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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Very simple writing and plot. Basically the book just keeps telling you what you want to hear with no inventiveness. It’s written like a diary and skips around a lot and covers quite a long span of time in only 500 pages. I really hated how she kept calling him “honey” and “baby.” It really took you out of the “fantasyland.”
I had a hard time finishing this but forced myself to anyway just because I hate stopping in the middle of a book. I read fast so it shouldn’t have taken me so long to read but I kept stopping due to boredom.
Two stars because it still made me smile sometimes despite myself. It’s def a FEEL GOOD novel. It never makes you super worried or upset really. At least for me it didn’t.
I had a hard time finishing this but forced myself to anyway just because I hate stopping in the middle of a book. I read fast so it shouldn’t have taken me so long to read but I kept stopping due to boredom.
Two stars because it still made me smile sometimes despite myself. It’s def a FEEL GOOD novel. It never makes you super worried or upset really. At least for me it didn’t.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely loved this book. It has a unique and tantalizing plot. I'm new to the fantasy realm and since this was my first venture into any topic of this sort, I adored it. Kristen Ashley paints this world vividly with lush and abundant detail. So much that I felt the snow crunch beneath my feet as I delved through pages filled with magic. I enjoyed the heroine Finnie immensely. She faced all endeavors with love, passion, and joy. A reader cannot help but admire her spirit and zest for life. The way Frey falls for her and protects her, had my heart soaring through the clouds with the dragons. The love they share is beautiful and regal. A very fun adventurous read, especially for individuals looking for a fresh, enchanting realm of wonder.
SEXIST. HOMOPHOBIC. RAPEY VIBES.
I AM SO FUCKING PISSED OFF AND REPULSED BY THIS TRASH. I very rarely give 1 stars: I don’t just throw around 1 stars because it’s the lowest of the low, which is sort of degrading to the author’s hard work, BUT MY GOODNESS this is absolute garbage!!!!
Writing
1) EVERY FUCKING THING IS APPARENTLY “cool” to Finnie.
• every setting she sees
• every person she meets
•every piece of clothing
• the weird stray cat she finds. I MEAN DOES SHE EVEN KNOW ANY OTHER WORDS THAN “ cool or freaking awesome???
2) USE A FUCKING PERIOD. I kid you now, Ashley can write bloody paragraphs without introducing a period.
Example: “Unfortunately, this kind of thing would probably incense my mother, who already clearly did not like me and my father, who I didn’t think liked me a great deal more because he’d barely said a word to me, few of the ones he’d spoken were nice and earlier he had barely even looked at me.”
THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A PERIOD IN THAT SENTENCE AND I KNOW IT. If you don’t care for basic grammar rules, Ashley, then can you atleast give some regard to the poor audio reader who’ll go into hypoxia reading this?
Characterization
I will not even write about idiotic Finnie who normalizes toxic behaviour (while admitting its toxic and laughing it off).
I won’t even go into the fact that she so so stupid that when assassins come to kill her (and her husband subsequently kills them), she asks her husband if they were “bad guys.”
Yeah, because killer assassins are usually the good guys . Ah shucks!
But Finnie has her good moments sometimes.
But Frey.
Goodness Motherfucking Gracious I have never wanted to stab-punch-throttle-kick a fictional character this bad.
Reasons:
1) Pervert: He assumes Finnie is a lesbian because that’s what she told him but he makes her grope his thigh, and contemplated taking/raping her, even though she is not into ANY men, let alone THAT RAGGEDY-ASS MAN.
2) R-A-P-I-S-T V-I-B-E-S: He tells Finnie he will sleep with her whether she likes it or not MULTIPLE TIMES. And then he tells her that he never forces himself. OH and then he subsequently forcing her to wrap her legs around him and sleep with her. Oh lol and all the hundred times he insinuates that it’s her duty to bed him and he cannot stop his urges.
Lmao it’s very obvious when the “I would never take a women by force” consent line is there just to placate readers, versus when the character truly believes it.
