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rozyroo's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bookishwonderlandco's review against another edition
3.0
My current rating is due to the inclusivity. A non-binary main character is an incredible step, and I love to see it. But pretty much everything else fell a little flat.
Starting with Neelo, I loved the inclusion of this character from meeting Neelo in the first book; and was so excited to read a book about them. And I was more surprised it was in their perspective and not Talhan's, as I expected, since the prior book was Bri's perspective. I felt Neelo's character was built well, and I loved the bookworm/neurodivergent/introvert of them. Neelo's personality was also fun in prior books, so I was excited to have a whole book to delve deeper. And while I did enjoy a lot about Neelo, the whole woe is me, I'm not worthy got old, real quick. The character turned into a 14yo tween mentality real quick. Neelo is praised for being so observant but missed clues right in front of their face. Also, all the talk of baggy clothes and Neelo not being comfortable in their body was so weird and felt incessant. I'm a curvy female who had her formative years during the "Victoria Secret Model is How Every Woman Should Look" Era. I KNOW what if feels like to be uncomfortable in your body. I am still not comfortable in my body. I went through multiple years in middle school wearing baggy clothes because I was so oddly shaped and didn't know how to wear flattering clothes. I promise you I didn't, and don't, think about my body, or my baggy clothes, as much as Neelo did. I felt like having a non-binary character was such a big opportunity, and Neelo turned into a whiny brat with mommy issues rather than the introverted, intelligent character I expected them to be.
The romance: it really tried to be a slow burn, and I appreciated that, but it just wasn't there for me. Neelo's attitude and disrespect for Talhan was too much and not well done. It turned me off to Neelo, honestly. And was also extremely childish of Neelo. I get Neelo is an introvert and socially awkward, but this behavior was extreme, especially from someone who grew up in a court and observing people interacting at court their whole life. It's just not believable. And Talhan just willingly taking it? Just no. When Neelo finally stopped whining and gave in to their feelings for Talhan, the romance moved so quickly. I guess it kind of gets a pass since they were friends their whole lives, but the reader is only told, never shown, so it just felt so quick, especially since most of the book leading up to that Neelo was ignoring Talhan so they barely had any bonding scenes. I just felt this could have been done so much better and was really disappointed.
The plot: I really enjoyed the continuation of the plot that was set up in the prior books, though I wish it had a bit more prominence. It was mentioned and somewhat underlying the beginning through the middle of the book, but really didn't come into play until the end. Then everything was happening, and all the action was over in basically a page. (Not really, but maybe 3.) The big bad is only bad for 2 seconds, and it makes it boring, and once again, I just expected more.
Overall, I really expected more from every aspect. I think Neelo's constant whining about not being worthy and the many, many strange and seemingly constant thoughts about their body and baggy clothes could have been cut/cut down, and other aspects, like the plot, the relationship between Neelo and Talhan, and Talhans character, all could have been built up and expanded more. This book really read YA, and not in a good way.
I will say I loved the inclusion of Indigo and that Neelo actually thought about the cat and what was best for the cat. It's really rare for cats, or any animal, to be so well included and not just an after thought. The amount of times I've read a book and a pet is mentioned and then never mentioned again is insane.
Starting with Neelo, I loved the inclusion of this character from meeting Neelo in the first book; and was so excited to read a book about them. And I was more surprised it was in their perspective and not Talhan's, as I expected, since the prior book was Bri's perspective. I felt Neelo's character was built well, and I loved the bookworm/neurodivergent/introvert of them. Neelo's personality was also fun in prior books, so I was excited to have a whole book to delve deeper. And while I did enjoy a lot about Neelo, the whole woe is me, I'm not worthy got old, real quick. The character turned into a 14yo tween mentality real quick. Neelo is praised for being so observant but missed clues right in front of their face. Also, all the talk of baggy clothes and Neelo not being comfortable in their body was so weird and felt incessant. I'm a curvy female who had her formative years during the "Victoria Secret Model is How Every Woman Should Look" Era. I KNOW what if feels like to be uncomfortable in your body. I am still not comfortable in my body. I went through multiple years in middle school wearing baggy clothes because I was so oddly shaped and didn't know how to wear flattering clothes. I promise you I didn't, and don't, think about my body, or my baggy clothes, as much as Neelo did. I felt like having a non-binary character was such a big opportunity, and Neelo turned into a whiny brat with mommy issues rather than the introverted, intelligent character I expected them to be.
