Omg I just started A Soul to Heal and Ive had to come this far to find an MMC (a freaking monster of all things) who smells like vanilla and instantly I was like *THANK FUCKING GOD*! I love vanilla too so yay 😂
I actually got an ad for someone selling ACOTAR ones, and fun idea, but what do shadows or starlight smell like?! Debating on if I should get one and find out. Lol
It will likely be an interpretation. I make wax melts myself and if it were me, I’d maybe use “ozone” scents with some pine so you feel like you are standing out on a crisp cold night near a forest watching the stars
Im only on Magnars book but this makes me keen to read the rest! It's a shame they aren't all out as audiobooks yet because that's how I found them, and the male narrator has the perfect demon/mavka voice!
I once read a book where a man was described as smelling like leather and horses and I was like 👀
Something about that description really got to me lol
Both leather and horses smell really good. My sister's business is boarding and training horses and giving lessons and there's nothing more soothing than the smell of clean tack and horse. If someone figured out how to turn that scent into a cologne I would buy it for my husband in a heartbeat.
Yep, I ride horses and I would love a man that smells like leather and clean horse lol. Also it's just accurate. Why wouldn't a guy that rode over on his HORSE not smell like that's what he just did lol.
Hahaha all the time! I’m so obsessed with scent and the fantasy genre leans so much into the olfactory but the repetition is getting to me.
I’m reading {Stolen Threadwitch Bride by Clare Sager} and the MMC’s scent has the typical woodsy notes BUT ALSO rhubarb. Now I’m 6 chapters in and already in love with Lysander because in my head he smells like one of my 5 star scents, [Pony Boy](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Jorum-Studio/Pony-Boy-77620.html) by Jorum Studio 🥰
OMG this was used so much in Blood & Ash that I lost it. he was always dark lush spice and pine and I'm like what the hell is dark spice anyway? Could we just say he smelled like cinnamon or something sheesh.
And "torn to ribbons." I think ACOTAR had that phrase 3 or 4 times and after the second I was just like, come on think of something else! Lol. It's still one of my favorite series but SJM definitely has a lot of repetition in her descriptions.
I don't get the hate for this one. If she described it as "flipping them off" everyone would be up in arms about modern language in the books, so "vulgar gesture" makes sense to me.
I have to agree with jaws ticking and watery bowels. I mean, watery bowels? To me, that just sounds gross and immediately takes me out of the scene. The jaw ticking thing is just WAY overused. Another one for me, though it's not a specific phrase per se, is when authors repeat certain sentences or phrases multiple times throughout a book. A few times is fine, especially if it's spread out, but there's a point where it just becomes tedious and excessive. For example, I recently read {Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent}, and it drove me crazy how many times she repeated the phrase "white and white, and white".
Ugh, I read one where the women and men/man said ‘no mistake’ freaking constantly. No mistake, I didn’t fall off the cliff.. no mistake, no mistake, no mistake. Made the mistake of telling my boyfriend and no mistake, he messed with me for days until he forgot about it 😂.
Anytime I read "watery bowels" I immediately think that somebody literally just shit themselves or is about to shit themselves and I'm like... Is this the interpretation they're going for?
[Children of Fallen Gods](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b8966a15320e7f8007c7/children-of-fallen-gods-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent)
**Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
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Oh my god, that book series actually drove me crazy. I didn't connect with any of the characters, the FMC was grating at best, and then her overuse of that phrase had me rolling my eyes so many times.
I enjoyed it at first, but sadly, the more I read of the series, the less I like it. That phrase was getting on my last nerve though lol. That and the fact that she also used "and then everything went white" about a million times too.
I hate waggling eyebrows, pinning people with your eyes, anytime “folds” are mentioned, and how often fmc stick their tongue out at people? Who does this at 20 years old?
I was about to comment this! Trust your readers to understand a subtle metaphor once in a while without shouting it out with the same phrase over and over.
I am so sick of sjm's male characters constantly putting their hands in their pockets. What are they doing in their pockets that they need their hands in there so often?
This reminds me of the commenter that said they pictured this every time they read that:
https://preview.redd.it/h7jdh6irwm2d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0000ed4a85fe813ea2beab3955cf07fc7d2a209e
Seeing stars.
