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blewballoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the concept of the magic seamstress who could imbue her embroidery with emotion, and the tension that her magic came with a price and it would weaken her if she used it too much. I was baffled by the juxtaposition of this setup with a multitude of other (arguably more valuable and powerful) forms of magic that cost nothing for the users. People can just shoot lighting, have Elsa's Frozen powers, sprout plants everywhere, and more! This made it seem out of place that the main character's abilities would be so valuable, half the time she didn't even sew the right emotion into the garments that were commissioned of her. Speaking of, the book tries to make it seem like there's a little bit of a found family situation going on with the group of royals she is working for, but every time they are like "aww you work too hard, just relax!" it doesn't hit right because the reason she is working so hard is because of the complicated garments they have ordered her to create in such a short time frame?
I thought the political aspects of the plot were a bit weak and/or nonsensical.
Ultimately I probably could have looked past all of the above if I liked the romance more. I was looking for some cute tension with the premise of a seamstress falling in love with her client (like a gender swap of The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews) but I felt let down by the small amount of sewing/fitting/garments in the story. Kit kind of does the bare minimum in terms of being a love interest. He's outwardly a jerk most of the time and he turns on Niamh at the slightest discomfort. Their bickering/banter didn't feel healthy because the power dynamic was off-balance. I'm not even sure if having Kit's perspective would have helped.
I'll cut myself off there, I feel like I've complained enough. The audiobook narrator was pretty good, and the cover is gorgeous. I also didn't mind the writing style, there were some really pretty yet effective descriptions. I would try this author again.
Moderate: Sexual content, Chronic illness, Classism, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Alcohol, and War
theresamothinmyroom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
kaitrates's review against another edition
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content and Child abuse
doahdancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story is simplistic to avoid stakes becoming too high, so don't expect many thrills or heavy handed theories on the world and its workings. We are focused instead on finding faith in the influential power one can hold by supporting and encouraging others.
This book has a feel good message folded around a charming dislike to love romance, where a common woman finds her prince charming and an entire court is influenced for the better.
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
nataliealane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Self harm
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Violence
linguisticfanatic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Child abuse and Alcoholism
ziracrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Terminal illness and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
dani_reis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Addiction
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
deductionist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
- The magic and how this world operates with it should've been focused on more. The scenes where it's utilized are the highlights of this book. The political drama could've been more on which kingdoms still retained the most magic. Rather than replicating real-world history.
- Niamh's illness ultimately has very little bearing on the plot except for a scene. The illness
does not really get solved either by the end of the book, either. She just limits her magic use. Is she really not attempting to find anyone with the magic to help her live long with Kit? - For how often Niamh falls, stumbles, trips, etc; I wish that it was shown in her character. Little scars from sewing injuries, or bruises here and there on parts of her body that bumped into things. Something that showed it's more than a quirky trait.
- I'm REALLY not a fan of the obvious England and Ireland parallels. It's hard for me to root for a romance when it involves the son of the man who killed so many of Niamh's people. I feel like this aspect of the story doesn't get treated with nearly as much gravity as it should. Niamh
Looking at the portraits of Kit's family and going "yeah they'd want me dead for just being here." And hiding in some curtains all quirky rubbed me the wrong way. - Predictable. If you've read books of this sort, you'll get the major story beats rather fast.
- Not a fan of the way the story ended and its loose ends.
What happened to the king? Will they limit his spending or cut him off entirely once they're allied with Rosa's people? How does the kingdom view this marriage? How do their allies? Is there really no way to restore the waning magic in this world? Is there no way to help Niamh? Does Jack pay reparations once he's able to all the families of the people his father killed? The kingdom is suffering, but yay thislast minute wedding happened. - The writing is fine, I enjoy the ideas that are within this story. I just wish those ideas were explored more, and more time was put in areas that needed expanding.
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse