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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
We love a subby boi
There aren't enough books with men who are subs. Malec is broody, and intense, and powerful, but when he meets/captures Aura, her fighting spirit calls to him in a way that has him on his knees.
I loved the fae lore, the different religions, and the epic secrets. Such an amazing book!
There aren't enough books with men who are subs. Malec is broody, and intense, and powerful, but when he meets/captures Aura, her fighting spirit calls to him in a way that has him on his knees.
I loved the fae lore, the different religions, and the epic secrets. Such an amazing book!
what a unique take on mal
Loved it. Interesting world building without dull exposition. I would have read it for longer, honestly. Pacing was good. Enemies to lovers was well done.
And the kink was well done too. Pay attention to the Content Warnings. Even though I can be sensitive to SA this was handled well and the kink was handled respectfully and sanely by the characters while being an exploration of the characters’ deep emotional turbulence. So good.
The short time period for the development of the relationship isn’t insta love. It made a lot of sense and was well fleshed out. I appreciated the characters’ perspectives and self-reflection, it wasn’t burdensome as a reader, but rather made the fast development of their affection make sense. I do love a good honest flawed character who engages in introspection and makes changes.
Loved it. Interesting world building without dull exposition. I would have read it for longer, honestly. Pacing was good. Enemies to lovers was well done.
And the kink was well done too. Pay attention to the Content Warnings. Even though I can be sensitive to SA this was handled well and the kink was handled respectfully and sanely by the characters while being an exploration of the characters’ deep emotional turbulence. So good.
The short time period for the development of the relationship isn’t insta love. It made a lot of sense and was well fleshed out. I appreciated the characters’ perspectives and self-reflection, it wasn’t burdensome as a reader, but rather made the fast development of their affection make sense. I do love a good honest flawed character who engages in introspection and makes changes.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
Another excellent fairy tale retelling with some great plot twists.
Kenney is a master of laying out all the pieces for the solution well ahead of time and slowly bringing them all together at the end for a perfect conclusion.
Aura was a great FMC. She was both a girl who knew how to take care of herself and would do what she needed to - but she also had mercy and was willing to rely on others when she realized what she COULD NOT do.
Malec was a fabulous MMC, and I adored his vain streak. The fact that Aura even called out his love for showing off his abs with his impractical chest-only armor was hysterical (and a great nod to a certain webcomic where a dragon shifter also has no armor covering his abs, haha). The fact that his vanity would be tested too was a pleasant surprise.
The worldbuilding was very intriguing for this, and I loved Kenney's take on the Spindle and spinning wheel - a massive machine meant to spin Void magic. Though the actual look of the world itself has some noticeable nods to ancient religious/mythological world views, it was all cleverly SPUN together.
Kenney is a master of laying out all the pieces for the solution well ahead of time and slowly bringing them all together at the end for a perfect conclusion.
Aura was a great FMC. She was both a girl who knew how to take care of herself and would do what she needed to - but she also had mercy and was willing to rely on others when she realized what she COULD NOT do.
Malec was a fabulous MMC, and I adored his vain streak. The fact that Aura even called out his love for showing off his abs with his impractical chest-only armor was hysterical (and a great nod to a certain webcomic where a dragon shifter also has no armor covering his abs, haha). The fact that his vanity would be tested too was a pleasant surprise.
The worldbuilding was very intriguing for this, and I loved Kenney's take on the Spindle and spinning wheel - a massive machine meant to spin Void magic. Though the actual look of the world itself has some noticeable nods to ancient religious/mythological world views, it was all cleverly SPUN together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was excited for this series as it promised romantic retelling of villain stories AND this one in particular promised femdom. I was EXCITED, but alas, the only good part did end up being the spice scenes.
First off the world building, if this was a house it would only be a frame, lots left to build but you can see the idea that’s there, sorta… I tend to automatically dislike books that hold themselves out to be true fantasy and fae can lie, don’t make bargains, and don’t have aversions to iron (this one in particular was a very weird choice since there was another metal with a different name that had similar properties as iron.. but specifically the author made it clear the iron was a problem).
