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A review by cece_rants_raves_reviews
Gypsy Rising by Kristy Cunning
3.0
The book itself is lowkey a hot mess of hot alphas, funny lines, and some weird outside plot that I have no idea whether its a bunch of unfortunate events or if there is an actual goal for this series.
But damn, I am just enjoying the journey
The highlight of this series is *absolutely* the hilarious group dynamic of the alpha monsters.
Damien,succubus. Emit, first werewolf. Arion, original vampire. Vance,Van Hasling hunter.
So essentially all the book things I have to say about this book... it be about them
First! Their history together. These original monsters have been around for a longggg ass time— trapped together. They are quite literally a boyband who can never break up
No matter how much they goddamn want to. But because all their history together, it has created a bond and hilarious dynamic. I adored trying to understand their past together, and fell more in love with them every chapter.
Basically, they all share a single braincell and use it to try and win Violet’s heart
“I called this meeting, because we’re Pandora’s Box,” Arion states very randomly, eyes not leaving mine. “We’re all very fucking stupid.”
Secondly! The courtship. Its almost as if the author remembered that the alpha monsters were the love interests and needed to lock that shit down considering there's only ONE MORE BOOK to tie up all those loose ends.
So everything went CRAZY and BIG and DRAMATIC.
No seriously....
“He takes her spot on the bed next to Violet, as I answer the call.
“Now’s not a good time, Arion. We’re—”
“I’m putting together a fun little Monster Olympics,” Arion says with all seriousness.
I shoot an incredulous gaze to Damien, who looks as stupefied as I feel.
“Monster Olympics?” Damien mouths.
“Violet once told me she’d always wanted to be a team mascot, but she never spent enough time in a town to make friends, let alone become a part of a team,” Arion goes on. “I’ve already secured an appropriate sized stadium”
“Pinching the bridge of my nose and exhaling, I lean forward, closing my eyes, and give him my full attention.”
The previous books was more of fun sexual tension building up to creating that romance between them. This book was do or die motherfuckers
To perfectly honest, I gave this book another star purely for the hilarious lines and random situations that these monsters got into -- just desperately trying to keep up with Violet
“That fucking wanker.
I’m going to tear off the wanker’s wanker and give it to another wanker who wants a wee wanker.
“Who the fucking hell is he?” I ask, as Vance joins me in my thousand-feet-away-from-the-sanctuary rooftop perch, watching Violet as she sits across from the wanker, who’s going to suffer all those things I already mentioned. “And why is she smiling at him like that?”
“Who is this wanker?” I ask again. “How long has he known her?”
“Someone tell me his name so I can dispose of the body properly,” Arion says, smiling darkly at us.
Vance exhales like he really doesn’t want to waste time dealing with him.
“Kidding,” Arion finally says a little sourly as he looks back.”
“What’s his name?”
“Dead Wanker,” I say absently, just as Vance answers, “Jerome.”
I’m going to be quite frank in saying that I enjoy their bromance together more than their romance with Violet
Considering its book 5 and they still haven’t succeeded at swiping Violet off her feet. its starting to get a little desperate.
And for a series, this is taking slowburn to a whole goddamn new level.
Especially for a reverse harem in which I wanted...Well you all know *wink*
Secondary character wise. I felt like the author read previous reviews -- noting the lack of distinguished secondary characters *aside from the legendary Anna* so she cranked that shit up to 60.
Every chapter it felt like we are meeting new people that got HELLLA confusing at times. But the handfull that I actually do remember, were pretty cool additions.
“The suspicious lad from earlier hops out and runs around to open the back door for Violet. “Ms. Carmine, I hope you don’t mind if I drive instead of Anna this time. Or would it offend her?” he asks, looking around.
“Anna’s not here, you prat. Who the hell are you?” I ask as I lift Violet into the seat too quickly for anyone to notice and shut the door.
He jogs around to the driver’s door and hops in, and I take the seat behind him and next to Violet, as I narrow my eyes.
“Talbot Lane. I’m Damien’s new favorite beta.”
Damien took you on already?” Violet asks like this is the time to be genuinely interested in anyone other than herself.
“Not yet, but I’m exceedingly arrogant, so I’ve already given myself the job. Be seeing you around some then, eh, Ms. Carmine?”
And now onto my critiques.
What the actual FUCK was that time skip?
it was so stupid. and pathetic. and made no sense.
I can't believe that my biggest problem with this ROMANCE REVERSE HAREM is the goddamn romance.
But hear me out. The sexy fun courtship that I'm glad was *finally* established in this book was what I genuinely expected to have happened sooner... like perhaps in the four books leading up to this point. The first couple chapters ESPECIALLY WITH THAT TIME SKIP made zero sense and totally destroyed any bonds that the previous books had built up
Then suddenly the plot went into full swing with the guys desperately trying to win her back and tie her down. Why does it have to be all or nothing ALL of a sudden?
Any progress she made with ANY of them previously almost felt like a restart in this book! I mean come'on! I enjoyed the fact that she had stronger connections with some of the guys sooner while needed more time with others. But after that little STUNT they pulled, everyone was back to square number one IN THE FIFTH BOOK
Looking back, I realize where this series really kinda bugged me. I love the characters. I hate Violet's backstory. I love the alpha monster premise. I hate the info dump world-developing that also felt incomplete. The group dynamic is hilarious. What the fuck is the plot for this series?
It's this constant back and forth battle happening while I was reading, and I kept going because I saw it getting better. But dear god did I get annoyed. I will never reread this series. But I will finish it. Take that as you will.
"I really do need better boundaries.
Also, I need stronger resolve or something.
Arion's lips kiss along my throat, and they slide over mine, just barely brushing, as his gaze stays devoted to me. There's a breathless moment where he conveys so much with that lost, yet content, look.
It's the same look he gave me the first time we had sex.
As though he's found something he didn't know existed and doesn't know how to treasure it properly.
Or…I'm a romantic idiot, who is reading way too much into it.
"I'll make you my bride, Violet Carmine. And when I do, you'll love every fucking second of it. You have a month to adjust to that warning before I make it a reality. Find a way to make peace with that," he says before he practically vanishes, leaving my mind rushing after the really crazy shit he just said like it wasn't a big deal.
Emit is beside me and pulling me against him, running his lips up my neck, and cradling me to him. He nuzzles me, affectionately snuggling against me, as I continue to reel from Arion's parting words.
"He ruins all the fun when he says crazy shit," Emit says on a sigh. "But you do continuously reward bad behavior," he points out.
I blink up at him, still too stunned for words. Arion was so serious that I believe he really did threaten to force me to be his bride, and to ultimately get over it if I have any objections.
I have no idea how I feel about this, since it sounded far more endearing the last time he mentioned it. Before he gave me a deadline and made it such a reality.
"How do you feel about being my mate?" Emit asks too abruptly.
These guys…
I swear…"
But damn, I am just enjoying the journey
The highlight of this series is *absolutely* the hilarious group dynamic of the alpha monsters.
Damien,succubus. Emit, first werewolf. Arion, original vampire. Vance,Van Hasling hunter.
So essentially all the book things I have to say about this book... it be about them
First! Their history together. These original monsters have been around for a longggg ass time— trapped together. They are quite literally a boyband who can never break up
No matter how much they goddamn want to. But because all their history together, it has created a bond and hilarious dynamic. I adored trying to understand their past together, and fell more in love with them every chapter.
Basically, they all share a single braincell and use it to try and win Violet’s heart
“I called this meeting, because we’re Pandora’s Box,” Arion states very randomly, eyes not leaving mine. “We’re all very fucking stupid.”
Secondly! The courtship. Its almost as if the author remembered that the alpha monsters were the love interests and needed to lock that shit down considering there's only ONE MORE BOOK to tie up all those loose ends.
So everything went CRAZY and BIG and DRAMATIC.
No seriously....
“He takes her spot on the bed next to Violet, as I answer the call.
“Now’s not a good time, Arion. We’re—”
“I’m putting together a fun little Monster Olympics,” Arion says with all seriousness.
I shoot an incredulous gaze to Damien, who looks as stupefied as I feel.
“Monster Olympics?” Damien mouths.
“Violet once told me she’d always wanted to be a team mascot, but she never spent enough time in a town to make friends, let alone become a part of a team,” Arion goes on. “I’ve already secured an appropriate sized stadium”
“Pinching the bridge of my nose and exhaling, I lean forward, closing my eyes, and give him my full attention.”
The previous books was more of fun sexual tension building up to creating that romance between them. This book was do or die motherfuckers
To perfectly honest, I gave this book another star purely for the hilarious lines and random situations that these monsters got into -- just desperately trying to keep up with Violet
“That fucking wanker.
I’m going to tear off the wanker’s wanker and give it to another wanker who wants a wee wanker.
“Who the fucking hell is he?” I ask, as Vance joins me in my thousand-feet-away-from-the-sanctuary rooftop perch, watching Violet as she sits across from the wanker, who’s going to suffer all those things I already mentioned. “And why is she smiling at him like that?”
