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majoso's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death of parent, Death, Vomit, Child death, and Alcoholism
mandieroz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
I winded up falling in love with this book, but it was a slow burn. The banter and the story line really kicked in and improved to just cost into a quick burning love that was evident from the first quirk. I am immediately starting the second because I need to know what is happening. That cliff was deep at the end and now I have more questions than answers! I'm very sad I put off reading this one for so sooo long!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Vomit, and Violence
unboundbooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Addiction, Medical content, Gore, and Blood
mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book, keeps you invested to the end. It keeps you hooked and is such an easy read. Iris and Roman are fated to be together it feels like especially through the history of their typewriters but the way it leaves you hanging leaves you to ponder how will it all end?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, War, Blood, Death, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcoholism
abicaro17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Holy shit..... Well Rebecca Ross it's on sight girl! Iris is a reporter competing for a columnist spot against fellow reporter, Roman. As Iris writes letter to her brother who's away at war, she tucks them away inside her closet. These letter end up in the hands of her rival, Roman, who begins to write her back. As war tears across the country and propaganda and misinformation reigns supreme, Iris and Roman create a magical friendship through letters. I adore this story! It's just magical enough to be not realistic but not too crazy as to be hard to understand and follow. Iris is a strong and yet logical and likable character. She makes normal choices and thinks through her issues before jumping into action. Roman is adorable and this conclusion makes me mad af. Like gotta go read Ruthless Vows brb. My only issue with this book is that the start is slow and the world building isn't explained very well until later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Alcoholism, Classism, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Genocide, Addiction, Vomit, War, Alcohol, Violence, Gore, and Sexual content
readyforit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
2⭐️0.25🌶️(nearly fade to black, nondescript)
If you are a person who never asks questions and can just accept the information you’re given, you may enjoy this book. The author does a pretty terrible job of world-building and explaining the magic system. We assume the story takes place on our earth, but the country isn’t named. Idk if it was meant to be England or a completely fictional land altogether. They have different names for months and days of the week, but the order of them isn’t explained. The magic of the typewriters is never explained (why is the wardrobe necessary?), nor the magical buildings (until book 2, and even then it’s not really that important). I think they could’ve cut half of the more mundane stuff and used that to either combine it with the sequel, or do a lot more world-building.
This book would’ve done better as a historical fiction book, without marketing it as fantasy or romance, since it has very little of either. The war was obviously based off of WWI, so the author should’ve just set it up as that, and added the magical typewriter element for fun. Also, this book was marketed as an enemies/rivals to lovers story and we never got that. It’s more like acquaintances to lovers, or a workplace romance. Tbh I didn’t think that the MCs had very good chemistry and I didn’t understand why they made some of their choices. I did think some of their letters were sweet but the whole storyline of Romanwaiting to tell iris that he was the anonymous person she was sending letters to until she had developed feelings for him, both as her coworker and her penpal, rubbed me the wrong way. Like the author was trying to force a love triangle or miscommunication trope. Then they got married all of the sudden, just so they could spend the night together, which made sense after I found out the author is religious.
I wanted to DNF at 20% and 50% but this book came so highly recommended, with many people saying it is their new favorite book. I was so bored the whole time. Don’t feel guilty for DNFing, you won’t miss much. I’m sorry to say that even the audiobook narrators sounded bored, and who could blame them?
If you are a person who never asks questions and can just accept the information you’re given, you may enjoy this book. The author does a pretty terrible job of world-building and explaining the magic system. We assume the story takes place on our earth, but the country isn’t named. Idk if it was meant to be England or a completely fictional land altogether. They have different names for months and days of the week, but the order of them isn’t explained. The magic of the typewriters is never explained (why is the wardrobe necessary?), nor the magical buildings (until book 2, and even then it’s not really that important). I think they could’ve cut half of the more mundane stuff and used that to either combine it with the sequel, or do a lot more world-building.
This book would’ve done better as a historical fiction book, without marketing it as fantasy or romance, since it has very little of either. The war was obviously based off of WWI, so the author should’ve just set it up as that, and added the magical typewriter element for fun. Also, this book was marketed as an enemies/rivals to lovers story and we never got that. It’s more like acquaintances to lovers, or a workplace romance. Tbh I didn’t think that the MCs had very good chemistry and I didn’t understand why they made some of their choices. I did think some of their letters were sweet but the whole storyline of Roman
I wanted to DNF at 20% and 50% but this book came so highly recommended, with many people saying it is their new favorite book. I was so bored the whole time. Don’t feel guilty for DNFing, you won’t miss much. I’m sorry to say that even the audiobook narrators sounded bored, and who could blame them?
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
I think this book is loosely based on WWI war tactics so if that’s triggering for you, skip itglowingrabbits's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? N/A
5.0
I'm not great at writing book reviews, and even after finishing this I am not sure exactly what to say that would be any help to someone looking to pick this up, but I don't think I can just put this book down without talking about it. My God, this book is beautiful. There is something so deeply touching and human about this story. It's beautifully written, and in many ways I think it touches on the ugliness and desperation of war without forgetting that there is beauty to be found even when it seems like the world is ending. It has also got to be one of the most genuinely romantic stories I've read.
YA books aren't normally what I go for, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the kind of story I didn't know I needed. I finished it in one day!
YA books aren't normally what I go for, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the kind of story I didn't know I needed. I finished it in one day!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Vomit and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
kermittuesday's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Used the word raiment far too much. Just say clothes every once in a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Medical content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Vomit
Despite the amount of triggers I listed, this is not a horror book but it does involve war so it has this stuff. The sexual content is very minimal but because it’s a YA book, you might want to know it’s there.theinkedpath's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ES:
Hacía meses que un libro no me transportaba tanto a una historia. Me tiemblan las manos mientras escribo...pero qué bonito, qué atmósfera, la magia y madre mía, qué personajes (sobre todo los protas). Me he visto reflejada en Iris un millón de veces.
Y el final me ha dejado destrozada. Directa al segundo.
Reseña: Me encantaría que fuera pronto.
EN:
I an in love with this story and this world. It evokes in me the spark of writing (as a journalist and as a writer, when both flames died years ago).
I loved the atmosphere, how vivid and real it was (while including glow of magic in between). However, I do believe the characters are the best aspect of the novel. I loved both protagonists but Iris has a special place in my heart (she reminds me of myself most of the time if I am honest). The characters are human and I believed them. As I said before, Iris has a special place in my heart, but Roman has stolen...so points for the journalists!
Directly to the sequel. I cannot wait.
Review: I hope it can be soon.
Hacía meses que un libro no me transportaba tanto a una historia. Me tiemblan las manos mientras escribo...pero qué bonito, qué atmósfera, la magia y madre mía, qué personajes (sobre todo los protas). Me he visto reflejada en Iris un millón de veces.
Y el final me ha dejado destrozada. Directa al segundo.
Reseña: Me encantaría que fuera pronto.
EN:
I an in love with this story and this world. It evokes in me the spark of writing (as a journalist and as a writer, when both flames died years ago).
I loved the atmosphere, how vivid and real it was (while including glow of magic in between). However, I do believe the characters are the best aspect of the novel. I loved both protagonists but Iris has a special place in my heart (she reminds me of myself most of the time if I am honest). The characters are human and I believed them. As I said before, Iris has a special place in my heart, but Roman has stolen...so points for the journalists!
Directly to the sequel. I cannot wait.
Review: I hope it can be soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Death of parent, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, and Violence
crunchycrystals's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Blood
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit