i read one of booktok's favorite dark fantasy romance series | a plated prisoner book rant / review

[@caricanread]

Hi everyone! If you're in PRAGUE on March 10th (the afternoon to evening) and VIENNA on March 15th (morning) we're going to have a meet up while I'm there! Very casual, just grabbing a coffee and meeting other little book worms and solo travel lovers :) For info on the exact time and place, please follow my instagram which is caricakez because that will be where I'm updating in case of sudden changes. Hope to see some of you there!!

[@xxdd6968]

Omg i live in Vienna. I'm gonna be there even tough I am super nervous already.

[@kittyvu5045]

I have uni, so I can't come 😭😭😭

[@khamuliane]

You said you crave a good book. I have a whole list for you: 1. Rae Carson - The Girl of Fire and Thorns (1) - The Crown of Embers (2) - The Bitter Kingdom (3) - The Empire of Dreams (4 but it is more like a spin off. It still contains previous characters but follows a different person than before) - Any sign of life (Different story) 2. Lynette Noni - Prison Healer - Blood Traitor - Gilded Cage 3. Adriana Mather - Killing November - Hunting November - How to hang a witch All very, very, verryyyyy good, no, exceptional! Books. For real, I was at a similar point as you and those books... I will forever cherish and recommend them. They are awesome.

[@MissAikaterine]

I live in Germany about 1 1/2 hour from Prague 😱😱 if I’m not working that day I’m dying to join 🫶

[@eulacuteuwu]

wait no way ur going to vienna- i live there whattt ill see what i can do i hope i can join u :)

[@rixanoz]

If you’re going to have something called Snow Pirates there’s no reason their cats aren’t called Santa Claws

[@caricanread]

you really should have written this book hahhaa

[@rixanoz]

@@caricanread pls I could never 🤣

[@DavidSmith-gb8ev]

​@@rixanoz Bestie of course you could

[@kseni_vely]

I'm a fan of yours, fr 😄

[@zoebrugg7594]

Peerrrrfection!

[@FANGRUNlN]

“im called his precious” now im picturing king midas as gollum

[@sin3358]

Literally me XD

[@proseandcons7730]

I thought the same thing😂

[@sparky4653]

C-3P0 with gollum's personality vibes

[@pointegal96]

Immediately same

[@rkkwc]

if we’ve dark fantasy smutified king midas, we must officially be running out of fairy tale creatures

[@caricanread]

waiting for the emperor's new clothes retelling lmao

[@clarkispotamia]

Sexy Humpty Dumpty when?

[@Shrilaraune]

​@@caricanread noooooooo 😂

[@Reverse_Cat_Cowgirl]

Smutified Humpty Dumpty by 2030 🥚 +🍆 = 🔥

[@heather7992]

A cinnamon roll version of Bluebeard would be too far.

[@TheNumnutRandomness]

Loving Cari's "This could've been an email" energy for this whole series

[@caricanread]

truly :')

[@manyachoudhary7323]

The thing is, I have a verrryyy specific image of King Midas in my mind (I've had that image ever since I was a child and first learnt his story) where he's just a super short and stocky and hairy and cartoonish man with a very tall and thin crown, so that made this story very weird for me on a completely different level😂

[@clarehidalgo]

I always imagine him with donkey ears because of how some versions of the King Midas story ended

[@manyachoudhary7323]

@@clarehidalgo oh god, that made this even better😂😂

[@kajamiletic3223]

Same. I swear that there was a cartoon in the 90s where I saw that portrayed him that way and this is how it stuck.

[@UnknownUnknown-jt6rd]

That was me until he was made into a fortnite skin and now I can’t get that image out

[@korolevakotykiv]

Midas is a short king 100%

[@Kittiesdressedinpink]

“….Now I’m picturing C-3PO” sent me onto another plane of existence. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@caricanread]

and then proceeds to read an orgy scene. this book was wild hahaha

[@mysticalasduck6514]

i loved that so much, but whenever midas was mentioned i pictured the fortnite skin ngl

[@just_joyce]

I spent much of the video imagining her as Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers) from Spaceballs because of that comparison. 🤣

[@GemAndMoth]

I feel like there is a definite difference between “dark” fantasy and “toxic” fantasy and pretty much everything that comes out these days that claims to be “dark” fantasy is really just “toxic” fantasy.

