u/GingerLily2019

I've just finished {Zodiac Academy} and I really really loved Tory and Darius, the enemies to lovers was really well done and explained, not just a MMC being rude to the FMC and her being overly irritated by it. I also love how his bad behaviour gets brought up and he suffers for it.

Jude and Carden {the cruel prince by Holly Black} have a good example of this too, they feel like proper enemies for a while and I believed they both were yearning for the other but couldn't express themselves and couldn't trust the other.

Quicksilver is the opposite of what I'm looking for, needless bickering between the two when it's clear as day they want to bang (and I don't buy his behaviour knowing what's later revealed) and there's no real reason for the tension.

Anything with a significant betrayal, either real or a misunderstanding, would be a bonus.

I love a FMC that doesn't over think on page and her moods and thoughts are expressed through actions rather than long winded reflections. FMC with an element of Ruthlessness are my favourite.

I'm reading { the death made prince } and the moment and it's not hitting the spot for me, but I do like her other books, so I'll push through as I know it's a fan favourite here! {Heart of silk and shadows} was top notch!!

I'm only on chapter 3 but I really am not enjoying the "portal" fantasy vibe; her trying to figure out what the rules about spawning are and recalling all her knowledge from the book.

Will this be prominent for the whole book? So many people seem to like the book that I want to give it a chance, but I just find everything very annoying at the moment, I attempted to read it when it was part of the book club but I quit the first chapter.

If anyone else continued on while having the same reservations could they advise :)

I usually audiobook my romantasy books and have read or downloaded a good few of the popular titles but for my holidays this year (a quiet cottage by the sea) I want to bring one or two physical books.

Can anyone recommend a book to me, preferably standalone or duet, maybe a newer book, and something with a nice cover that would really suit a holiday read :)

I'm considering Rose in Chains, I know it's just out in paperback and is a HP fanfic although dark.

I really really appreciate how the authors lean into the orders of the characters, and specifically Gabriel and his love of twigs and nests.

Just finished the 8th book and Leon has been building a nest to distract his visions, it's just too hilarious how this would-be-serious character is obsessed with twigs!

Or specifically this scene at the end of that book - it had me cracking up 🤣

Orion sat beside me, but Gabriel seemed distracted by something, picking up a stick that was resting against the wall by the fireplace. “Oooh, look at that,” he cooed, cocking his head to one side as he examined it. “That’s a real nice stick. The grain is just perfect. And look at those nodules…” He ran his fingers over them then tucked the thing into his waistband possessively before moving to sit on my other side. “Got yourself a nice little stick, did ya?” I questioned teasingly. “Yes, and I’m going to give it to my wife when we get back to the rebels,” he announced, puffing out his chest. “She’ll love that, brother,” Orion said encouragingly, neither of them seeming to think Gabriel’s stick was amusing. Or cute. And it was definitely cute.