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rowans_revenge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The only thing keeping this book from glory is that Marcus and Teriana's enemies to lovers arc could have been executed in a better way. This is mostly a personal preference, but I think it would have been so much more effective if it was more slow-burn. That being said, Danielle L. Jensen makes up for it a million times over in the next books, so if you're looking to start the series, don't get discouraged; there is plenty of pining later on.
Tertiana is an excellent example of three-dimensional Black representation in fantasy that avoids the horrendous "her skin was the color of coffee/caramel/chocolate/other food items" descriptor. She is strong, capable, vulnerable, and smart—all the things that make a good heroine.
Furthermore, Jensen really did her homework (she always does). The setting is based on Ancient Rome, and we can see this reflected in clothing, tradition, and even names (which are chosen intentionally, and I highly recommend looking up their connotation/meaning in ancient Rome/Latin.
If you are an ancient civilizations nerd looking for a good enemies to lovers fantasy with a sprinkling of "touch her and I'll kill you" and a layer of found family, I cannot recommend this series highly enough.
Tertiana is an excellent example of three-dimensional Black representation in fantasy that avoids the horrendous "her skin was the color of coffee/caramel/chocolate/other food items" descriptor. She is strong, capable, vulnerable, and smart—all the things that make a good heroine.
Furthermore, Jensen really did her homework (she always does). The setting is based on Ancient Rome, and we can see this reflected in clothing, tradition, and even names (which are chosen intentionally, and I highly recommend looking up their connotation/meaning in ancient Rome/Latin.
If you are an ancient civilizations nerd looking for a good enemies to lovers fantasy with a sprinkling of "touch her and I'll kill you" and a layer of found family, I cannot recommend this series highly enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Torture
Moderate: Vomit
There is a graphic torture scene fairly early in the book, and there are heavy themes of colonisation throughout, which, given that Tertiana is Black, is a little problematic. There are also multiple scenes depicting vomit, but it is not intensely described like the torture.justasking27's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
aklovekorn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Torture, Gore, Medical content, Murder, Violence, War, and Colonisation
issyfrp99's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
julreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
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