[@tonichan89]

I've been wanting a dark fantasy romance, that is, a dark fantasy novel with a lot of romance in it; maybe some smut and adult themes, complicated character arcs n' dark magic, challenging the characters psyches, etc. I'm nnnnot so much looking for a book that's yet another story abour a woman being dominated and inferior, which is what I'd label as "toxic romance", as you aptly put it. But that seems to be a (no pun intended) dominant trope, apparently? And love triangles. I'm tired, lmao.

[@phoenixofthegraveyard]

@@tonichan89 maybe some book fans should get together and create a workshop for discussion of dark fantasy elements. I would listen to podcasts like this kind of discussion.

[@abbywolffe4114]

@@tonichan89 Neon Gods by Katee Robert is pretty good, granted it's also a Hades/Persephone retelling but it's the only one I've ever liked, and the world building is good. The sequel is Cupid/Psyche and that one is also decent. Also the stasis of the world is that sexuality is fluid, so even though the main relationships are men and women, everyone is queer!

[@Samzillah]

Yeah when I think Dark Fantasy I'm thinking of dark themes and lots of danger, but when they say Dark Fantasy they're thinking abuse 😬

[@steff6146]

@@SamzillahI’ve always thought dark fantasy or romance is “dark” because the world itself sucks or everyone is horrible to the main characters…or there are almost insurmountable barriers to their love story. Why is it that all these authors think this means horrific abuse from a male love interest !?!?!! I hate it so much 😭😭

[@foggy_sheep]

Maybe the ribbon thing is a play on Medusa's snakes? Since Medusa can turn people into stone and Auren can apparently turn people into gold, and ribbons are snake-like? Idk, I also find the ribbon thing to be really odd lmao Something to point out: I'm pretty sure her name is "Auren" because the first two letters are "Au" which is gold on the periodic table LOL

[@MalMagLog]

Also medusa is a symbol for sa

[@nalcarya]

Aurum is the latin word for gold, hence the shortened version on the periodic table :) basically the main characters name is reeeeally creative lol

[@bib4eto656]

It's giving me Lightlark level of creativity. "Here's Oro, the king of the sun (?) people"

[@foggy_sheep]

@@nalcarya that makes a lot of sense lol, good to know!

[@sweet-co]

the ribbons as play on Medusa, another greek myth, that is such a smart observation!

[@gaphic]

i'm not into the 'all the other female characters are hatefully jealous of the protagonist' trope, but there is a very good reason it's such a staple in harem dramas. 'pitting people against eachother for your favor' is a famously effective strategy that has historically been utilized to significant success by like... MOST authority figures. it is absolutely not weird that the other concubines are jealous of Auren's pure prestige lol

[@chloerowitz7547]

Everything I hear about Auren’s ribbons is against my will

[@myrrhder8964]

It was such a choice on the author's part 😭😭

[@TacticusPrime]

I can't tell if the name Auren is brilliant or terrible. Take the L off of Lauren and now you get a name that's also a reference to the Latin for gold, aurum. Good work, I guess.

[@en2336]

@@TacticusPrime I'm leaning towards terrible, it's common practice to look up translations of simple words to make them sound exotic...

[@anuradha52279]

“HOLY DIVINE FUCK, SNOW PIRATES” IS MY NEW FAVORITE CURSE LMFAO

[@Tempest127]

Combined with how Cari delivered that line 😭😭 I’m weak

[@anuradha52279]

@@Tempest127 no bc her deadpan always hits lmaoooo

[@mnlxlover00]

Cari, I agree with you 100% on reading smut - so many times it can be done HORRIBLY wrong, and when that happens, it can literally ruin the book. 😭 I, too, can only count on one hand for how many adult romances I've read that have had truly show-stopping smut scenes. I've literally read better smut from fanfiction (and this is saying a LOT, since the fanfic authors aren't the ones getting paid and yet are still hitting it out of the park every time!! 🤡).