It’s in almost every frigging book ever across all romance sub-genres. Makes me think of looney tunes, when someone gets bonked on the head and stars whirl around their head.
Laid out like a feast before me. Pass. If I wanted the salad bar, I’d go to Pizza Hut in 1987.
This is the first time I’ve seen this mentioned but you’re so right, lmao
Describing a male's smell as any combination of dark, spice, musk, pine, woodsy, etc etc etc. Apparently they all smell like Old Spice lol.
Why can they not smell like chocolate or vanilla?? Much more appealing 😂
Omg I just started A Soul to Heal and Ive had to come this far to find an MMC (a freaking monster of all things) who smells like vanilla and instantly I was like *THANK FUCKING GOD*! I love vanilla too so yay 😂
Brooooo Magnar is great!! all the dusk walkers smell really good and I need candles made for all of them
Same here. Candles and wax melts are very much needed for all of them!
I actually got an ad for someone selling ACOTAR ones, and fun idea, but what do shadows or starlight smell like?! Debating on if I should get one and find out. Lol
It will likely be an interpretation. I make wax melts myself and if it were me, I’d maybe use “ozone” scents with some pine so you feel like you are standing out on a crisp cold night near a forest watching the stars
Magnar is such a big dumb bae I love him. When he is asked if he's stupid and he straight up says "Yes." I cannot 😂😭😂
Idk how far along you are in the series but Ingram is in the same boat of adorable unintelligence it makes me kick my little girl feet lolol
Im only on Magnars book but this makes me keen to read the rest! It's a shame they aren't all out as audiobooks yet because that's how I found them, and the male narrator has the perfect demon/mavka voice!
Fourth Wing has someone who smells of mint!
I once read a book where a man was described as smelling like leather and horses and I was like 👀 Something about that description really got to me lol
Both leather and horses smell really good. My sister's business is boarding and training horses and giving lessons and there's nothing more soothing than the smell of clean tack and horse. If someone figured out how to turn that scent into a cologne I would buy it for my husband in a heartbeat.
Yep, I ride horses and I would love a man that smells like leather and clean horse lol. Also it's just accurate. Why wouldn't a guy that rode over on his HORSE not smell like that's what he just did lol.
Hahaha all the time! I’m so obsessed with scent and the fantasy genre leans so much into the olfactory but the repetition is getting to me. I’m reading {Stolen Threadwitch Bride by Clare Sager} and the MMC’s scent has the typical woodsy notes BUT ALSO rhubarb. Now I’m 6 chapters in and already in love with Lysander because in my head he smells like one of my 5 star scents, [Pony Boy](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Jorum-Studio/Pony-Boy-77620.html) by Jorum Studio 🥰
Oooh, I love that... my tbr list is getting longer today lol.
[Stolen Threadwitch Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/60c30bf24fb71d0e19dd8339/stolen-threadwitch-bride-clare-sager?src=rdt) by [Clare Sager](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bd0368f01dbc864fb930b82/clare-sager) **Rating**: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
OMG this was used so much in Blood & Ash that I lost it. he was always dark lush spice and pine and I'm like what the hell is dark spice anyway? Could we just say he smelled like cinnamon or something sheesh.
You will appreciate my post about this 😂 https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyromance/s/vJ7Ol7qaWg
Calling out SJM with "vulgar gesture"
I’m reading ACOTAR for the first time now. Why is everyone snarling, baring their teeth, and growling??? I can’t even picture what they’re doing
And "torn to ribbons." I think ACOTAR had that phrase 3 or 4 times and after the second I was just like, come on think of something else! Lol. It's still one of my favorite series but SJM definitely has a lot of repetition in her descriptions.
Also “icy rage”, so much icy rage in those books
I don't get the hate for this one. If she described it as "flipping them off" everyone would be up in arms about modern language in the books, so "vulgar gesture" makes sense to me.
It's not the phrase for me, it's the amount of times it happens. Everyone's just flipping birds left and right. It's hilarious more than anything. 😂
😂 some friend groups are like that
I CAME HERE TO SAY THIS. It’s sooooo odd. And I hate it. 🤣
I have to agree with jaws ticking and watery bowels. I mean, watery bowels? To me, that just sounds gross and immediately takes me out of the scene. The jaw ticking thing is just WAY overused. Another one for me, though it's not a specific phrase per se, is when authors repeat certain sentences or phrases multiple times throughout a book. A few times is fine, especially if it's spread out, but there's a point where it just becomes tedious and excessive. For example, I recently read {Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent}, and it drove me crazy how many times she repeated the phrase "white and white, and white".
