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Member Reviews

The idea was good. I really like the poly aspect. There aren't a lot of those kinds of relationships in fiction. Though the story is really cute, there really doesn't seem to be much plot and the language didn't always read smoothly.

Addison also doesn't read like a real person a lot of the time. I understand her views on her sexuality have kind of been turned upside-down...but most of the time she doesn't feel like she is having a crisis about it. Mostly just that she accepts she is straight but has absolutely no qualms about hopping into bed with Mary. Maybe if she felt more torn about her emotions. To be honest, I haven't finished this one yet. I probably will because I think its cute but at times it can be a lot to try and get through.

I feel like it has the potential to be a really great story about love, relationships, and exploring your sexuality but it needs to be honed a little more.

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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

I am soft dnfing this book because I am not in the mood for this book. I am halfway through and for some reason, I just can not move on. I really want to continue this book. I just need to change my expectations.

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This is a very cute polyamorous, slice-of-Life, idiots in love story with a lot of spice. I also enjoyed the little references sprinkled throughout the book. While it did lack in some areas and had a few errors, it wasn't a ton, so it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

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This one was really fun. I enjoyed it a lot. The characters were really neat. And the story was great. This was my first from this author, and I'll definitely.be reading more from them. It took a little to get used to the writing style for me, but once I was in it, I was good to go. Lots of potential, for more, but I was happy with what I was given.

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DNF at 43.7%

The MC acts way too young for her age. And the characters don't seem to have much of a life outside of their relationship. I was waiting for something interesting to happen, but I gave up. So overall I'd say it's boring.

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I liked some of the descriptions, but the language was off for me. I felt Addison wasn't really human, wasn't really feeling her emotions: sometimes it was just too little or too much, but hardly ever in between. The idea is great, but the book wasn't for me.

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Quinn's "The Fool, The Lover, The Devil" is a wild ride through a twisted world of magic, romance, and unexpected alliances. If you're into stories blending the supernatural with a generous dose of unpredictability, this book might be your cup of tea.

The protagonist, a self-proclaimed fool, takes readers on a confusing and strangely intriguing journey. Quinn's writing style is immersive, creating a world where nothing is as it seems, and the line between love and darkness blurs into a captivating haze.

The characters are a motley crew of misfits, each with quirks and hidden agendas. The lover adds a touch of romance, the devil injects chaos, and the fool navigates through the madness with a mix of naivety and unexpected cleverness. It's a combination that keeps you hooked, wondering what unexpected twist will come next.

The plot unfolds like a chaotic dance, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. While some moments might leave you scratching your head, the overall sense of unpredictability adds to the charm of the narrative. Quinn balances the fantastical elements with realism, creating a unique reading experience.

The dialogue is sharp, filled with witty remarks and moments of dark humour. The banter between characters contributes to the story's chaotic yet oddly satisfying atmosphere. It's a tale that doesn't take itself too seriously, inviting readers to embrace the madness and enjoy the journey.

"The Fool, The Lover, The Devil" is a book that defies expectations, offering a blend of magic, mayhem, and a touch of romance. If you're in the mood for a story that keeps you on your toes and challenges your perceptions, dive into this unpredictable world crafted by Riley Quinn.

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The Fool, The Lovers, The Devil" by Riley Quinn attempts to blend love, identity, and the supernatural in a narrative centered around Addison and her encounter with Mary. Unfortunately, the writing style was not for me at all. I found the storyline's attempt to challenge societal norms and question the fluidity of love and identity felt forced. The characters failed to resonate with me, and I was left wanting a much deeper and more moving story. In the end, the novel fell short of delivering a compelling and engaging narrative on self-discovery in the face of the unknown.

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The writing style was not for me at all. I was expecting a much deeper and more moving story. The characters are adults yet think and talk like high schoolers. However, I respect that the author wanted to share their journey of self-discovery. One thing I did like was the healthy representation of polyamorous relationships.

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Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy of The Fool, The Lovers, The Devil.

The Fool, The Lovers, The Devil is a story that seamlessly weaves together themes of self-discovery, love, and the supernatural. Riley Quinn takes readers on a journey through the adult life of our protagonist, a woman grappling with her sexuality amidst a backdrop of witches and demons.

