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oceaneanagonye's review against another edition
5.0
The chokehold A.E. Via has on me is absurd. I've devoured the Nothing Special, True Lovers Stories, and Promises series. However, I can see why some people would not enjoy this story.
If you have a history of religious trauma or a past emotionally abusive relationship, you might be sensitive to some of Tyrell's thoughts and actions. After reading the book to the end, I really feel like his motives are more about culture than control. It's possible to read it through a certain lens and see Ty as a very conservative misogynist. It's also possible to see him as a person who clings to what he has left of his father who he idolized and demands a certain level of respect.
I don't fault anyone for loving or hating this book. I personally really started to enjoy it after the scene in the forest and loved their relationship from that point on. Ty wanted to love and care for Kell in every way possible while still being amazing partners at Duke's. Kell wanted to be loved, cared for and respected which is exactly what Ty did for him. His hood and scarf as a nod to a hijab and niqaab was an interesting touch as well.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to everyone as it might be triggering. But if you've read the potential triggers I've listed above and think you'll be ok, I say go in with an open mind and give it a try.
If you have a history of religious trauma or a past emotionally abusive relationship, you might be sensitive to some of Tyrell's thoughts and actions. After reading the book to the end, I really feel like his motives are more about culture than control. It's possible to read it through a certain lens and see Ty as a very conservative misogynist. It's also possible to see him as a person who clings to what he has left of his father who he idolized and demands a certain level of respect.
I don't fault anyone for loving or hating this book. I personally really started to enjoy it after the scene in the forest and loved their relationship from that point on. Ty wanted to love and care for Kell in every way possible while still being amazing partners at Duke's. Kell wanted to be loved, cared for and respected which is exactly what Ty did for him. His hood and scarf as a nod to a hijab and niqaab was an interesting touch as well.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to everyone as it might be triggering. But if you've read the potential triggers I've listed above and think you'll be ok, I say go in with an open mind and give it a try.
stellareeds's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
stellareeds's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
bronwynheeley's review against another edition
3.0
it’s SO religious heavy, it’s how they present their selves even if one of them isn’t practicing his religion (maybe nationality tradition, but it felt more religion). It a point for me as I’m n atheist and it was a lot. How Ty was, was a bit much for me which I did think dropped my rating a bit. But I liked the other side of it. The training, the brotherhood part. And I really liked Kellam, who he was and why he was how he was.
Overall it wasn’t bad and I think a lot of people could like this it was just to much for me. The way the romance went.
Overall it wasn’t bad and I think a lot of people could like this it was just to much for me. The way the romance went.
linacarlsson's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
This is so far from the original four books it’s not funny. The author has stated that this story stems from their grief of losing their brother, whom was (as I recall it) a deeply religious, proud man. One of the MC, Ty, is raised muslim but lost the faith when is father died and didn’t get any answers (it’s the lieutenant that was captured with Brian, see book 4). The other MC, Kell, is a prodigy of Quick, young, quiet but hotheaded.
The story is thin as ice with almost nothing happening yet it straggles along. The stereotypes is awful and just doesn’t seem to stop. A young black man; strong, silent, the hair cut, stylish, diamond s, the language and and on. Suddenly attracted to a gay man, but wait, not just ANY gay man ofc, a man that is small, feminine, long luscious curly blond hair. And he covers his body and hair with scarves and hoodies because his hair and beauty is distinctive and distracting. And he is a virgin, because ofc.
The whole story reeks of toxic stereotypes and the female gaze.
The story is thin as ice with almost nothing happening yet it straggles along. The stereotypes is awful and just doesn’t seem to stop. A young black man; strong, silent, the hair cut, stylish, diamond s, the language and and on. Suddenly attracted to a gay man, but wait, not just ANY gay man ofc, a man that is small, feminine, long luscious curly blond hair. And he covers his body and hair with scarves and hoodies because his hair and beauty is distinctive and distracting. And he is a virgin, because ofc.
The whole story reeks of toxic stereotypes and the female gaze.
mynameiskate2807's review against another edition
4.0
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I really enjoyed this book. Man Kell was a bada*se who has worked so hard to become a Master in 4 different fighting styles, all while people completely underestimated him due to his small stature. Ty is Jenkins’s, Brian’s LT son who told Brian that when he makes it back home to tell Ty that he loves him and what happened to them while they were prisoners of war. Brian made it back home but he was a complete shell of himself, and had selective mutism due to everything he’d been through. It was 6 years before he found his voice but as soon as he does get it back he starts trying to track Ty down to deliver Jenkin’s dying wish. Ty was a devout Muslim but when his father never made it home, he stopped praying but he still has all the values that his father had taught him. This unlikely duo are paired together as partners while becoming the next gen of Duke’s Bounty Hunters, due to Ty’s beliefs he struggles a wee bit with underestimating Kell due to his small stature but Kell soon shows him that he doesn’t need anyone to rescue him as he can totally protect himself. I love how Brian became a confidante for Ty, and helped him by giving him little reminders of his dad Jenkins and I think it helps both of them a lot. What I found a bit weird was Kell was written like a Muslim women as he would wear a hoodie and scarf over his face as he hated the attention he gets from his hair and Ty is really happy that he’s earned the right to see Kell without the hoodie and scarf. Also I find it strange that after years of being a devout muslim Ty has no qualms about falling in love with a man, instead of a women. I think Kell and Ty are cute together and Ty’s style is amazing lol. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
I really enjoyed this book. Man Kell was a bada*se who has worked so hard to become a Master in 4 different fighting styles, all while people completely underestimated him due to his small stature. Ty is Jenkins’s, Brian’s LT son who told Brian that when he makes it back home to tell Ty that he loves him and what happened to them while they were prisoners of war. Brian made it back home but he was a complete shell of himself, and had selective mutism due to everything he’d been through. It was 6 years before he found his voice but as soon as he does get it back he starts trying to track Ty down to deliver Jenkin’s dying wish. Ty was a devout Muslim but when his father never made it home, he stopped praying but he still has all the values that his father had taught him. This unlikely duo are paired together as partners while becoming the next gen of Duke’s Bounty Hunters, due to Ty’s beliefs he struggles a wee bit with underestimating Kell due to his small stature but Kell soon shows him that he doesn’t need anyone to rescue him as he can totally protect himself. I love how Brian became a confidante for Ty, and helped him by giving him little reminders of his dad Jenkins and I think it helps both of them a lot. What I found a bit weird was Kell was written like a Muslim women as he would wear a hoodie and scarf over his face as he hated the attention he gets from his hair and Ty is really happy that he’s earned the right to see Kell without the hoodie and scarf. Also I find it strange that after years of being a devout muslim Ty has no qualms about falling in love with a man, instead of a women. I think Kell and Ty are cute together and Ty’s style is amazing lol. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
whatcha_listening_to's review
5.0
Finishing this series is bitter sweet but to end on this book mind blown it is my favorite and I actually listened to it twice.
I love how confident Tyrell is in himself. He didn’t see himself with a man but he never discounted it either. When he meets Kellam he just knew he was the one for him. It was kinda amazing.
Kellam always knew he was attracted to men but he never meet someone who he wanted to be with until Ty. I can’t even with how sweet these two are yet they are so freaking deadly I loved it.
I will probably read and re-read this book because it just gave me all the good feels.
Oh and hello Aiden’s narration get out he KILLED it, drop the mic all that!
I love how confident Tyrell is in himself. He didn’t see himself with a man but he never discounted it either. When he meets Kellam he just knew he was the one for him. It was kinda amazing.
Kellam always knew he was attracted to men but he never meet someone who he wanted to be with until Ty. I can’t even with how sweet these two are yet they are so freaking deadly I loved it.
I will probably read and re-read this book because it just gave me all the good feels.
Oh and hello Aiden’s narration get out he KILLED it, drop the mic all that!
shinysue's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The writing is excellent. The characters are done very well. But the overt pro-patriarchy theme is troubling. I was holding out for character growth. In vain.
It wasn't just a small comment here or there, it was an established theme through almost the entirety of the book. Usually when two characters are the same gender, it erases any gender issues. But in this case Kell was very clearly "the woman". And not just any woman, a submissive virgin Muslim woman who will let Tye lead because Tye is the manly man of the house with grand ideas of what it is to be a man.
Kell is also a man, and yet he doesn't get to do any of those manly things, because the power dynamic necessitates that the two characters take on different roles. The entire book was an ode to convincing the reader that this mentality is acceptable, and the only way that works is to turn the character of Kell into an accessory instead of his own person. He went from being a badass fighter to someone who gets weepy at being proposed to after 3 weeks of knowing a guy? Why? Why would he do this? This doesn't make any sense. And from that point on we didn't see Kell. We see Tye and his woman (sorry, man, I promise you Kell is a man.
It wasn't just a small comment here or there, it was an established theme through almost the entirety of the book. Usually when two characters are the same gender, it erases any gender issues. But in this case Kell was very clearly "the woman". And not just any woman, a submissive virgin Muslim woman who will let Tye lead because Tye is the manly man of the house with grand ideas of what it is to be a man.
Kell is also a man, and yet he doesn't get to do any of those manly things, because the power dynamic necessitates that the two characters take on different roles. The entire book was an ode to convincing the reader that this mentality is acceptable, and the only way that works is to turn the character of Kell into an accessory instead of his own person. He went from being a badass fighter to someone who gets weepy at being proposed to after 3 weeks of knowing a guy? Why? Why would he do this? This doesn't make any sense. And from that point on we didn't see Kell. We see Tye and his woman (sorry, man, I promise you Kell is a man.