Kingdom of Ash and Briars

Aaaaand we jump from a 5 star to a 1 star. I usually dislike rating books as 1 star because I feel like such an “armchair quarterback” (and I'll admit, when other reviewers litter books with low ratings, i.e. 2 and below, I wonder what they have ever done equivalent to writing a book. Probably not much. I'll be honest where I need to be). That said, if I can acknowledge that I have no talent to write a book, I can also acknowledge a book that just doesn't vibe with me. I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and the storyline was very boring and cliche to the point where I could easily predict what would happen next. Sadly I won't be reading #2. I'm sure West is a lovely person, and she has enough talent to publish a book which I greatly admire, but this one in particular (minus the lovely cover) just did not do it for me.

Lots of fairytale influence. Original enough idea but still somehow very cliche. Romance felt very unrealistic. A lot of the book felt rushed and many plot points felt glossed over. Quick read. TW: One nonconsensual kiss (other character is asleep/barely lucid) characters are not in a relationship.