I see many 4.5 to 5 star fantasy books. I get excited and read about them only to find out they are really just "romance" or smut type books. Grrr.
I really wish these romance novels would separate themselves from the fantasy genre. It wastes my time seeking out highly rated fantasy books only to find out they are actually romance books.
I wish I could block the romance and smut books when searching for fantasy novels.
It's disappointing that these romance novels are masquerading as fantasy novels. I do understand these romance novels really are, for the most part, fantasy, but I wish I wish there were a separate category either for the romance fantasy or for the traditional non-romance fantasy novels so I could block them in my searches. I've no interest in romance at all.
I haven't read Forth Wing yet, but it's on my list, and I haven't heard of A Song of Achilles, but I'll look into that one and get back to you!
The Crowns of Nyaxia were good, in that I enjoyed the first one a lot, but felt that the second one felt flat. I liked the writing style and the characters and world building was good. I also enjoyed the way the MC was torn between the love for her father and her hatred of the thibgs he did. SPOILERS The second book was basically a rehash of the first in terms of romance, which was frustrating and boring to me. The author reset their relationship back to enemies-to-lovers, so I felt there wasn't any growth between them, just a repeat of the same issues they conquered in the first book. I also felt like every fight scene up until the end was the same in terms of gravity. It got old quick.
ACOTAR was also great, imo. A bit slow, but I like Maas's writing style, she's got a good blend of internal thoughts and exterior actions, and all her characters in that series are incredibly distinct. I also enjoyed her version of the whole "trials" trope, even though the riddle was easy to guess. I will admit though, I love the second and third books over the first. They pick up the pace and yeah, im a Rhys fan through and through. I like to pretend books four and five dont exsist, though. :) SPOILERS I had issues with the ending of book 3. People almost dying but then coming back to life is fine if it's once, but Mass keeps them all alive. Oh well.