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theresaramp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
magnafeana's review against another edition
3.0
This book recommendation came from a discussion, and I was intrigued by the way the person described it.
And now I’m about to read the entire series!
Warning: this review contains spoilers.
I do not regret this buy! I loved the story! To me, it’s all about the *yearning* #withcindy (amazing BookTuber and her quotes live through me). I loved that Lanthe took pride in her experiences and did not want to be shamed for them. Did she feel guilty she broke his heart? Yes, but she does not regret her sexual past.
Snaps. Snaps for the author for this.
Was it agitating Thronos wanted her to be a virginal maiden and how quickly he about-faced? Yes, of course. Yes, he did go through the time loop and the cliche of “In the event of peril, we now forgive each other”, but still, I loved that there was no “absolving” Lanthe for her past. And she damn well owned it.
Now—here comes the downsides of the read.
Lust saved them all.
Fated mates has this disorder—hyper sexuality disorder and a bit a mania thrown in. This mean, when it comes to mates, regardless of how much they hate each other, how much they SHOULD hate each other, and how valid their wrath towards each other is…
They will almost always forget about it for love/lust.
I hate this trope so much. I really do. For me, it’s about the conflict and yearning. And the conflict keeping its place and naturally progressing forward. Everything felt a little too fast-paced for me. This is my first book in the series, so maybe as I read more books, I’ll get used to it and this is just how the author writes all the couples.
Another thing: the snark.
M/M who clearly outline top/bottom femme/masc dom/sub and F/M all suffer for this treatment.
The snark, the ill-timed humor—it had it.
And I had to skim.
I’m not saying I dislike humor, but it felt…forcibly placed. Like the author, not the character, was trying to be funny and meta. There were times I might have had some amusement, but I cringed the other times. It would have been nice to see Lanthe be more grounded and not joke about, well, *everything*.
I’m sure immortality means Lanthe has a different psychological state and, again, this was my first book in the series, so I’m sure when I read things in order, I’ll see more immortals have her same mindset of forgive and forget and make fun of it.
But for me, I couldn’t buy she was over her trauma. She claimed to have chronic anxiety, yet she never displays it?
I’m a recluse. My own PTSD and obsessive thoughts from my trauma render me a crying mess leaving my apartment and I have to take small steps in order to even throw my trash out and do laundry in the laundry room of my floor. It felt saddening that all this chronic anxiety was never explored, even with inner monologue.
That’s the reason why I rated this 3.5 stars, but I’m keep it at 3. If there had been less humor and we took the time to naturally overcome both characters’ internal conflict as individuals so they can also grow as a couple rather than joke and be intimate? I would have rated this 4 stars.
I honestly would have rated this 5 stars had the author kept Thronos with his mind erased, at least mostly. It would have been nice to see the consequences and also how all the characters would grow. I could see Thronos getting back bits and pieces of his memories, but it was never the whole picture. They would date with Lanthe upfront about her past. But they would fall in love with her chasing him.
I’d also love to see Lanthe and her sister have to repair their relationship instead of the “ohana means family” hug it out scenario.
And then in the epilogue, Thronos would piece it all together and be even more grateful for Lanthe.
But that is my two cents on the piece.
Would I recommend this book to someone? Yes.
Will I reread this? Possibly in the far future.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! what a wild ride!!! Can't wait to see what's next!.. Whoo Hoo !
booksandteatime's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
ericawrites's review against another edition
3.0
Dark Skye felt like it didn't know what type of book it wanted to be. Was it an IAD adventure romp using Dante's Inferno as a blueprint with a fallen angel being led into fated mate temptation? (We haven't had a romp since Pleasure of a Dark Prince, 6 books ago!) Or was it about a disabled autistic man who is being deprogrammed from a cult (clearly based on Evangelical Christianity and Mormonism) and is a virgin?
The book also felt 50-100 pages too long with some of the scenes needing shortening.
I loved the moment where, after they're married/have had sex, Thronos asks Lanthe what he's going to dream of at night because she's fulfilled all his dreams. That was so romantic and sweet, and it really fit their childhood friends to enemies to lovers' journey and reflected their childhood innocent best friends' love.
IAD LGBTQ+ Watch
Portia and Ember were back. They are still evil. Lanthe notes that she doesn't know if they're sisters or lesbians, but after sharing an Order cell with them, she leans toward lesbians. Ember sexually harasses Thronos, so she's likely bisexual. But they confirm they are evil by cutting out Lanthe's tongue and otherwise being evil.
Lanthe does appreciate Nïx's looks in a gay way, but as she's shamed for her sexual experience by Thronos throughout the book, Lanthe doesn't mention any non-male lovers.
Nereus' court holds lots of orgies. While we do not explicitly see queer couplings, it's pretty easy to at least see the women (nereids and nymphs) being sexy with each other. Whether those acts would be for themselves or performative ones for Nereus? Unknown. Nereus is a trickster god, and while he's not in the Pravus evil camp, he's pretty much out for himself and does some evil stuff.
The book also felt 50-100 pages too long with some of the scenes needing shortening.
I loved the moment where, after they're married/have had sex, Thronos asks Lanthe what he's going to dream of at night because she's fulfilled all his dreams. That was so romantic and sweet, and it really fit their childhood friends to enemies to lovers' journey and reflected their childhood innocent best friends' love.
IAD LGBTQ+ Watch
Portia and Ember were back. They are still evil. Lanthe notes that she doesn't know if they're sisters or lesbians, but after sharing an Order cell with them, she leans toward lesbians. Ember sexually harasses Thronos, so she's likely bisexual. But they confirm they are evil by cutting out Lanthe's tongue and otherwise being evil.
Lanthe does appreciate Nïx's looks in a gay way, but as she's shamed for her sexual experience by Thronos throughout the book, Lanthe doesn't mention any non-male lovers.
Nereus' court holds lots of orgies. While we do not explicitly see queer couplings, it's pretty easy to at least see the women (nereids and nymphs) being sexy with each other. Whether those acts would be for themselves or performative ones for Nereus? Unknown. Nereus is a trickster god, and while he's not in the Pravus evil camp, he's pretty much out for himself and does some evil stuff.
poppymonster's review against another edition
5.0
This book was quite possibly my favorite in this series. It dealt with enemies to lovers in Romeo and Juliet type way, but with betrayal and pain spanning hundreds of years from their friendship as children. Both MCs did really messed up things to each other, but each had reason to truly hate the other.
I LOVED the redemption arc. It was so much better and more believable than most of them in this series. Nïx was a lot more directly involved in the progression of the plot than she was in most previous books and it was interesting to see her a bit outside the perspective of the MCs.
The love between them and the compromises they made for one another? Chefs kiss. Perfection.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: murder, grief, violence, cult-like religion
I LOVED the redemption arc. It was so much better and more believable than most of them in this series. Nïx was a lot more directly involved in the progression of the plot than she was in most previous books and it was interesting to see her a bit outside the perspective of the MCs.
The love between them and the compromises they made for one another? Chefs kiss. Perfection.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: murder, grief, violence, cult-like religion
bookishserenity's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars
I enjoyed this book, but I feel like it lacked something.
I loved Lanthe and Thronos as a couple, but I also loved them as individual characters. The Vrekeners concept is so interesting, and I'm glad we also got to see another good Sorceress again!
Can't wait to read the next!
I enjoyed this book, but I feel like it lacked something.
I loved Lanthe and Thronos as a couple, but I also loved them as individual characters. The Vrekeners concept is so interesting, and I'm glad we also got to see another good Sorceress again!
Can't wait to read the next!
ellie_klemm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alikatson's review against another edition
5.0
IAD is my favorite steamy, fantasy, paranormal romance series. It is definitely not for everyone - but to me the books are funny, exciting, romantic, and sexy on an epic scale served with a side of odd-ball humor. The men tend to be alphas, the ladies are not shrinking violets and instalove abounds but it works!
**
Sob. This is by far the most epic love story in the IAD series and I absolutely adored it.
I've enjoyed Ianthe since she was introduced and it was obvious there was more to her situation with Thronos than Sabine thought so I was definitely excited to start this book. She is loyal and kind but a bit selfish and proud.
Thronos has spent his life obsessing over the war between the Soceri and the Vrekener - especially over his childhood love who he sees as a betrayer.
I was so excited when they were thrown together and despite the anger and bickering the sparks started flying.
Once they gave in they were so sweet and sexy together. The marriage scene absolutely slayed me. Then what came after had me sobbing... thank goodness they had their HEA.
One to re-read like 100x.
**
Sob. This is by far the most epic love story in the IAD series and I absolutely adored it.
I've enjoyed Ianthe since she was introduced and it was obvious there was more to her situation with Thronos than Sabine thought so I was definitely excited to start this book. She is loyal and kind but a bit selfish and proud.
Thronos has spent his life obsessing over the war between the Soceri and the Vrekener - especially over his childhood love who he sees as a betrayer.
I was so excited when they were thrown together and despite the anger and bickering the sparks started flying.
One to re-read like 100x.