3) Arrogant piece of shit : “I am not only a nobleman, I am the nobleman, Finnie”
This is one of hundreds of arrogant lines that would probably sound so stupid being said in real life.
5) Cheater: Frey invites his ex-fling to serve at Finnie’s table. Girl isn’t comfortable and she gets upset at him for being so insensitive. He tells her to chill and that sleeping around is not a big deal.
Oh, and that he’ll prob continue cheating, even if they are married.
Oh, and then he has the GALL to get upset at Finnie after he reveals he will cheat after marriage:
“But what I do, Finnie and who I do it with is none of your concern, be she servant or duchess. I’m explaining this to you patiently so the next time you learn of something like this, you won’t show me the same disrespect you did at your table with your parents.”
WHAT. THE.FUCK.
4) Elitist/Classist Fucker :
“She is a servant, I am an aristocrat, she knows her place and I was born to mine” Frey tells Finnie, in reference to his ex-fling.
• he just degrades a women
• ...in the same sentence he gassed himself up
• he demeans her and sleeps with her and leaves.
• Predator vibes
5) Nothing He Does Is Wrong
I am so utterly disgusted that Finnie’s mom decides to give her a talk that husbands cheating is a norm and it’s just a burden every woman has to bear... but oh dw... if it makes you feel better your husband thinks you are “sweet”. Aw.
FUCKING BULLSHIT.
AND I LOVE HOW FINNIE CRIES AND GOES ALONG WITH THIS. Like they aren’t from the 21 st century, but FINNIE is from our time. How the fuck does she go along with this toxic mentality? And not even question it?
I can’t pinpoint the bigger idiot in this scenario
6) Manipulative Toxic Trash : Frey switches her birth control will fake powder so he can impregnate her.
I SWEAR TO GOD I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP.
Guys, do you know this is illegal? This is manipulative, toxic, criminal behaviour? In my eyes that is disgusting and unforgivable.
But to make it worse?
Frey binds Finnie to his land so she can never go home again and leave him, TWO WEEKS INTO PROPERLY MEETING HER. And he doesn’t tell her he does this till the end of the book.
The worse part I think... the part that truly kills me..: is everything I listed... all these toxic behaviours that Frey exhibits, Finnie actually wonders about. And she gets upset about some of them like the switching of the birth control, but then she forgives him FOR NO BLOODY REASON.
FREY EXHIBITS ALL THIS TRASHY CREEPY NASTINESS , and DOESN’T APOLOGIZE OR REGRET IT, but FINNIE decides that he is too hot not to forgive.
I literally can not.
Seriously, nots are not able to be can’d.
I’m so shook by Frey’s actions and repulsed by the author for thinking she can normalize them.
I FEEL RAGE IN MY BLOOD. I WANT TO RIP THIS FUCKING BOOK.
I AM SO FUCKING PISSED OFF AND REPULSED BY THIS TRASH. I very rarely give 1 stars: I don’t just throw around 1 stars because it’s the lowest of the low, which is sort of degrading to the author’s hard work, BUT MY GOODNESS this is absolute garbage!!!!
Writing
1) EVERY FUCKING THING IS APPARENTLY “cool” to Finnie.
• every setting she sees
• every person she meets
•every piece of clothing
• the weird stray cat she finds. I MEAN DOES SHE EVEN KNOW ANY OTHER WORDS THAN “ cool or freaking awesome???
2) USE A FUCKING PERIOD. I kid you now, Ashley can write bloody paragraphs without introducing a period.
Example: “Unfortunately, this kind of thing would probably incense my mother, who already clearly did not like me and my father, who I didn’t think liked me a great deal more because he’d barely said a word to me, few of the ones he’d spoken were nice and earlier he had barely even looked at me.”
THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A PERIOD IN THAT SENTENCE AND I KNOW IT. If you don’t care for basic grammar rules, Ashley, then can you atleast give some regard to the poor audio reader who’ll go into hypoxia reading this?
Characterization
I will not even write about idiotic Finnie who normalizes toxic behaviour (while admitting its toxic and laughing it off).
I won’t even go into the fact that she so so stupid that when assassins come to kill her (and her husband subsequently kills them), she asks her husband if they were “bad guys.”
