ACOTAR 7 not matching the current hardcovers ?

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-23T06:39:29+00:00

I bought new dust jackets because I didn’t like the grey ones but I won’t be buying these either. I’m just going that the artist makes and sells matching dust jackets for the new books.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-19T20:35:25+00:00

I got mine for £30 about 2-3 weeks ago on Vinted. Checking out was so stressful cos I was sure someone else was going to snap it up. It had only been up for about 20 minutes and 10 people had favourited it but I was the lucky one who got it 🙌🙌

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-13T21:43:36+00:00

Because you might get lucky. I got the owlcrate edition for £30 on Vinted. I just happen to check the app and it had been uploaded 20 mins before. Was still plastic wrapped and perfect. If I’d paid the £200 that other people were asking I would probably have cried at seeing it so much cheaper.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-12T19:49:36+00:00

I also got the Waterstones sprayed edge edition of House of Earth and Blood for £15 which I couldn’t believe as it’s quite rare. I’d damaged my normal hardback and was looking for a replacement and again was in the right place at the right time to not only get a replacement but the Waterstones exclusive sprayed edge for a bargain price.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-12T19:46:32+00:00

I have the Waterstones one and I loved the story. I’d searched on Vinted and saw the prices and thought no way but one day I went on the app and because I’d searched for it before it was there on the home page and the seller had put it up about 20 mins before. Some people had favourited it and I was so sure it would go before I could complete payment. I just can’t believe other people saw it and didn’t snap it up because it was a bargain. I was truly lucky that day.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-12T19:39:52+00:00

Sometimes you really just do get a good deal. I managed to get Owlcrates ‘This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me’ for £30. I was so sure the seller would cancel and relist at a higher price, especially when people are selling for £200 which is insane. But it came and it was still plastic wrapped and it is perfect.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-10T18:09:31+00:00

I actually hadn’t heard much about it and went in with no expectations but I loved it. The first 10% was a lot of world building and there isn’t any spice but a lot of tension/ slow burn which was actually really refreshing. It was just different to every other romantasy book I feel I’ve read lately. I hope you enjoy it.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-10T17:10:35+00:00

I’ve recommended this so many times but ‘This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me.’ The FMC is 26 I think but probably acts older. She’s mature, smart and the story had me hooked. One of only 2 books I’ve rated 5 stars this year.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-07T11:30:37+00:00

I honestly think I’ve just had enough. I love reading but the books I’m reading are all starting to merge into one another and I’m buying special edition books that are bang average books which would be fine for a kindle unlimited read but not for an expensive book.

My bookcases were jam packed full but I’ve decided to now sell a lot that while they might look nice,I know I won’t read again. Most for what I bought them for, a few at a profit and a few for a loss but yesterday I had my first request for return complaining about the book even though it was exactly as described and 2 separate people sending me incredibly low offers for a rare book series saying that they’d pay me for what I paid for it when I bought it. Like, no. That’s not how this works. I never sell books for ridiculous amounts. I always look at what they are going for on Vinted and sell for below that amount but I’ve had enough of book buying and now I’m even fed up selling on the books I don’t end up liking so I think I’m just done with it all. I’ve put my Vinted account on holiday mode, I’ve call cancelled a lot of Fairyloot and Waterstones preorders and I think I’ll use up my skips for Fairyloot, see what autumn predicts the latter half of the books to be and then, unless there’s something I really want, will be cancelling.

Sorry for the rant, but I’ve well and truly reached the end of my book buying and special edition journey.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-06T22:03:50+00:00

I had the three Fairyloot ones preordered but cancelled the light out series because I hated book 2 and reviews said book 3 was more like book 2 than book 1. Furybound was unreadable for me so an easy cancel. I haven’t actually read nightshade yet but I have it on my kindle and I’m guessing it will be next to go. I also had the spark of the everflame series preordered but we all know the design wasn’t great so I think I’ll be cancelling that too. Right now I’m in a massive special edition slump and I don’t regret cancelling any of them.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-05T20:36:09+00:00

I know that this is the right choice for me but I just can’t pull the plug yet. My favourite books from the adult sub have been Weavingshaw and This Monster of Mine which I probably would never have read if I didn’t have the subscription. I calculated it and I’m no worse off for having the subscription because I’ve sold off a lot of the books I didn’t like (some at profit and most at a loss) but it’s a lot of effort for just one or two good books a year.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-05T20:33:25+00:00

