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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun fantasy story! I especially liked the sort of gradual uncovering of the heroine's personality and the interaction between the two main characters.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
This has some bits of greatness/potential but is so clumsily and confusingly written.
Interesting premise. Decent characters. I'll try the next one in the series but I won't go much beyond it if the story and writing doesn't improve.
I'd read this book ages ago and couldn't really remember much about it. After reading it a second time I found it to be entertaining. If a bit slow and towards the end it felt a little muddled. I skimmed a bit in places but I like the characters and world enough that I'll be giving the sequel a try.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
God this cover is terrible. This is one of the few books that I've read recently that wasn't embarrassingly terrible. Which is saying something because this is still squarely in the, what Felicia Day calls, vaginal fantasy realm. Great story, really interesting world and GREAT lead character. I have a real soft spot for characters that aren't perfect. Lee is arrogant, proud, naive and a little dim at times and in the best way. The only way you can make a character like that work is if she grows throughout the book, which she does. I bought the second book the instant I finished, can't wait to see what happens next.
This book had some interesting ideas, but they felt tacked-on and secondary to the main story. I'm interested enough to read the next book in the series, but I'm going to hold off on a full review of this book until I determine if these ideas are continued or abandoned in favor of a more generic sequel.
Reread Review, December 2018:
So I'm bringing this down a star because it wasn't quite as good on the reread as I remember it. I mean, I do remember knowing this wasn't for everyone, and if my original review below is anything to go by, I did notice its flaws the first time. But it wasn't quite as damn delightful as the memory of my first time through would've lead me to believe.
Perhaps those flaws were just a bit more noticeable now. The pacing was kind of weird... there would be large gaps of time between one chapter and the next for little reason. Two of the most dramatic plot points--Taro's stabbing and kidnapping--are given to us third hand and some of the details are weirdly glossed over. And also, Lee was a lot worse then I remember her being. If we weren't in her head all the time, she'd be practically intolerable a lot of the time.
Thankfully, Taro is still a genuine delight and I want to keep him safe forever.
- - -
Original Review, May 2017:
Me: Hey, read this synopsis and tell me this isn't the most "me" book ever.
BFF: *without even looking at it* Is it about soulbonds?
Me: ... yes.
So, true story. Where has this book been all my life? I could've read it TEN YEARS AGO. Alas. That summary is just... so on brand for me it's not even funny. Like, I knew I was going to like this book before I read it. I was prepared for it to be a little bit ridiculous and everything.
But my dude, I loved this so much I started it at like 6:30pm and then just... forgot to put it down.
And yeah, it was sort of silly at times and the pacing was kind of weird and it got a little info-dumpy occasionally, but I do not even care. It was so delightful at times I had to clutch it to my chest and whisper, "I love this so much".
Taro is my new book boyfriend holy crap I ADORE him. I really liked Lee too, her sarcastic deadpan was great, even though she sometimes was a little too literal and dense about things. It's okay, I understand the tropes of the genre, Lee, he's really a good guy under all that bravado..! Also, no, Lee, that's clearly a trap and... whelp, told you so!
There are SEVEN books in this series, hallelujah, and I cannot wait to read them all. (YMMV depending on how much you're into this trope, but it's definitely a fun, light romp if it sounds at all interesting to you.)
So I'm bringing this down a star because it wasn't quite as good on the reread as I remember it. I mean, I do remember knowing this wasn't for everyone, and if my original review below is anything to go by, I did notice its flaws the first time. But it wasn't quite as damn delightful as the memory of my first time through would've lead me to believe.
Perhaps those flaws were just a bit more noticeable now. The pacing was kind of weird... there would be large gaps of time between one chapter and the next for little reason. Two of the most dramatic plot points--Taro's stabbing and kidnapping--are given to us third hand and some of the details are weirdly glossed over. And also, Lee was a lot worse then I remember her being. If we weren't in her head all the time, she'd be practically intolerable a lot of the time.
Thankfully, Taro is still a genuine delight and I want to keep him safe forever.
- - -
Original Review, May 2017:
Me: Hey, read this synopsis and tell me this isn't the most "me" book ever.
BFF: *without even looking at it* Is it about soulbonds?
Me: ... yes.
So, true story. Where has this book been all my life? I could've read it TEN YEARS AGO. Alas. That summary is just... so on brand for me it's not even funny. Like, I knew I was going to like this book before I read it. I was prepared for it to be a little bit ridiculous and everything.
But my dude, I loved this so much I started it at like 6:30pm and then just... forgot to put it down.
And yeah, it was sort of silly at times and the pacing was kind of weird and it got a little info-dumpy occasionally, but I do not even care. It was so delightful at times I had to clutch it to my chest and whisper, "I love this so much".
Taro is my new book boyfriend holy crap I ADORE him. I really liked Lee too, her sarcastic deadpan was great, even though she sometimes was a little too literal and dense about things. It's okay, I understand the tropes of the genre, Lee, he's really a good guy under all that bravado..! Also, no, Lee, that's clearly a trap and... whelp, told you so!
There are SEVEN books in this series, hallelujah, and I cannot wait to read them all. (YMMV depending on how much you're into this trope, but it's definitely a fun, light romp if it sounds at all interesting to you.)