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mossbelle's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🌶🌶🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
ephemeral_remi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Abortion, and Abandonment
iamsammie27's review
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abortion
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death and Abandonment
xennial_reader's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abortion, and Abandonment
inkdrinkers's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well that was a book. It had some words put together to make sentences and then sentences that made chapters. That's about my feelings on this one.
I feel like we got spoiled with the Court of the Vampire Queen series, it was the perfect amount of wildly unhinged mixed with interesting politics and intriguing characters. Then, the Dragon's Bride did it's thing and it was pretty solid - some issues here and there. Then... we got this.
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm not enough of a brat to enjoy Lina and Thane's dynamic, but I really struggled with how much they seemed to dislike and be absolutely ill-fitted for each other. The plot starts out in a pretty similar fashion to The Dragon's Bride, but once Catalina is taken to Thane's kingdom, things quickly go haywire. We're given vague backstories for both characters that never have any meat on them. It's like biting down into a chicken wing and realizing it's all breading - there's not even a bone in it for some structure. There was no substance, whatsoever, in either of their backstories. I desperately wanted to understand Catalina's character, but instead she just became incredibly annoying with her hot and cold, back and forth, will she or won't she, attitude. She never has a full conversation with Thane about what, exactly, her life was like pre-demon bargain and it's just swept away during the HEA.
I understand Thane's grief to a point, he's grieving the love of his life after five years, and he has a moment where he admits things weren't perfect and the grief clouded his love for his husband. But then it's just reduced to a plot device to make Thane and Lina endgame. I felt like we could have had so much more between Thane and Catalina having actual conversations instead of just tentacles every ten pages. The same goes for Embry and the very clouded plot of Thane forfeiting his kingdom/being a firstborn who never wanted to rule. There was so much that could have been explored but it was all very surface level.
This part is just me being grumpy because it's after 1am and I just finished this book:
At 45% I noted, "So far this girl has been so thoroughly traumatized and we've not even gotten an inkling of an apology or her standing up for herself. I miss Briar and Sol." What prompted this? Oh, just Thane locking Catalina in a watery tower for a week and leaving her to eat slices of half-stale bread. THIS IS NOT THE MONSTER HUSBAND I SIGNED UP FOR. Where Sol was patient and a little brash at times, Thane is just daft and abandons her.
I think my gripe with this book just boils down to the fact that I, you, Katee Robert - everyone knows where this is ending. It's going to be a happily ever after - so at least make the things leading up to it make sense. I don't want to read 80% of a book questioning if the main pairing actually tolerates each other or if they're just horny. At least give me some emotional payoff if you're going to make me tap through descriptions of suckers on tentacles and prehensile appendages.
This is the second book I've read this year with a main character named Lina that I couldn't tolerate. I'm beginning to think I have unresolved issues with this name. Will update if I ever read another book with a "Catalina" in it, but I think that's just become one of my book red flags.
Two stars for... I guess the vaguely wholesome bits at the end? And the feminism and queer rep was nice.
I feel like we got spoiled with the Court of the Vampire Queen series, it was the perfect amount of wildly unhinged mixed with interesting politics and intriguing characters. Then, the Dragon's Bride did it's thing and it was pretty solid - some issues here and there. Then... we got this.
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm not enough of a brat to enjoy Lina and Thane's dynamic, but I really struggled with how much they seemed to dislike and be absolutely ill-fitted for each other. The plot starts out in a pretty similar fashion to The Dragon's Bride, but once Catalina is taken to Thane's kingdom, things quickly go haywire. We're given vague backstories for both characters that never have any meat on them. It's like biting down into a chicken wing and realizing it's all breading - there's not even a bone in it for some structure. There was no substance, whatsoever, in either of their backstories. I desperately wanted to understand Catalina's character, but instead she just became incredibly annoying with her hot and cold, back and forth, will she or won't she, attitude. She never has a full conversation with Thane about what, exactly, her life was like pre-demon bargain and it's just swept away during the HEA.
I understand Thane's grief to a point, he's grieving the love of his life after five years, and he has a moment where he admits things weren't perfect and the grief clouded his love for his husband. But then it's just reduced to a plot device to make Thane and Lina endgame. I felt like we could have had so much more between Thane and Catalina having actual conversations instead of just tentacles every ten pages. The same goes for Embry and the very clouded plot of Thane forfeiting his kingdom/being a firstborn who never wanted to rule. There was so much that could have been explored but it was all very surface level.
This part is just me being grumpy because it's after 1am and I just finished this book:
At 45% I noted, "So far this girl has been so thoroughly traumatized and we've not even gotten an inkling of an apology or her standing up for herself. I miss Briar and Sol." What prompted this? Oh, just Thane locking Catalina in a watery tower for a week and leaving her to eat slices of half-stale bread. THIS IS NOT THE MONSTER HUSBAND I SIGNED UP FOR. Where Sol was patient and a little brash at times, Thane is just daft and abandons her.
I think my gripe with this book just boils down to the fact that I, you, Katee Robert - everyone knows where this is ending. It's going to be a happily ever after - so at least make the things leading up to it make sense. I don't want to read 80% of a book questioning if the main pairing actually tolerates each other or if they're just horny. At least give me some emotional payoff if you're going to make me tap through descriptions of suckers on tentacles and prehensile appendages.
This is the second book I've read this year with a main character named Lina that I couldn't tolerate. I'm beginning to think I have unresolved issues with this name. Will update if I ever read another book with a "Catalina" in it, but I think that's just become one of my book red flags.
Two stars for... I guess the vaguely wholesome bits at the end? And the feminism and queer rep was nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Abortion
Most of the abandonment and child abuse are vague references to Catalina's past. The abortion is done via potion and she's asleep for the procedure. There's lots of tentacles and they are very active during the sex scenes.thenerdybookwitch's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Will be honest, I did like The Dragon’s Bride more. Still a good book but this one was so fast that I felt like it was very rushed. I liked the couple, the world, I just wish there had been better pacing. Also really loved that this whole book is full of Queer characters. It is highly inclusive, even has a character with Neo-Pronouns! I cannot wait for the third book to see what more happens in this world!
Content Warnings not available: Death of Spouse
Content Warnings not available: Death of Spouse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Blood
tiggerreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
CW: neglect, abortion, emotional neglect, death of a spouse
I really liked this one. Thane is still dealing with his grief from the death of his husband a few years ago. He enters this deal with the bargainer demon to benefit his kingdom but he doesn't want to replace Brant nor does he want children. The plan is to step aside and give the kingdom over to his sibling, Embry. Catalina takes the deal with Azazel because she sees the money at the end of seven years as a way to keep people with her regardless of what they feel about her. She figures the money will keep them from leaving. Thane and Catalina are both hurt in different ways. I liked watching them learn that they were more than they presented to the world and that they liked what they found. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Catalina didn't magically change her mind about not wanting to have children.
I really liked this one. Thane is still dealing with his grief from the death of his husband a few years ago. He enters this deal with the bargainer demon to benefit his kingdom but he doesn't want to replace Brant nor does he want children. The plan is to step aside and give the kingdom over to his sibling, Embry. Catalina takes the deal with Azazel because she sees the money at the end of seven years as a way to keep people with her regardless of what they feel about her. She figures the money will keep them from leaving. Thane and Catalina are both hurt in different ways. I liked watching them learn that they were more than they presented to the world and that they liked what they found. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Catalina didn't magically change her mind about not wanting to have children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse
katebrownreads's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming and Vomit