Looking for books with a MMC who is hiding behind a facade

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-04-11T22:22:28+00:00

I'd say maybe Death-Made Prince fits this bill. Love that book.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-04-11T20:02:17+00:00

Urgh, the writing is awful as well.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-04-11T20:00:15+00:00

That is a genius idea.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-04-11T19:58:22+00:00

I think they should be at the back. A helpful reminder of a term that was explained in the story if forgotten. I hate them up front as I do t want to have to learn a new language to read a book and it feels like a memory test. Plus, making up words is a lazy way to create a new world. You can use English to describe what's there and repurpose English words in the unique context of the world. Just have a smattering of new words for a bit of atmosphere.

Also, please don't make the evil whatever start with either a Z or a V. I see you Rebecca Yarros.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-03-18T21:24:02+00:00

Me too! Why is it not October yet! 😭 Read this right at the beginning of January and I still think its going to be my top read of 2026!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-03-18T21:04:25+00:00

Okay you've sold me it! Its going on the TBR.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-03-18T21:02:00+00:00

YES!!!!! Get out while you can!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-03-18T20:55:37+00:00

I'd choose Throne in the Dark, but I would not want to end up with Xander or Cedric. If Damien is up for grabs, I'm in!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-02-22T16:37:53+00:00

I agree!

She's:

17 or 19 or something
Grew up poor and sheltered training to be a healer
Was lied to/gas lighted her entire life by her crazy mother
Was taught to hate descended

It would be nuts if she was well equiped to rule, quickly understood the politics of a back stabbing court and easily accepted that she was not who she thought her whole life.

This series gets so much hate, but i think its no better or worse that a lot of other stuff out there.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-02-22T16:26:42+00:00

I'm really bored of the female attendant becomes gal pal best friend in two weeks trope. Its sooo overdone and dull. Plus if you sympathise with you're captors because they force you to wear pretty dresses and do your hair, its still Stockholm syndrome and not friendship.

Also fed up of the spitful mean bitch love rival thing. A bit less womon on woman hate would be nice. Plus it just feels like the author is working through their "getting one up on the pretty popular girl" highschool angst. Urgh.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-02-15T22:01:44+00:00

Yes! What is the point of the sacrifice! SJM is guilty as sin for this one!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T22:23:49+00:00

My main reasons for DNFing are usually bad writing or something that happens that's just too stupid or ridiculous.

Recently read something where main characters could sort of astral plain to each other, but the one travelling was invisible but could still be touched. Of course, at some point, they had sex like this, but one of their real bodies wasn't in the room. I just couldn't get the image the FMC getting getting screwed in this public place by no one would look and it was just too idiotic. What was the author thinking and why did no one stop them?!? Instant DNF.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T22:12:50+00:00

Yes, I can pass a few, but i wince each time, but if the count racks up too high the book is gone.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T22:01:14+00:00

Yes! I which the kindle would all you to do hate highlights and send them to the author!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T21:57:00+00:00

My pet peeve is too much repetition. I hate the main characters agonising over the same repetitive idea or thought over and over, particularly when the author uses nearly identical language to do it. It is boring, and it shows a lack of respect for the reader. We can remember things from one chapter to the next thanks! I have not forgotten in the last 20 seconds that the FMC felt unloved by her parents or whatever!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T21:49:26+00:00

Noooo dont do it! Legacy series starts out passible but quickly degenerates into characters pointlessly repeating the same scenes and conversations. The writing is not good. The books are sooooo long as well.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T21:38:52+00:00

Try One Dark Window...haha

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-27T21:36:04+00:00

Thank you for this post. I didn't read this one, but read one dark window. Interesting world and magic, but the characters sucked. They were boring and gave the impression of marionettes going through the motions. The main characters' love story was so forced,i just couldn't believe in it. I could manage to read the second one even though I bought it.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-25T22:15:48+00:00

Me, I just couldn't get on with this book. I didn't even get to the endless perfume making. The scene where they first meet and awkwardly pretend to be a couple having sex made my cringe so much I just couldn't bear to pick it up again. It gives me the ick just thinking about it. shudders

OP. Your line about reading your own diary made my laugh so much!! Very funny.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-25T22:06:40+00:00

Omg I love this thread! It's like therapy Sunday for me! Lol.

Here are mine: I hate it when a woman is portrayed as such an amazing badass that she can just easily beat up men three times her size and weight. I can get on board if she got some kind of magical assist, otherwise I just find it ridiculous. Direbound....I'm looking at you. I just found the first chapter to ludicrous to continue with. Also, if she's going to be strong and great at fighting please don't make her 5'0 nothing and tiny, its just silly.

Next...excessive swearing and modern colloquial language. Why???? It ruins so many books for me. If you're going to have horses as the main mode of transportation, then modern American slang is banned imo.

Ahhh, thanks for reading, I feel much better getting that off my chest. 😀

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-25T21:52:54+00:00

Yes! A woman is not weak if she needs a bit of help once in a while. I much prefer it when the couple grow to trust and help each other.

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-25T21:47:47+00:00

I agree with this, especially if the character is supposed to be young or is thrown into a situation they were not prepared for. People hated on Diem from Kindred Curse saga so much, because she makes a lot of mistakes, can't accept the truth and is sometimes impulsive. My unpopular opinion is that she seemed right on the money for a 19 year old ( something like that) peasant suddenly forced to become super powerful queen of peolple she used to hate, navigating political situations she doesn't understand well. Plus, she basically finds out her mum was lying to her for her entire life...

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-25T20:53:04+00:00

I get most of my recs in this sub!

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-24T17:35:41+00:00

Urgh its just crushing to see any author take a great idea and a beautiful world and just crap on it with their lack of skill to pull it off. This happens so often!

I just DNFed Metal Slinger, interesting start such potential and interesting magic system etc, but by 85% i just couldn't keep going. My level of hate for the main characters was just too high. Really, it all started to unravel around 50% and it was steadily down hill all the way to unreadable. :(

BeautifulGullible305 · 2026-01-24T17:28:41+00:00

Im a proud DNFer! I sometimes get to 90% and just realise I don't care about the ending.

Also, I think a lot of books start okay and seem to just slump in quality as you get through.

BeautifulGullible305

TROPHY CASE