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boydgirl's review
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Kidnapping
Minor: Trafficking, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
book_gremlin42's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Trafficking
katiekeske's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love how Lillian Lark makes her characters feel like real people and the details she includes in building the magical world while making it feel like every day life. I like her MMF romances because I like when the polyamorous relationship is between all the characters and not just centered around the female.
I also like that the heroine is of Persian descent and a harpy. I've never read a paranormal romance with a harpy before. I didn't like the harpy cultural practices, but harpies aren't known for being sweet either.
This is not my favorite book of hers, but others may enjoy it more than I did. This story is not as sweet and low-angst as others of hers that I've enjoyed.
The spice is hot and steamy in this from the get go. There's no slow burn or building of love before the three get together. On one hand, they are all supernatural beings who understand what being a "mate" means and are consenting adults, so if they want to jump straight to bed with each other, that's totally fine. On the other hand, Zeph just met these men and is injured to boot! I just like a bit more loving feelings to be around before they get together.
Other things that I didn't enjoy were how insecure each character was in the relationship and how fast the relationship happened. I would label this with the idiots to lovers trope. I think it was probably a somewhat realistic portrayal of how people not used to the concept of a polyamorous relationship may behave and feel, but it was frustrating for me to read through the turmoil of their emotions. Also, I'm not a fan of when wolf shifters have their animal side described as separate from them, which is the case in this with Greg.
I'm glad to have read it because it has some characters that appear in later books, too.
Graphic: Sexual content and Confinement
Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, and Trafficking
Minor: Slavery, Abortion, Child death, and Vomit
The heroine has an unexpected pregnancy. She keeps it. Abortion is mentioned as an option but is quickly denied. The past harpy cultural practice of only keeping female babies is described and mentions male babies being abandoned or killed in the past.veronicadidato's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Because of it, a lot of the reactions also didn't ring true to me. Some of the doubts make sense because the two men have a history, but wondering why someone didn't talk to you about something important when you've known each other for like 2 days is kind of stupid.
"Was the pressure of the clutch so soon in our relationship that we couldn't have a strong foundation?"
Lady, you met them like two days ago. "Soon" is too late of a word for that timeframe. "Soon" would be like three months in. You don't know them enough to even know if they can have lactose without having an intimate date with the toilet for the evening. What the hell do you think?
This is probably my least favorite book of this author. It's not badly crafted, but the content had the potential to be good and interesting, however, rushing it to this degree didn't do it any favours.
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexism
weelasswithabook's review
- 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
4.0
š Fated mates
š Polyamorous
š Accidental pregnancy
š MMF Werewolf/Demon/Harpy
āØ Persian FMC
āØ Bisexual MMCs
š¶ļø O-Denial
š¶ļø Double the fun š
š¶ļø Praise
I'm going to start by re-emphasising that fated mates is my ONLY exception when it comes to instalove. I accept. I appreciate. I'm all in.
I really enjoyed this book and the dynamics between the characters. Too often polyamory is used and it's all sunshine and rainbows, when realistically the dynamic can be quite difficult to initially stabilise in the beginning, particularly if two or more of the partners have been in a relationship for an extended period of time before a new partner is introduced. So it was refreshing to see the insecurities that can come along with that (this also was a theme in Deceived by the Gargoyles). It was especially refreshing to see this vulnerability really play out in our MMCs, where the insecurity of not being "enough" was really used to further the character's development. Particularly with Asa. Due to previous heartbreak, especially with our other MMC being the one to break his heart, he seemed to struggle most with the stability of the triad. The abandonment issues and seeing the relationship between Greg and Zeph flourish really allowed for him to truly learn to trust and accept himself as a vital part of the relationship. With Greg, hang ups around finances and worrying that he doesn't match up to Asa allows for him to really explore what he brings to the relationship and he has this epiphany when he realises that supporting a family isn't just about money, it's love, emotional support, and balance.
Our conflict with Zeph was a little different. I'd expected her inner conflict to be more to do with the fact that the MMCs already had an established relationship, but instead was more to do with Harpy traditions and expectations. I really appreciated this addition as it's so commonplace in reality, that it allowed for that empathy towards a heroine who is bogged down under expectation and obligation. I loved watching her soften without losing her strength and independence and standing up against those expectations and traditions.
Overall, I really loved the story and felt like we had a strong relationship at the end I'd been rooting for. My only tiny criticism is that I felt that the suspenseful situation about 3/4 of the way through was over and done quite quickly, but that's not even a huge issue, just an observation.
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Moderate: Trafficking and Violence
book_lover56's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Death, Abandonment, and Child death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Confinement
potalian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Slavery
zabeishumanish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence
lanorton's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, and Trafficking
Minor: Homophobia
anonymousfrog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Nice representation of polyamory in a fantasy setting.
Graphic: Pregnancy and Kidnapping
Minor: Medical content