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alxisrae's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Body horror, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
kijatai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I just recently started reading again and it’s been hard to get out of my reading slump but this book was easy to read for me and it was nice to just immersed myself in the story. The moment I could see myself pausing, something happened that hooked me back in.
On the other end, I guess I didn’t really like the heteronormative dynamics. There are depictions of violence against women. And graphic images of violence in general. So be aware to read these on your own terms. But I knew all that before hand. It’s a book about an arranged marriage between a man in a woman in a religious context where they are hunting witches. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings first. And the reason for them to be married is… questionable. Even though it’s explained more later on.
There are representations of relationships between women though. I just hope in the next book it will be explored more.
I liked the magic as well in this world.
I’m actually wondering how things will develop in the next book and if we will be able to see more on the side of the witches. I was honestly more interested in the political intrigue than the romance itself. Even if it was a great love story with all the tropes (guilty pleasures) that I enjoyed (the tall man that will do anything to protect his love for example).
In all, I had a nice time reading it on my kobo in my bed with my cats on a snowy snd stormy night. It felt like I was in the world itself since it’s set in Winter.
*about the content warnings
These are mentioned and described. The main characters are loving and caring to each other. it’s just the world around them and what happened to them that are ugly and triggering.
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Blood, Vomit, Sexism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Murder, and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content, Genocide, Classism, Trafficking, and War
imaginationindex's review against another edition
- 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
- Enemies-to-Lovers paired with a marriage of convenience with a sprinkling of sharing-one-bed and “that’s my wife”… 🙌🏻
- I loved the two secs of witches, Dames Rouges and Dames Blanches. I’m curious to learn more about the Blood Magic as well as
how Reid was able to do magic when we should have been dying 😅 - Ansel, you sweet boy! Coco, what a badass! I like how we flipped the script on traditional gender roles
- This is a perfect example of new adult stories; our characters are adults who can make their own decisions and swear.
- While the fantasy world was a total vibe, there are some moments where the religion aspect of the anti-witch stance gets to be a bit much. That might just be me but the Archbishop needed to relax 95% of the book
- I noticed a lot of re-explaining and telling. I get that we had the dual POV and catch up might have been needed, but I thought it was clearly shown so we could have saved ourselves a few pages.
- Genuine question, when were we? The France inspired world was cool but we had swords and monarchy, but full theatres and working bathrooms
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Vomit, Religious bigotry, Cursing, and Death of parent
zia_c's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The plot is good but it's kinda confusing for me. There's no time reference and not much detail about the world. I don't even know the mmc's age.. lol.
Either way, I enjoyed reading it. The ending wasn't satisfactory nor was the 3rd part of the book but anyway. I'm rating this book on fmc alone.
It's been a very long time since I've found a fmc with a spine and a impressive mouth( not like that).
I don't know if I'll continue the series. I've got what I wanted and I can kinda see where the story's going so imma put in down for now. Reason is the YA writing style. The writing is beautiful and engaging, no doubt, but I still kinda not completely connect with it.
The story is good and I think those who enjoy YA will really like it.
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content and Infidelity
katievallin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Violence, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Grief, Hate crime, and Vomit
Moderate: Cursing, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
bluebreex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found Lou being the character I liked the most all in all - however that doesn't count for much in the end due to how I found almost all of the men in this book to be perverted and creepy. (Whether that was intentional or not).
Not sure if I will continue with this series or not.
Graphic: Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
Moderate: Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
bzliz's review against another edition
- 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
The book is well paced and establishes stakes early on while continuing to drop bits of lore along the way to keep readers hooked. Lou is an endearing scamp and Reid is a very good boy learning that the world isn’t necessarily what he thought. They both grow to understand each other’s point of view as their relationship develops. A very fun read despite one of my least favorite tropes- closing out the book with a lead-in to the next which the audience has no context for but it feels like it’s supposed to be a mic drop moment.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Death, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual content
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, Cursing, Vomit, Animal death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
cait's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Cursing, Gore, Child death, Abandonment, Genocide, Torture, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, and War
ldermer's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment