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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
I’m so happy about BITTER MEDICINE. Often I can get very stressed out by stories where the two parties are lying or misrepresenting things, usually because the reasons don’t make any sense, except as transparent excuses to further the plot. When this happens I either become distressed by the lie(s) or I’ll lose the suspension of disbelief and can’t stay in the story. At all points in BITTER MEDICINE, Elle and Luc are being as honest as they possibly can be with each other (given the constraints on them). As they grow closer they work first individually, and then mutually, to get rid of the barriers between them. In each new stage of their relationship they work to accept whatever obstacles cannot yet be removed. The story is driven by their need to fix their individual problems, gradually turning into a realization that they can help each other accomplish more than either could without help.
Elle's relationship with her brother Tony is loving, but strange, as she feels obligated to protect him but he is amused and exasperated at how much she contorts herself to keep him safe in a situation that she sees as her fault. Tony is a fascinating character, cheeky and irascible, he decides what he wants and goes for it - consequences be damned. I suspect he must be more prudent than how Elle sees him, or else he wouldn’t have survived this long in his suddenly mortal state, but she’s so protective and cautious that if he takes literally any risk she sees it is insensible from her very particular baseline. They're both in hiding from their younger brother who wants to kill Tony (and then probably Elle) in pursuit of a power he can only have if they're both dead.
Luc is lonely and deliberate, turning things over in his mind before making any move. He's also in a brutally uneven power, dynamic with his boss, Oberon, who has taken steps to conceal this from those around them. Early in the book, Elle asks Luc a question which he keeps turning over in his mind, using it as a way to explore the possibility of something other than the way he’s been forced to live for two centuries. Gradually he figures out that the person he's been ordered to find (and likely kill) for his job is the brother who's been trying to kill Elle and Tony. Luc is trying to make up for what he sees as a failure in his past, some thing that was actually less terrible than what everyone else has assumed, but a geas on him stops him from correcting the record, and potentially relieving some of the scorn and fear that others hold for him.
Oberon, Luc's boss, is exploitative, intense, ruthless, and terrible. Long before it’s specifically clear what kind of a hold he has on Luc, he’s casually racist, more than a bit sexist, and dismissive of a particular character's gender identity as part of that sexism. I don’t think that “and also he misgenders people" is necessary in order to mark him or anyone else out as a villain, but the way that it’s done here quickly differentiates him as a nasty character. It also serves to set him apart from his employees who are just hired muscle who sometimes kill people. Where for them it’s a job and a skill, for him it’s an obsession, and extension of his obvious need for power and control. Through whatever combination of power and privilege, he’s gotten to the point where he literally doesn’t have to give a shit about what anyone else thinks, and he wields that knowledge to make Luc's life a living hell as a side effect of his seeming need for control and obedience. Oberon's cruelty is casual, systemic, and occasionally specific.
I like the wrecking crew (a particular group of Luc's colleagues). Part of their early antipathy towards Luc is from thinking that he did a terrible thing which crosses a line for them. The ways in which that story is more complicated are gradually untangled in the narrative, but it speaks well for them that what they think he did would cross lines that are not to be crossed.
I’ve enjoyed this audiobook narrator’s work previously, and this was up to their usual excellent standards. The range of voices is nice and the performance was engaging and easy to follow. The worldbuilding unfolds naturally along with the story, aided by the oscillation between Elle and Luc. Their different backgrounds provide different experiences and occasionally different ways of looking at the exact same bit of the story. I like the context-sensitive approach to a kind of "all the spirits/creatures are real" style of worldbuilding. All the living supernatural entities have an item which connects their powers to their bodies, but other than that they have existences and magical parameters consistent with their cultures of origin. Luc has a true name and can be affected by misuse of it because he's a European-style half-elf. Elle is the descendent of a Chinese medicine god and she often works her magic through calligraphy to create charms. Elle's friend and coworker is a helpful (mostly background) presence, suggesting the shape of a long-term bond without distracting from the current crisis and main storyline. She's also a ghost, providing opportunities to explore a few more aspects of how magic works which are specific to her.
Read BITTER MEDICINE for a fantasy romance about building a better life together, and figuring out how to hold on to what actually matters in the face of seemingly unbeatable obstacles.
