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angelofthetardis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I believe I added these books to my TBR list after seeing a Bookstagram review this time last year, but I'll be honest and say I can't remember. This tells the story of Robin, a half-fey half-human young man who discovers that his life and his world are far larger than he ever knew. Quickly gaining friends, he also learns that there are some people out there that would have preferred he stayed shrouded in obscurity, and will now do anything to make sure he doesn't scupper their well laid plans.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It ticks all the major boxes of the genre, while also being different enough to stand on its own two feet. The story moves apace without sacrificing character or plot development, and it's really easy to sink into the story. The characters are familiar, relatable and you quickly get drawn into their dynamic, but equally the author has managed to keep from making them cookie-cutter or stereotypical tropes.
One of the things that makes this book stand out is the fact that it's led by a male main character. But he's not the brooding, sexy, rippling muscled, 20ft wingspan hero you've come to expect. While he can clearly hold his own in a fight, there is a logical explanation built into the story that feels 'real', rather than a contrived plot device. He also lacks that inherent confidence that most FMCs of this genre seem to have in spades from the get go. Indeed, even towards the end of the story his insecurity about his destiny remains.
Same-sex relationships are front and centre in this story, with the main character and the immediate supporting cast all enjoying intimacy with someone of their own gender. I love that it feels genuine and it is clear that the author has envisaged these relationships from conception. Yes, the development of the main relationship feels too quick for me - deep feelings seem to develop over a very short period of time, which always bugs me as that does feel like it's purely for the story. I would also say that I found there to be a disconnect between the feelings portrayed by the lingering glances, internal monologue, gentle touches etc and the spicy scenes, which seemed to put all of that build up to one side and purely focus on the physical. It felt like I should be reading about two different pairings, not one and the same.
The other slight disappointment is the lack of depth of worldbuilding. It is there, but only on a fairly basic level as you quickly get carried away with the story. It works without all the tiny details that a fully developed world has, so it's not a huge issue, but at the same time it would be nice to see a bit more of the author's imagination adding in a new twist, rather than them relying on the reader having an intuitive understanding of the genre based on what has become 'standard' lore.
I was trying to guess the resolutions to some of the plot threads throughout. Some remain unresolved, but although I was heading in the right direction, I didn't quite get the right answer to the big question in this case!
Have already downloaded books two and three, so I'll see you on the other side!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It ticks all the major boxes of the genre, while also being different enough to stand on its own two feet. The story moves apace without sacrificing character or plot development, and it's really easy to sink into the story. The characters are familiar, relatable and you quickly get drawn into their dynamic, but equally the author has managed to keep from making them cookie-cutter or stereotypical tropes.
One of the things that makes this book stand out is the fact that it's led by a male main character. But he's not the brooding, sexy, rippling muscled, 20ft wingspan hero you've come to expect. While he can clearly hold his own in a fight, there is a logical explanation built into the story that feels 'real', rather than a contrived plot device. He also lacks that inherent confidence that most FMCs of this genre seem to have in spades from the get go. Indeed, even towards the end of the story his insecurity about his destiny remains.
Same-sex relationships are front and centre in this story, with the main character and the immediate supporting cast all enjoying intimacy with someone of their own gender. I love that it feels genuine and it is clear that the author has envisaged these relationships from conception. Yes, the development of the main relationship feels too quick for me - deep feelings seem to develop over a very short period of time, which always bugs me as that does feel like it's purely for the story. I would also say that I found there to be a disconnect between the feelings portrayed by the lingering glances, internal monologue, gentle touches etc and the spicy scenes, which seemed to put all of that build up to one side and purely focus on the physical. It felt like I should be reading about two different pairings, not one and the same.
The other slight disappointment is the lack of depth of worldbuilding. It is there, but only on a fairly basic level as you quickly get carried away with the story. It works without all the tiny details that a fully developed world has, so it's not a huge issue, but at the same time it would be nice to see a bit more of the author's imagination adding in a new twist, rather than them relying on the reader having an intuitive understanding of the genre based on what has become 'standard' lore.
I was trying to guess the resolutions to some of the plot threads throughout. Some remain unresolved, but although I was heading in the right direction, I didn't quite get the right answer to the big question in this case!
Have already downloaded books two and three, so I'll see you on the other side!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Death of parent, Violence, War, Kidnapping, and Murder
athenathestorier's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Confinement
Minor: War and Torture
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