numbatreads commented on a post
numbatreads started reading...

Alchemist of the Wilds: An Ex-Assassin's Guide to Cozy Romantic Brews
A. T. Valentine
numbatreads started reading...

Long Live Evil
Sarah Rees Brennan
numbatreads commented on a post
numbatreads finished a book

A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
numbatreads finished a book

Golden Son
Pierce Brown
numbatreads commented on a post
numbatreads commented on a post
numbatreads wrote a review...
Audiobook review
Narrator: Olivia Dowd
Vibes: 👩🦰🐦⬛🦴
Thanks to Netgalley and Recorded Books for the free ALC.
Three stars for Olivia Dowd's gorgeous narration and for Baldbeak. I wanted to love this book SO much but it ultimately felt like a little bit of a mess.
First, the good. Andrea Eames' prose is delightful, her turns of phrase very compelling which kept me reading even when the characters and plot had me thinking, "Huh?". Combined with Olivia Dowd's narration, the audiobook really is very well done and I'd highly recommend this format if you're thinking of checking it out. Then there's the (telepathically) talking raven, Baldbeak. I mean, say less.
Unfortunately, while I think the story had a TON of potential, it just didn't quite deliver. There was a fairly macabre magic system that the author didn't completely commit to, at least not as much as I wanted anyway. The plot was repetitive (Netta trusts a person, gets into trouble, escapes, rinse and repeat). Other than Baldbeak, the characters fell quite flat for me and the romance felt forced and unnecessary.
I am very keen to read Andrea Eames' other book, A Harvest of Hearts, but I felt like this one needed more editing.
Pub date: 11 August 2026
numbatreads is re-reading...

A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
numbatreads finished a book

A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
numbatreads commented on numbatreads's update
numbatreads is re-reading...

A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
numbatreads is re-reading...

A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
numbatreads commented on a post
One chapter in - what the heck did I just read? This is so bizarre and hilarious so far.