✨Julie✨'s Reviews > The Book of Azrael

✩ 3.75 stars ✩

‘He bit his lip and wrapped his hand around my wrist. "Squeeze harder. I almost feel something.”’

What to Expect:
➼ Enemies to Lovers
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ One Bed
➼ Forbidden Romance
➼ Morally Gray FMC
➼ Minimal Spice
➼ Cliffhanger
➼ Debut
➼ Dual POV

Now that I know how tame this book is, I find it highly amusing that I once thought this might be too spicy for my taste. 😅 In my defense, the cover does look very similar to Haunting Adeline, so cut me some slack.

In reality, the spice in this book was pretty minimal. Honestly, I would have liked for the characters to have pined a little longer and built the tension between them for at least a full book. They are supposed to be mortal enemies and I was surprised to see them jump that hurdle so quickly. At the very least, I would have expected a longer period of denial from the MMC.

This is a debut novel and I’m sorry to say that it read like one. The writing wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely felt awkward at times. It honestly reminded me a lot of the writing style of the early 2000s. In some ways that’s a good thing, because it meant we got a bigger helping of plot with our spice (which is not the norm these days), but it also felt pretty cheesy to me.

Dianna is initially introduced as a villain but she felt too tenderhearted for me to believe she really did all the terrible things the book implied. I’m supposed to believe she killed countless people for the love of her sister without going mad from guilt or ever wanting anything for herself? It’s not as if her sister is young. She has been alive for a 1000+ years. How much life do they really need to live?

Samkiel/Liam gave pretty strong Thor vibes i.e. super strong and clueless about how the modern world works. He’s known as the World Ender, a title he earned by, you guessed it… ending a world. He has the whole tortured hero thing going for him and has been hiding away in seclusion for an untold number of years. Honestly I imagined him as Kyle XY for the first half of the book until he started acting less dopey. Oops… I’m showing my age. 🙃 To be clear, his dopiness was mostly endearing. My main issue with him was that he was described as all powerful but then was pretty easily defeated by almost every enemy they faced. I get that he created the sword, but his power didn’t seem all that impressive without it. (Thor’s hammer anyone?)

Objectively, this probably only deserves 3 stars but it’s getting a boost based purely on enjoyment. I’m honestly a bit surprised by all the glowing reviews but I’m happy for everyone out there who thought this was 5 stars. 😘

I wonder if that ending will really stick. 🤔 Somehow I doubt it… only one way to find out! 🤗

I’ve heard the next book is even better! 🤞🏻

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Gonna see what all the hype is about! Neither the cover nor the description really appeal to be, but with ratings this high, how can I not? 💀🖤

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