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karatics's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Medical content, Murder, Gore, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Infidelity, Animal death, and Terminal illness
koistyfishy's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
You know how every year around Christmas, Hallmark puts out 20 different Christmas Romance Movies that are all the same? These movies all have the same plot, same characters, and same story but you watch them anyway because you are a sucker for them. This book is like that for me. I was a sucker for the premise as it has all my guilty pleasure tropes (mostly the enemies to lovers with a twist on beauty and the beast)...However it's been a day since I read it, and I have to wrack my brain to remember what happened because the story is almost forgettable, blending into the 19 other stories just like it.
The story is told from Dani's perspective, who is very early on kidnapped by some Fae in Elf-Hame. It turns out she is needed to help lift a blood curse on the Seelie Prince, so is forced to join his troupe of "friends" (from various season courts -_-) while they trek to MountDoom Ruin.
The only part of the world-building I liked was the mentions of how the Human Realm and Fae realm have combined healing techniques. This was definitely something unique I have not seen before. Other than that the world building consists mostly of just describing places. I read this as a standalone and it's my first Ingrid Seymour book, so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt that the lack of world-building is due to the fact that this book takes place in her already-defined universe, that she might have described in the other books
The only decent character is Dani as she does show "fight and teeth" based on the situation she has been placed in and is actually astoundingly caring and compassionate. BUT she also astoundingly stupid for falling for the prince. The Prince is VERY one dimensional (even with his two dimensional mood swings). I do not actually understand what Dani sees in him and why she has this sense of being drawn to him. He treats her like an ASSHOLE, even when he is not "in the asshole phase" and she just accepts it almost to jump his bones.
The side characters are AWFUL! Whilst some have a few distinctions, they almost all have the same personality. I couldn't distinguish between Silver and Kryn for the longest time! Jeondar is sweet and would have been a much better love interest for Dani imo but the whole SPLIT PERSONALITY they all collectively had as well just made NO SENSE. They went from disinterest to an "understanding" to just treating Dani like shit, when she had LITERALLY no choice in being there and it's not her fault the prince wants her...
There are also so many things about the plot I just don't understand, and there isn't a real sense of villain either. Mostly this story is just a "journey" narrative so if you like that type of story you might actually enjoy this. Everyone is on the move with reaching a specific destination being the goal.
The main questions I have are:
1. WHO is the Prince's father then? He is probably still going to be the son of some King but in the unseelie side...I can just feel it.
2. Why couldn't they just explain why Dani had to come with FROM THE START? Given her compassion, if this was done I am sure she would have come with.
3. WHAT IS THE DAMN PROPHECY that she had to be there.... IF ANY DAMN HEALER could have been.... if the whole point was just to heal the prince after he sacrifices himself.
Overall this was a pretty weak retelling with a few unique elements that did keep me captivated in the writing. If like me, Beauty and the Beast Retellings is your catnip, you might enjoy this...just go in knowing this is no Blockbuster Disney version but the made for TV one.
The story is told from Dani's perspective, who is very early on kidnapped by some Fae in Elf-Hame. It turns out she is needed to help lift a blood curse on the Seelie Prince, so is forced to join his troupe of "friends" (from various season courts -_-) while they trek to Mount
The only part of the world-building I liked was the mentions of how the Human Realm and Fae realm have combined healing techniques. This was definitely something unique I have not seen before. Other than that the world building consists mostly of just describing places. I read this as a standalone and it's my first Ingrid Seymour book, so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt that the lack of world-building is due to the fact that this book takes place in her already-defined universe, that she might have described in the other books
The only decent character is Dani as she does show "fight and teeth" based on the situation she has been placed in and is actually astoundingly caring and compassionate. BUT she also astoundingly stupid for falling for the prince. The Prince is VERY one dimensional (even with his two dimensional mood swings). I do not actually understand what Dani sees in him and why she has this sense of being drawn to him. He treats her like an ASSHOLE, even when he is not "in the asshole phase" and she just accepts it almost to jump his bones.
The side characters are AWFUL! Whilst some have a few distinctions, they almost all have the same personality. I couldn't distinguish between Silver and Kryn for the longest time! Jeondar is sweet and would have been a much better love interest for Dani imo but the whole SPLIT PERSONALITY they all collectively had as well just made NO SENSE. They went from disinterest to an "understanding" to just treating Dani like shit, when she had LITERALLY no choice in being there and it's not her fault the prince wants her...
There are also so many things about the plot I just don't understand, and there isn't a real sense of villain either. Mostly this story is just a "journey" narrative so if you like that type of story you might actually enjoy this. Everyone is on the move with reaching a specific destination being the goal.
The main questions I have are:
2. Why couldn't they just explain why Dani had to come with FROM THE START? Given her compassion, if this was done I am sure she would have come with.
3. WHAT IS THE DAMN PROPHECY that she had to be there.... IF ANY DAMN HEALER could have been.... if the whole point was just to heal the prince after he sacrifices himself.
Overall this was a pretty weak retelling with a few unique elements that did keep me captivated in the writing. If like me, Beauty and the Beast Retellings is your catnip, you might enjoy this...just go in knowing this is no Blockbuster Disney version but the made for TV one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
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