“Who is this wanker?” I ask again. “How long has he known her?”
“Someone tell me his name so I can dispose of the body properly,” Arion says, smiling darkly at us.
Vance exhales like he really doesn’t want to waste time dealing with him.
“Kidding,” Arion finally says a little sourly as he looks back.”
“What’s his name?”
“Dead Wanker,” I say absently, just as Vance answers, “Jerome.”
I’m going to be quite frank in saying that I enjoy their bromance together more than their romance with Violet
Considering its book 5 and they still haven’t succeeded at swiping Violet off her feet. its starting to get a little desperate.
And for a series, this is taking slowburn to a whole goddamn new level.
Especially for a reverse harem in which I wanted...Well you all know *wink*
Secondary character wise. I felt like the author read previous reviews -- noting the lack of distinguished secondary characters *aside from the legendary Anna* so she cranked that shit up to 60.
Every chapter it felt like we are meeting new people that got HELLLA confusing at times. But the handfull that I actually do remember, were pretty cool additions.
“The suspicious lad from earlier hops out and runs around to open the back door for Violet. “Ms. Carmine, I hope you don’t mind if I drive instead of Anna this time. Or would it offend her?” he asks, looking around.
“Anna’s not here, you prat. Who the hell are you?” I ask as I lift Violet into the seat too quickly for anyone to notice and shut the door.
He jogs around to the driver’s door and hops in, and I take the seat behind him and next to Violet, as I narrow my eyes.
“Talbot Lane. I’m Damien’s new favorite beta.”
Damien took you on already?” Violet asks like this is the time to be genuinely interested in anyone other than herself.
“Not yet, but I’m exceedingly arrogant, so I’ve already given myself the job. Be seeing you around some then, eh, Ms. Carmine?”
And now onto my critiques.
What the actual FUCK was that time skip?
it was so stupid. and pathetic. and made no sense.
I can't believe that my biggest problem with this ROMANCE REVERSE HAREM is the goddamn romance.
But hear me out. The sexy fun courtship that I'm glad was *finally* established in this book was what I genuinely expected to have happened sooner... like perhaps in the four books leading up to this point. The first couple chapters ESPECIALLY WITH THAT TIME SKIP made zero sense and totally destroyed any bonds that the previous books had built up
Then suddenly the plot went into full swing with the guys desperately trying to win her back and tie her down. Why does it have to be all or nothing ALL of a sudden?
Any progress she made with ANY of them previously almost felt like a restart in this book! I mean come'on! I enjoyed the fact that she had stronger connections with some of the guys sooner while needed more time with others. But after that little STUNT they pulled, everyone was back to square number one IN THE FIFTH BOOK
Looking back, I realize where this series really kinda bugged me. I love the characters. I hate Violet's backstory. I love the alpha monster premise. I hate the info dump world-developing that also felt incomplete. The group dynamic is hilarious. What the fuck is the plot for this series?
It's this constant back and forth battle happening while I was reading, and I kept going because I saw it getting better. But dear god did I get annoyed. I will never reread this series. But I will finish it. Take that as you will.
"I really do need better boundaries.
Also, I need stronger resolve or something.
Arion's lips kiss along my throat, and they slide over mine, just barely brushing, as his gaze stays devoted to me. There's a breathless moment where he conveys so much with that lost, yet content, look.
It's the same look he gave me the first time we had sex.
As though he's found something he didn't know existed and doesn't know how to treasure it properly.
Or…I'm a romantic idiot, who is reading way too much into it.
"I'll make you my bride, Violet Carmine. And when I do, you'll love every fucking second of it. You have a month to adjust to that warning before I make it a reality. Find a way to make peace with that," he says before he practically vanishes, leaving my mind rushing after the really crazy shit he just said like it wasn't a big deal.
Emit is beside me and pulling me against him, running his lips up my neck, and cradling me to him. He nuzzles me, affectionately snuggling against me, as I continue to reel from Arion's parting words.
"He ruins all the fun when he says crazy shit," Emit says on a sigh. "But you do continuously reward bad behavior," he points out.
I blink up at him, still too stunned for words. Arion was so serious that I believe he really did threaten to force me to be his bride, and to ultimately get over it if I have any objections.
I have no idea how I feel about this, since it sounded far more endearing the last time he mentioned it. Before he gave me a deadline and made it such a reality.
"How do you feel about being my mate?" Emit asks too abruptly.
These guys…
I swear…"