arcreview – Page 10 – Sincerely Karen Jo

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Hello lovelies! Today, I have my review for Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman. Adored by 50 million readers on Wattpad, this hilarious smash-hit book is now in print for the first time.

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abouthebook2

Publisher: Wattpad Books

Expected Publication: October 1, 2019

Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance

Format: Paperback, 384 pages

purchaselinks

AMAZON – BARNES AND NOBLE – INDIEBOUND

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He’s mythologically hot, a little bit wicked, and almost 100% immortal. And he’ll hit you right in the heart . . .

“Miss Black, we have a big problem.”

Lila Black doesn’t believe in matchmaking, let alone soul mates. So then why is she constantly being hassled by the Cupids Matchmaking Service? But this gilded, cherub-bedecked dating agency isn’t exactly what it seems . . . and it’s about to turn Lila’s entire world upside down.

It turns out that Cupids Matchmaking is the real deal. As in, it’s run by actual cupids—who don’t look at all like they do in the paintings—and they have a serious problem with Lila’s “match.” Because this guy shouldn’t be in the system. He shouldn’t have a match. And while he’s irresistibly hot, he’s also incredibly dangerous. Because Lila’s true love match is Cupid. The original bad boy of love. And he wants her.

Now Lila’s once-normal teenaged world has exploded into a mythological nightmare overrun by crime-lord sirens, wrathful cupid hit men, magic arrows that cause no end of trouble, and a mischievous, not-so-angelic love god she can’t seem to stop herself from falling for . . .

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mythoughts

Hilarious, Charming, and Surprisingly Delightful

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Rating – 3.5 hearts rounded to 4

Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman is a charming, humorous, and entertaining romance fantasy with a fun mythological twist. I found myself laughing a few times, swooning a bit here and there, and just having a really good time. Definitely a quick and amusing tale that enamored me until the end.

The idea of actual cupids running a Matchmaking service hidden in the real world is really intriguing. I knew there’ll be plenty of silliness and humor in the story and I couldn’t wait. While I didn’t completely love this book, I do have to admit… it’s absolutely a unique, quirky and fun read. The pacing is fast and feels rushed from time to time, but it wasn’t bothersome. I thought the writing is easy to follow and engaging. The plot is a bit outrageous and a little predictable, but there’s a few surprises that made the story really enjoyable. I don’t fully understand how the magical system really works, but the world-building is quite fascinating and the mythology aspect is creative and interesting enough. The narrative does get a bit absurd once in a while, the dialogue is sometimes chessy and awkward, the characters are kind of a mess, and the ending seems too convenient. So yes, the execution isn’t always perfect and there are some parts of the storyline that are confusing, but if you allow yourself to just relax, not overanalyze everything, and really enjoy the story for what it is, then you’ll have an awesome time just like I did.

I didn’t feel a deep connection with any of the characters, but I thought they’re all quite adorable and such a fun group. Lila is not always likeable, but she’s interesting and I enjoyed her personality. Cupid is the typical “bad boy” love interest and he definitely charmed me. I don’t think I’m head over heels in love with him, but he’s funny, magnetic, and swoony. Cal is serious, strict, and stony for the most part, but there’s something alluring about him. I was actually more drawn to him than Cupid and I wanted to knock down his walls in order to get to know the real Cal who I think is really sweet, caring, and fun. I like the secondary characters and I thought it was cool how all the cupids have names that begins with the letter “C.” The other mythological creatures are nicely introduced and I’m excited to learn more about them in the other books.

I do like the romance. It is a bit cringy at times and there’s definitely an insta-love/soulmate thing going on between Lila and Cupid, but I enjoyed their chemistry. They made me swoon here and there and I do think they’re cute together. I’m not so sure about the love triangle though and I’m kind of confused as to why it’s even there. I just don’t really like love triangles cause I have to choose one love interest to root for and sometimes, I really do like both while other times I’m in love with the one that doesn’t get the girl/boy.

Hilarious, charming, and surprisingly delightful, Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman is a wonderfully fun fantasy romance that I’m sure will keep readers amused. While this didn’t hit me in the heart with all the feels, I definitely enjoyed the action, the drama, the bantering, the mystery, the intriguing characters, and the over-the-top, but sweet romance. Overall, this is a satisfyingly entertaining book that left me smiling in the end.

If you’re looking for some silly fun, a few good laughs, and a story that will lighten your mood, then this book might just be for you.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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abouttheauthor

Bio taken from Author’s Website and Photo from Facebook

LAUREN PALPHREYMAN is an author based in London.

She is best known for her supernatural teen romance series, Cupid’s Match, which has accumulated over 40 million reads online, has been developed into a pilot episode for CW Seed, and will be published by Wattpad Books (October 2019).

She is part of Wattpad’s social influencer programme, the Wattpad Stars, where she has written for brand campaigns, spoken on a panel at London Wattcon, and completed a chapter for Writer’s Digest’s ‘Writer’s Guide to Wattpad’. Her standalone fantasy romances, Thorn, and Ink, have both accumulated over half a million reads online to date.

Lauren previously worked as an insight analyst for Penguin Random House. Now she spends her days writing, drinking coffee, and deviously plotting for cupid world domination! As a huge fan of Marvel and big blockbuster franchises, her life’s ambition is to create a fictional, multimedia universe for fans to enjoy and explore.

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WEBSITE – GOODREADS – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM

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Thanks for stopping by loves. As always, happy reading and have a fantastic day!!

sincerelykjologo

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Hello bookish friends and welcome to my Blog Tour Stop for Relic by Bronwyn Eley hosted by Shealea @ CAFFEINE BOOK TOURS. Be sure the follow the rest of the tour and check out the other amazing tour hosts!

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abouthebook2

Published: September 12, 2019

Publisher: Talem Press

Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy

Format: Paperback, 498 Pages

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AMAZON – BOOK DEPOSITORY

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synopsis4

In the city of Edriast, there is no deadlier duty than to serve as the Shadow.

As the personal servant of the powerful Lord Rennard, the Shadow’s life is all but forfeit. Rennard possesses one of five rare and dangerous Relics – a jewel that protects his bloodline, but slowly poisons everyone else in its proximity. When the current Shadow succumbs to its magic, nineteen-year-old blacksmith Kaylan is summoned to take his place.

It’s an appointment that will kill her.

As the time Kaylan has left ebbs away, hope begins to fade… That is, until she discovers a plot to destroy all five bloodlines in possession of the Relics.

A rebel force plans to put an end to Rennard’s rule and Kaylan suddenly finds herself embroiled in a cause that might just be worth fighting for. But no cause is without its costs…

As her life hangs in the balance and rebellion bears down on Edriast, Kaylan must decide where her loyalties lie – and how she’ll leave her mark on the world.

Relic is the absorbing first novel in The Relic Trilogy, a thrillingly dark YA fantasy series.

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mythoughts

A Dark, Gripping, and Heartwrenching YA Fantasy
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Dark, gripping, and heartwrenching, Relic by Bronwyn Eley is a fantastic start to a thrilling YA fantasy series that will leave readers intoxicated and begging for the next book.

Okay so it took me a while to get into this book and for the first half, I was definitely leaning on a 3 hearts rating. I kept waiting for something really exciting to happen and while there are some interesting parts that I enjoyed reading, I definitely found myself wanting to put the book down a few times. Also, the pacing for the most part… at least for the first half of the novel is really slow for me. BUT, the intrigue and mystery kept me reading and the deeper I got into the story, the more I became fascinated with everything. A little over the halfway mark, the plot picks up pace and there’s a lot of excitement and happenings that had me glued to the pages. I certainly enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, but all in all, I thought this was a fun and thrilling fantasy tale.

This is one of those books that slowly grows on you that by the end, you’ll have a difficult time processing everything in the story. I still have questions about so many things, but I think this novel is pretty amazing and while I may not put the sequel on the top of my TBR list, I’m definitely interested in seeing what Eley does next. I think the world-building is interesting and there are so much more I want to know about the Relics, the magic involved, and the relationship between the owner and the relic itself. The plot is slow at first and doesn’t really have enough action scenes, but it never lost its appeal and there are so many moments I enjoyed just getting to know Kaylan and the rest of the characters. I like the emotional depth, the friendships, the romance, and the exhilarating last few chapters. Eley also does a fantastic job sprinkling some shocking surprises, twists, and turns. I knew the ending would break my heart in some way, but I was not at all prepared for what happened. There are some aching feels on those last few pages so be prepared for some tears.

Kaylan is a likable heroine and my heart broke for her so much and everything she has to deal with. However, as much as I like Kaylan, I never completely fell in love with her character. She has plenty of admirable qualities — she’s caring, loyal, compassionate, and kind — and I cared enough about her that I didn’t want to see her hurt. But, I wanted Kaylan to fight more and to have more fire in her. I can’t give too much away, but in the end, I could definitely see Kaylan becoming the type of heroine I love and that got me really excited for her character arc in the next book.

I adore Markus and like him as a love interest for Kaylan even though I didn’t get enough swoons and never felt an intense chemistry between them. To me, it feels like they’re very good friends who really care about each other. That being said, I still enjoyed their sweet moments together and the few instances they flirted with each other. I also really like how Markus wants to save Kaylan and just make her happy. He’s sweet, charming, and just a really good person.

Lord Rennard is the antagonist and as much as I want to not like him, a part of me felt sorry for him, Yes there’s darkness in him… maybe it’s the Relic or maybe it’s really him. He can be vile and cruel, but there’s also a part of him that does care. I’m definitely conflicted…and even now, I still feel that way. BUT, if there is one character I don’t like at all, that would be Thorne. He is downright hateful and a horrible person. To me, he’s the villian of the story.

Some other characters that are worth mentioning – Shae, Jesper, Elias and Bellamy. I like the friendship that forms between Jesper and Kaylan. I love Shae and her bond with Kaylan is so heartwarming. I wish she was in the story more cause she brought some lightness and humor. I’m not sure how I feel about Elias, but I’m hoping he has a bigger role in the second book. Bellamy is a mystery and I have a feeling it may not necessarily be a good one.

Relic by Bronwyn Eley is a great debut novel and even though I took a while to really get into the story, I found myself intrigued enough, excited throughout the second half of the book, stunned during the last few chapters, and thrilled to see what would happen next. I like the magic, the family dynamic, the mystery, the friendships, the character arcs, the political aspects, and the subtle romance. I enjoyed this thrilling fantasy and if you can get past the slow pacing in the beginning, I’m sure you’ll be impressed and more than satisfied with the overall story.

I received an advance reader copy of this book for participating in a blog tour hosted by CAFFEINE BOOK TOURS and in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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abouttheauthor

Bronwyn joined the military right out of high school, where she learnt (among other things) to disassemble and reassemble a rifle blindfolded. After that, she spent a lot of her time travelling around the world. Her favourite places (so far) are Scotland, Mongolia, Iceland, and Ireland.

Bronwyn finally found her natural habitat when she landed her first job in the publishing industry. While she has always been a writer, it was only when surrounding herself with books that she realised her life’s dream was to become an author. Relic is her first novel.

Bronwyn lives in Sydney and spends her time eating chocolate, reading and practicing her martial arts.

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