Reviews with content warning for Violence - Halfling

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Halfling by S.E. Wendel

10 reviews

laylareadsthings's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.25

I can best describe this book as the warmest of cozy fantasy romances. If you want to read something that is basically the book form a giant hug right when you need it, this is it.

Looking for something that is pure vibes and emotion? Please read this. That’s not to say there isn’t plot or adventure here, but it’s mostly a story of two people learning how to heal and find themselves, and within that, each other. Even the tragedies are journeyed through in a way to bring hope and solace.

Orek is a character who could easily come off one note, but is handled with wonderful nuance by the author’s descriptions and keen understanding of how to display his tragedies and the shortcomings they’ve created for him as an adult. Sorcha is the epitome of an eldest daughter without being turned into a caricature or her family villainized. She is me and I am her.

And I really loved their love story. It’s almost painfully slow, but to have it any other way would be a disservice to their characters. And when it finally happens, it’s explosive and the spice does not taper off.

I can see how others might find parts of this story repetitive or over-written with the level of description. But anytime I found myself skimming, I always went back to gather the details. Very cleverly, the book doesn’t end once the romance is earned, and it’s a refreshing reminder that “I love you” isn’t the end all be all. There are lives to live and difficulties still to be overcome. I particularly enjoyed the back half of this book and spending time with a wider cast of characters - which it seems will be explored as the series continues with interconnected standalones.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, straight to the point romantic romp (I love those too!) this may not fill the gap, but if you want to fall deeply in love with a new world and some flawed beings with absolute hearts of gold - pour a cup of tea and curl up in a blanket and crack this book open. I promise you won’t regret it!

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kim03's review

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3.5

That third act conflict 😒

This book had an unhealthy amount of sex scenes. (Also who the heck talks about in from of 1. their family and 2. in front of the lord of the land basically and his court?)

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carlaabra's review

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adventurous emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

First half of the book was great, 4.5 stars, slow burn romance. It’s tense and sweet. He rescues her from slavery and treks to return her to her family. There’s some species hostility, surprisingly no language barrier! MMC is a halfling, hated by his orc clan and abandoned by his human mother, drowning in his insecurities and feeling unworthy. He’s a total cinnamon roll with touch-her-and-die orc tendencies. FMC is the control freak oldest sibling, “I’m not a damsel in distress, I’m a callused and capable farm girl”. She was annoying at first, especially ad she took every opportunity to crow about how capable she is, but over time her personality is more fleshed out. They develop friendship then attraction as they travel together; the main angst is miscommunication, “I like them but do they like me”.

Second half, after the feelings reveal and return home, was not great: the pacing was totally off, boring plot, 80% smut and uneventful smut at that. There is a lot of cozy, fluffy family scenes (boring for me). Sorcha’s plotline about becoming her own woman felt forced. Also apparently she’s a badass fighter for some reason, who knew horses were so deadly. The climax in the third act (ESPECIALLY the miscommunication that caused it!) was too much imo.

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devilbunny6's review

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adventurous 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? Yes

2.25

This could have been so good. The first half really set up the story nicely. Both MCs were lovely, and the world building, while a little weak and at times contradictory, was decent enough that I could overlook some issues.

Then they got together and the rest of the book devolved into porn with little plot development. You could have shaved about 100 pages and four overlong sex scenes off this book and it would have bumped it into mid 3 star territory. The sex scenes were way too long and frankly exhausting. Let a girl sleep!

It’s a shame really, this could have been a decent lead book into a great romantasy series.

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dearhaleynicole's review

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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!

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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

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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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