Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Halfling

Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

dearhaleynicole's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was just straight-up vibes and I loved it so much! The characters (specifically our main male & female) are one of the cutest couples I've ever read 🥹💕 Sorcha & Orek had so much heart written into them and their stories that so quickly after they crossed paths, I was already in love with them.

You can quote on me on this... I will ALWAYS be down to read a "scary on the outside/cinnamon-roll on the inside" MMC and Orek was that and more. And Sorcha is such a dedicated, older sister who takes on so much responsibility because she thinks she has to earn her place. But then Orek comes along and not only tells her her true worth, but also SHOWS her. Ugh. This is couple goals. Oh and "Orek the Orc"? Stupidly cute. 5/5 stars for that alone.

As I just finished reading the book, I also checked out the author's note at the back of the book and I think Wendel described the book there as a whole SO well when she said: "It's like a cozy blanket and soft cardigan and warm chocolate cookies." I want that tonight and every night from now on out! Overall, just such a sweet, heart-warming read (with top notch spice ✌🏻).

Would highly recommend for lovers of Jenna Wolfhart, who wrote Forged by Magic and Brewed in Magic!

Content Warnings

doahdancer's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

emsappho's review

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adventurous lighthearted fast-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? Yes

4.25

This book is essentially what I wanted out of the sub-genre of "cozy fantasy," and I don't even know if most readers would categorize it under that sub-genre. It is a low-stakes, monster romance fantasy in the vein of IPB. The plot checks off all the trope bullet points; the one bed at the inn, stumbling upon a gorgeous hot-springs when seeking cover from a storm, cuddling for warmth, "touch her/him and die" vibes, adorable animal side-kick that the two essentially parent, tending to injuries, the hero/heroine being noble and essentially "self-sacrificing" and then their partner goes after them cause of course! I There is one main goal that over-arcs the book's plot: return Sorcha to her parent's land. This acts as the perfect set-up to a fantasy road-trip, and offers ample opportunities for bonding and side-quests along the way. There is always the underlying threat of the bad orcs coming after them, or humans chasing them out of the towns they come across. But it is low-stakes, we know that Sorcha and Orek will be fine, and it makes the story for an easy, enjoyable read. There's enough conflict sprinkled throughout the progress the plot, but the clear focus of the story is the relationship between Sorcha and her half-orc rescuer/companion, Orek.
The writing style was immensely easy to read and very enjoyable. The actions scenes were just as well-written as the sex scenes (and those were written very well). And the world-building didn't feel exposition-y, which a lot of books that are heavy on romance can fall pit-fall too (as a means of quickly establishing the world so that the sex can happen). It actually felt very natural and made the book felt thought-out.
Sorcha and Orek's chemistry was offfffff the chain. And individually, I really liked them as characters. Sorcha was flawed, Orek was flawed; and they both felt like whole people and not just two halves of the "couple."

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