The romance: it really tried to be a slow burn, and I appreciated that, but it just wasn't there for me. Neelo's attitude and disrespect for Talhan was too much and not well done. It turned me off to Neelo, honestly. And was also extremely childish of Neelo. I get Neelo is an introvert and socially awkward, but this behavior was extreme, especially from someone who grew up in a court and observing people interacting at court their whole life. It's just not believable. And Talhan just willingly taking it? Just no. When Neelo finally stopped whining and gave in to their feelings for Talhan, the romance moved so quickly. I guess it kind of gets a pass since they were friends their whole lives, but the reader is only told, never shown, so it just felt so quick, especially since most of the book leading up to that Neelo was ignoring Talhan so they barely had any bonding scenes. I just felt this could have been done so much better and was really disappointed.
The plot: I really enjoyed the continuation of the plot that was set up in the prior books, though I wish it had a bit more prominence. It was mentioned and somewhat underlying the beginning through the middle of the book, but really didn't come into play until the end. Then everything was happening, and all the action was over in basically a page. (Not really, but maybe 3.) The big bad is only bad for 2 seconds, and it makes it boring, and once again, I just expected more.
Overall, I really expected more from every aspect. I think Neelo's constant whining about not being worthy and the many, many strange and seemingly constant thoughts about their body and baggy clothes could have been cut/cut down, and other aspects, like the plot, the relationship between Neelo and Talhan, and Talhans character, all could have been built up and expanded more. This book really read YA, and not in a good way.
I will say I loved the inclusion of Indigo and that Neelo actually thought about the cat and what was best for the cat. It's really rare for cats, or any animal, to be so well included and not just an after thought. The amount of times I've read a book and a pet is mentioned and then never mentioned again is insane.
mrs_clemo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
diannej91's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
lblair's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
ozarksamy's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
If you have already started this series, you saw this coming, but for those who haven’t begun the series, be warned the MFC is “non-binary” and so the writing is often confusing due to the use of “they/them” plural pronouns for a single person. This becomes especially confusing when in a single paragraph the pronoun “they” will be used for the MFC, then the whole group, then back to just the MFC. And yes, the main character is female; you learn that during this book despite the author desperately trying not to mention actual female anatomy during sex scenes.
The MFC was designed to “not fit in” with society, but there was no reason to make her non-binary as the main reason she doesn’t fit in has nothing to do with her sexuality.
I like the characters and overarching story, but I don’t like the non-binary and use of plural pronouns for a single person, so I used she/her pronouns in my head as I read. However, if I had known this series would feature so many queer characters, I wouldn’t have read it.
The MFC was designed to “not fit in” with society, but there was no reason to make her non-binary as the main reason she doesn’t fit in has nothing to do with her sexuality.
I like the characters and overarching story, but I don’t like the non-binary and use of plural pronouns for a single person, so I used she/her pronouns in my head as I read. However, if I had known this series would feature so many queer characters, I wouldn’t have read it.
brii_brii's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one. It was pretty good, honestly. On par with book 3.
I really appreciated Neelo's relationship with Talhan. He was so supportive of them and always there no matter how they treated him, and my heart really went out to him throughout this book.
Neelo wasn't my favorite. I liked them at the beginning. I liked delving into their life with their mom. Their back story and history was one of the better ones written throughout this series, but I really struggled with their personal growth. They were just so stagnant for so much of the story. Refusing to work on themselves and pushing people away because of it, and at first I was understanding, but then it became super, super repetitive, and I started to get annoyed.. I'm glad they got there eventually. I did enjoy the self development that eventually did happen, I just think it took too long, and it took up too much of the story.
I loved Talhan. I think his sense of humor was perfect and really needed in this story because Neelo did tend to weigh things down a little bit. I looked forward to seeing more of him as their relationship grew, and I think he was wonderful.
I will say, I don't think I zoned out as much in this one as the rest. Maybe because we're getting closer to the end of the series that all of the scattered plot points are starting to come together, but I was a lot more focused in this one than the other 3.
I really appreciated Neelo's relationship with Talhan. He was so supportive of them and always there no matter how they treated him, and my heart really went out to him throughout this book.
Neelo wasn't my favorite. I liked them at the beginning. I liked delving into their life with their mom. Their back story and history was one of the better ones written throughout this series, but I really struggled with their personal growth. They were just so stagnant for so much of the story. Refusing to work on themselves and pushing people away because of it, and at first I was understanding, but then it became super, super repetitive, and I started to get annoyed.. I'm glad they got there eventually. I did enjoy the self development that eventually did happen, I just think it took too long, and it took up too much of the story.
I loved Talhan. I think his sense of humor was perfect and really needed in this story because Neelo did tend to weigh things down a little bit. I looked forward to seeing more of him as their relationship grew, and I think he was wonderful.
I will say, I don't think I zoned out as much in this one as the rest. Maybe because we're getting closer to the end of the series that all of the scattered plot points are starting to come together, but I was a lot more focused in this one than the other 3.
accovino's review
3.0
I like Neelo and Tal but this didn't really do it for me. I feel like I have to read the last one because I read the rest but ehhhhhh the first two were definitely the only ones I really liked.
karakaye1989's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0