Hi Mark! I also read this in MJs Fable group and I agree with every single thing you said haha. Lucien was the only character I liked. Hard to feel the Beauty and the Beast vibes when Tamlin is basically described as looking like Chris Helmsworth (as Thor) with cute pointy ears and a mask on. 😂 I also didn’t buy into Amarantha’s motives for why she was doing all she did. They say time heals all breakups, but didn’t seem to do so in this case! I enjoyed it anyway and gave it a 4 and will definitely read the next one so she did something right for me even though I’m not sure what that was 😂.
Weirdly I kinda liked that Amarantha was just a bit of a psychopath, sometimes villains don’t need to be relatable they can just be d*cks. Glad you enjoyed, I’m just not the target market, and I think I’ll easily dodge the bullet of having to read the sequel 🤣
I've got a feeling that I might enjoy this book despite not being the target audience. Worst case is I don't enjoy it but an independent bookshop got a sale and I'm ok with that. If I enjoy it and you get 500 likes we should buddy read the next one 😂
I kind of want you to read the 2nd one because it would be funny to see your reaction to the changes that happen! But you were very fair to the book, I think.
I agree with much of your ending assessment. I did read the whole series, mostly though just to read along with a friend who was really enjoying it and wanted to discuss it. I think my concern about teenagers reading it was more the red flag behavior from the love interest than the spicy scenes themselves. The author does address most (but not all) of the red flag behaviors in book 2 and following. Even with my concerns about relationship red flags, though, I would not propose banning! Let's have conversations instead about what green flag relationships look like!
@@BonnieNicoleWrites I totally agree. I think it’s far more productive to have a discussion about relationships and behaviour. I would much prefer that it be read and highlighted as examples of red flag behaviour, than completely prohibited. I’m not certain the banning was nuanced enough to consider that though, I suspect it was more the physical acts described. Thanks for such an insightful addition to a discussion. I hope it wasn’t wasted too much in a discussion started by a middle aged dude reading Romantasy under duress and making gags about it. 😁
The video I was waiting for!!!! I need you to make a video about your rating system, because I am hearing 2 star, but you said it was fine hahaha like a 2 star for me is not good. Also I’m sorry, but I’ve hit the like button 😘💕
@@onceuponabookishsteph so there’s one person who was actually waiting for this, I stand corrected. I did a video ages ago about how I come up with my star ratings. It’s me being nerdy with spreadsheets so unsurprising no one watched it 😂 To me 2 stars equals 40% which is a passing grade, but just barely. Glass half full y’know.
Great video. :) And thank you for breaking it down. I have no interest in reading this book even though I do love fairy tales (Labyrinth and Legend are two of my favorite movies). And I'm not going to push you to read the sequel. lol.
I bought it cheap at a charity shop, out of curiosity, and ended up skim-reading most of the second half. I didn’t like the characters, the world building was almost non-existent/lacked details. Loads of details ignored or made little sense. There are many great novels out there, this is not one of them!
@@BookSquirrelUK yeah I kinda agree, but everyone needs a gateway into reading, and if this is doing that job for some people, then I salute it. I’m really not the target demographic though.
I didn't watch the video because I can't anymore with this series. It is being thrown at me against my will from every angle. (I haven't watched any reviews at all not even by my fave booktubers) I read this because I liked Throne of Glass until it got a little too into the love and constant s**. I used to read a lot of romantasy but I think that soured it for me because now I feel every book is the same. I read ACOTAR and didn't like any of the characters (what little character building there was outside of "he's hot and gloomy"), didn't like the villain, there wasn't really any world building to speak of and the writing is meh and especially awful for the spicy scenes. The only character I kinda liked (probably because he is the only slightly intriguing character) was Rhysand and I know what happens with him in future books so I was like 'no need to read anymore of this'. 🤣
@@AaronReadABook I would but my hands are tied, I just don’t have the ‘likes’ to carry on. Did I specify an amount that was higher than the number of likes I’ve had on any video by a factor of twenty? Maybe. Was that intentionally unachievable? Perhaps. Did I look at the number of likes this video was getting and start to panic and wish that I’d said 1000 likes? Almost certainly. But we are where we are and who am I to change an arbitrary rule that I made up.
If I watch your review, will it spoil it for me? It’s literally been on my shelf for at least a year ( more likely three years😂). I’m afraid to be in the club with you and Cliff’s Dark Gems. 😂🤣
"horny fairy month" 🤣🤣 You had me in stitches Mark! Entertaining review. I ended up enjoying the book, despite the flaws. Think I need to spread the word so people like this video. Then we can do a buddy read of book two. 😂
@@CliffsDarkGems so not only are you planning to announce that you want to read ACOTAR 2, but you’re going to try and get someone else (ie me) to read it as well🤣 We really are approaching Cliff’s Sparkling Gems territory now.
