"It shot itself in the foot and set itself on fire." That is one heck of a sentence. Unfortunately, I can think of several romances in other books that are also like that.

The inclusion of quotes is very cool

I almost bought a copy of Bride because the synopsis sounded right up my alley. But I held back and decided to get it from the library. So glad I did. I H-A-T-E-D it! "It shot itself in the foot and set itself on fire." is an accurate summary of how I felt about it. 😂

Changes Quote for any newbies to Dresden : Arinana : "Cattle. You are cattle." Harry : "Moo" Ariana : _dies confused_ 😂😂😂

Being a die hard Dresden fan, I’m happy that you’re enjoying the series!

lol love that you and your bestie are diametrically opposed on books but keep recommending and discussing anyways.

Being Indian, growing up reading, listening, and watching the Mahabharata multiple times, it's just not possible to cover the story in 300 pages. Specially if you begin with Ganga's story, because there's no good point to stop the story when you start that far ahead. There's another retelling of The Mahabharata called "The Palace of Illusions", which does a decent job with retelling The Mahabharata. But it doesn't start that far back in the epic. It focuses on the Pandava and Kaurava princes. It's also told from a female perpective.

I'd like to present a Changes spoiler free quote for consideration. The man once wrote; do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. Tolkien had that one mostly right. I let the door bang closed and snarled, "fuck subtle."

Lmao the changes talk. I am impressed with how vague you were able to remain while still being coherent to anyone who knew what you were talking about.

"So, we follow Misery. Our main character, her name is Misery. She’s a vampire named Misery." So much feeling conveyed in so few words. I feel like the correct tone even comes through just the text. Merphy has become quite the exceptional reviewer.

I love a good unhinged rant review to close out a video 😂

"I live with a wizard, I cheat." - Mouse -

I just finished Dragon Ball Z and I need that shirt to help me deal with my feelings!

Love the rant!

I focused on something else aside from the video for a moment and the next thing I hear is 'imaginary stuffed triceratops'

And the way Marsters reads the quote I believe your talking about... it adds so much. "...God forgive me."

I said this on your Changes review, but there were a bunch of people when CHANGES first came out that threw their books across the room, or threw them away and swore off the swore off the series forever because of what Harry did. It was a very weird time to be a fan, honestly. Changes is where the peak really starts imo.

i'll be on the look out for the next episode of the bookclub then lol

I normally love Ali Hazelwood books, I’ve read all of her other ones except for her most recent release but I just simply did not care about Bride. I didn’t even care enough to actually hate it. I read the whole thing, gave it three stars at the time, but I read it less than two months ago, and truly have no memory of the forced conflict you mentioned at the end, or really any other details about the book 😂

Glad you had at least one book you enjoyed :) I remember that you have read Theft of Swords by Michael J Sullivan, and that you liked it. The next book in the series "Rise of Empire: Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm" is part in part at the seas, Royce and Hadrian poses as seamen. These keeps getting deeper and better. I really think that you might like them. Since you like absurd humor and like to try romance every now and then, I suggest reading "The Talisman Ring" by Georgette Heyer. It is one of the absolutely funniest romances that has ever been written, with a bit of a murder mystery. If you do go on reading The Vorkosigan Saga, then you will eventually read "A Civil Campaign". This she has dedicated to Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Georgette Heyer, and Dorothy Sayers. I am in the habit of reading, when my hubby has fallen asleep, and it was so difficult to not laugh out loud while reading this book. It in many ways reminds me of the humor Georgette Heyer incorporates in her books. I really must try "Dresden Files", so many keeps saying how good those are.

So having read two of Ali Hazelwood books the second I heard you were going to read bride I have been waiting for your fun rant about it! That being said the only reason I listened to the book was knowing the rant was coming, but man that book made me cringe so hard 🥲🤢

Love the Vegeta shirt👌🏻

I just finished the 7th Dresden book. Can't wait to get to Changes.

After reading Bride, I posted in the last opposite attract video that this is a live I have to catch. I knew how you would feel about the book and can't wait for that conversation. I will save my comments for the live....

The city of mad men saints sounds so weird. I need it.

Currently in the middle of city of saints and madmen, what a wild ride. I have it in the big "Ambergris" collection from my library. Looking forward to hearing more thoughts about it from you. I really didnt like Borne 🤭 but the SR trilogy is an all time fav.

I don't know if you would because I totally get romance just not being your thing, but there is a series that I think did the "creating tension" thing really well, the people's trauma and responses didn't feel forced and the "miscommunication" was never just - we don't talk- but actual individual perspectives seeing things said or done differently. I highly recommend the Chestnut Spring series by Elsie Silver

Changes quote: I'm guessing it starts with "I used the knife"

I would never in my life have thought Vandermeer and Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way might have a single connecting thread, however thin, but when I saw that quote I experienced such a vivid flashback lmao

I love how 10 minutes of this video is just a polite rant LOL

SO curious what you would think of the romances in Ali Hazelwoods contemporary books. I loved them but I also feel like we have (mostly) opposite taste lol

Watching this later, but already knew that Merphy wouldn't like Bride 🤣

A yearlong marriage. So, it's basically a Hollywood marriage.