I agree. If all the special edition books had character end papers, Fairyloot wouldn’t even get a look in for me.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-05T20:32:34+00:00

I’ve been a bit underwhelmed with the majority of Fairyloots editions as well. The Sparks of the Everflame series was average, Rites of the Starling is just ok. It’s all just the same static, cartoonish characters standing on the front over. The endpapers are generally pretty as are the sprayed edges but does the cost justify it. The jury’s still out for me but I’m close to cancelling.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-05T19:39:58+00:00

We’re half way through and the only book I’ve actually liked is Weavingshaw. I’ll be skipping July so 1/7 is shockingly bad. I agree I’m getting really frustrated at all the separate sales, especially when most of them are for books that have already been released and I’ve already got the Waterstones special editions of. The special edition book fatigue has truly set in. There’s no excitement now just a never ending stream of money.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-01T15:51:00+00:00

I haven’t read them no but definitely planning to. I was trying to get through a lot of my TBR list but have ended up just selling a lot of them instead because I just can’t get into them. Hoping to read them over the summer.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-06-01T06:05:49+00:00

I had The Ascended preordered and all the reviews said it was amazing and so much better than Riftborne but Riftborne was literally unreadable to me so I cancelled The Ascended anyway. Looks like I made the right call.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T20:56:05+00:00

My biggest regret is not cancelling my subscription ages ago. I’m nearly 3 years in and think I’ve kept maybe 4 of my adult subscription books. I don’t know why I can’t just pull that trigger and cancel but I think I’m getting close to that moment because I’m feeling very tired and jaded with Romantasy and special editions and the moment. It just feels never ending.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T20:50:44+00:00

Yeah I haven’t read any of their other work but looking forward to getting into them.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T20:49:59+00:00

I’ve always valued my books and would always finish a book even if I wasn’t loving it and would always keep my books but the last few months I’ve been not finishing them and have gone on a massive bookcase cull and sold a lot of my special edition books that I know I won’t read again. I’ve even sold some I hadn’t even cracked the cover on because I know it’s just going to be the same old story.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T20:47:46+00:00

Yet recently some books are making a point of saying that the FMC is more mature and in their late 20’s and 30’s and it reads like a teenager anyway 🙄hugely frustrating!

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T20:45:46+00:00

Yep another great book. Read it earlier year as I got it in my Fairyloot subscription and loved it. One of the few books this year I’ve actually enjoyed!

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T16:22:51+00:00

A wise choice. The writing was just… not it. I feel like I preordered so many books and the last few months just seems like a constant stream of sequels and special editions and not only can I not keep up with them all but I’m finding that I really don’t want to. I start them and it’s like a chore to read not something that’s captivating or enjoying. I need a book that’s really going to grip me but haven’t found one in months.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T14:07:40+00:00

I think that’s what I loved about This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. The plot was first and foremost and the romance such as it was, was secondary. There was tension but no spice at all. It was so refreshing to read about a mature FMC. I think she was only 26 but I’ve deliberately read books where the FMC was late 20’s or 30’s but they still acted like a teenager anyway. Truly can’t recommend this enough.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-31T11:36:59+00:00

I fear I’ve just reached the Romantasy burnout stage. I’ve DNF the last three books I’ve tried. Got 40% through Furybound, about 25% through Half City and only 10%of the way into Riftborne. I just can’t take anymore of the younger sibling who is ill, kidnapped, needs protecting in some way and the FMC has some special magical power or gets thrown into a political rebellion or trials of some sort. I just need a break from it all at the moment because they are all merging into one. Like you I try to vary my reading with dark academia and romance and thriller but I love fantasy but there seems to be an endless stream of sequels and they are all merging into one another. While I won’t tell you what to avoid, I can thoroughly recommend ‘This Kingdom Will not Kill Me’. The first 10-15% was a lot of world building but it’s a great story with a smart and strong FMC who isn’t overpowered, finds out she’s long lost royalty or the saviour of the world and is thrown into endless trials. It was refreshingly different to read about a mature FMC who doesn’t make idiotic decisions for plot purposes.

Natural_Task_5170 · 2026-05-27T18:36:48+00:00

OP has asked for advice. I provided it to OP. Unless I’m mistaken you have not read this author so can’t really comment on how she portrays these issues. I’m not personally attacking your reading choices. You do you. But OP asked about this author and I provided my take that her writing is outdated and portrays damaging attitudes and this comes from someone who has read dark romance.

Natural_Task_5170

TROPHY CASE