@@TheBookThing 🤣It would take something very special (Not ACOTAR) to convince me to start a Romantasy channel. 😍 If I did read book two it would be on the sly, behind closed doors. 😁
I'm in love with this series and stumbled upon this video. You did a great job and were openly honest! The next books in the series deal with a lot of graphic stuff and lets just say a bunch of smut...so in a way i can see libraries not wanting anyone under the age of 18 getting their hands on it.😅 The 1st book is extremely tame in comparison to the rest of the series. Mist and Fury is where everything gets super spicy. 🫢
Thanks for the warning, just when I thought I'd dodged the bullet of reading Mist and Fury, my book club have selected it for the next read. I've now got a dilemma on my hands
For me Court of Mist a Fury is the best of the collection.
Good to know, I’m currently debating whether or not to read on. 😁
Hi Mark! I also read this in MJs Fable group and I agree with every single thing you said haha. Lucien was the only character I liked. Hard to feel the Beauty and the Beast vibes when Tamlin is basically described as looking like Chris Helmsworth (as Thor) with cute pointy ears and a mask on. 😂 I also didn’t buy into Amarantha’s motives for why she was doing all she did. They say time heals all breakups, but didn’t seem to do so in this case! I enjoyed it anyway and gave it a 4 and will definitely read the next one so she did something right for me even though I’m not sure what that was 😂.
Weirdly I kinda liked that Amarantha was just a bit of a psychopath, sometimes villains don’t need to be relatable they can just be d*cks.
Glad you enjoyed, I’m just not the target market, and I think I’ll easily dodge the bullet of having to read the sequel 🤣
Beauty and the Beast meets Twilight! I enjoyed it more way more that I thought I would. Thanks for joining in!
I’ve only seen the Twilight movies, not read the books, but I can see the similarities
I've got a feeling that I might enjoy this book despite not being the target audience. Worst case is I don't enjoy it but an independent bookshop got a sale and I'm ok with that.
If I enjoy it and you get 500 likes we should buddy read the next one 😂
@@DisquietandDragons if I get 500 likes I will happily drag someone else along on my miserable journey with me 🤣
Bruv! 46? You're looking good my man! Great video.
@PaperbackJourneys thanks man, my youthful complexion is down to a strict regime of Terry Pratchett and whisky. 😁
I kind of want you to read the 2nd one because it would be funny to see your reaction to the changes that happen! But you were very fair to the book, I think.
Thanks @@julesingreen, ha ha ha I think it’s fairly unlikely that book two is on the agenda
I agree with much of your ending assessment. I did read the whole series, mostly though just to read along with a friend who was really enjoying it and wanted to discuss it. I think my concern about teenagers reading it was more the red flag behavior from the love interest than the spicy scenes themselves. The author does address most (but not all) of the red flag behaviors in book 2 and following. Even with my concerns about relationship red flags, though, I would not propose banning! Let's have conversations instead about what green flag relationships look like!
@@BonnieNicoleWrites I totally agree. I think it’s far more productive to have a discussion about relationships and behaviour. I would much prefer that it be read and highlighted as examples of red flag behaviour, than completely prohibited.
I’m not certain the banning was nuanced enough to consider that though, I suspect it was more the physical acts described.
Thanks for such an insightful addition to a discussion. I hope it wasn’t wasted too much in a discussion started by a middle aged dude reading Romantasy under duress and making gags about it. 😁
Lucky you! It's November and only 74 likes :D
I know! Even though 74 doesn’t sound like much it’s way more than I’ve had for any previous video, so I’m not going to lie, I was panicking a little.
The video I was waiting for!!!!
I need you to make a video about your rating system, because I am hearing 2 star, but you said it was fine hahaha like a 2 star for me is not good.
Also I’m sorry, but I’ve hit the like button 😘💕
@@onceuponabookishsteph so there’s one person who was actually waiting for this, I stand corrected.
I did a video ages ago about how I come up with my star ratings. It’s me being nerdy with spreadsheets so unsurprising no one watched it 😂
To me 2 stars equals 40% which is a passing grade, but just barely. Glass half full y’know.
@@TheBookThing hahaha I’m going to have to track this video down because I am so curious lol
It’s quite possibly the nerdiest video I’ve done. And I’ve done about 20 Discworld videos.
Thanks for reviewing as a non target audience reader. Keep yo-yoing about reading. To see what the hype is, and especially now it’s banned!
@@ExtraT82 thanks Erin, still don’t know what the hype is either so can’t help you there 😂
Great video. :) And thank you for breaking it down. I have no interest in reading this book even though I do love fairy tales (Labyrinth and Legend are two of my favorite movies). And I'm not going to push you to read the sequel. lol.