[@caricanread]

glad to see more fanfic is making it to trad pub :''')

[@deafblood]

The interesting thing is that the smut scenes in Gild are to my interests, including the wording. So to me, it's not horrible at all and I'm left scratching my head at other people's opinions. We all have different tastes.

[@reesxx4936]

Now what i really want to know is… which books had actually non cringe smut scenes?😌

[@juggalochaos]

I think the main difference is that fanfic writers do it out of pure love for the characters and source materials, and genuinely want to write it. Professional writers sometimes just write to get paid, not to make the story they want

[@mewchilla4384]

@@reesxx4936 That's what I wanna know 🥲😭

[@kaialexander6806]

tbh just incredibly impressed that you managed to carry on reading it when the word "plunge" is being used multiple times in the smut scenes

[@caricanread]

LMAO me too honestly haha and thank you!!!

[@Kathywake23]

Like a router

[@CeramicSerpent]

imagine finding out that the book reviewer you've been watching is actually just a side channel. from a skincare ad☠️

[@caricanread]

Sorry 🥲

[@valentinageorge4273]

people gotta make a living hon

[@CeramicSerpent]

​@@valentinageorge4273 i know, im not judging the ad. I just thought it was funny that I hadn't heard of her main channel until now, and funnier that it was because of an advertisement.

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

THIS IS A SIDE CHANNEL???

[@samanthalempke470]

......this is a side channel?!

[@spacehootle309]

I'm cracking up every time Cari uses 'royal saddles' in a calm technical manner. Legit in stitches. Make it stop.

[@HappyEugie]

Always appreciate you sacraficing your sanity for us, Cari. I'm so sorry but I love these reading vlogs SO MUCH (the Crave one always makes me laugh), so really kudos to you for making these. Have fun on your travels!!

[@caricanread]

OMG thank you truly AHH!! I am still looking for another book that hits like Crave did LOL!! thank you again :'''')

[@CatherinewithaC]

@@caricanreadsomething that might hit the same way as crave for you is the house of night series. It’s a little older than the stuff you’ve been covering but full of ridiculous plot and cringy pop culture references. Middle school me was obsessed

[@HappyEugie]

@@CatherinewithaC oh my gosh I REMEMBER reading that series in middle school tool! It was indeed ridiculous and wild 😂

[@bookdragon4622]

@@CatherinewithaC I remember reading the first two books i think but droping it because of SPOILER! SPOILER! The excesive amounts of cheating. There was not a love triangle, it was like a love octogon at one point. It made me super uncomfortable. The vampires were cool though 🤣😂

[@nadd1241]

@@bookdragon4622 cheating always sucks

[@MlleBelle13]

The ribbons, she's literally a Sylveon 😂

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

YES! This is exactly what I pictured!

[@Ashley-gq9xy]

I've only watched the recap on the first book so far but I just have to mention how I cannot stop thinking about this girl having FLESH RIBBONS coming out of her back.

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

For some reason, I'm just picturing them kinda like the wings in Carnival Row..but ribbons. _(Maybe it doesn't weird me out even more because I'm kinda used to hair in Japanese fantasy shtufff often acting in this way, like it's basically alive/a controllable limb; among so many other weird fantasy things I've encountered before, nothing really phases me anymore, even when I don't always personally get the purpose or the appeal of it. I just kinda shrug and roll with it, at this point. Like, 'huh... I wouldn't have gone with that personally, but OK THEN'.. .🤔🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️😅🤣 Lol)_

[@rocla9452]

Same it doesn’t weird me out too, I imagine it like a nine tailed spirit but instead of tails they’re ribbons floating around and i think that’s quite beautiful really 😆 if you watched demon slayer, one of the demons there has ribbon like things coming out of her too

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

@@rocla9452 😂😂 Nice!

[@mistywindow16]

It kinda remins me of the Kagune that ghouls in Tokyo Ghouls have

[@simply_sarah04]

@@jaginaiaelectrizs6341 I also immediately thought of Carnival Row. Have you seen the second season yet?

