idk why the sister is so interested in Brend right off the bat. The designa of the faeries are awesome
I'm worried about pacing. Already feeling slow

They are cute but I can't get over "kisses me so thoroughly that butterflies ravage my uterus" GIRL WHAT periods don't do that lmao

There's a real "not like other girls" thing going on with Summer. Almost EVERYONE literally drools over Aiden, though she doesn't explicitly say she thinks she's better than that. But I do like Aiden he's sweet!

WOOF i like the sinister turn its taken with the librarian, but it's not really that scary. The voiceacting is doing all the heavy lifting. And the medical/birth horror is making me squirm aahhh
I do roll my eyes at the mystical black character coming in and trying to fix everything - Haygar's only character trait is being tired and taking care of the white girls

ON THE OTHER HAND Gideon wants someone to reinforce this idea that he's not "good enough" for someone like Rune and she wouldn't court him after she knew the truth. Which obviously she didn't do lmao
Like my guy displayed incredibly vulnerability and it backfired two different ways lmao

Aaahhh I still love the beach scene so much. They're so vulnerable with each other to "gain in each other's trust for the game" and end up having this incredibly intimate moment and they LIKE IT just confusing themselves even more. And it makes sense for the rules of the world. Very clever I love it

Alex is being soooo pushy about Rune coming with him on this vacation thing. I know he wants her safe but it's getting annoying lol

VERY CUTE when Gideon takes her measurements for the dress. Totally just to check her for casting scars I'm SURE lol
Also forgot about Harrow's trauma with witches and being abused by her "mistress" too. It makes it seem like the abuse is more systemic than just the witch queens being evil

Red flag Men will read the scene of taking Rose to the hospital and be like "why is she so unreasonable"
Really this is a horror of just showing how young women are treated as soon as they step out of line

Tbh the wine scene was not doing it for me for their chemistry. I liked them in the library at the piano but Rune cannot get violence out of her head lol

Reread before Rebel Witch! I'm surprised at how Rune so easily feels sparks for Gideon despite the whole witch hunter thing?? Like she obviously gets annoyed by him but does get little shivers when they touch and make eye contact

Okay nvm they twisted back and it makes more sense 😂😂

i gonna go with no on this twist man lmao booooo

A lot is happening but there's basically no consequences to any of the death or fighting so. idk. They're tired from fighting monsters but its' not like their wounds even bother them.

The initial "I'm just mean to you because I'm not allowed to like you" was pretty dumb on Logan's part but it goes away pretty quickly. Now it's a little repetitive where they get set up to be alone, have a moment before dropping themselves, and repeat. The DND sessions are pretty fun and the other characters are great

Did appreciate the summary of information on the Craigheads - but it does feel like just a summary. And there is a weird insistence of inserting the scientific names for random animals then immediately writing out their common names?? For no reason

Also like the discussion on bear diets of interior bears without berries or salmon - "Army cutworm moths are like M&Ms for bears" and the whitebark pines providing yummy seeds in the pinecones and bark

he touches on the bear bile industry but most focuses on illegal poaching from vandal killings (even though i can't find a reference to where that term came from) and trading bears for entertainment "wildlife parks" - I did like the chapter on bear-resistant products and how bears go about getting their food