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emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Blood, Classism
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
LOVED the audiobook of this! Beautiful book that delves into a budding relationship and the troubles of a war with the gods. My only qualm was that it was a tad boring at parts, and I wish the book was more fantasy. But I expect to see a more fantasy based plot in the next book considering the cliffhanger this one had!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Sexual content, Classism
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, War
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Where do I even begin? Writing was sublime ;) and quite magical. As soon as you begin the book, Ross hits you with strong imagery, setting the scene and immediately begins world building, which I enjoyed. The strong imagery throughout the entire book, along with Ross' poetic writing, just makes this story come to life and become so vivid. I've read so many romances, but I think this might be one of the most romantic books I've ever read. This book honestly feels like a story I've been waiting my entire life to find and read.
The plot itself is amazing. As someone fond of writing, I love that the main character is a journalist, writing to inform the public of unbiased news to make a difference. I love that magic exists in this world, but the typewriters (something no one uses anymore) carry their own magic in this story. Especially in today's technological world, where everyone interacts with a quick text or a quick swipe, a quick dismissal - having writing and typewriters as a central piece in this story, really created that connection the main characters have feel so much stronger and romantic because I wish I also received letters from an anonymous penpal who ended up being my crush in real life, how lucky is Iris . I loved the allusion to greek mythology with the gods, but the gods still carry different stories and are interwoven with the current war in the story. And I appreciate Ross' depiction of war. In her acknowledgements, she states a few of the books and movies she read for research, and I think it really shows in the book. War in the book is depicted as gruesome - a horror to civilians and soldiers, and isn't glamourized or romanticized. It was very real in how brutal, anxiety- inducing, life changing it can be - both present and post even with Iris as a war correspondent, someone who is supposed to be neutral, but is not treated as so. Whether thats due to control of censorship, which is touched upon while Iris works at the Gazette as a writer, or when Dacre's forces are simply trying to kill everyone when she was at the frontlines. I appreciated Ross showing how easy it was for bias and negligence to occur when one isn't informed . And I simply adore the banter and vulnerability and humor and sadness depicted in the story. Ross' ability to weave emotions so poetically, so seamlessly into her writing and characters really made them come to life for me.
I do think the pacing for the main character's relationship was a little fast although, understandable because this takes place during wartime , but I would've liked a bit more build up in their tension, rivalry, and competitiveness in the beginning. Furthermore, the world building was great. The closest semblance in my head would be to the anime, Violet Evergarden (partially why I hold this book so dear. Completely different plots, but a few similar points that I loved can be found in both), but I would've liked a bit more world building about the gods themselves. It can be seen as intentional in not saying too much about the gods, creating a parallel, so the readers have the same knowledge as the people in Oath, which is essentially none due to negligence of war arriving and insistence on propaganda and fear mongering (realistic reactions during wartime which I appreciate), but I would've liked just a bit more in the beginning . And I would've liked a bit more characterization for the side characters like Attie and Marisol. The urgency because of the war was very present and realistic, but I would've liked to know more about Attie and seen Iris and her bond a bit more together before Roman enters the scene and we basically never lean into Attie's character again after .
Overall, very strong fantasy book. Magic, poetic imagery, importance of war and writing to inform, how communication can really invoke that sense of trust and introspection one might need for clarity, and just a beautiful romance. I truly loved meeting Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt, it was an honor.
The plot itself is amazing. As someone fond of writing, I love that the main character is a journalist, writing to inform the public of unbiased news to make a difference. I love that magic exists in this world, but the typewriters (something no one uses anymore) carry their own magic in this story. Especially in today's technological world, where everyone interacts with a quick text or a quick swipe, a quick dismissal - having writing and typewriters as a central piece in this story, really created that connection the main characters have feel so much stronger
I do think the pacing for the main character's relationship was a little fast
Overall, very strong fantasy book. Magic, poetic imagery, importance of war and writing to inform, how communication can really invoke that sense of trust and introspection one might need for clarity, and just a beautiful romance. I truly loved meeting Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt, it was an honor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There was less fantasy than I originally expected going in, but I enjoy historical novels all the same personally. Though it is something to be aware of!
It has a realistic feeling of historical trench warfare with a dash of fantasy. My favorite part of the book has to be the vivid descriptions of longing, fear and grief. Quiet emotions that melts in silence and tends to be difficult to explain. But the way it was written in this book is just brilliant.
I really enjoyed the back and forth letters between the two, as well as the perspective shifts showing how each of them felt upon reading it.
There's also a big found family vibe going on, loved Marisol, Atti, and Keegan's dynamic with the two MCs.
The writing style was quite immersive, lots of self second-guessing followed by self solution. Very much my vibe.
However there's a lot of triples like "the sky and wind and cloud", I think Ross did a good job using them, but in some moments they feel a little overdone and stand out.
The romance itself... while not "rushed" or "forced." It didn't feel all that romantic to me. It felt more as totwo people who had lost everything - or had nothing - clinging onto the only thing that made them live on. It is poetic, but not exactly romantic, at least to me.
Mild spoilers
I wasn't the biggest fan of how Iris seemed to force herself to dislike Rowan despite acknowledging fondness of him. Although it could be justified with "Carver already has my heart so he has no place." I find this hatred a little forced, for he was just a rival to her with a poor attitude. Not to mention he was the first one that cared for her when she was done.
Major Spoilers
It felt odd that they suddenly married out of nowhere when a chapter before she still "hated him." Married just to has the closed door sex scene before war is kind of... eh.
It has a realistic feeling of historical trench warfare with a dash of fantasy. My favorite part of the book has to be the vivid descriptions of longing, fear and grief. Quiet emotions that melts in silence and tends to be difficult to explain. But the way it was written in this book is just brilliant.
I really enjoyed the back and forth letters between the two, as well as the perspective shifts showing how each of them felt upon reading it.
There's also a big found family vibe going on, loved Marisol, Atti, and Keegan's dynamic with the two MCs.
The writing style was quite immersive, lots of self second-guessing followed by self solution. Very much my vibe.
However there's a lot of triples like "the sky and wind and cloud", I think Ross did a good job using them, but in some moments they feel a little overdone and stand out.
The romance itself... while not "rushed" or "forced." It didn't feel all that romantic to me. It felt more as to
Mild spoilers
Major Spoilers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sweet & engaging. Rebecca Ross adds a layer to the enemies-to-lovers trope with anonymous letters. Think: "You've Got Mail" with a fantasy twist. I liked that pacing of the story and the backdrop of a war that encompasses both gods and humans. Getting POVs from both leads helps build their relationship beyond the letters and gives you a better insight of what's happening in the background. I wish the magic was explained a little better as it was an important part of the story, but you can accept it at face value for the sake of the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, War