Elle's relationship with her brother Tony is loving, but strange, as she feels obligated to protect him but he is amused and exasperated at how much she contorts herself to keep him safe in a situation that she sees as her fault. Tony is a fascinating character, cheeky and irascible, he decides what he wants and goes for it - consequences be damned. I suspect he must be more prudent than how Elle sees him, or else he wouldn’t have survived this long in his suddenly mortal state, but she’s so protective and cautious that if he takes literally any risk she sees it is insensible from her very particular baseline. They're both in hiding from their younger brother who wants to kill Tony (and then probably Elle) in pursuit of a power he can only have if they're both dead.
Luc is lonely and deliberate, turning things over in his mind before making any move. He's also in a brutally uneven power, dynamic with his boss, Oberon, who has taken steps to conceal this from those around them. Early in the book, Elle asks Luc a question which he keeps turning over in his mind, using it as a way to explore the possibility of something other than the way he’s been forced to live for two centuries. Gradually he figures out that the person he's been ordered to find (and likely kill) for his job is the brother who's been trying to kill Elle and Tony. Luc is trying to make up for what he sees as a failure in his past, some thing that was actually less terrible than what everyone else has assumed, but a geas on him stops him from correcting the record, and potentially relieving some of the scorn and fear that others hold for him.
Oberon, Luc's boss, is exploitative, intense, ruthless, and terrible. Long before it’s specifically clear what kind of a hold he has on Luc, he’s casually racist, more than a bit sexist, and dismissive of a particular character's gender identity as part of that sexism. I don’t think that “and also he misgenders people" is necessary in order to mark him or anyone else out as a villain, but the way that it’s done here quickly differentiates him as a nasty character. It also serves to set him apart from his employees who are just hired muscle who sometimes kill people. Where for them it’s a job and a skill, for him it’s an obsession, and extension of his obvious need for power and control. Through whatever combination of power and privilege, he’s gotten to the point where he literally doesn’t have to give a shit about what anyone else thinks, and he wields that knowledge to make Luc's life a living hell as a side effect of his seeming need for control and obedience. Oberon's cruelty is casual, systemic, and occasionally specific.
I like the wrecking crew (a particular group of Luc's colleagues). Part of their early antipathy towards Luc is from thinking that he did a terrible thing which crosses a line for them. The ways in which that story is more complicated are gradually untangled in the narrative, but it speaks well for them that what they think he did would cross lines that are not to be crossed.
I’ve enjoyed this audiobook narrator’s work previously, and this was up to their usual excellent standards. The range of voices is nice and the performance was engaging and easy to follow. The worldbuilding unfolds naturally along with the story, aided by the oscillation between Elle and Luc. Their different backgrounds provide different experiences and occasionally different ways of looking at the exact same bit of the story. I like the context-sensitive approach to a kind of "all the spirits/creatures are real" style of worldbuilding. All the living supernatural entities have an item which connects their powers to their bodies, but other than that they have existences and magical parameters consistent with their cultures of origin. Luc has a true name and can be affected by misuse of it because he's a European-style half-elf. Elle is the descendent of a Chinese medicine god and she often works her magic through calligraphy to create charms. Elle's friend and coworker is a helpful (mostly background) presence, suggesting the shape of a long-term bond without distracting from the current crisis and main storyline. She's also a ghost, providing opportunities to explore a few more aspects of how magic works which are specific to her.
Read BITTER MEDICINE for a fantasy romance about building a better life together, and figuring out how to hold on to what actually matters in the face of seemingly unbeatable obstacles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Child death
CW for misgendering, disassociation, intrusive thoughts (minor).
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
This was cute and fun but I don’t love romance that’s like We’ve pined for ages > started kissing > immediate sex. Give me some actual buildup! . The pacing was a little odd at times and the world-building could be clearer.
But: I liked the characters, the world is interesting, and the story was enjoyable overall.
But: I liked the characters, the world is interesting, and the story was enjoyable overall.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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
- Fantasy Romance
- Urban/Contemporary: Raleigh, NYC, Paris, San Fran
- Dual POV (single narrator on audio, but tbh it is very well done)
- Elle
- Chinese descendent of the god of medicine
- Calligraphy/jade magic
- Living a secret life with her brother because of family drama
- Luc
- Half elf, half French/German more specifically he speaks French and Alsatian
- Secret agent (unknowingly) tracking down Elle's brother
- HE COOKS
- Elle
This is a book about choosing happiness. I loved it so much! The magic was absolutely fascinating and a joy to read about. The world building is lush, the writing is beautiful and descriptive. I really enjoyed the character growth with both Elle and Luc. Luc's journey of dealing with his horrible job/overbearing boss was REAL when he finally quits I was near tears Like I will bodily protect Luc til the ends of this earth!
I'm literally not going to shut up about this book til more people read it!
3/5 (was not expecting the spice, but it was so good!)
I'm literally not going to shut up about this book til more people read it!
3/5 (was not expecting the spice, but it was so good!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content
Minor: Child death, Racism, Transphobia, Death of parent
Elle has pretty shitty parents who are manipulative.
Luc's boss is the worst (no boundaries, runs him into the ground) and is just not a good person.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First of all, I loved the dedication of this book: "To me, because I could." YESSSSS YOU CAN QUEEN! I love a moment of self-love to set the tone for a new adult paranormal romantasy!
The world building was a bit clunky, which I found disappointing. I am still a bit confused on what this world really looks like, but my best guess was adjacent to Shadowhunters???? Like modern but chaotic and paranormal with a bit of mythology infused into it? It was still a lot of fun, but I just struggled to fully (1) get into / invested in the world (2) understand it because the whimsy of everything was hard to follow.
Some parts of the dialogue were too stretched out and affected the pacing; I was frustrated reading the conversations between Elle and Tony especially, as it felt repetitive and immature for paranormal beings that are supposed to be over 100 years old. I know this seems like a silly piece of criticism but it just makes me feel a little defeated that if humans were given the chance to live longer/immortal lives, that they'd still act so flippant at 100 years old. Their banter felt more like bickering, and while I understand siblings certainly have turbulent relationships, this felt both tame/PG and so petty at the same time?
The best part of this was the romance and I would argue that if we had to pick one genre, this would be a romance. Elle and Luc go from client/business owner to friends to lovers pretty quickly but I didn't mind it. There are a few steamy scenes, which I appreciated because that reminded me this was new adult and not young adult or teen fiction (even though the rest of the book felt like that). Minor complaint: people call Luc multiple names and it confused my dumb brain hahahaha he is referred to as Lukey, Lucien and Luc. I had to remind myself these were the same person. I know, I am ridiculous but when barely anyone else has nicknames, it took me out sometimes.
Anyway, I think this was overall a fun ride despite its flaws and I would continue to read from Mia Tsai in the future!
The world building was a bit clunky, which I found disappointing. I am still a bit confused on what this world really looks like, but my best guess was adjacent to Shadowhunters???? Like modern but chaotic and paranormal with a bit of mythology infused into it? It was still a lot of fun, but I just struggled to fully (1) get into / invested in the world (2) understand it because the whimsy of everything was hard to follow.
Some parts of the dialogue were too stretched out and affected the pacing; I was frustrated reading the conversations between Elle and Tony especially, as it felt repetitive and immature for paranormal beings that are supposed to be over 100 years old. I know this seems like a silly piece of criticism but it just makes me feel a little defeated that if humans were given the chance to live longer/immortal lives, that they'd still act so flippant at 100 years old. Their banter felt more like bickering, and while I understand siblings certainly have turbulent relationships, this felt both tame/PG and so petty at the same time?
The best part of this was the romance and I would argue that if we had to pick one genre, this would be a romance. Elle and Luc go from client/business owner to friends to lovers pretty quickly but I didn't mind it. There are a few steamy scenes, which I appreciated because that reminded me this was new adult and not young adult or teen fiction (even though the rest of the book felt like that). Minor complaint: people call Luc multiple names and it confused my dumb brain hahahaha he is referred to as Lukey, Lucien and Luc. I had to remind myself these were the same person. I know, I am ridiculous but when barely anyone else has nicknames, it took me out sometimes.
Anyway, I think this was overall a fun ride despite its flaws and I would continue to read from Mia Tsai in the future!
1/3 into the book and I still didn’t fully understand the “world” of this novel
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just an okay read for me. I don't feel strongly one way or another about the tropes at play, and the writing was just fine. Pacing was a little uneven and the world building felt a bit squishy. The dialog was pretty good and there's a LOT of pining if you're into that sort of thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Transphobia
An antagonistic character repeatedly misgenders a non-binary character and tries to insist that they dress in a way "appropriate" to their AGAB.
adventurous
slow-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