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ash_reads_stuff

Ransom and Very opinionated Reader... https://linktr.ee/ashreadsstuff

167 points

0% overlap
Level 2
Reading...The Shutouts
My Taste
The King's Men (All for the Game, #3)
Semantic Error, Vol.1
God of Fury (Legacy of Gods, #5)
The Untimely Undeath of Imogen Madrigal
Heir (Heir Duology, #1)

ash_reads_stuff wants to read...

2w
Don't Let the Forest In

Don't Let the Forest In

C.G. Drews

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ash_reads_stuff finished reading and wrote a review...

2w
  • The Monstrous Kind
    ash_reads_stuff
    Apr 08, 2025
    DNF
    0.5
    Enjoyment: 0.5Quality: 0.5Characters: 0.5Plot: 0.5
    💤

    The first thing that stood out to me about *The Monstrous Kind* was how slow and wordy it was. The first 30% felt like pure information dumping, and I kept waiting—hoping—for the pace to pick up. This is my first time reading a Regency-era novel with real substance, so I’m not sure if that kind of slow buildup is typical, but it made the reading experience feel like a slog. The story hinges on miscommunication between the sisters and repeated attacks by the Phantom, but neither element felt engaging enough to hold my attention. I found myself wanting it to be over. The only reason I didn’t DNF it was because it's an ARC, but I seriously considered it. As I kept reading, it became clear that one of the main issues was the protagonist, Merrick. She’s clearly privileged, yet spends most of the book complaining about her situation without making any real effort to change it. Everyone has their struggles—hers didn’t feel compelling enough to warrant the constant self-pity. Her character came across as one-dimensional, and she consistently blamed her problems on others, particularly her sister Essie and their father. Overall, this book didn’t work for me. The premise had potential, but the execution fell flat.

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  • Post from the The Monstrous Kind forum

    2w
  • The Monstrous Kind
    Soooooo boring

    The first thing that stood out to me about *The Monstrous Kind* was how slow and wordy it was. The first 30% felt like pure information dumping, and I kept waiting—hoping—for the pace to pick up. This is my first time reading a Regency-era novel with real substance, so I’m not sure if that kind of slow buildup is typical, but it made the reading experience feel like a slog. The story hinges on miscommunication between the sisters and repeated attacks by the Phantom, but neither element felt engaging enough to hold my attention. I found myself wanting it to be over. The only reason I didn’t DNF it was because it's an ARC, but I seriously considered it. As I kept reading, it became clear that one of the main issues was the protagonist, Merrick. She’s clearly privileged, yet spends most of the book complaining about her situation without making any real effort to change it. Everyone has their struggles—hers didn’t feel compelling enough to warrant the constant self-pity. Her character came across as one-dimensional, and she consistently blamed her problems on others, particularly her sister Essie and their father. Overall, this book didn’t work for me. The premise had potential, but the execution fell flat.

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  • ash_reads_stuff finished a book

    2w
    The Monstrous Kind

    The Monstrous Kind

    Lydia Gregovic

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    ash_reads_stuff started reading...

    3w
    The Monstrous Kind

    The Monstrous Kind

    Lydia Gregovic

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    ash_reads_stuff finished reading and wrote a review...

    4w
  • Heir (Heir Duology, #1)
    ash_reads_stuff
    Mar 25, 2025
    4.5
    Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 5.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.5
    💗
    ⚔️
    🤯

    View spoiler

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  • Post from the Heir (Heir Duology, #1) forum

    4w
  • Heir (Heir Duology, #1)
    Thoughts from 70%
    spoilers

    View spoiler

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  • ash_reads_stuff finished reading and left a rating...

    4w
  • Lex (Unexpected, #5)
    ash_reads_stuff
    Mar 24, 2025
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 2.5Characters: 3.5Plot: 3.5

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  • ash_reads_stuff finished reading and left a rating...

    4w
  • Luke (Unexpected, #4)
    ash_reads_stuff
    Mar 24, 2025
    3.5
    Enjoyment: 3.5Quality: 2.5Characters: 4.0Plot: 3.5

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  • ash_reads_stuff started reading...

    4w
    Heir (Heir Duology, #1)

    Heir (Heir Duology, #1)

    Sabaa Tahir

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