[@myriahinthelibrary]

This series holds a really special place in my heart. As someone who has experienced emotional abuse by a narcissistic partner, I could really relate to parts of Auren's story and her journey, especially around the confusion, guilt, and shame Auren struggles with in her relationship with Midas and with herself, and how it complicates her relationship with Slade. It is definitely not an experience that everyone can relate to, but I do think it is portrayed and handled very accurately and well. I think the series is really more about Auren and the transformation she experiences in getting free from not just her abusive relationship, but also the self-shaming mentality that abusive relationship left behind. Seeing the story in this way, the fact it is so spread out works a lot more. Sure, the plot is a bit slower, but in my opinion her character growth develops so much more this way, and all the twists and turns of healing from narcissistic abuse and emotional abuse can properly be explored.

[@caricanread]

I just wish the conversations could have been a little deeper and more productive but especially book 2 in the camp it was the same convo over and over and over. I understand that it takes a long time to unlearn things but the way it was written made all the characters blend together imo when those convos could have been ways to flesh out their characters while also helping auren. Does that make sense?

[@myriahinthelibrary]

@@caricanread Totally makes sense! I can definitely understand that

[@keshavibharadwaj8754]

@myriahjsmith totally agree with you. The book could have been better but I feel like it did a very good job addressing the mentality of someone who's never learned how to take care of themselves and prioritise their own needs. And it often happens w people recovering from abuse that they fall into the same self depreciating cycle because that's what they are familiar with. Yeah the writing could have been more refined and the dialogues weren't structured well but overall not a had book. And a rather unique concept too

[@snowange.l]

She did not basically name a potential sexy love interest King Ravager 😂😂😂

[@BooksandBuns]

I know this book isn't for me because the Queen's name is literally raspberry in my native language. I'd just burst out laughing every time she shows up, I wouldn't be able to hold a straight face when we find out the Queen is scheming something, cause why should Orrin by scared of a woman named *Malina!* It's hilarious 🤣

[@poorunfortunatesoul8610]

same for me hahahaha i was just giggling when her POV comes up. Like maam ure named rasberry sit ur scheming āss down

[@sin3358]

Slavic?

[@BooksandBuns]

@@sin3358 Polish for me. Glad fellow Slavs can also have a laugh at it tho

[@vexusmorpheus932]

Russian, and I can't with the name either 😭

[@aurelielauziere]

King Rot litterally means Burp in french

[@dreamchaser003]

I absolutely love hearing about book series I will never read and you share the experience so well. Thank you so much!

[@caricanread]

oh my god thank YOU so much!!!

[@artistichick1701]

Agreed!

[@imogenhowell3704]

I love watching your book rants/reviews they're honestly the best 🥰

[@caricanread]

thank you :''')

[@marvthegecko]

ong bro

[@fashiondarling-j7q]

In Slavic and Norse mythology, silk ribbons do hold significance, so maybe the author took inspo from those myths to come up with Auren's back-ribbons. In Norse mythology, Gleipnir is the binding that holds the wolf Fenrir. Gleipnir is as thin as a silken ribbon and stronger than an iron chain. It was forged by the dwarves in their realm of Niðavellir. In Slavic mythology, fairies surround a lot of lore, often seen as beautiful young girls condemned to live forever and float in an in between state. In Croatia, young girls will make 'offerings' to the fairies, such as placing fruits, flowers, or silk ribbons upon stones in caves. Also, the 'samodiva', fairies from Bulgarian folklore, are often depicted as young women with glowing skin and long blonde hair, and they're able to turn into a bird.

[@yesikn0wimsh0rt]

4 minutes in: the whole tragedy of king midas was that he *KILLED HIS DAUGHTER* because he accidentally *TURNED HER TO GOLD* ... how is the chic in the book even alive what in the name of olympus-

[@Skylight-zy4iz]

Oh god Auren is just a Sylveon. She's even a fairy. AUREN IS A FUCKING POKEMON I CAN'T-

[@charlottehager3816]

You should be an audiobook narrator, I could listen to you reading for hours. You have such a calming voice :)

[@shamicacarey1116]

I avoid all adult smutty books because when I read it I literally cackle out loud or cringe or just feel physically ill however, I will ALWAYS love watching Cari read strange smutty books 😂

