tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post8269581767301468195..comments2024-03-27T06:00:32.186-04:00Comments on Girl Plus Books: Ranty Review: Blood to Dust by L.J. ShenTanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-73911218045203836182020-10-26T09:14:34.245-04:002020-10-26T09:14:34.245-04:00I don't even mind being the lone wolf who does...I don't even mind being the lone wolf who doesn't love a book. Because I feel like I'm in that role A LOT. lol Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-40051215434140131822020-10-20T14:32:25.691-04:002020-10-20T14:32:25.691-04:00Isn't it weird and awful when you go to Goodre...Isn't it weird and awful when you go to Goodreads and find you're the only one who feels that way??? lol<br /><br />I find when I start asking people though - they are out there - but don't want to be the first/only one to put the bad review.<br /><br />This one wouldn't be for me just based on the summary but I'm sorry it also had a heaping batch of wtf-ery too.<br /><br /><a href="www.fwiwreviews.net" rel="nofollow"> Karen @ For What It's Worth</a>Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-32059021755815514892020-10-20T08:38:08.040-04:002020-10-20T08:38:08.040-04:00Thanks Suzanne. It's fun to try new authors an...Thanks Suzanne. It's fun to try new authors and sometimes you find a new favorite. This time, not so much. :)Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-61310941901729219572020-10-20T08:37:05.009-04:002020-10-20T08:37:05.009-04:00Well, this one excelled when it came to WTF moment...Well, this one excelled when it came to WTF moments. LOL <br /><br />And I think you're right - Shen is probably one of those authors whose writing you either love or hate.Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-60041482605648534192020-10-20T08:35:27.123-04:002020-10-20T08:35:27.123-04:00Yeah, just didn't work for me. But that's ...Yeah, just didn't work for me. But that's okay... they can't all be winners. :)Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-81875495447223163482020-10-20T08:33:46.467-04:002020-10-20T08:33:46.467-04:00I see a lot of raves for Vicious and Pretty Reckle...I see a lot of raves for Vicious and Pretty Reckless but I'm probably not going to read them. A trusted blogger friend told that while she did enjoy those, my issues with the writing are pretty much Shen's style. And that's just not for me. No worries, though! Not every writer (or book) is going to appeal to everyone. :) I hope you'll love those if/when you get to them!Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-1328145172421400652020-10-18T22:42:49.975-04:002020-10-18T22:42:49.975-04:00Oh yeah, this totally would have had me ranting as...Oh yeah, this totally would have had me ranting as well. I've not tried this author before but I think I'll pass. I hope your next read is a better one!Suzanne @ The Bookish Librahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116292880784513187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-60760099905075076622020-10-18T11:05:29.370-04:002020-10-18T11:05:29.370-04:00I can handle a lot when it comes to Dark Romance b...I can handle a lot when it comes to Dark Romance but I'm often left with a healthy dose of WTF while reading them. <br />I think the only Shen book I've read is Sparrow and while it was ok (I gave it 3 stars) I was mightly confused by the number of rave 5-star reviews posted for it. <br />I figure her writing is like marmite: you love it or hate it. Niccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122972546470154598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-15194833984275380902020-10-17T15:33:48.260-04:002020-10-17T15:33:48.260-04:00Nope... I love a dark romance, but I can see why t...Nope... I love a dark romance, but I can see why this would have you pulling out your hair. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15658833731713991138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-11946916336906201582020-10-16T15:28:30.501-04:002020-10-16T15:28:30.501-04:00I haven't read LJ Shen yet, but my two friends...I haven't read LJ Shen yet, but my two friends that like her books said I have to start with either Vicious or Pretty Reckless. That some of her books were not good at all lol. Buuuuuut I haven't started them yet. I'm sorry this book was such a let down, here's hoping your next book is a billion times better!<br />Jen @ <a href="http://starcrossedbookblog.com/" rel="nofollow">Star-Crossed Book Blog</a>Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06649171571533224264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-30952926886516542392020-10-16T13:15:45.358-04:002020-10-16T13:15:45.358-04:00LOL Happy to entertain, Angela! :) LOL Happy to entertain, Angela! :) Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-69397068796392926362020-10-16T09:29:46.338-04:002020-10-16T09:29:46.338-04:00I have to say, I love reading ranty reviews like t...I have to say, I love reading ranty reviews like this one! I often feel like those memes when I hate a book that has a really high GR rating.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-18620147746317686722020-10-16T08:28:13.267-04:002020-10-16T08:28:13.267-04:00Right?! The stuff Deanna mentioned had me shook. A...Right?! The stuff Deanna mentioned had me shook. An author who is going to tell reviewers that they can't rate below a certain number. Yeah, that tells me right there that I don't want anything to do with her. I'm chalking her up as one to avoid.Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-40572498542419737852020-10-16T08:26:16.261-04:002020-10-16T08:26:16.261-04:00Thanks Tracy. I'm no stranger to not enjoying ...Thanks Tracy. I'm no stranger to not enjoying a really popular book but all the 5 star reviews for this one truly had me baffled.Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-58571613445985557342020-10-16T08:25:17.764-04:002020-10-16T08:25:17.764-04:00LOL Yeah, I was well and truly sick of them, Carol...LOL Yeah, I was well and truly sick of them, Carole!Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-9560916352018779772020-10-16T08:24:49.536-04:002020-10-16T08:24:49.536-04:00What a letdown. Especially from an author you alre...What a letdown. Especially from an author you already love. But I'm always a little suspect when there's loads of 5 star reviews for a book that just doesn't seem all that great (or even good). Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-90748138627048229512020-10-16T08:23:01.028-04:002020-10-16T08:23:01.028-04:00I guess she definitely has her fan base if she'...I guess she definitely has her fan base if she's getting her books nominated for GR awards... but I sure don't get it!Tanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-63531482220927914682020-10-16T08:21:28.466-04:002020-10-16T08:21:28.466-04:00Yeah, I gave her a try and now I know. I can move ...Yeah, I gave her a try and now I know. I can move on to other authors who don't want me to board the crazy train. LOLTanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-19784466544022305972020-10-15T22:37:00.215-04:002020-10-15T22:37:00.215-04:00Oh no, this sounds terrible! I have also found mys...Oh no, this sounds terrible! I have also found myself utterly baffled by being one of the few who absolutely hated a book, so I can totally sympathize. Cartoonish characters are the worst. I'm sorry this one didn't work out for you!Tracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/10715236765292209452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-50256129910551829482020-10-15T21:38:14.196-04:002020-10-15T21:38:14.196-04:00Oh YIKES this sounds a mess. I don't even know...Oh YIKES this sounds a mess. I don't even know how I feel about even the premise, if I am being honest. Like- I like dark, don't get me wrong, but I don't... think it should ever be "glamorous" to be in love with your kidnapper/rapist? ALSO reading Deanna's comment has pretty much guaranteed that this writer is NOT for me. Like- if you're treating reviewers that way, then yeah, you seem like you'd write outlandish and irresponsible nonsense hah. I agree, you can't just have the MC be a murdery drug dealer with zero backstory to support it. And they all sound like jerks, frankly. As does the author. I am glad you wrote this (great!) ranty review because I am avoiding this like the plague! Shannon @ It Starts at Midnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043593641190645773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-40409783684516035852020-10-15T21:26:36.836-04:002020-10-15T21:26:36.836-04:00I am pretty sure that this one is not for me. I a...I am pretty sure that this one is not for me. I am kind of annoyed by these characters just from reading your review so I couldn't imagine hundreds of pages of the nonsense.Carole's Random Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737905249530702688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-59258782841122927172020-10-15T16:23:54.923-04:002020-10-15T16:23:54.923-04:00Bwahahahahaha! I stopped reading her books when sh...Bwahahahahaha! I stopped reading her books when she produced them at an insane rate and theyr became..cartoonish? caricature? Yet I liked this one LOL.<br />Now I feel exactly the same about Lord of London, the latest of Tillie Cole. I love her books usually but this time I feel like she tried too much and made a caricature. So of course I too went to look for others feeling like I do and ...I was surprised to be basically the only one! It left me with a bad taste as I am really wondering if there is something wrong with me! Beware Of The Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146867538038694877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-64290911102443484332020-10-15T10:12:45.652-04:002020-10-15T10:12:45.652-04:00Cartoonish villains are the worst. I have a friend...Cartoonish villains are the worst. I have a friend who has told me not to read this author because her books are over the top and your review confirms that sentiment. I remember how she got two books in the GR awards romance category and was baffled! Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13304521473521896294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-52806085027615638812020-10-15T09:22:25.593-04:002020-10-15T09:22:25.593-04:00I am not about dark anything, so Shen has never be...I am not about dark anything, so Shen has never been on my radar. I have read some really OTT romance books though -- sometimes I am ok with it, and sometimes I am not. At least you gave the author a go. Good for youSamantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051174949483344057.post-65230364948747107722020-10-15T08:43:31.048-04:002020-10-15T08:43:31.048-04:00Wow, that ARC policy kind of blows my mind. I'...Wow, that ARC policy kind of blows my mind. I've heard of that before but have never encountered it personally. And that just has to be it with all those 5 star reviews. Either that or my taste is so far removed from the general population that I really am the lone wolf. LOLTanya @ Girl Plus Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357204133826428572noreply@blogger.com