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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is CL Polk's debut work - historical fantasy set in a magical WWI-era alt-England with a murder mystery and closed-door MM romance. It starts the Kingston cycle, a trilogy of interconnected fantasies that each have a central romance with a different set of main characters, but one overarching class/political conflict. I really enjoyed this, though I would say the romance felt like it took more of a backseat than I had hoped and the world-building leaned info-dumpy at times. That said, this is a really concrete magic system and an intricately imagined world and Polk did a LOT of work creating the foundation for us in this book, so I look forward to seeing how this lends itself to compelling mysteries and adventures in books two and three (if I can manage to forgive our side character from book one who becomes a main character in book two - looking forward to this redemption arc, because I'm still pretty rage-y!).
Also just have to give a shout-out to the on-page bicycle race with the villains - this was SO FUN and really memorable.
Also just have to give a shout-out to the on-page bicycle race with the villains - this was SO FUN and really memorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Domestic abuse, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Alcohol
llyrian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So good it deserves a place in my physical-bookshelf-collection!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Murder
astudyinfic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I could give a book more than 5 stars, this would be it. It has everything I love in a novel (queer, romance, supernatural, historical), along with amazing world-building and many fleshed-out characters. I want more time with Miles and Tristan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, and Slavery
Minor: Domestic abuse and Torture
betsy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This world has an inventive kind of magic and an interesting political structure that unfolds. Even though it deals with some heavy topics it is mainly light, and it involves romance that fits in with but doesn't overshadow the mystery / thriller aspects of the plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse
It involves a character working at a veterans' hospital, helping address trauma from the war. Most of the violence and discussion of domestic abuse is offstage, though there are fight scenes and
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