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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
What a messed up story. The author makes an effort to have the protagonist react to the abuse like a real person would, but doesn’t quite stick the landing, as becomes apparent in the next book.
Still, that scene. ‘Are you going to take advantage?’ ‘Yes, of course.’ *walks away*
Not quite as good as Dana (Kindred) picking up the knife or Rhett saying ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.’, but definitely up there.
Not quite as good as Dana (Kindred) picking up the knife or Rhett saying ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.’, but definitely up there.
The whole premise of the novel is heavily flawed. I really can’t see any justification for the sexual assault that is rampant in this “book.” The main character is an owner of slaves himself, and only seems to have a problem with slavery when it’s being done to him. In addition to that, what is obviously meant to be his slow burn love interest is just a horrible human being. I don’t think setting your future boyfriend up to be violently raped and drugging him is the move when trying to get him to like you maybe. Especially when you literally own him as a SEX SLAVE. Furthermore, the constant racism depicted is kind of a turn off. I don’t know, maybe don’t have your darker skinned main character be described as animalistic or beast like constantly. Genuinely just burn the whole country because I don’t see how they can be redeemed from the constant rape that’s normalized in universe. THERES A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD BOY THAT IS USED AS A SEX SLAVE BY THE REGENT. IDC WHAT THE CULTURE OF THIS FICTIONAL PLACE IS THATS FUCKED. Actually burn the whole universe because EVERY COUNTRY USES SEX SLAVES. And it’s justified cause “oh blah blah blah place treats their LITERAL SLAVES kindly and with respect while they LITERALLY RAPE THEM” I guess I enjoyed how easily digested it was to read, but that might be a result of the middle school level prose idc. Constant sexual assault vibes aside, some of the plot points were pretty good I guess. The politics were kind of interesting sex slaves aside. Our main character is an idiot who can’t understand basic politics which is so dumb since he’s literally a prince who was in line to be king of his own country but whatever. He also can’t see what is so heavily alluded to about Laurent that it irritates me badly. The whole reveal was very predictable. I’ll probably read the next ones only because im reluctantly invested and I’ve read worse but this book is pretty bad. Though the author is good at character writing.
Reading straight through this trilogy has been one of the most exhilarating, breathtaking events of my life. Bury me with these, burn me with these, drop my lifeless body out at sea with these tied to my chest. I don’t want to go to the afterlife without them.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reread January 2024
Rereading it after 10 years(time flies!!). I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much, but it was still an enjoyable and stressful read. Laurent is still as annoying as it was the first time, and Damen still talks too much
Rereading it after 10 years(time flies!!). I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much, but it was still an enjoyable and stressful read. Laurent is still as annoying as it was the first time, and Damen still talks too much
It's been a while since I've read anything with such strong Dunnett influences.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
That went by quicker than I thought. Can’t wait to read the next books.