The cover of the book is beautiful and the spicy scenes were very enjoyable to read. However I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the writing style. Our main character’s inner dialogue just felt tell and show, instead of just doing one or the other. I did enjoy how the main character over thought everything, that was something I could relate to. It is a very good plot filled with diverse characters. I would recommend this book to those who want a queer romance with supernatural elements and steamy scenes.

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I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

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This was a good romance and I liked the varied representation. Would definitely read more by this author.

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DNF at 20%

I was initially really intrigued by the premise of the story but the execution was lacking. The MC was not interesting and had no chemistry with the other characters

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Thank you NetGalley and Riley Sheldon for the arc!
Unfortunately, I DNF this book partway through as I couldn't really get into it. I was really excited or been the premise but unfortunately, this story wasn't for me.

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I really enjoyed this book! I think it was cute and helped share a story that shows some healthy forms of polyamory and self discovery in general and through sexuality! I love a feel good fantasy romance.

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I think it's a cute romance, and I loved how positive it was about different identities and sexualities. However, I do think this definitely reads as a new author still finding their footing. I wouldn't say I disliked the style, I think it just has space to grow.

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I DNF'ed at 20% this not because it wasn't good but I may have not been in the right head space for it maybe I'll try picking it back up someday but for now it's just not for me.

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DNF-ed after about the third, unfortunately, this book was really not for me.

Though I'm not an avid reader of romance or erotica, I really like to read both if they are well-executed and lack anything that's harmful, e.g. romanticising toxic relationships and such. So there were two things I was drawn to in this book: cozy erotica and the wide variety of rep. The cover is also in line with these features. Also, poliamoric rep, I was so keen on reading something like that.

At first it did feel cozy, the characters communicated, discussed their issues and questions, no plot from misunderstanding, and I really liked that scene where after the one night stand Mary left painkillers in blister pack and unopened bottled water for Addie in order for her to make sure it was impossible they'd been tempered with.
Unfortunately, however, after the promising start, I more often felt awkward or even cringe than cozy, and in the end I just felt uncomfortable all the time while reading so I decided to DNF.

It felt problematic how some topics were handled, e.g. it was nice Addie was so cool reacting to her love interest being a "sex demon" but then when she forced another character to come out as trans then made all the fuss about him being trans - not transphobic but ignorant and disrespectful, it just felt out of proportion. Not because one couldn't write a character who reacts like this, but it is a decision to have a character be more surprised be finding out someone is trans than finding out someone's a demon. Also, as the POV character, she cannot really reflect on her own insensitivity, and though the other characters present are obviously not happy about how she's acting, they don't discuss it, and a minute later everyone is best friends again.

It also felt problematic how the forced proximity was handled. I think in a situation like this it's not advised to even joke on being paid for rent by sex, especially if one is a demon who can feed on other's sexual energy as well. I'm a kind of person who doesn't support joking on anything that is even a bit problematic otherwise, and after a while there were a lot of jokes like this.
Also, Addie's questioning was not always handled right, she often felt being outed by how Mary touched her in public. On the other hand, she constantly reconfirms herself being straight and thinks she's just attracted to Mary because of magic. This just felt really, really wrong, even suggesting that someone's sexual orientation can be changed by anything even if it's magic.
As the romance and erotica market is flooded with problematic, toxic, even harmful books, I guess this book must feel much cozier in comparison. Also, the issues I had this with book might get addressed later in the book and I really hope they do. However, I think maybe the single POV charater is not the best suited to this book, having another characters POV who could address these issues early on the book could really improve the cozyness in my opinion. At least for me a cozy read would involve feeling cozy more often than not all throughout the book, but if you are not looking for specifically a cozy book, or have another concept of what is cozy for you, you might enjoy this book.

Also, how cozy you feel about this book might also depend on how similar your personality traits are to those of the characters. For me, frequent partying and getting wasted or spending your day off window-shopping with your new forced temporary roommate who you've known for a day sounds like a nightmare. If you're comfortable with things like these, you might feel much cozier reading this book.

I have to remark that the erotic scenes were really well executed, always consensual, with communication and attention towards each other, so actually these were usually the coziest parts of the book, but also being super spicy.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Sadly, this book did not grab me or suck me in. I did not feel engaged by the writing, characters, or plot, and I honestly had hopes this book was something that it wasn't due to the cover and the title. I hope this finds its audience, it has a lot of potential. Could potentially use a marketing overhaul.

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Great love story and poly presentation. I love a good love triangle and why choose romance. It’s the best romance to be apart of.

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