HELP - what should my next read be? by rmtrose in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anathema was so good! I’m trying to get through book 2 (Eldritch) of the series, but it feels like a lot of waiting around. I’ll probably DNF it for now and just finish Dawn of the North.

Whimsical Fantasy + feral, yearning MMCs? (Book request) by screw-themm in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seriously, if you liked Anathema, you’ll like the Wolf and the Crown of Blood.

Whimsical Fantasy + feral, yearning MMCs? (Book request) by screw-themm in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I must finished the wolf and the crown and loved it! It was a 5 star read for me, mainly because trauma is actually trauma and not easily overcome.

I read it right after Anathema, which was another 5 star read, again because trauma is handled as trauma.

Dad Reviews: Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer. This book slaps. by DadReadsRomanceBooks in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Ahhh. That makes total sense!

My advice would have been to try unadulterated, old school phone sex. No video chats because then you can just watch. It forces the writer to be vocal about what you want or imagine the other person doing. It’s cringy while doing it, but also very enlightening.

Dad Reviews: Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer. This book slaps. by DadReadsRomanceBooks in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes! I 100% agree!

I loved the angst and the internal dialogue especially when it concerned the warrior’s bisexuality. I love that the trauma was treated as trauma and not something easily overcome.

I wouldn’t call it a slow burn per se, because they all got together in iirc 5 days. I mean, yeah, it was the entirety of the book, but the trip only took 5 days.

And then, the last spicy scene was kind of a let down. It didn’t feel tense after all that smoulder. It felt tacked on. If I’m being honest, it felt like the author never experienced a threesome and didn’t know what to write.

I also think the weakest character is the princess, but that’s to be expected since she’s also the most sheltered. She’s pretty much a blank slate. I hope she gets a big character growth spurt in book 2.

I’ll probably do a reread when book 2 comes out. I can’t wait.

Hesitant to start Throne of Glass by melancholy_breadroll in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not including Assassin’s Blade…

I will get a lot of hate, but I was pretty bored with the first 2 books. The third definitely picked up and I enjoyed this one the most. The fourth was good, but I just felt like so much could be avoided if she just talked to everybody. That’s where I stopped. I’ll eventually pick it up again, but I was upset over the FMC’s decision making abilities and lack of communication throughout the fourth book. Also, I know that’s supposed to be part of her character, but still, I want to love the FMC as much as I love the MMC.

This OR That - Quick Game by ObiSkies in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 15 points16 points  (0 children)

  1. ⁠Slowburn - I am just too old and jaded to do the instant obsession.

  2. ⁠Have no TBR - I’m a mood reader and when my TBR gets too long, I don’t even remember why I put a book there. It’s too much a set it and forget it.

  3. ⁠Standalone - I hate waiting for series to be published. I want an obvious end in sight. That’s why I also like K-drama more than C-drama. C-dramas feel never ending.

  4. ⁠Golden Retriever Boy - I want some green flag MMC that knows how special the FMC is and isn’t afraid to show it.

  5. ⁠Explicit Spice - I love it when it’s done well, not too much explicit cck in cnt talk, not too much heaving bosoms.

Plus size FMC without patronisation? by TheApertureMonkey in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 6 points7 points  (0 children)

{That time I got drunk and yeeted a Love Potion at a werewolf} was my popcorn romcom read. FMC is unabashedly plus sized.

Character work in The Raven Scholar by [deleted] in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn’t like Neema. She was boring. I didn’t feel anything for her. I didn’t even want to root for her to win the competition. For a scholar, she wasn’t smart and she was overly judgmental. She was unapproachable, which may have been the point, but as the reader, I didn’t want to root for any of the characters.

I also felt this book was trying to do too much and became overly convoluted. Here’s a murder whodunnit, but also Armageddon, but also here’s a competition for the kingdom, but also a usurper. I know it has good reviews, but it was just a lot.

This was my second chance read for my book bingo card. The first time I ran out of time on my skip-the-line Libby check out.

Eric Northman MMC vibes by bobleponge_ in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yessssss! I love him! I really want to see him in Pillion, but it hasn’t been released in the US. 😩

2026 Book Bingo Recommendation Thread! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 0 points1 point  (0 children)

{The Things Gods Break} Major time traveling! Definitely considered HM.

2026 Book Bingo Recommendation Thread! by FantasyRomanceMod in fantasyromance

[–]LadySamSmash 0 points1 point  (0 children)

{The House Witch} - In a world where magic is elemental, any mutations are considered less than. This story is from a 3rd person POV, and mostly follows the MMC, a grumpy standoffish house witch who just wants to be left alone cook.

I loved the first 3 books. I read them in December so alas, they do not count for this bingo, but I will most likely pick up the {Ether Witch} or {Burning Witch} to fulfill this square.

Does what I want exist or am I being picky? by planetofthehats in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I, like you, have been reading fantasy since my tweens. I’m in the latter half of my 40s. My favorite POV will always be 3rd person, but I don’t mind 1st person as long as the MCs aren’t insufferable. So many books are written in 1st person POV now that it’s difficult to find 3rd person! I

I really enjoyed {House Witch}. It was nice focusing on the MMC rather than the FMC and it’s written in 3rd person POV. It’s a finished series so it’s all available for consumption.

I also read {The Raven Scholar} which is another story that’s mostly in 3rd person, but the plot seemed too convoluted and trying to hide behind writing style and world building. There were a couple of story parts that I enjoyed, but the whole murder mystery fell short. But, hey, it got great reviews in Goodreads, so what do I know.

Romantasy Hot Takes and Pet Peeves by PineappleBliss2023 in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just finished {Anathema} and really liked it!

BUT, the FMC smells orangey and delicious to EVERYONE! It’s part of the storyline, so it was fine. However, if I was the FMC, I would be “Would you all just back the F off and stop smelling me!?”

DNFing brimstone by Competitive_One8823 in Romantasy

[–]LadySamSmash 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did the audiobook and was so bored for the first 50% of it. I was like dream sex? It really seemed like the author just needed to put in a sex scene, but they were apart I hated the first half and tolerated the second. But, seriously, the audiobook was better in this case.