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terranstorm's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were some aspects I really liked — especially the dynamic between Mae and Georgiana, their will-they, won’t-they, and some aspects of the curses they faced — but I definitely had some issues with this read, too.
First, the batty best friend toed the line a bit too close to irredeemably annoying. Second, the Viscount was so obviously guilty from the start that the characters lost a lot of my faith when they were casting about like “golly, but who else could it be?!” Between those issues, several times I had to put the book down or skip ahead a paragraph because I was just irritated instead of fondly amused.
And mostly? The Pacing. Was. Off. The whole second half, if I’m being honest. I kept feeling bored when a little too much tension had leaked out while waiting for the next interesting thing to happen. Our Puck-like narrator occasionally commenting on feeling bored by mortals’ silly little lives honestly didn’t help the effect? In the end it was a choppy read for me, at times delightful and more often tedious.
Oh, but Maelys’ delightfully nerdy parents were a highlight, and Mr. Caesar’s queer friend set, and everything about the lady Duke being domme-y, moody and withdrawn (“Byronic,” HA). Still a lot of really good bits in here even if it didn’t hang together for me.
First, the batty best friend toed the line a bit too close to irredeemably annoying. Second, the Viscount was so obviously guilty from the start that the characters lost a lot of my faith when they were casting about like “golly, but who else could it be?!” Between those issues, several times I had to put the book down or skip ahead a paragraph because I was just irritated instead of fondly amused.
And mostly? The Pacing. Was. Off. The whole second half, if I’m being honest. I kept feeling bored when a little too much tension had leaked out while waiting for the next interesting thing to happen. Our Puck-like narrator occasionally commenting on feeling bored by mortals’ silly little lives honestly didn’t help the effect? In the end it was a choppy read for me, at times delightful and more often tedious.
Oh, but Maelys’ delightfully nerdy parents were a highlight, and Mr. Caesar’s queer friend set, and everything about the lady Duke being domme-y, moody and withdrawn (“Byronic,” HA). Still a lot of really good bits in here even if it didn’t hang together for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Terminal illness
emlyn_bryn's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
A fun little episodic romp through a magical bridgerton-adjacent regency world. It takes the time to pastiche itself. It's an interesting style not at all hinted to by blurb, as a story being recounted by Robin Goodfellow (yes Shakespeare's Puck) in the modern day, with them holding a strong narratorial voice and presence throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
paperhippie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
A sapphic love story about doing whatever you think necessary to save the person you love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, and Murder
mkate4's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really wanted to like this book, but I just never cared much about the characters or the plot, especially the romance. I realized at the end of the book that I couldn’t remember any really positive interactions between Maelys and Georgiana. Even the fade to black sex scenes were harsh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Transphobia
fronk10's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story was enjoyable enough, but such a prominent voice from the narrator really threw me out of all the drama and immersion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Murder
emilysunflowers's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
📱
This wasn't a book for me. I really wanted to like it. I thought the summary was good and I kept trying to like it. I didn't connect with the characters or the plot.
This wasn't a book for me. I really wanted to like it. I thought the summary was good and I kept trying to like it. I didn't connect with the characters or the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Racism, Slavery, and Death of parent
kay_w's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
A great book but the last third started slow and then began to feel rushed towards the end.
I loved the whole concept and execution of the narrator. Without it I don’t think I would’ve have enjoyed the book as much.
I’m very keen to read more of Alexis Hall’s books.
I loved the whole concept and execution of the narrator. Without it I don’t think I would’ve have enjoyed the book as much.
I’m very keen to read more of Alexis Hall’s books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Excrement, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A delightful adventure of two young women's love, in a magical version of regency England that's full of witches and fairies and old gods and magic. I sometimes have trouble getting into sapphic romances but this one was a quick easy read that grabbed me right away. The narrative framing was great.
The whodunnit that we start with seemed very obvious, but then it turned out to not be the real focus of the story, so I was more okay with it having been obvious. The rest of the story was well done.
And Alexis Hall always treats the characters (especially the queer ones) with the respect and nuance they deserve, which I really appreciate.
The whodunnit that we start with seemed very obvious, but then it turned out to not be the real focus of the story, so I was more okay with it having been obvious. The rest of the story was well done.
And Alexis Hall always treats the characters (especially the queer ones) with the respect and nuance they deserve, which I really appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Kidnapping, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Despite all the content warnings, this was a pretty easy, low-to-medium stakes read; nothing terribly traumatic to most readers.dragongirl271's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism and Death of parent