Yeah, because killer assassins are usually the good guys . Ah shucks!
But Finnie has her good moments sometimes.
But Frey.
Goodness Motherfucking Gracious I have never wanted to stab-punch-throttle-kick a fictional character this bad.
Reasons:
1) Pervert: He assumes Finnie is a lesbian because that’s what she told him but he makes her grope his thigh, and contemplated taking/raping her, even though she is not into ANY men, let alone THAT RAGGEDY-ASS MAN.
2) R-A-P-I-S-T V-I-B-E-S: He tells Finnie he will sleep with her whether she likes it or not MULTIPLE TIMES. And then he tells her that he never forces himself. OH and then he subsequently forcing her to wrap her legs around him and sleep with her. Oh lol and all the hundred times he insinuates that it’s her duty to bed him and he cannot stop his urges.
Lmao it’s very obvious when the “I would never take a women by force” consent line is there just to placate readers, versus when the character truly believes it.
3) Arrogant piece of shit : “I am not only a nobleman, I am the nobleman, Finnie”
This is one of hundreds of arrogant lines that would probably sound so stupid being said in real life.
5) Cheater: Frey invites his ex-fling to serve at Finnie’s table. Girl isn’t comfortable and she gets upset at him for being so insensitive. He tells her to chill and that sleeping around is not a big deal.
Oh, and that he’ll prob continue cheating, even if they are married.
Oh, and then he has the GALL to get upset at Finnie after he reveals he will cheat after marriage:
“But what I do, Finnie and who I do it with is none of your concern, be she servant or duchess. I’m explaining this to you patiently so the next time you learn of something like this, you won’t show me the same disrespect you did at your table with your parents.”
WHAT. THE.FUCK.
4) Elitist/Classist Fucker :
“She is a servant, I am an aristocrat, she knows her place and I was born to mine” Frey tells Finnie, in reference to his ex-fling.
• he just degrades a women
• ...in the same sentence he gassed himself up
• he demeans her and sleeps with her and leaves.
• Predator vibes
5) Nothing He Does Is Wrong
I am so utterly disgusted that Finnie’s mom decides to give her a talk that husbands cheating is a norm and it’s just a burden every woman has to bear... but oh dw... if it makes you feel better your husband thinks you are “sweet”. Aw.
FUCKING BULLSHIT.
AND I LOVE HOW FINNIE CRIES AND GOES ALONG WITH THIS. Like they aren’t from the 21 st century, but FINNIE is from our time. How the fuck does she go along with this toxic mentality? And not even question it?
I can’t pinpoint the bigger idiot in this scenario
6) Manipulative Toxic Trash : Frey switches her birth control will fake powder so he can impregnate her.
I SWEAR TO GOD I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP.
Guys, do you know this is illegal? This is manipulative, toxic, criminal behaviour? In my eyes that is disgusting and unforgivable.
But to make it worse?
Frey binds Finnie to his land so she can never go home again and leave him, TWO WEEKS INTO PROPERLY MEETING HER. And he doesn’t tell her he does this till the end of the book.
The worse part I think... the part that truly kills me..: is everything I listed... all these toxic behaviours that Frey exhibits, Finnie actually wonders about. And she gets upset about some of them like the switching of the birth control, but then she forgives him FOR NO BLOODY REASON.
FREY EXHIBITS ALL THIS TRASHY CREEPY NASTINESS , and DOESN’T APOLOGIZE OR REGRET IT, but FINNIE decides that he is too hot not to forgive.
I literally can not.
Seriously, nots are not able to be can’d.
I’m so shook by Frey’s actions and repulsed by the author for thinking she can normalize them.
I FEEL RAGE IN MY BLOOD. I WANT TO RIP THIS FUCKING BOOK.
I can't do it. I DNF'd around 40%. I was SO interested in the plot, but I just couldn't get past the main character sounding and acting like a child. I don't need a conventionally smart heroine, but her voice was just so incredibly juvenile and grating.
The main character, Finnie, is supposed to be a badass. She's supposed to be quirky, adventurous, and brave. Nah. She's just a dumbass. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and Finnie stepped clean over it a long time ago.
Her parents were adrenaline junkies--doing all kinds of crazy shit all over the world--and taught her to be like them and live in the moment and all that good stuff. Well, they died in a plane crash. And yet Finnie continues to think doing crazy shit is a good idea, claiming that at least her parents "died happy." So of course, when a really sus ass witch (who inserts random French words into her speech to make her sound exotic and mysterious) offers to transport her to a parallel dimension and switch her body with her doppelganger's, Finnie immediately agrees (for a million dollars
Her parents were adrenaline junkies--doing all kinds of crazy shit all over the world--and taught her to be like them and live in the moment and all that good stuff. Well, they died in a plane crash. And yet Finnie continues to think doing crazy shit is a good idea, claiming that at least her parents "died happy." So of course, when a really sus ass witch (who inserts random French words into her speech to make her sound exotic and mysterious) offers to transport her to a parallel dimension and switch her body with her doppelganger's, Finnie immediately agrees (for a million dollars
To tell you the truth, I have never planned on reading this one, or any book in the series. It was a mixture of things; the first being the unappealing covers, the second being the synopsis which was overly long and messily structured (imo).
But I have read another Kristen Ashley novel (Play It Safe) which I loved, so when this one only $0.99 I decided I would get it. For that price, what did I really have to lose? Luckily for this book, I almost immediately found myself in the mood for a romance, and picked it up. There were a lot of things that I liked about it. There were a few I didn't.
But at the end of the day, I decided to rate it based on my enjoyment which was a solid four stars.
In it's essence, it's a pretty simple premise: Finnie lost her parents when she was younger, so when she discovers there exists a parallel universe to ours where they still live and breath (even if it's a different version of them), she jumps on the opportunity to see them again, switching places with that world's Sjofn.
Only turns out it's that Sjofn's wedding day... so now Finnie is getting married, to a frightening beast of a man called Frey Drakkar ("The Dragon") and this Frey doesn't really like Sjofn and so he thinks he doesn't like Finnie.
Thus starts the little adventure that would eventually lead to these two falling in love.
Finne was a good character, and a good person, refusing to let any negativity control her life. She finds joy in whatever and wherever she is, easily excitable, and has a wondering spirit. She fit the Drakkar very well, despite a few hits and glitches along the way (and moments I was shaking my head because shame on you Drakkar!). The Drakkar is a natural born leader, a strategic, imposing figure with a lot of power at his hands, being (essentially), the true king of Finnie's country.
It's a marriage-before-love type of story, which is one of my favorite tropes in historical and this reads very much like an historical in the medieval fantasy world it presents. A fantasy world that is well thought out, but takes second place to the love story itself.
And I honestly, and truly enjoyed that story very much, even if I was a bit sad with the villain.
However, there were a few things that bothered me, and they mostly had to do with the writing. It's not the best... not even close. It took a while for me to get used to it and put it out of my mind enough to concentrate on the story itself. It was all kind of choppy at places and very young, which is a bit weird considering this has some very adult content.
Or maybe, it felt young because of how Finnie talks and expresses herself. Finnie should be around thirty years old, but I wouldn't put her past twenty-two based on her voice. She sounded so, so young to me. Younger that I, and I am 22 years old. Her inner monologues included a tedious amount of "wow", "cool", "awesome", and the likes. Every new thing she encountered was awesome and freaking beautiful, more than the last one. After a while, I was desensitized to all her exclamations of beauty because they appeared so often and so frequently.
Then there were the descriptions. Good god. How many dresses and items of clothing can you describe to teeny tiny details? It drove me mad. I did not need to know the exact shade and shape of your dress, what fabric it was made from and how many bows and strings and belts it had in it. It gives nothing to the story. I can handle a few dress descriptions in order to establish the fashion and how it differs from ours. But almost every dress and every item of clothing you see? It was too much by far. You can leave some things to the imagination, and it won't take from the story at all.
