Reviews

House of Pounding Hearts by Olivia Wildenstein

sarahbonjoverse's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

library_of_lysh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

reading_in_wonderland's review against another edition

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3.0

If I didn’t find the world and plot so interesting, I wouldn’t have continued with this series because I find the FMC exceptionally annoying. Fallon is a brat and I honestly can’t stand her. Also, something about the spice in this book was just cringey (and I’m a fan of spice). Not a great read for me, but just interesting enough that I’m sure I’ll read the next book when it comes out at the end of the month.

astro_princess's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kaytlinarias's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

erinlarahodgson's review against another edition

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3.75

The age difference is 700 years. Gross

ohheyyitsmissyp's review against another edition

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5.0

Fallon is the best and the worst protagonist ever. Okay not the worst by far.

Her most annoying dialogue/actions/internal monologue is still 10 billion times more endearing than most other 20-somethings in romantasy books (books which for some reason I cannot stop reading and it’s really annoying but kinda not bc sometimes you find gems like this series!).

Hey new BFFL Olivia, thanks for not losing the plot after the sexy time happens.

jugglingbooks's review against another edition

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3.75

As a story in general I like it. Some of the internal dialogue while funny at some points feels overdone after awhile. How she talks to herself not her conversations with Lore.

Also as for spicy scenes... I hated half the word choices haha

catreadsitall's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"You are mine, mo krrá. The same way that I am yours. From now until the end of time."

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

What To Expect:
✔️ He falls first
✔️ Touch her and die
✔️ Fated mates
✔️ Twists and betrayals

What It's About:
Fallon has previously made some poor decisions based on childhood infatuation and not being in possession of all the facts. She continues to do so. Lorcan is (mostly) no longer a statue-smoke-crow-man and is now mostly a red blooded Crow King. Dante continues his mission to show that his true colours are asshole with a side of betrayer. Phoebus wins the award for friend I'd most like to have. There's some stuff about changelings and parents and a new side-quest or 3, but mostly this book is about having a guilt-free romp through a delightful romance. Does the plot progress? Barely. Did I care? Not a bit.

What I Enjoyed:
Everything that came out of Lore's mouth whilst trying to persuade Fallon that he's far and away the superior King around here. The banter. Lore being a possessive asshole. Fallon pushing all of Lore's buttons. Phoebus, always and forever.

What I Struggled With:
The fact that Fallon went from "Absolutely not, never, I loathe you. But you are pretty hot..." bantering to not even bothering with the snark made me sad. I feel as though maybe there needs to be less fated mates and more making an effort lol.

Still really enjoy the author's writing style, even with minimal plot. Just try not to think to hard about things and you'll have much more fun with these! Looking forward to some new idiot quests for Fallon in book 3 and just hoping that Lore brings the aggressively suggestive banter back.

rogue_reader4's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0