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whatshereads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The third instalment of the tairen soul series we’ve had some good development of ellysettas character. She’s finally acting as a woman with her own will and that’s really good to see.
If you are a person looking for a feminist book or book with feminist undertones, this book is not for you. I do find myself frustrated with the consistency of men having to look after the women as though they don’t have magic they can also use in combat. I also found the storyline about the sentience of the kitlings and fae babies in the egg/womb a troubling sentiment. I also really want our heroine to show her magical abilities in more ways than healing, we’ve seen a smidgen of fierceness but she’s yet to show that at a time when it’s truly needed. I will always prefer my heroines with the ability to try and save themselves than always having the love interest do the work. If you are able to get past these flaws in the book then it’s a great option for some light fantasy romance reading.
If you are a person looking for a feminist book or book with feminist undertones, this book is not for you. I do find myself frustrated with the consistency of men having to look after the women as though they don’t have magic they can also use in combat. I also found the storyline about the sentience of the kitlings and fae babies in the egg/womb a troubling sentiment. I also really want our heroine to show her magical abilities in more ways than healing, we’ve seen a smidgen of fierceness but she’s yet to show that at a time when it’s truly needed. I will always prefer my heroines with the ability to try and save themselves than always having the love interest do the work. If you are able to get past these flaws in the book then it’s a great option for some light fantasy romance reading.
tessa_hamberlin's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so invested in this series it's a problem. I had a hard time going to sleep last night because of things that went on in this book. Amazing work! And I loved the unexpected twists that went on. It'll be hard to go back to other books when I'm done with this series
sprinkled's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mybooknookandme's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
Re-read. Slow sections but some excellent story telling.
christigal's review against another edition
5.0
Every book in this series is as good - or better - than the previous! I can't get enough of this story!
justjayneia's review against another edition
2.0
For the love of ... I just can't with these books anymore. This one I only just barely managed to finish, skimming the last third of the book because I had to see if anything actually moved the story forward (the answer: yes, sort of, but not enough for me to bother with the rest of this series).
Where are this author's editors?!! I enjoyed Book 1 well enough. I eye-rolled a bit at the flying cat stuff, but whatever. Book 2 ... Well, now we're starting to go down a weird path, but there is still promise. But book 3? It's just gotten beyond embarrassing, not to mention a whole lot of nothing happens for a whole lot of time.
To sum it all up:
1) This story didn't need five gigantic tomes in order to be told. With a good editor and 1000x less repetition, this could have been a very satisfying 2 to 3 book read.
2) The heroine is just about the biggest Mary Sue in all of literary history. And that's saying something (I'm looking at you, Bella Swan).
3) The timeframes! Everything is 1000 years? Really?! Everything? How awesome are the Fey really if they let themselves be hamstrung by an insane king for 1000 years? How is it that the most fearsome mated pair in Fey history can't find a way to escape in 1000 years? Or, how did they not go insane after 1000 years of torture? And who wants to be bonded to a murderous king who grieved another woman for 1000 years? That's called hopelessly stuck and sociopathic, and those shei-dalins need to develop some kind of therapy for that.
4) As previously mentioned - using saddles to ride giant, flying, fire breathing cats. I don't even need to elaborate on this one.
5) All of the villains are the very worst and all of the heroes are the very best - nothing is nuanced, there are no shades of gray. It's cartoonish.
6) Why must the author tell us every bit of the book 72 different ways and 172 different times? Tell us once - maybe twice, depending - and tell us well, and then you don't have to repeat the same things over and over and over.
7) The sex - WTF is spirit sex? If it feels and looks and tastes and smells like the real thing then for the love of the gods, JUST LET THEM HAVE THE REAL THING!
Ugh. I love stories about faeries and this had so much potential, but in the end it felt like I was reading a parody of a fantasy romance and everyone else was laughing but me.
Where are this author's editors?!! I enjoyed Book 1 well enough. I eye-rolled a bit at the flying cat stuff, but whatever. Book 2 ... Well, now we're starting to go down a weird path, but there is still promise. But book 3? It's just gotten beyond embarrassing, not to mention a whole lot of nothing happens for a whole lot of time.
To sum it all up:
1) This story didn't need five gigantic tomes in order to be told. With a good editor and 1000x less repetition, this could have been a very satisfying 2 to 3 book read.
2) The heroine is just about the biggest Mary Sue in all of literary history. And that's saying something (I'm looking at you, Bella Swan).
3) The timeframes! Everything is 1000 years? Really?! Everything? How awesome are the Fey really if they let themselves be hamstrung by an insane king for 1000 years? How is it that the most fearsome mated pair in Fey history can't find a way to escape in 1000 years? Or, how did they not go insane after 1000 years of torture? And who wants to be bonded to a murderous king who grieved another woman for 1000 years? That's called hopelessly stuck and sociopathic, and those shei-dalins need to develop some kind of therapy for that.
4) As previously mentioned - using saddles to ride giant, flying, fire breathing cats. I don't even need to elaborate on this one.
5) All of the villains are the very worst and all of the heroes are the very best - nothing is nuanced, there are no shades of gray. It's cartoonish.
6) Why must the author tell us every bit of the book 72 different ways and 172 different times? Tell us once - maybe twice, depending - and tell us well, and then you don't have to repeat the same things over and over and over.
7) The sex - WTF is spirit sex? If it feels and looks and tastes and smells like the real thing then for the love of the gods, JUST LET THEM HAVE THE REAL THING!
Ugh. I love stories about faeries and this had so much potential, but in the end it felt like I was reading a parody of a fantasy romance and everyone else was laughing but me.
cgitwilightbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
leahadams's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
elisebavs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5