These two things were the major issues I had with the book, and while they did bother me greatly, I decided to just skim the descriptions and focus and the story and I enjoyed that story enough to one click and start the second book immediately.
But I have read another Kristen Ashley novel (Play It Safe) which I loved, so when this one only $0.99 I decided I would get it. For that price, what did I really have to lose? Luckily for this book, I almost immediately found myself in the mood for a romance, and picked it up. There were a lot of things that I liked about it. There were a few I didn't.
But at the end of the day, I decided to rate it based on my enjoyment which was a solid four stars.
In it's essence, it's a pretty simple premise: Finnie lost her parents when she was younger, so when she discovers there exists a parallel universe to ours where they still live and breath (even if it's a different version of them), she jumps on the opportunity to see them again, switching places with that world's Sjofn.
Only turns out it's that Sjofn's wedding day... so now Finnie is getting married, to a frightening beast of a man called Frey Drakkar ("The Dragon") and this Frey doesn't really like Sjofn and so he thinks he doesn't like Finnie.
Thus starts the little adventure that would eventually lead to these two falling in love.
Finne was a good character, and a good person, refusing to let any negativity control her life. She finds joy in whatever and wherever she is, easily excitable, and has a wondering spirit. She fit the Drakkar very well, despite a few hits and glitches along the way (and moments I was shaking my head because shame on you Drakkar!). The Drakkar is a natural born leader, a strategic, imposing figure with a lot of power at his hands, being (essentially), the true king of Finnie's country.
It's a marriage-before-love type of story, which is one of my favorite tropes in historical and this reads very much like an historical in the medieval fantasy world it presents. A fantasy world that is well thought out, but takes second place to the love story itself.
And I honestly, and truly enjoyed that story very much, even if I was a bit sad with the villain.
However, there were a few things that bothered me, and they mostly had to do with the writing. It's not the best... not even close. It took a while for me to get used to it and put it out of my mind enough to concentrate on the story itself. It was all kind of choppy at places and very young, which is a bit weird considering this has some very adult content.
Or maybe, it felt young because of how Finnie talks and expresses herself. Finnie should be around thirty years old, but I wouldn't put her past twenty-two based on her voice. She sounded so, so young to me. Younger that I, and I am 22 years old. Her inner monologues included a tedious amount of "wow", "cool", "awesome", and the likes. Every new thing she encountered was awesome and freaking beautiful, more than the last one. After a while, I was desensitized to all her exclamations of beauty because they appeared so often and so frequently.
Then there were the descriptions. Good god. How many dresses and items of clothing can you describe to teeny tiny details? It drove me mad. I did not need to know the exact shade and shape of your dress, what fabric it was made from and how many bows and strings and belts it had in it. It gives nothing to the story. I can handle a few dress descriptions in order to establish the fashion and how it differs from ours. But almost every dress and every item of clothing you see? It was too much by far. You can leave some things to the imagination, and it won't take from the story at all.
These two things were the major issues I had with the book, and while they did bother me greatly, I decided to just skim the descriptions and focus and the story and I enjoyed that story enough to one click and start the second book immediately.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I should have DNF'd this book.
I loathed Frey. I can't remember the last time I hated the love interest this much.
Okay so Finnie gets transferred to this world and is forced to marry him. He immediately treats her terribly and leaves her alone in a filthy cabin in the freezing cold for 6 weeks. Fine, whoever her twin was must have done something really bad...Nope. Actually the only thing the twin did was be gay and flee to a whole different ass world to have her freedom!! And they make a point to say "oh well he is normally fine with gay people, he's just upset he's marrying her and she doesn't want him" Well then he clearly has no empathy at all. Then throughout the story, they villainize this other twin and don't try to see things from her POV whatsoever. He claims the twin commited treason! And tells her parents that if she comes back, she'll be executed. The twin's parents and friends completely write the twin off. There are barely any comments about missing her and they accept that she's gone forever without a second thought.
