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kiwigon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Maybe the only book where I would not have minded there being more smut scenes lol. Absolutely lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror and Death
yruss972's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Mental illness
fatherprozac's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to like this book so bad. I loved the world-building and ate up every little detail. Unfortunately, I loved every character except the two protagonists. I found Grace's inner monologues to be so cringeworthy that I barely finished the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
katiedalton's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
It read like a rom-com set in a fantasy world. Which is a refreshing change from most fantasy romance books.
I loved the two leads. But I wish there was more about the plot, world, and severed head situation.
The severed heads - is mentioned early on as a side thing happening in the city and is going on in the background. But I don’t know that seemed like the most interesting part of the book and why weren’t the characters more worried about that?
I loved the two leads. But I wish there was more about the plot, world, and severed head situation.
The severed heads - is mentioned early on as a side thing happening in the city and is going on in the background. But I don’t know that seemed like the most interesting part of the book and why weren’t the characters more worried about that?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
caseymac's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
(Audiobook, included with Audible) T Kingfisher writes with such warmth and realness in a way I’ve never encountered. I read this because it was free and because I liked Nettle and Bone so much. This is similar in that it’s a low fantasy mystery with rather dark themes, but somehow wrapped in a comforting hug. I highly recommend the audiobook, especially if you need comforting or soothing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
marsh_mall0w's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Infidelity
sequelmage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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
3.75
I don’t normally read romance novels. In fact, I think this might be my first. I just randomly checked it out on Libby.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I would have liked a bit more world building. I’ll probably check out the next books in the series at some point.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I would have liked a bit more world building. I’ll probably check out the next books in the series at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity
emcat591's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Although I did have some issues with this book, overall I enjoyed it. The world was very interesting. It was quite immersive without a lot of exposition. The pantheon seemed interesting - I wish we'd been able to learn a little more about that, although I understand there are other books which take place within this world that probably have more information about the world. I liked the characters, especially some of the side characters like Beartongue, Zale, Isthvan, and Marguerite. The writing style was fairly strong, although it did sometimes get a bit boring/repetitive/drawn out.
My issues with the book concern two areas: the romance plot, and the mystery plots.
I am a fan of romance, and I knew there would be a romance plot going in. However, I found it to be formulaic and uninspired. Following a formula is not always a bad thing, but in this case, Grace and Stephen's reasons for avoiding the relationship were very flimsy, and most of their inner monologues boiled down to "he/she would never be interested in me." I'm more inclined to give Grace a pass, due to her past experiences with relationship trauma, but for me, this part of the romance arc goes on too long. Stephen's primary obstacle in the relationship is easily shot down in one conversation with Isthvan. Grace and Stephen are supposed to be in their thirties, which in this book might as well be 100 based on the number of "I'm not in my twenties anymore"/similar comments between the two of them. Also, Grace continually refers to their conversations as "awkward," when they're honestly just normal conversations that you would have with someone you were getting to know. A certain amount of obliviousness/"everyone knows but them" is fine, but this was just a little too much. Overall, they did have some cute moments, but the romance suffered from a lack of development.
Secondly, the mystery plots felt like they were going to be way more of a focus in the story, but ended up falling flat. One is just sort of hand-waved away as being more or less the accidental bumblings of an idiot that had nothing to do with any of the protagonists at all, and the other is saved for the sequel when it was just finally heating up. This left the end of the book feeling unresolved and rushed, and most of the drama of the book ended up seeming pointless in retrospect.Referring here to Grace's arrest, the break-in to steal her journals, the trial.
Other nitpicks (under spoiler because they're more specific):
-Stephen's "berserker rage" was built up throughout the novel but ended up just being more of a property damage thing/didn't really have any consequences
-Marguerite just disappears at a certain point (possibly because her character would have been too useful with regards to the trial/political drama?) and there's not much resolution on that
-Phillip's reappearance was just sort of unfulfilling. He's obviously a worm who was paid off to testify against her, as he states later that he has lost the shop and has no money, and in a way I was sort of glad she got to tell him off a bit, but that scene also didn't feel as impactful as it could have.
As I said, overall I enjoyed the book, hence the mostly positive rating. I did appreciate the existence of the seemingly nonbinary/genderqueer Zale, who simply exists and operates within the story without having their gender be explained or take focus or define them in any way. That was nice to see.
My issues with the book concern two areas: the romance plot, and the mystery plots.
I am a fan of romance, and I knew there would be a romance plot going in. However, I found it to be formulaic and uninspired. Following a formula is not always a bad thing, but in this case, Grace and Stephen's reasons for avoiding the relationship were very flimsy, and most of their inner monologues boiled down to "he/she would never be interested in me." I'm more inclined to give Grace a pass, due to her past experiences with relationship trauma, but for me, this part of the romance arc goes on too long. Stephen's primary obstacle in the relationship is easily shot down in one conversation with Isthvan. Grace and Stephen are supposed to be in their thirties, which in this book might as well be 100 based on the number of "I'm not in my twenties anymore"/similar comments between the two of them. Also, Grace continually refers to their conversations as "awkward," when they're honestly just normal conversations that you would have with someone you were getting to know. A certain amount of obliviousness/"everyone knows but them" is fine, but this was just a little too much. Overall, they did have some cute moments, but the romance suffered from a lack of development.
Secondly, the mystery plots felt like they were going to be way more of a focus in the story, but ended up falling flat. One is just sort of hand-waved away as being more or less the accidental bumblings of an idiot that had nothing to do with any of the protagonists at all, and the other is saved for the sequel when it was just finally heating up. This left the end of the book feeling unresolved and rushed, and most of the drama of the book ended up seeming pointless in retrospect.
Other nitpicks (under spoiler because they're more specific):
-Stephen's "berserker rage" was built up throughout the novel but ended up just being more of a property damage thing/didn't really have any consequences
-Marguerite just disappears at a certain point (possibly because her character would have been too useful with regards to the trial/political drama?) and there's not much resolution on that
-Phillip's reappearance was just sort of unfulfilling. He's obviously a worm who was paid off to testify against her, as he states later that he has lost the shop and has no money, and in a way I was sort of glad she got to tell him off a bit, but that scene also didn't feel as impactful as it could have.
As I said, overall I enjoyed the book, hence the mostly positive rating. I did appreciate the existence of the seemingly nonbinary/genderqueer Zale, who simply exists and operates within the story without having their gender be explained or take focus or define them in any way. That was nice to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
taffy's review against another edition
4.0
Cute fluffy romance. The only criticism I have is that the characters sort of stumbled onto most of the mystery aspect instead of playing a more active role. But the mystery is more like a setting for the romance to develop. The Order of the White Rat is definitely one of my favorite fiction religious groups. I really liked Beartoungue and Zale . Definitely recommend if you were a fan of Swordheart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
turtlebucket's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War