0:16 They all perished in the fires of Oblivion XD

Glad you had a good time with Goddess of the River, I enjoyed that one a lot! The Imaginary Corpse is a typical AR book - brilliant concept, less than stellar execution. As for Changes, will be interested to see what you think of the books after! Maybe it's been too long since I've read them, but I've felt like it hasn't quite managed to ratchet back up since.

I remember seeing copies of Bride in-store when it came out and very nearly bought it, I'm glad I didn't now, it sounds like I would have hated it.

Do you plan to read The Ministry of Time? Interested to hear your thoughts. I personally did not get on with the writing style and DNF'ed it halfway through, but wondering if i should give it another try 😅

Any plans to read Finch by Vandermeer? I loved it.

My favorite question is.. Make it make sense 😅

I will read and enjoy the most basic romance and romantasy, but I absolutely cannot get behind a moronic main character. Please give me characters I can root for even in the most cliche situations. I also dislike questionable consent, which for some reason cuts out a lot of romantasy books? I love that you and your friend take turns torturing each other with opposing tastes.

Merphy reading a Ali Hazelwood book wasn't on my bingo card.

"Ran the gambit" I only recently found out that the saying is actually "ran the gamut." The word is a simile for "range" or "scope."

I only read four books in June but in my defence, two of those books were over 1100 pages long.

I m torn. The rant was the best part of the video but I usually dont care to know in such detail about books I ll never read

Retellings and adaptations need to be able to stand on their own. It's one thing to look at the source material for more detail, but it's a problem if you feel like you had to look it up to understand basic elements of the story. You should never take for granted that people will be familiar with the source you are pulling your work from. You shouldn't do it even if it is a source commonly known in the culture you are selling to, let alone for something like an Indian epic, which not as many people living in the West will be familiar with.

I have been waiting all month to hear your response to the dumpster fire that is Bride….🤣😆😂!!!! You delighted me with your obvious frustration, it was just so bad! And I enjoy a good supernatural/cryptid fantasy…but this, this was not good.

Hey, if I send you a fantasy novela when I finish it, would you read it? Not a manuscript (I don't do manuscripts), but a finished product?

Some real-life animal species have developed genetic mutations where they drink blood, so it doesn't sound too unusual to me.

Where have i seen that T-shirt before!? Jeez I hope Murphy doesn't do anything weird!

Please Merphy put timestamps so I can see the books 🙏😭

Maybe the Kaikeyi book by the same author of Goddess of the River will work better for you.

Goddess of the rivers is the story of Mahabharata. The tale is almost known to most South Asians and all Indians. They are target audience so it is hard to understand for those who have no such cultural context.

Do you read litrpg

I enjoyed Bride until the last 1/4. The third act breakup was so stupid and unnecessary and convoluted. And then the way it resolved was even worse. It made me legitimately angry and took the book from a 4 start to a 2 star.

Bride "The Most Frustrating Thing." Sums it up

I’m a person that likes certain romantasy but Bride was so badly done. I just can’t.

They just don't make good vampires and werewolves stories like they used to. I grew up with the underworld movie series, now those were the good ol days. Also, very nice Vegeta shirt! 👌🏽

That just became my favorite review 😂 So much hate!

🧡📚🧡📚🧡📚🧡

0:55 gamut* Pronounced like “gambit” but without the B.

This just further confirms that I should not pick up Bride. Great vid as always.

Disappointed you didn't like the Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes. I found the toy story (middle-grade) vibes enhanced my emotional response to this book because you unconsciously start to expect a Disney-type story arc. When you are then hit with the darkness of a reality you would find in a true crime story it hits harder because you haven't been preparing for those emotions. I was completely lulled into a false sense of security and then devastated by this book. I'm sorry you didn't have my experience and I hope your review doesn't put off other readers from trying this book because I thought it was wonderful.

Other than Changes, sounds like a, weak month.

Oh no straight hair Merphy is back she must be tired

oooo the way you hated Bride..... Don't read Gothika.... Reads with Reachel didn't like Bride much but it ended up only a 2 star because she read Gothika *right* after and decided to give bride something a bit generous because of the nightmare Gothika was...... I would not be suprised if it's a DNF if it's not for anything. If Bride was a one star.... Gothika is probably going to be a half a star if even that for you. I will feel bad if it comes up in what you're doing with the Grumpy/Sunshine thing.

lol. Nothing is better than a good rant review 🤣 and yes on all accounts!!! Bride was not good. To be fair, I don’t think hard core fantasy lovers are the target audience for this, but still… it’s not good. Total side note: I don’t know why, but I always thought you’re sitting in front of a green screen. And when you reached into your shelf I was trying to figure out how you were able to interact with your green screen in this way 🤣🫣🤦‍♀️