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kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
Easily one of the most captivating books I've read in a while. The story was written effortlessly and I loved the letters and the way that Iris and Carver developed their relationship without ever having met. It was also an emotional read, heavy on the grief and the war. It had me hooked as a reader for a solid 85% of the book.
However, where it eventually fell short was after that 85% mark. It got to a point where the plot - though already quite fast paced in some places - felt rushed, as if this 14-chapter-per-part aesthetic was what limited the author to progress the plot further in less time. Also, I know it is a YA, but Iris and Roman definitely felt a lot older. 18 and 19 just wasn't believable after a point, and the Young Adult genre still would have held if they were in their early to mid 20s.
However, where it eventually fell short was after that 85% mark. It got to a point where the plot - though already quite fast paced in some places - felt rushed, as if this 14-chapter-per-part aesthetic was what limited the author to progress the plot further in less time. Also, I know it is a YA, but Iris and Roman definitely felt a lot older. 18 and 19 just wasn't believable after a point, and the Young Adult genre still would have held if they were in their early to mid 20s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, War, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content and Classism
matcha_pages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm a bit conflicted, I went into this expecting one thing and got something else instead. I didn't know this was YA, so I was anticipating a complex romantic rivalry or morally grey situations brought on by the war between gods. That initial mismatch along with a foggy way of world building made the first half of the book hard to get through.
Once the plot picked up I found myself invested and enjoying the book. Truths are slowly revealed that make you realize things aren't what they appear to be.. And with an ending like that too, I need to read the second book.
Once the plot picked up I found myself invested and enjoying the book. Truths are slowly revealed that make you realize things aren't what they appear to be.. And with an ending like that too, I need to read the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
fabrunette's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
This book had me on the edge of my seat untill the very end. And by the time I finished it, i felt the familliar emptyness i have a lot when finishing stories like this. I need to read more. I am so extremely shocked in a good way. The last chapter had me in a chokehold.
The world in this book feels so familliar, because war and what it does is so real and still talked about in my country the netherlands where we were at the forefront of the world war 2. Families broken apart, people ruthlessly killed for no reason. Its all something that actually happened not too far from where I live. In my own street actually. So this book was for me very close to home.
The world in this book feels so familliar, because war and what it does is so real and still talked about in my country the netherlands where we were at the forefront of the world war 2. Families broken apart, people ruthlessly killed for no reason. Its all something that actually happened not too far from where I live. In my own street actually. So this book was for me very close to home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
majoso's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death of parent, Death, Vomit, Child death, and Alcoholism
goodvibes_and_happiness's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Omg that ending ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ I am unwell
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
saj04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
louisa_pre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
I always thought this was a standalone. I realized in the the last 10 percent of the book that there must be another one. And the relief I felt when I saw that the next one is already published is pretty telling of how much I liked this book.
In the beginning I was like ‘oh that’s cute, a grumpy sunshine office romance in a fantasy setting’. And it turned out to be so much more than just that. I love the characters in this book! Iris and Romans love story feels so pure and perfectly romantic. I loved the idea of their typewriters being connected and I loved their letters (side note: I also realized how much confidence Rebecca Ross must have in her own writing as she made her characters constantly praise each others writing. it was worth the praise).
I really loved the world building and the plot. I feel like we got to learn about their world and they still had time to fall in love. The found family is also lovely, I absolutely hope Marisol, Keegan and Attie will all make their return in the second book.
I did NOT see the plot twist comingI almost forgot about Forest when he suddenly showed up and I did not expect to not like him. But I was so angry that he wouldn’t take both Roman and Iris. I think there was enough time to save both of them. I just really hope that I’ll like how the story progresses because it’s been so good until now.
Oh another thing I would like to add - this is not at all like Acotar or fourth wing so I don’t understand why booktok advertises it like that. That was the reason I read it in the first place. But nothing can top acotar so I guess it was good that it’s so different from it :)
In the beginning I was like ‘oh that’s cute, a grumpy sunshine office romance in a fantasy setting’. And it turned out to be so much more than just that. I love the characters in this book! Iris and Romans love story feels so pure and perfectly romantic. I loved the idea of their typewriters being connected and I loved their letters (side note: I also realized how much confidence Rebecca Ross must have in her own writing as she made her characters constantly praise each others writing. it was worth the praise).
I really loved the world building and the plot. I feel like we got to learn about their world and they still had time to fall in love. The found family is also lovely, I absolutely hope Marisol, Keegan and Attie will all make their return in the second book.
I did NOT see the plot twist coming
Oh another thing I would like to add - this is not at all like Acotar or fourth wing so I don’t understand why booktok advertises it like that. That was the reason I read it in the first place. But nothing can top acotar so I guess it was good that it’s so different from it :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
pottersauce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
🫑
This is an interesting book. I found the language a tad bit flowery for me, but it wasn't too bad. And the content and overall writing style I enjoyed.
Definitely check out the trigger warnings, just in case. This was emotionally rough at times. The romance was cute, and there was technically a sex scene, but it was not explicit. Most people would consider this a sweet romance, but the overall themes and such mean it's no cutesy romance book.
Interesting world building with mythology as history. Love a typewriter book.
This is an interesting book. I found the language a tad bit flowery for me, but it wasn't too bad. And the content and overall writing style I enjoyed.
Definitely check out the trigger warnings, just in case. This was emotionally rough at times. The romance was cute, and there was technically a sex scene, but it was not explicit. Most people would consider this a sweet romance, but the overall themes and such mean it's no cutesy romance book.
Interesting world building with mythology as history. Love a typewriter book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death of parent
tnemelce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Genocide, Alcoholism, and War
Minor: Classism
greatestheights's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child death