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bear_ridge_tarot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Princess Chandra is locked into a tower as a spoilt, soft and curvy femme with a backbone of steel. Warrior Prince Nemeth, locked in with her, is not human and outwardly not soft in the slightest. When they are forced to make a huge choice, one that could end with both of them dead either way, they face a world outside the tower that they no longer understand or recognize.
I picked up this book having missed the smut warnings, and was pleasantly surprised that it was written so well. I typically avoid pure smut novels because they become repetitive and predictable. Candra and Nemeth's story is not predictable, other than the enemies-to-lovers trope. The overarching weaves a web of court intrigue, misguided assumptions about other countries/races, and two-but-really-one religions. I wanted to know what would happen between the pair, and what was going on in the outside world too! Ruby Dixon writes a beautiful, gritty story and I could hardly put the book down.
I received this book as an advanced reader copy through NetGally. It does not affect my review in any way.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a shameless, knows-what-she-wants MC and a storyline that is actually more interesting than the smutty parts!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Slavery, Body shaming, Classism, Pregnancy, and Genocide
Minor: War
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