@@bluemaiden5 thank you 😁. It’s not for everyone and I’m definitely not the target demographic, but there’s certainly worse.
I bought it cheap at a charity shop, out of curiosity, and ended up skim-reading most of the second half. I didn’t like the characters, the world building was almost non-existent/lacked details. Loads of details ignored or made little sense. There are many great novels out there, this is not one of them!
@@BookSquirrelUK yeah I kinda agree, but everyone needs a gateway into reading, and if this is doing that job for some people, then I salute it. I’m really not the target demographic though.
Ohh dang... I hit the like button. 👍
@@someothercharacter thanks for your support 🤬
I didn't watch the video because I can't anymore with this series. It is being thrown at me against my will from every angle. (I haven't watched any reviews at all not even by my fave booktubers) I read this because I liked Throne of Glass until it got a little too into the love and constant s**. I used to read a lot of romantasy but I think that soured it for me because now I feel every book is the same. I read ACOTAR and didn't like any of the characters (what little character building there was outside of "he's hot and gloomy"), didn't like the villain, there wasn't really any world building to speak of and the writing is meh and especially awful for the spicy scenes. The only character I kinda liked (probably because he is the only slightly intriguing character) was Rhysand and I know what happens with him in future books so I was like 'no need to read anymore of this'. 🤣
@@AntiBookClubBookClub honestly, if that’s your perspective (and I’m not trying to market myself) you might actually want to watch the video 🤣
Let B words be B words is a good philosophy. I probably will never read this but its fun hearing opinions on it. i do think you should read them all.
@@AaronReadABook I would but my hands are tied, I just don’t have the ‘likes’ to carry on. Did I specify an amount that was higher than the number of likes I’ve had on any video by a factor of twenty? Maybe. Was that intentionally unachievable? Perhaps. Did I look at the number of likes this video was getting and start to panic and wish that I’d said 1000 likes? Almost certainly. But we are where we are and who am I to change an arbitrary rule that I made up.
If I watch your review, will it spoil it for me? It’s literally been on my shelf for at least a year ( more likely three years😂). I’m afraid to be in the club with you and Cliff’s Dark Gems. 😂🤣
There are spoilers but I’ve divided the video into chapters and flagged where they are so you can easily skip past the spoiler section 😁
"horny fairy month" 🤣🤣 You had me in stitches Mark! Entertaining review. I ended up enjoying the book, despite the flaws. Think I need to spread the word so people like this video. Then we can do a buddy read of book two. 😂
I'm always grateful for the word to be spread, just don't spread it too far otherwise I might have to read the bloody thing 🤣
@@TheBookThing Maybe I should announce it on my channel🤣🤣🤣
@@CliffsDarkGems so not only are you planning to announce that you want to read ACOTAR 2, but you’re going to try and get someone else (ie me) to read it as well🤣
We really are approaching Cliff’s Sparkling Gems territory now.
@@TheBookThing 🤣It would take something very special (Not ACOTAR) to convince me to start a Romantasy channel. 😍 If I did read book two it would be on the sly, behind closed doors. 😁
*clicked "Like"
@@PulpMortem hmmm. Thanks?
You’re a funny man!
Ha ha thanks dude 😁
Came by way of A Genteel Black Hole - so Hello, Mark from Mark! Subbed.
@@book-ramble thanks so much Mark, he’s a good dude isn’t he.
@@TheBookThing He is!
I think the second book is the best in this series!
@@NicolesBookishNook well on the off chance I have to read it I have that to look forward to at least 😁
I liked this video. My sincere apologies.
Dammit!
@@TheBookThing It’s your own silly fault for making an enjoyable video!
@@genteelblackhole 🤣 thanks man. 500 likes was intentional monumental so the chances are pretty low, so I’m safe enough.
This was brilliant, Mark! Really well done! You made me laugh out loud at several points. Your discussion of Feyre! Magnificent!
@@BookChatWithPat8668 thanks Pat, glad you enjoyed.
2nd book is waaaaaaaaaaay better. Didn't like this 1st one as well
@@VanessaMarieiro95 I’ll take your word for that I think it’s fairly unlikely I’ll be returning to the series 😂
I'm in love with this series and stumbled upon this video. You did a great job and were openly honest! The next books in the series deal with a lot of graphic stuff and lets just say a bunch of smut...so in a way i can see libraries not wanting anyone under the age of 18 getting their hands on it.😅 The 1st book is extremely tame in comparison to the rest of the series. Mist and Fury is where everything gets super spicy. 🫢
Thanks for the warning, just when I thought I'd dodged the bullet of reading Mist and Fury, my book club have selected it for the next read. I've now got a dilemma on my hands