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readingduckling's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The book is beautifully written but extremely sad an I would recommend to check trigger warnings and maybe being in a stable headspace and maybe already own the second book so you can continue reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
cait's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, War, Alcohol, Classism, Medical content, Gore, Gun violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Death, and Death of parent
pineapplerain's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.75
This boookkk, I honestly read lots of fantasy romance with magic or dragons or fae etc but this one. I understand there are magical beings like God's, but it feels different. The brutality of war is something I struggle to understand and this book just pushed it through for me. I enjoyed the little inside jokes our main characters had and how bitter sweet things were. The message of this book is beautiful, things don't last forever and it can be that in a single moment your life turns upside down. Bit disappointed with the ending but that's personal preference lol I'm salty. Would recommend 100%, some popular tiktok books disappoint but this one was amazing, I really loved the how real everything felt!! Going to read the next soon :)
It took me 6 hrs and 40 ish minutes to read this book, 20 of which were yesterday. I finished it today and my brain is fried đ
It took me 6 hrs and 40 ish minutes to read this book, 20 of which were yesterday. I finished it today and my brain is fried đ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, War, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Vomit
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
5.0
ughhhhh this book had me punchin walls and kicking blankets it was so cute
Iris Winnow has won a writing competition and although she didn't finish school because they ran out of money she now has the opportunity to become a columnist at a leading newspaper in the city. However, her academic rival, Roman C Kitt, is a wealthy git who seems to do everything in his power to annoy her and is her only competition for the columnist role.
*stefan voice* This book has everything: rivals to lovers, austen-esque letter exchanges, the missed important letter trope, 1940s city vibes but with a magical twist, a rich boy not allowed to pursue his true love since shes poor, a poor girl struggling to get by but not letting anyone know or help, a WWI-esque war, and a god problem with persephoneXhades vibes.
Iris Winnow has won a writing competition and although she didn't finish school because they ran out of money she now has the opportunity to become a columnist at a leading newspaper in the city. However, her academic rival, Roman C Kitt, is a wealthy git who seems to do everything in his power to annoy her and is her only competition for the columnist role.
*stefan voice* This book has everything: rivals to lovers, austen-esque letter exchanges, the missed important letter trope, 1940s city vibes but with a magical twist, a rich boy not allowed to pursue his true love since shes poor, a poor girl struggling to get by but not letting anyone know or help, a WWI-esque war, and a god problem with persephoneXhades vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, War, Vomit, and Alcoholism
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thought this was a good book! I will definitely be reading the second one and Iâm excited to see the world building and character development changes in the second as well. I only rated 4 stars because I feel like the âhidden identity enemies to loversâ trope is overused at this point but it was still a good book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Death of parent, War, Medical content, Blood, Classism, Genocide, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, and Violence
klpage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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? N/A
4.0
I wasnât sure if I was going to like this (controversial as I know itâs very popular) and itâs more of a historical romance for me personally.
I did enjoy the letter segments in the book, and I even highlighted quotes on my kindle from the different letters.
I loved Iris as a Fmc, she was so strong with everything she went through, and I did enjoy seeing the change in Roman throughout the book.
I did kind of see the plot twist with Forest coming⌠but it didnât deter me from not enjoying it.
Great read and something different for me :)
I did enjoy the letter segments in the book, and I even highlighted quotes on my kindle from the different letters.
I loved Iris as a Fmc, she was so strong with everything she went through, and I did enjoy seeing the change in Roman throughout the book.
I did kind of see the plot twist with Forest coming⌠but it didnât deter me from not enjoying it.
Great read and something different for me :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, and War
theycallmenana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Vomit
luna_98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? N/A
4.25
it took me a second to become invested in this story, but the writing is beautiful and the characters and their chemistry lured me in. i felt like it was a romance with some fantasy elements which was the perfect balance for me.
and the cliffhanger?? i need to start the second book asap.
and the cliffhanger?? i need to start the second book asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, and Death
Moderate: Blood and Grief
Minor: Classism and Vomit
hollyleapurtill's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gore, Vomit, Medical content, Blood, War, Death, Genocide, Grief, and Violence
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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
4.75
This was a surprise hit for me. I had heard some people loved this book and some hated it, but I didn't even know what it was about when I decided to pick it up.
This, much to my shock, is basically a fantasy WW1 romance novel. While not depicting the actual WW1, it was very clearly inspired by WW1- the tactics, the responses of the public, propaganda, etc. And it was something I never knew I needed.
A bit of a warning- the first half of the book is more of the romance, much less of the fantasy, and is slower paced. The second half of the book is much faster, and while the romance is still a focus, the fantasy war becomes much more prevalent. Just something to be aware of.
The characters were very well-defined, and their chemistry leaped off the page. If you're a fan of mutual pining, secret identities, love letters, or he-falls-first-and-harder relationship dynamics, you'll probably like the romance. The side characters were also engaging, diverse, and relevant to the plot.
Overall this was a fun read with some surprisingly strong characters and interesting depictions of war and its various impacts. It's also the first good luck I've had with recent "romantasy" books. I look forward to the sequel, although I fear where it will go after the cliffhanger this book leaves on. However, I trust that even if the sequel doesn't stick the landing, this book alone will enjoy a long stay on my favorite's list, just below The Cruel Prince and Six of Crows as far as YA fantasy.
This, much to my shock, is basically a fantasy WW1 romance novel. While not depicting the actual WW1, it was very clearly inspired by WW1- the tactics, the responses of the public, propaganda, etc. And it was something I never knew I needed.
A bit of a warning- the first half of the book is more of the romance, much less of the fantasy, and is slower paced. The second half of the book is much faster, and while the romance is still a focus, the fantasy war becomes much more prevalent. Just something to be aware of.
The characters were very well-defined, and their chemistry leaped off the page. If you're a fan of mutual pining, secret identities, love letters, or he-falls-first-and-harder relationship dynamics, you'll probably like the romance. The side characters were also engaging, diverse, and relevant to the plot.
Overall this was a fun read with some surprisingly strong characters and interesting depictions of war and its various impacts. It's also the first good luck I've had with recent "romantasy" books. I look forward to the sequel, although I fear where it will go after the cliffhanger this book leaves on. However, I trust that even if the sequel doesn't stick the landing, this book alone will enjoy a long stay on my favorite's list, just below The Cruel Prince and Six of Crows as far as YA fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Vomit, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Xenophobia, Torture, Gore, Genocide, Classism, and Blood
Minor: Medical content