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lilly_springer's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
garnethalo's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
I would like to be an assistant. Not an intern though...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Sexual assault, and Torture
streetrc's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
laurao's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’ve never read anything like it before, but it’s not my usual genre.
For a romance novel, there is surprisingly little coupling off. But, there is so much internal monologue about being interested in being a couple, that there’s little room for world building. Despite mentions of windows and lamps, it felt like the characters were running around in a black void. They never even explain the magic systems.
For a romance novel, there is surprisingly little coupling off. But, there is so much internal monologue about being interested in being a couple, that there’s little room for world building. Despite mentions of windows and lamps, it felt like the characters were running around in a black void. They never even explain the magic systems.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
Minor: Torture and Stalking
clhtdr's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Torture
msgabrielamaldonado's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Torture
questionable_reader's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
It's simple read, melodramatic, plays on troops not in a good way. Writing feels unfinished in a way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
_charliesbooks_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I ate this up following a huge reading slump and cried when I finished it and realised that the next book isn't out until August. I have NEVER found a better FMC than Evie. I adore her, maybe even more than Trystan. And having read just about every single adult romantasy I can get my hands on this book had me giggling and kicking my feet and they only kissed once. ONCE. AND IT WAS PRETENDING. I preordered the next one the minute I finished it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Torture
owl_eerie's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book needed another round of edits; there were a few places where the prose simply pulled me out of the groove, or plot points were thrown in randomly. The pacing was quite slow until it sprinted the last 80 pages. It felt like we just needed to get through the big plot reveal all of a sudden because the book needed to end.
Other than that the characters were nicely done. Space cadet FMC finds her teeth. MMC pines well, but he felt sort of inconsistent. Like both he and the author are trying really hard to convince the reader he's scary and evil but neither believes it. Which... Idk maybe is the point.
Try not to think too hard about the over-competent secretary tropes.
Other than that the characters were nicely done. Space cadet FMC finds her teeth. MMC pines well, but he felt sort of inconsistent. Like both he and the author are trying really hard to convince the reader he's scary and evil but neither believes it. Which... Idk maybe is the point.
Try not to think too hard about the over-competent secretary tropes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
simmonsj's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A middle-of-the-road fantasy romance with a fun twist - the side of the Villain. Evie Sage needs a job to support her sister and I'll father. Serendipity lands her a job as The Villian's assistant, hired to help manage his nefarious plots to damage the King.
It was fun to see how the author made gore, torture, and murder light hearted, but that's really how it read. I actually liked those parts, that this is just the daily life of a Villain and it's all a little hum drum. I liked Evie Sage, she doubts and debases herself at times but does grow through the novel and has moments of fun feminist bad@$$ery. She stands up to people just fine and can disarm through her supposed innocence. She's also learning that she really doesn't mind the torture and villainy like she knows she's supposed to.
The plot is fine, it leans more towards romantasy than anything else. The romance is very, very slow burn but kind of cute. Many of the thoughts of the two characters got repetitive though. The backend plot is finding a traitor - without the relationship/romance/Evie growth pieces, this plot would have been drawn out way too much and been disappointing. The ending was good as far as learning the identity of the traitor, which was a surprise for me, but it also leaves several unanswered questions, wide open for the sequel coming in August.
The writing lets the book down some. I lost track of how many heads "whipped back" and how our Villain had muscular thighs, a strong chest, and eyes to fall into. We get it, he's lovely, move on. The last quarter of the book picked up speed and had less repetitions.
Overall it was a fun little foray into the world of Villainy and a little romance. Nothing too striking but an easy read and a little getaway book. While one should note there is torture, gore, and murder in this book (and talk of it. A lot), it is treated rather lightheartedly. Oddly, it reminds me of something Mel Brooks would write a movie of - quirky murder in a fantasy village and with a love story tied in.
It was fun to see how the author made gore, torture, and murder light hearted, but that's really how it read. I actually liked those parts, that this is just the daily life of a Villain and it's all a little hum drum. I liked Evie Sage, she doubts and debases herself at times but does grow through the novel and has moments of fun feminist bad@$$ery. She stands up to people just fine and can disarm through her supposed innocence. She's also learning that she really doesn't mind the torture and villainy like she knows she's supposed to.
The plot is fine, it leans more towards romantasy than anything else. The romance is very, very slow burn but kind of cute. Many of the thoughts of the two characters got repetitive though. The backend plot is finding a traitor - without the relationship/romance/Evie growth pieces, this plot would have been drawn out way too much and been disappointing. The ending was good as far as learning the identity of the traitor, which was a surprise for me, but it also leaves several unanswered questions, wide open for the sequel coming in August.
The writing lets the book down some. I lost track of how many heads "whipped back" and how our Villain had muscular thighs, a strong chest, and eyes to fall into. We get it, he's lovely, move on. The last quarter of the book picked up speed and had less repetitions.
Overall it was a fun little foray into the world of Villainy and a little romance. Nothing too striking but an easy read and a little getaway book. While one should note there is torture, gore, and murder in this book (and talk of it. A lot), it is treated rather lightheartedly. Oddly, it reminds me of something Mel Brooks would write a movie of - quirky murder in a fantasy village and with a love story tied in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, Blood, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Confinement and Chronic illness