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roksyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
Is this even remotely realistic? Highly doubt it. Note, however, that I am an Australian. As much as I try to keep up with world politics, my specialty lies in history (specifically post-war Europe and, further back, the Roman Republic)—any assessments I might make of the US socio-political climate are vague at best. Also, this is fiction. I'm happy to suspend a moderate amount of disbelief for a good story, especially when that story is thrilling, action packed, and emotional.
I was really invested in the characters from the start and the story drew me in deep. The action is well written, and even though I ultimately worked out who the secret bad guy was before the reveal, there was enough tension and suspense to keep it interesting in the lead up. The romance is a tantalising slow burn that is deeply emotional, with the forbidden aspect upping the stakes, and the dynamic between all the characters—especially Ethan and his friends/fellow agents—made for plenty of moments where I was either laughing or having to deal with vicarious embarrassment.
Overall, I got the same vibes from Bauer's writing as I do from Jonathan Maberry's action/thriller Joe Ledger/Rogue Team International series. In my books, that's a huge compliment: Maberry is hands down my favourite writer, with Joe Ledger being a much loved character.
I was really invested in the characters from the start and the story drew me in deep. The action is well written, and even though I ultimately worked out who the secret bad guy was before the reveal, there was enough tension and suspense to keep it interesting in the lead up. The romance is a tantalising slow burn that is deeply emotional, with the forbidden aspect upping the stakes, and the dynamic between all the characters—especially Ethan and his friends/fellow agents—made for plenty of moments where I was either laughing or having to deal with vicarious embarrassment.
Overall, I got the same vibes from Bauer's writing as I do from Jonathan Maberry's action/thriller Joe Ledger/Rogue Team International series. In my books, that's a huge compliment: Maberry is hands down my favourite writer, with Joe Ledger being a much loved character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Gun violence, Grief, Torture, Car accident, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Outing, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Religious bigotry
so_many_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75
Tell me, why haven't I picked this up sooner?
Enemies of the Stare is a high stakes, action-packed romantic suspense. The president of the US and the head of his secret service security detail falls in love. You couldn't come up with a messier combination.
The story was romantic and heartwarming while at the same time full action and politics and military operations. There's a dash of treason, conspiracies, and international relations just to make it even messier.
I absolutely adore Jack and Ethan. Their tentative friendship and love are soooooo wonderful. And Tal has a way to show that love and break your heart at the same time. I was rooting for these two the whole time.
The storyline with all the action and politics was actually pretty engaging. I wanted to keep reading and reading just to see how this all turns out. The actual twists were not unpredictable, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment.
There were some pretty hilarious moments when I laughed out loud. But there were also moments when I was nervous, sad, and devastated. The balance between all these emotions is a pretty big pro in the book. It makes you happy while at the same time keeps you on your toes.
I can't wait to see how this story moves forward.
Enemies of the Stare is a high stakes, action-packed romantic suspense. The president of the US and the head of his secret service security detail falls in love. You couldn't come up with a messier combination.
The story was romantic and heartwarming while at the same time full action and politics and military operations. There's a dash of treason, conspiracies, and international relations just to make it even messier.
I absolutely adore Jack and Ethan. Their tentative friendship and love are soooooo wonderful. And Tal has a way to show that love and break your heart at the same time. I was rooting for these two the whole time.
The storyline with all the action and politics was actually pretty engaging. I wanted to keep reading and reading just to see how this all turns out. The actual twists were not unpredictable, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment.
There were some pretty hilarious moments when I laughed out loud. But there were also moments when I was nervous, sad, and devastated. The balance between all these emotions is a pretty big pro in the book. It makes you happy while at the same time keeps you on your toes.
I can't wait to see how this story moves forward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Violence, War, Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Homophobia
pawtory's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
This book will had me going "nooooooooooooooooo!" from secondhand embarrassment with some frequency. It's not terribly deep (maybe over the top? But understandable with the subject matter) compared to other stuff I've read from Tal but it's fun and sexy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, and Mental illness
Minor: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma
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