Alright, then his biggest crime is early in the story. He binds Finnie to this world without giving her feelings a single thought. Fine, it's early in the story. He's obviously going to be remorseful as soon as he gets to know her. He'll confess out of guilt and they'll break the bind...Nope. There is no shred of remorse from him. He cuts her off from her entire future, feels no guilt, and he actively keeps her from finding out from the other witches.
Throughout the story, he makes horrible sexist comments. He tells her if they have daughters, they won't be taught to fight or won't be allowed to wear pants. He explains to her that he's royalty and he can fool around with whoever and as a woman she just has to deal with it. He declares himself above servants and the rest of society. Then he is a total asshole and has the woman he was fooling around with serve them all dinner to flaunt it in front of Finnie. The story makes it to be her fault and he never apologizes for his actions. Oh! And her mom gives her a speech that is basically "if you don't put out, he'll go elsewhere".
His next crime - He switches her birth control for a placebo to get her pregnant without her consent! It made me want to throw up. And when she's pregnant, he tries to control her and limit all her activities. They also make a point to say that they will have to keep having kids until they have a son to take the throne. Finnie is from our world, where is her feminism?! Why isn't she pushing for society changes?!
So he finally gets exposed for all of this - Finnie screams at him but as she's yelling a battle breaks out and he "dies". When they are reunited, she apologizes to him profusely. I was livid, screaming at her to run for the hills. Then in the end, he brings one of her friends from the other world to visit and somehow, that makes up for everything. I just hate him from the depths of my soul.
The only nice thing I have to say is the concept is interesting. I wish we alternated stories between the twins. I would have liked to learn how the twin's experience was going on earth.
The other books focus on different couples but I'm scarred from this book and I will not be continuing.
I loathed Frey. I can't remember the last time I hated the love interest this much.
Okay so Finnie gets transferred to this world and is forced to marry him. He immediately treats her terribly and leaves her alone in a filthy cabin in the freezing cold for 6 weeks. Fine, whoever her twin was must have done something really bad...Nope. Actually the only thing the twin did was be gay and flee to a whole different ass world to have her freedom!! And they make a point to say "oh well he is normally fine with gay people, he's just upset he's marrying her and she doesn't want him" Well then he clearly has no empathy at all. Then throughout the story, they villainize this other twin and don't try to see things from her POV whatsoever. He claims the twin commited treason! And tells her parents that if she comes back, she'll be executed. The twin's parents and friends completely write the twin off. There are barely any comments about missing her and they accept that she's gone forever without a second thought.
Alright, then his biggest crime is early in the story. He binds Finnie to this world without giving her feelings a single thought. Fine, it's early in the story. He's obviously going to be remorseful as soon as he gets to know her. He'll confess out of guilt and they'll break the bind...Nope. There is no shred of remorse from him. He cuts her off from her entire future, feels no guilt, and he actively keeps her from finding out from the other witches.
Throughout the story, he makes horrible sexist comments. He tells her if they have daughters, they won't be taught to fight or won't be allowed to wear pants. He explains to her that he's royalty and he can fool around with whoever and as a woman she just has to deal with it. He declares himself above servants and the rest of society. Then he is a total asshole and has the woman he was fooling around with serve them all dinner to flaunt it in front of Finnie. The story makes it to be her fault and he never apologizes for his actions. Oh! And her mom gives her a speech that is basically "if you don't put out, he'll go elsewhere".
His next crime - He switches her birth control for a placebo to get her pregnant without her consent! It made me want to throw up. And when she's pregnant, he tries to control her and limit all her activities. They also make a point to say that they will have to keep having kids until they have a son to take the throne. Finnie is from our world, where is her feminism?! Why isn't she pushing for society changes?!
So he finally gets exposed for all of this - Finnie screams at him but as she's yelling a battle breaks out and he "dies". When they are reunited, she apologizes to him profusely. I was livid, screaming at her to run for the hills. Then in the end, he brings one of her friends from the other world to visit and somehow, that makes up for everything. I just hate him from the depths of my soul.
The only nice thing I have to say is the concept is interesting. I wish we alternated stories between the twins. I would have liked to learn how the twin's experience was going on earth.
The other books focus on different couples but I'm scarred from this book and I will not be continuing.