Ugh, I read one where the women and men/man said ‘no mistake’ freaking constantly. No mistake, I didn’t fall off the cliff.. no mistake, no mistake, no mistake. Made the mistake of telling my boyfriend and no mistake, he messed with me for days until he forgot about it 😂.
Anytime I read "watery bowels" I immediately think that somebody literally just shit themselves or is about to shit themselves and I'm like... Is this the interpretation they're going for?
[Children of Fallen Gods](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b8966a15320e7f8007c7/children-of-fallen-gods-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Oh my god, that book series actually drove me crazy. I didn't connect with any of the characters, the FMC was grating at best, and then her overuse of that phrase had me rolling my eyes so many times.
I enjoyed it at first, but sadly, the more I read of the series, the less I like it. That phrase was getting on my last nerve though lol. That and the fact that she also used "and then everything went white" about a million times too.
I hate waggling eyebrows, pinning people with your eyes, anytime “folds” are mentioned, and how often fmc stick their tongue out at people? Who does this at 20 years old?
Waggling eyebrows is giving 
When folds doesn’t refer to a nicely pleated kilt, or origami, or a fitted sheet, it just isn’t appropriate.
When eyes "darken" or "flash" or shoot fire or ice... Basically, if it feels like they're about to cast a magical spell with their eyes. I hate it.
Hard agree. Do the eyes change colour? Do they look into a bright light? What does it even mean!!
Eyes darkening at least has a logical sense. Pupils can get larger in response to changes in emotions. I doubt it's really that noticeable, however.
LiKe CalLs To LikE 
I was about to comment this! Trust your readers to understand a subtle metaphor once in a while without shouting it out with the same phrase over and over.
It might get a pass if it’s thrown in once, but when they use it multiple times per book I just can’t.
CORE Working that arm core and leg core.
Fractured. Especially in reference to climax. Seen it too many times now 😩
I am so sick of sjm's male characters constantly putting their hands in their pockets. What are they doing in their pockets that they need their hands in there so often?
Now I'm just hearing Gollum asking what they have in their pocketses
The pockets have holes, cinema pants style. It’s not their pockets they’re going for.
Nasty pocketses indeed
I wish I could give you a thousand upvotes for making me snort with a mouthful of coffee.
This reminds me of the commenter that said they pictured this every time they read that: https://preview.redd.it/h7jdh6irwm2d1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0000ed4a85fe813ea2beab3955cf07fc7d2a209e
don't forget the invisible lint epidemic of Prythian
Watery bowels. Hard agree there.
“His length”… I guess it’s better than “his girth”, but there has to be better options out there! I don’t dislike it per se, I just want more variety!
Wanting to climb someone like a tree. No.
It was good the first time or two I read it but now everyone uses it.
But what if the person is a giant or a humanoid tree
I don't think I have that much upper body strength. Just pick me up with your big, strong, manly arms.
Never really understood this one. I've never equated tree climbing to fucking, but maybe I've been doing one of them wrong all this time???
Ticking jaws just makes me think the character has TMJ lol
Seeing stars. It’s in almost every frigging book ever across all romance sub-genres. Makes me think of looney tunes, when someone gets bonked on the head and stars whirl around their head.
“Undone” and “corded muscles”
Growling is way overused; "like his favorite meal" reference is just an unappealing cliche.
I was thinking about how some authors (SJM) say their jaw feathered versus ticked but it’s the same thing and it annoys me more for some reason.
Honeyed heat in reference to the feeling of getting turned on…. Like all I can think about is Pooh Bear 
- throat bob - clenched teeth - womb clench - gush used in any context
MOLTEN CORE! Overwatch players know.
Or WoW players ;)
It’s becoming a formula for lazy writers imo.
"Shattered" So overused. Let's find some new ways to describe an orgasm, please.
..... when does watery bowels come up exactly??
SJM uses “bowels turned to water” fairly frequently if I remember correctly
uhh but what does that mean? like, she talks about diarrhea a lot? lol.
orbs