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mcmizzie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this book and I loved even more on my second read of it; my first time through, the extended dialogue on justice, Marx, Locke, and capitalism felt forced. But now I see how Evie Dunmore’s books are just more gently paced and intellectually robust, which I think invite the reader to slow a bit. Hattie is incredibly believable for a woman of her class and I think reviews that call her spoiled are getting it right, if tonally misguided — that’s the whole point. Her transformation is believable and powerful. Lucian is so smoldering and delectable, and I loved this twist on Hades/Persephone Beauty/the Beast.
I can’t recommend the audiobook — the narrator really emphasizes Hattie’s youth and petulance in a way that I think detracts from her growth as a character. I LOVE that Lucian is the only one who calls Hattie, Harriet, because he always sees her as the full, complex adult she is even when no one else does. Ugh. So good!!
I can’t recommend the audiobook — the narrator really emphasizes Hattie’s youth and petulance in a way that I think detracts from her growth as a character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, and Death
izzyf16's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child death, and Suicide
ems1602's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A swooning romance between a brooding Scot and a bubbly aristocrat. While the premise remains closer to Beauty and the Beast than Hades and Persephone in my opinion, the latter third of the book leaves room for the characters to improve and become better for each other, but most importantly themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, and Death
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The entire series is worthy of five stars but this one is my favourite of them all. The way Dunmore makes it possible for Hattie to grow up and become her own person while still growing into her artistic practice and learning to share herself fully with the people she loves is just chefs kiss! I love how the plot of this book gives Hattie exactly what she needs - to be challenged and independent - without withholding anything she deserves - to be loved by people who know her value.
Obviously Lucian is my absolute dream hero. The way he struggles with his own feelings of roughness and inadequacy in Hattie's presence but still wants to make sure she knows how special she is regardless of his frustrations with their relationship is a great example of how couples in a romance can have a complicated relationship and still try to treat each other with care. Also, I love to see a bit of the dom/sub dynamic coming through in this book - Dunmore does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of the submissive glow, the way one feels after fully letting themselves go with the knowledge that their partner(s) will accept and make space for their pleasure.
I would have enjoyed to see the threatened spanking on the page but even without it I found the anticipation and the actual sex to be quite good! I just think this is a really special book.
Obviously Lucian is my absolute dream hero. The way he struggles with his own feelings of roughness and inadequacy in Hattie's presence but still wants to make sure she knows how special she is regardless of his frustrations with their relationship is a great example of how couples in a romance can have a complicated relationship and still try to treat each other with care. Also, I love to see a bit of the dom/sub dynamic coming through in this book - Dunmore does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of the submissive glow, the way one feels after fully letting themselves go with the knowledge that their partner(s) will accept and make space for their pleasure.
I would have enjoyed to see the threatened spanking on the page but even without it I found the anticipation and the actual sex to be quite good! I just think this is a really special book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Death
regen20's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This has been by far my favorite of the three currently written. A lovely, engaging story. Knocked down a star because, unfortunately, I was not a fan of the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Alcohol, Classism, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
buckaroo97's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Death, and Death of parent
_savannahreads_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Gun violence, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, and Misogyny
katiemcgregor's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm struggling to decide where exactly this book missed for me. I was pretty excited for this one but I think it's ended up as my least favorite in the series, thus far.
I think part of the issue is that Dunmore tries to squeeze a lot into this book and the pacing and character exploration suffer because of it. While I appreciate the political aspects of this book I think they also overshadow the main relationship, which needed all the time and development it could get, due to it's rocky start.
Like many others have said, the last three or so chapters also feel like an odd pacing choice. Especially since the events of them are set up early in the book and then completely ignored until they're needed to add what, extra drama? I understand the reasoning behind the choice Hattie makes and I don't even fully disagree with it, but I think this last aspect of the plot felt like it was tacked onto the end of the book.
I don't know, this book was missing something. I didn't hate it, but it felt a little all over the place.
I think part of the issue is that Dunmore tries to squeeze a lot into this book and the pacing and character exploration suffer because of it. While I appreciate the political aspects of this book I think they also overshadow the main relationship, which needed all the time and development it could get, due to it's rocky start.
Like many others have said, the last three or so chapters also feel like an odd pacing choice. Especially since the events of them are set up early in the book and then completely ignored until they're needed to add what, extra drama? I understand the reasoning behind the choice Hattie makes and I don't even fully disagree with it, but I think this last aspect of the plot felt like it was tacked onto the end of the book.
I don't know, this book was missing something. I didn't hate it, but it felt a little all over the place.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Gun violence
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Strong characters and the plot flows well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Death
jebrollier's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Murder