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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fairly adorable premise for a quick read, and the world-building is quite engaging! However, it does have a habit of over-explaining, almost as if underestimating the reader's smarts. Fun overall, but more of a one-time fling than a long-term commitment!
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book had good ideas, but a lot of the elements didn't stick their landings. I would have liked to dig more into the friction between humans and the magical, what information we got felt very surface level. In addition to this, the bigotry we see with Kingsley and Thorak's parents seems shallow. It doesn't seem like they do much to overcome these deep-seated prejudices, they just resolve themselves after a heartfelt conversation.
As for the romance itself, on more than one occasion I just wanted to yell "for the love of all that is good, talk to him!" at Mariah. I understand her hesitation on trusting Thorak, but so much of this could have been resolved by talking to him. We see the same with Mariah's feelings that we do with the Ironfist's prejudices. Her views on Thorak seem to change on a whim simply based on what she hears people say. Conveniently, this is never coming from Thorak himself but from people like town gossips and his ex-girlfriend. I also wasn't crazy about the fact that Thorak bullied her in high school. It was more than simple teasing, it was just bullying and was cruel. I'm glad that he did the work on himself to resolve his prejudices and realized that he had went too far and even tried to make amends but Mariah seems truly traumatized by what she went through and didn't seem to ever get a chance to process it. She went from "I hate him for what he did to me" to "I love him with all my heart" in nothing flat, nothing in between.
Overall, I think my biggest issue with this book came down to timing. There were elements that needed to breathe more and the characters to have more time with them to make changes in personalities seem more believable. I think the foundation for a good story was there, it just need some more work and polish.
As for the romance itself, on more than one occasion I just wanted to yell "for the love of all that is good, talk to him!" at Mariah. I understand her hesitation on trusting Thorak, but so much of this could have been resolved by talking to him. We see the same with Mariah's feelings that we do with the Ironfist's prejudices. Her views on Thorak seem to change on a whim simply based on what she hears people say. Conveniently, this is never coming from Thorak himself but from people like town gossips and his ex-girlfriend. I also wasn't crazy about the fact that Thorak bullied her in high school. It was more than simple teasing, it was just bullying and was cruel. I'm glad that he did the work on himself to resolve his prejudices and realized that he had went too far and even tried to make amends but Mariah seems truly traumatized by what she went through and didn't seem to ever get a chance to process it. She went from "I hate him for what he did to me" to "I love him with all my heart" in nothing flat, nothing in between.
Overall, I think my biggest issue with this book came down to timing. There were elements that needed to breathe more and the characters to have more time with them to make changes in personalities seem more believable. I think the foundation for a good story was there, it just need some more work and polish.
lighthearted
relaxing
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Storyline was okay but the characters really didn’t feel developed enough for me to actually care about them
I got the whole dislike to love but if you’re falling in love with your highschool bully I’d think there be more opposition
I got the whole dislike to love but if you’re falling in love with your highschool bully I’d think there be more opposition
i loved the fact they had history (hello former ex tormentor in high school turned hot brewmaster!!) and fake engagement???? literally everything i’ve ever wanted in a book
obv there are misunderstandings and DEFINITELY trust issues but honestly they were justified
the book was shorter than an average book yet the characters were still fully developed and i was invested in side characters
overall: 4/5
spice: 2/5
obv there are misunderstandings and DEFINITELY trust issues but honestly they were justified
the book was shorter than an average book yet the characters were still fully developed and i was invested in side characters
overall: 4/5
spice: 2/5
Elderberry Falls stole my heart
I was hooked from the very beginning!
A magical town where different magical races live in harmony with humans, Elderberry Creek is a special town. I loved the details put into the market and daily life. The characters are so multifaceted and complex. I love how Thorack goes about apologizing to Mariah and how Mariah was willing to see how much he had changed and grown. I hope there is more coming from this world
I was hooked from the very beginning!
A magical town where different magical races live in harmony with humans, Elderberry Creek is a special town. I loved the details put into the market and daily life. The characters are so multifaceted and complex. I love how Thorack goes about apologizing to Mariah and how Mariah was willing to see how much he had changed and grown. I hope there is more coming from this world
where was the character development??? like why do they love each other? I feel like the author forgot to include it