[@cicigonzales5542]

That’s why I read them 😂 I read one last night, about a vampire and a witch. He could read her thoughts after drinking his blood. She said “I want your immortal d!ck inside me” and I lost it 😂😂

[@maychenwoo9205]

Same I read smut to laugh Idk it could be written “well” but something about porn on a page makes me laugh 😂

[@fernandaparraguirre5237]

i'm a simple person, i see cari upload an hour long video of a series i've never heard of and of course i'm grabbing a snack and pressing play 🤷‍♀

[@jessbee]

Same, but I had to go read the books first because they're always better when I know what's coming next. I like to see if she laughs at the same things I laughed at.

[@abbywolffe4114]

I remember reading the first book and I will give credit where credit is due, Auren has a decent character voice and it carries the entire book on its back, but the second they introduced fae I was like "dammit not again" Addendum: There are only a few things I hate more than using "male" and "female" instead of "man" and "woman." At least with SJM's books the faeries are supposed to be animalistic and a different species so she kind of gets a pass, but most of these people are humans so why not call them men and women???

[@RenaissanceK]

i HATEEESEE the whole “male and female” thing. i just can’t see a good reason why it’s done ever 😭😭 even in sjm books it’s really unnecessary. idk it’s just so disturbing to me like just say man. “this intimidating and also super delicious male” like THAT IS WEIRD. its like weirdly dehumanizing which i guess is the point but like you said, in this book they’re basically people so why all the weirdly biological language?

[@staceywillis156]

My reasoning and only justification is if it’s a world or reality where there are many different species where those biological gender indicators make more sense because it’s not just human characters living in it. For example, where a world evolved with multiple species at the same time in an integrated society.

[@colorblockpoprocks6973]

@@RenaissanceK maybe less dehumanizing and more "hyperhumanizing" to speak to the fact that their attraction is of purely flesh and, whatever gender one person may have which would immediately poke a hole in the "male/female" dichotomy, they like... *crave breeding* or some shit lmaoo

[@maggieprice357]

Same! I cringe every time I read male or female in SJM’s books. That and mate. Hate it

[@eller594]

i literally audibly groaned when fae got introduced 😭

[@astroshiv4050]

I see cari's 1 hour video of a book I didn't read.....It'll be the best one hour !

[@caricanread]

lol!!

[@JuiceyBabs]

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

[@caricanread]

thank you so much :''')

[@audie93]

Honestly love watching these, even when I've read the whole series!

[@caricanread]

thank you :') def going to try to finish it once the last book comes out!

[@j8n305]

“Holy divine fuck… snow pirates” I would never read this, but the entertainment value you provided is peak amusement 🤣

[@caricanread]

i could never had guessed snow pirates would be in this book hahaha

[@konnieb5122]

Love your reading vlogs. I started reading the Zodiac Academy series after the video you did on them as it seemed like a really easy way to wind down after work! Now tempted by this one 😂

[@caricanread]

LOL thank you and good luck soldier!

[@eliconti8388]

I loved this series a lot! The way she speaks in the first book is so interesting cause it’s almost as she herself has forgotten that the power is hers, I loved reading the psychological side of it, but book 4 was a bit slow but I am excited to read the final hook

[@chance757]

omg i’m dragging my feet through book 4 now! there’s just SO many povs that i don’t care about 😭😭 please tell me they lessen as the book goes on… or at least get more interesting?

[@upsetstudios1819]

what I loved about this series (which I read in 4 days after seeing Cari posted) was the catharsis of Auren slowly growing a spine and fighting back. You just *know* she's going to murder Midas eventually and every step in defiance was such fun

[@courtneymiller274]

This series definitely gets better each book. I agreed the first 2 books could have been put together. However I really like Auren's character, she's a lot different from the bratty archetype that most fantasy books have. The way she thinks is so similar to abused victims and the way her character grows is refreshing and realistic.

[@ayyoallie]

These books are cursed... and I've read them all. Are they good? No, but I will continue! You deserve a super thanks for committing to reading them, lol. We all deserve compensation.

[@caricanread]

you'll have to update me on the last book if i dont bring myself to do it hahahha and thank you so much!!

[@tonichan89]

Sunk cost fallacy at play?

[@s.y.k.a1912]

Not me imagining Auren's 'ribbons' like the ones Sylveon has 🤣

[@crumbcricket]

Oh noooooo

[@redblushinrose]

auren is a fairy and Sylveon is a fairy type

[@naga88-u5n]

6:00 The first sentence and Cari is already speechless. I watched so many times because your realization is hilarious 😂

[@valentinacavalottivelasco9484]

"to his credit, the moans do really echo nicely" really SENT ME HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@positively_peachy]

I loooooved these books! Im so excited for the final one in the series, I can't wait to watch and see how you feel about it 😂

[@caricanread]

❤❤❤

[@Shimmermoth_29]

I’m so glad someone else loved these books as much as I did! Rachel from Readswithrachel did a couple videos on these books. She hated the first one, but loved the others. I felt so validated 😂

[@maritstoelinga06006]

Omg me too. I am absolutely in love with Auren and Slade and I’m so sad that the release date of Gold is set back to december 😢

[@positively_peachy]

​@@Shimmermoth_29 yes! I started reading the first one back when it very first came out and I hated the first book 😂But as soon as the second came out I tried again and it was so much better when we could see the world expanded a little more.

[@kaitlynmay433]

Thanks for taking one for the team 😂

[@caricanread]

thank YOU!

[@mitchellhouser1572]

Just the way you deliver what you're saying and your facial expressions is truly rare and legendary. Thank you for all the amazing content you bless us with!

[@Lucy19103]

Keep ‘em coming 🫡 You’re the best!

[@caricanread]

thank you :'''''''')

[@samanthalempke470]

Not because I had any interest in this book, but because I love the un monetizable breakdowns so I don't have to read it and I want moreeee. I have also listened to the ACOTR series and crescent city so many times it would be weird if I didn't give you more money.

[@caricanread]

oh my god THANK YOU and i'm working on a mortal instruments breakdown hopefully coming out this summer hahahha

[@samanthalempke470]

@@caricanread awesome! I'm looking forward to it :)

[@a.morphous66]

Let me get this straight. Midas rescued her from sex slavery... by putting her into sex slavery?

[@thylionheart]

I thought the first book sounded so boring while you were explaining it but when it got to the climax of the third book I got so invested? I think these books mostly needed another year of editing to get better pacing because this is by far not the worst series I’ve heard you discuss. I really like a lot of the lines and the part where Auren uses her magic to control the gilded palace was genuinely very enthralling.

[@lexi6794]

Hi cari! You have very quickly become one of my favorite comfort content creators. I was having a horrible day but the prospect of watching this hour long video with my poke has made my night so much better. I was waiting for you to talk about plated prisoner! Forever grateful for your content and your personality!

[@tanjaeisenberg]

Thank you for all of your videos! ❤

[@caricanread]

oh my gosh thank you!

[@GooseReadsBooks]

The flesh ribbons very much feel like an after thought. I understand they're in this world where people just randomly get powers or mutations, but hers just seem last minute for some reason...

[@snickeringpigeon4370]

It's not really random though. She lives in Orea, where the humans lives, but she herself is from Anwynn, the realm where the fae live. And for fae it is normal to have powers and mutations. And especially in books 2, 3 and 4 her ribbons/the lack of her ribbons play a part in her character development and symbolises an end and a new beginning. They are her subconcious, they are her weapon, they are a limb. They have a function, they don't just drag around behind her for the entire series, so personally I do not see how they are an after thought. I think it actually sets her apart a bit from other fantasy books. Don't want to praise the books too much, dragging myself through book 4 was exhausting, but I think this was actually a good element of the story.

[@TessaxMusic95]

Someone else mentions ribbons could be from Norse mythology about fairies, etc. That might be where it’s inspired from

[@nicholewarren4229]

genuinely i love these videos so much!! on the one hand generally your spicy icks re: wording align with mine so it's very helpful to determine whether i will enjoy a booktok book (this is a NOPE for me based on the first like 10 min lmao) and on the other hand seeing how flustered you get is HILARIOUS

[@Koko._.pebbles]

When I first started watching I wasn’t sure if I would watch all of the video incase I want to read the books, but as soon as you read the first page I was immediately like yeah I’m never reading that, lmao but I’m kind of invested in the plot, so thank you for reading these so I can simply listen to the plot without having to actually torture myself by pushing through the books 😂

[@ellie_bellie1]

you can never stop these live-series reading/review videos! they’re my everything❤😂😊

[@emilyosborn9987]

Perfect timing!! I just finished the 4th book last night so now I get to compare thoughts hahahah

[@caricanread]

:'''')

[@LucyferekxD]

To make you feel better about the Queens name - Malina in Polish means Raspberry, which is cute for a name

[@mally6101]

so thankful for cari for doing these types of reading vlogs so that i never have to waste my time on these godawful books and can just watch her entertaining af videos instead 😅🙏

[@jonnie7891]

I’ve read that blurb a thousand times trying to psych myself up to read this but I can’t do it. It’s so bad. It tells us nothing other than how bad and derivative this book is. You reading these books so I don’t have to is truly an act of charity and I love that for me 😭 Thanks for dropping skin care info. Your skin is incredible

[@delaniedyer1121]

Thanks!

[@caricanread]

oh my gosh, thank YOU!

[@heiditheowl2277]

i'm so glad you read all these books so i don't have to, you're truly taking one for the team here

[@Elle3061995]

I've just read the first book.... I can't wait to hear you rant about this book series! 😂 I found it hilarious! 😂

[@caricanread]

LOL!

[@princessLINDAA.]

The Lizzie McGuire references killed me, LMAO 😂💙 Thank you for powering through these... questionable books for our entertainment 🙏

[@taylorparis7228]

Yeah I feel like it should be obligated for published authors to give content/ trigger warnings with serious topics. Even movies have them.

[@caricanread]

exactly! it does no harm, only good!

[@colorblockpoprocks6973]

movies have them? you talkin about ratings? wouldnt the term YA be a book rating? i think the thing is moreso that people are just allowing much more mature themes than like *preteens* should have access to lol

[@GoldenPerception]

The difference in plot between books 1 and 2 vs. book 3 is WILD. I’d definitely love to see you continue this series!

[@alessamiridis5476]

you had me laughing soooo hard!! That synopsis edit was gooooold!

[@cyralamen]

It’s probably not your intention, but these videos you make really motivate me to do art since I usually would want to listen to something during it and these videos are very entertaining

[@VaranusKomodoensis132]

I really appreciate the subtitles ❤ I’m outside right now and it’s noisy so I’m reading the subtitles instead😭

[@caricanread]

glad they can help^^

[@barshaislam5931]

I tried to read this series based on some tiktoks but 25% in the first book I knew it was not my cup of tea ,I just Dnf'ed it...But I am happy that you are reading it ,now if I ever thought about this series your video is what I am gonna think about. So Thank you so much for your service🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@shelbycrobinson]

This was my first video I’ve seen of yours and I loved it!!

[@laysali74]

Hi Cari! Thank so much for your reading sacrifices, this kind of books always look attractive due to people hype on media and your videos help me so much to really know if I will just lose my money buying them 😂 PD, I had to stop the video at the C-3PO part just to laugh 😂😂

[@OkamiRose]

You let me experience the… something of all the books I never want to read 😂

[@caricanread]

😂😂😂

[@SPW1031W]

I actually really like this series although the smut is a bit much for me personally at points. I get what you are saying about the slow start. I think she was really trying to establish a pattern in Auren and focusing on her breaking out of her Stockholm situation. I agree that it definitely could have been condensed significantly as a reader. However, the satisfaction as a reader of her destroying Midas was so satisfying. The next book you do get a lot of Auren's backstory after she's stolen by slavers as well as more on Queen Melina, Rissa, Slade's backstory, ect. There is a pretty big cliffhanger at the end as well.

[@hannaholliges2636]

Love that you can read and have a fun time and poke fun even if you might never recommend the book! Oh the things you do for us hahaha

[@caricanread]

bahah thanks for watching!

[@skullsoup1634]

HOUR LONG CARI VIDEO??? yes!!

[@caricanread]

[@roamoray]

i understand why ppl call the love interest guy (who i am assuming is the one getting in her face about how she's still in the cage even though she's not behind bars anymore) darker rhysand because rhysand is ALSO constantly saying this kind of shit and making assumptions on feyre's very personal and traumatic experiences in ACOMAF. then the narrative ends up going "the guy was totally right in the end about her"

[@lookitskatiex]

Now I wanna know what smut scenes are Cari approved lol. Personally, I agree with the others who have said fanfiction is WHERE IT’S AT.

[@Its.Chenzilla]

Idk what these types of videos are but I LOVE IT haha always makes my day when I see like a 1 hour video reading through and talking about the book 🤭💕

[@carolineblueskies]

The clips you insert are always perfect, absolutely cackling at the Lizzie McGuire and Bills Bills Bills inserts

[@Clxxdyyyyyyy]

Watching this in the background while I read a cute fantasy romance about magic and witches is such a vibe

[@KYX1994]

I love these videos where you read series SO much! And you also saved me time since I was unsure if I wanted to read this or not ahahah (as I don't really like books that drag too long for no reason)

[@DragonHeart29]

These ribbons remind me of an other ribbon called Ruoye from "Heaven Official's Blessing". A spiritual device created by accident (sad story) that the MC usually wears around his body and can control at will, but also has a mind of its own and is actually quite smart and cheeky 😊

[@sunkissedbeautyxo]

I am picky about fantasy romance and didn’t love the first book in this series, but I did love book three unapologetically. It is not that deep but it got me out of a slump last year

[@subtlefire7256]

The gold bird made me think of Bubo the mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans 😆

[@caricanread]

lol!!

[@Rhimione7]

Thank you for reading this series! Really helped me decide that it's not my cup of tea

[@sunnycho9410]

“She has a spine under all those ribbons” HAS ME SCREAMING

[@tattooedkittykat]

One of my top ten favorite words I hate for smut is "speared" ROFL 😂😂😂😂

[@caricanread]

omg gag hahahha

[@tattooedkittykat]

@cari can read Good times 😆

[@micfoz1]

Seeing a new video from you in my feed always brings me joy❤

[@caricanread]

thank you :'''')

[@anuna116]

I honestly thought I only read the first book a few months ago and I'm SHOOK that actually it turns out I read THREE. I honestly thought the entire snow pirates etc was literally just the first act of book one?!? It really was sooo slow. It had so much potential too but ???

[@3bellam]

Cari, I will forever appreciate these rant reviews, because they always fuel me with a desire to write something better. Not that all of the books are terrible (you do you), but it gives me hope that I could write something worth publishing as well.

[@KatCameron]

12 minutes into this video and I pulled this book from my library. Thank you for sparing me. They lost me at ribbons...

[@mariajacynta]

Already cracking on the first 5 minutes with the C-3PO joke 😂😂😂

[@caricanread]

i cant unsee!

[@animegirly4life]

I love these book reviews so much

[@iri02802]

I have not yet seen this video but I already wanted to say that I saw these books in the book store a few times and I already had a feeling that it might no be the kind of thing I would spend money on. But I am curious to know the plot so I am glad you made this!

[@aimeelouise1390]

Thanks

[@caricanread]

thank you

[@carolyntang387]

omg, legit i was wheezing like a dam tea kettle every time u say rip or rot like ?!?! what kind of namee is thattt

[@annejia5382]

I dont have tiktok and just by looking at the thumbnail, the book cover is stunning 🥺

[@amenir3267]

I never intend to read these series but Oh my, how I love those kind of videos from you ! Thanks for the amazing time !

[@enginesummer99]

I recommend the Bitterbynde Trilogy, by Cecelia Dart-Thornton. There's secret royalty, memory loss, disabled characters, some court intrigue, loads of traditional fairy creatures (from Irish/English background, mostly), sky pirates, etc. I haven't read it since high school, but I remember really enjoying it.