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xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is good. One or two typos, one or two things that happened that made me go 🤨 but overall what a good story. Monsterfucker is so my genre.
I agree with many of the reviews on here already: the blurb is misleading. This is a slow burn romance about two strangers with a language and cultural barrier falling in love as they learn about each other. They're different species, they aren't even from the same planet. But they take the time to learn each other's language. To communicate and to be patient with each other. And honestly it was so pure and lovely watching their relationship flourish.
From now on, I'm viewing relationships with others as an interconnected spiderweb. You can't change my mind.
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: War
shinyfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Violence, Murder, Blood, Gore, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Grief, War, and Abandonment
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ketahn is a vrix hunter, used to living in the tangle outside the stone halls his people call home. He brings back meat for the rest of his people every month, at the behest of a queen who's motives seem more and more unclear each day. When Ketahn falls through a pit during a hunt, he discovers a strange metallic beast - and inside it's a belly is something he's never seen before. When Ivy wakes up in the arms of a beast who's half man, half spider, she doesn't know what to think or do - but as time passes in his care and they grow to communicate with each other, she begins to question if the fates have tugged on a thread and brought them together.
I have been SO eager to dive into this series. I've heard good things about it not only from the monster romance community, but for fans of sci-fi, and it DELIVERS. Ensnared is the kind of sci-fi book that clearly cares about it's lore and world-building, and while it's heavy-handed in the beginning, the info dump is absolutely necessary by the time you reach the end. The Vrix world is fascinating, with its own monarchy and different class levels, and figuring out where Ketahn both fits and doesn't is a great way to orient yourself with the world.
By far my favorite part of this is how sci-fi it feels. It's like if you took the Predator films and combined it with Tarzan. The "lost in space" trope of a human having to adjust to alien life will always be one of my favorites, especially as the reader begins to learn the vrix words for familiar things as Ivy does. This is just overall a really, really fun book and perfect for anyone who loves science fiction with a little sprinkling of smut. I can't wait to read the next two!
Content Warnings: Sexual content (between human and alien), Violence/Death (overall), Sexual harassment/Sexual assault/Sexual violence (heavily featured in both Ivy and Ketahn's stories, both past and present. It's noteworthy to say Ketahn and Ivy also explore each other's physical differences multiple times, in varying degrees of description), War (past), Murder, Abandonment (in past)
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Murder, Abandonment, and War
littlewishling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, and Death
Minor: War
greystory's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
I liked Ivy quite a bit. While her story was sad, she was still determined and strong and doing her best in a really shit situation, both prior to meeting Ketahn and afterwards.
Ketahn. Man, I really wanted to like Ketahn more. In general he was alright and there were times I could really dig him but then he'd go and do something pretty dub-con-y with Ivy and I'd be very displeased with him again.
Although Ivy is ultimately always OK with whatever bullshit he pulls, it's clear it's not always immediately consensual or wanted. I was always hoping they'd at least address it afterwards or something but nope, they never do.
The closest they get is actually the worst offense when they first mate and she tries to talk about it. He reiterates that she's been claimed and when she tries to say "you can't just decide that!" he becomes threatening. Instead of it turning into sex (and only sex), I would have really loved a moment of them connecting on another level and communicating better. Why couldn't he just explain what a claiming is and how it works instead of insisting on his own way?
One of the things he did do well was be a complete smartass about the self-centered shitty queen. I especially loved this little comeback:
Telok straightened also, drumming his forelegs on the branch. “And you, Ketahn. I am glad she did not eat you alive.”
“Had she done so, I would have used my final breath to ensure she choked.”
Again, the worldbuilding was cool and I was very engrossed in the mystery of the story around Ivy's people.
That ending kinda sucked. It was very abrupt, no resolution.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: War and Religious bigotry
martamae77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Minor: War
trayslays's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual harassment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
ashlikes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: War, Vomit, and Death of parent
kam_be's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Murder, Kidnapping, War, Violence, and Sexual harassment
katiekeske's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love sweet, protective Ketahn. I didn't rate this a full 5 stars because I wish Ivy had talked to Ketahn about consent at some point, especially given her sexual history (past abusive boyfriend). I give Ketahn a little bit of break because he's a giant spider man with some strong basic instincts.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and War