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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
This is such a weird one for me to try and review/rate, there's just something that happens in the plot that I wasn't a fan of within the romance and the book was kind of capped cause of it. The writing was great, honestly it just really added to the ambience of a pretty atmospheric book. In some ways this reminded me of A Sorcery of Thorns mixed with Nettle and Bone but much darker. I'm intrigued to pick up something else by the author especially since this is maybe her lesser known series.
This was one of the books suggested by my Vaginal Fantasy (vag-fan) Hangout book club.
At first I wasn't sure that I would connect with the characters, but Draven sets up a natural progression that eventually gets you so involved that you don't want to put the book down!
As for the sexy bits, lets just say that Draven really knows how to set a scene... Paint a picture...*blush* it's very well written.
At first I wasn't sure that I would connect with the characters, but Draven sets up a natural progression that eventually gets you so involved that you don't want to put the book down!
As for the sexy bits, lets just say that Draven really knows how to set a scene... Paint a picture...*blush* it's very well written.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is sumptuously written. Really, one I couldn't put down - an excellent story with characters you care about and a well-realised world.
I have a few nitpicks. Author echo appears with a couple of favourite words - that's an editing issue. Some missing explanations - I'm not a fan of the infodump and most things were well-explained, but the story got in the way of the world-building at times, leaving the reader to make assumptions that should have been explained (the pantheon structure, the issue of slavery, the reason why the Master of Crows is an outcast in the first place).
Finally - and this is no fault of the book itself - I'm just tired of the "woman as passive donor in a patriarchal world" trope. Martise has power but way too many scruples which are not explained simply by her status. I would have liked to have seen her with a lot more agency.
I have a few nitpicks. Author echo appears with a couple of favourite words - that's an editing issue. Some missing explanations - I'm not a fan of the infodump and most things were well-explained, but the story got in the way of the world-building at times, leaving the reader to make assumptions that should have been explained (the pantheon structure, the issue of slavery, the reason why the Master of Crows is an outcast in the first place).
Finally - and this is no fault of the book itself - I'm just tired of the "woman as passive donor in a patriarchal world" trope. Martise has power but way too many scruples which are not explained simply by her status. I would have liked to have seen her with a lot more agency.
I loved Radiance so I really wanted to love this one. The world building is super nice but the romance is so very icky. No respect for FL and just terrible ML.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book has a strong start, but I did not feel the chemistry between the two main characters. It wasn't even insta list, I just didn't buy into their affection. She had more chemistry with a side character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexism, Slavery
4.25⭐️
Honestly? This was everything I’d hoped it would be.
I was initially pretty surprised at the writing—a little flowery and whimsical. But it really enchants you and gives you a sense of place. At least for me.
The two main characters were really unique. The FMC in particular is so likable, and the MMC has longer hair than I do which I thought was fun.
This would’ve been closer to five stars had I not gotten a description of his down-there-hair (“a nest of dark curls”?? NOOO) and of her being “impaled” on his you-know-what. Also I’ve never read a romance that referred to testicles in an intimate setting? Maybe that was a thing back in 2011, when this was written
Honestly? This was everything I’d hoped it would be.
I was initially pretty surprised at the writing—a little flowery and whimsical. But it really enchants you and gives you a sense of place. At least for me.
The two main characters were really unique. The FMC in particular is so likable, and the MMC has longer hair than I do which I thought was fun.
This would’ve been closer to five stars had I not gotten a description of his down-there-hair (“a nest of dark curls”?? NOOO) and of her being “impaled” on his you-know-what. Also I’ve never read a romance that referred to testicles in an intimate setting? Maybe that was a thing back in 2011, when this was written
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes