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ktbeth143's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
So I normally reserve 1⭐️ ratings for books that I liked nothing about, but I’m making an exception for this one. There were parts that I enjoyed, but overall this is not well written. The writing is a mess. The plot is all over the place. The world building is lacking. And it strays from its original premise so much, it’s riddled with plot holes.
Originally this was suggested to me as a “Swan Lake” retelling, but literally the only similarity between the two stories is that the princess turns into a swan. Then there’s at one point a part that could have been a “Rumpelstiltsken” retelling, but it’s never really explained and it pretty much gets abandoned. And then it turns into a “A Beauty in the Beast” story. So the main problem with this book is that it appears the author couldn’t make up their mind what they wanted to do.
So what did I enjoy? It’s clear the author was trying to write for romantasy readers, as there are several tropes and archetypes employed between the two love interests that are common in this types of stories. So some of the scenes between the FMC and MMC were fun. And others were…confusing. And some were just distracting (I personally am not a fan of spice for the sake of spice).
Overall, this book reminds me of fan fiction written around someone’s favorite tropes and not an actual plot.
Originally this was suggested to me as a “Swan Lake” retelling, but literally the only similarity between the two stories is that the princess turns into a swan. Then there’s at one point a part that could have been a “Rumpelstiltsken” retelling, but it’s never really explained and it pretty much gets abandoned. And then it turns into a “A Beauty in the Beast” story. So the main problem with this book is that it appears the author couldn’t make up their mind what they wanted to do.
So what did I enjoy? It’s clear the author was trying to write for romantasy readers, as there are several tropes and archetypes employed between the two love interests that are common in this types of stories. So some of the scenes between the FMC and MMC were fun. And others were…confusing. And some were just distracting (I personally am not a fan of spice for the sake of spice).
Overall, this book reminds me of fan fiction written around someone’s favorite tropes and not an actual plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Kidnapping
booksoflore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Death, and Violence
iamsammie27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death
deesquared's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, Confinement, and Blood
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