But I digress my biggest issue with the book was that it features to absolutely incompetent morons as both lead characters. Throughout this whole thing both.Malc and Aura make the weirdest and least logical decisions. At every turn they are doing something stupid it honestly made me question if the author thought these choices were cleaver because side characters in the book would be amazed and impressed with said stupid choices and fully support illogical behavior.
Another issue I had was Malc’s level of absolute self loathing. I know I said I read this for the femdom, and I’m all for degradation. But oh my godddd I refer back to the stupidity here. Aura should not be in charge of anyone’s mental health through sexual domination let alone ruling anything. Good god, save these poor people.
All that being said, I still gave it a two which means it was OK. It was, however just incredibly frustrating for the majority of the book. I still read it and still enjoyed part of it so there is that I read the author again? Honestly, I probably would. The seeds of a good story were here, and it was enjoyable enough I would give the author another chance. But I’m not sure I will stick with this series. TBD, I skipped the first one to jump into this one when I saw the spice twist of yes mistress.
Onward to better things
First off the world building, if this was a house it would only be a frame, lots left to build but you can see the idea that’s there, sorta… I tend to automatically dislike books that hold themselves out to be true fantasy and fae can lie, don’t make bargains, and don’t have aversions to iron (this one in particular was a very weird choice since there was another metal with a different name that had similar properties as iron.. but specifically the author made it clear the iron was a problem).
But I digress my biggest issue with the book was that it features to absolutely incompetent morons as both lead characters. Throughout this whole thing both.Malc and Aura make the weirdest and least logical decisions. At every turn they are doing something stupid it honestly made me question if the author thought these choices were cleaver because side characters in the book would be amazed and impressed with said stupid choices and fully support illogical behavior.
Another issue I had was Malc’s level of absolute self loathing. I know I said I read this for the femdom, and I’m all for degradation. But oh my godddd I refer back to the stupidity here. Aura should not be in charge of anyone’s mental health through sexual domination let alone ruling anything. Good god, save these poor people.
All that being said, I still gave it a two which means it was OK. It was, however just incredibly frustrating for the majority of the book. I still read it and still enjoyed part of it so there is that I read the author again? Honestly, I probably would. The seeds of a good story were here, and it was enjoyable enough I would give the author another chance. But I’m not sure I will stick with this series. TBD, I skipped the first one to jump into this one when I saw the spice twist of yes mistress.
Onward to better things
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Super fun, fast paced, sleeping beauty retelling. I had a blast reading this and have a new appreciation for the cover art now that I know what's happening.
Exciting relationship dynamic with enemies to lovers and shadow magic from the MMC.
The way the retelling is crafted and the various reveals were fantastic! You have two kingdoms in a small realm being consumed by the void, fae and humans, magic, war, and a curse cast almost 25 years ago to try and save them all.
The FFC lived her life as the fae bodyguard to the cursed human princess. She ends up switching places with the princess after an outing goes wrong and becomes the prisoner to the Maleficent Void King. She goes on a journey learning her truth and what she wants in her life.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
A spicy re-telling of Sleeping Beauty with a gender-bent Maleficent, this was a great in between read to transition from one series to another if that is your preference. It had great world-magic building elements without getting too intense, especially since most people are already familiar with the classic fairytale. I did really enjoy how Aura, the FMC, would take the initiative in many situations throughout the storyline; she did not play the typical "wait around for my rescuer" role that our old school fairytale tropes have. I also really enjoyed the plot twists the author threw in throughout the story, just putting the overall traditional fairytale on its head.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
The sea witch was so so so good it’s honestly in my top 5 for the year so far bc it was fun, witty, adventurous, and sexy, and this was just trying to be that but fell so flat for me. The romance felt too much like insta-love the sex, while I enjoyed the idea of a sub MMC, was okay but not too spicy imo, the plot was there but idk maybe it was the character depth that didn’t do it for me.