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starrymoonflower's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Slavery, and Infertility
Minor: Suicide
elizabeth_delozier's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The first in a dark fantasy romance duology. Please mind the extensive trigger warnings, listed below.
Ada is a human struggling with grieving the death of her husband and fitting into a society that looks down on her for being unable to bear a child. She finds herself accidentally dragged into the Pale Court and at the mercy of a merciless god. The King of Flesh and Bone, the ruler of the Pale Court (think Hades and the Underworld, but with a dark fantasy twist), who can control flesh or bone - rot corpses, raise a dead army, break the bones of the living at will, distort ones flesh to either age or remain young, etc. The story primarily follows the dynamics of their relationship and the King of Flesh and Bone's role outside of the Pale Court.
I would like to preface this review with the fact that I have not read many dark fantasy romance stories, so I am not sure if the content of this book is typical for the genre or if the dark elements are not aligned with what the genre is meant to be. I do plan on reading more dark fantasy romance in the future, so I may revisit this review following additional reference points.
---I do not guarantee that the review / TWs are not spoiler free, read with this in mind. ---
Be advised that this story is about a villain. Not a hero. There is no redemption. There is no good. Just a dark and distorted god and a lot of smut (including quite a bit of peach play, in case you were interested).The villain has a strong disdain for the living, with a complicated past involving another human woman. So much so that he has isolated himself in the Pale Court. When Ada is dragged into his presence, he takes this disdain out on her in the form of nonconsensual sexual punishment, as he strongly desires her warmth. The entirety of their relationship is nonconsensual sex - where he not only physically forces her into acts, but also uses his abilities to force her flesh and bone to comply with his demands. Towards the end of the book, Ada begins to feel conflicted by her body's arousal response to these acts and distorts this natural bodily response to assault for real building emotions of affection towards the King. This portrayal of a traumatic response as affection did not sit well with me and played a large role in me wanting to hate this book.
That aside, the writing is nothing outstanding and there is no plot (and what little plot does exist feels forced). The pacing is fast, very fast. The explanation of the King, his brothers, and their entire existence/purpose/boundaries of their powers is very underdeveloped. Also, it ends on a cliffhanger, which is neither here nor there.
Like I said, I wanted to hate this book, but I didn't...I enjoyed it. If you are okay with the dark elements/TWs and are looking for a quick read with little investment in world building with dirty/dark smut, then this book may be for you.
The second book however....well, see my review of that book for more information. Overall, I would have recommended this book, but the second book in the series was enough for me to say that I will not be recommending this book.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Auri Alden and Gregory Salinas, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
TWs:sexual content, sexual violence, repeated on page rape between the main characters, repeated on page sexual assault between the main characters, confinement, violence, gore, fire/injury, blood, body horror, death, murder, animal death, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, discussions of infertility, grief, terminal illness, toxic relationship.
Ada is a human struggling with grieving the death of her husband and fitting into a society that looks down on her for being unable to bear a child. She finds herself accidentally dragged into the Pale Court and at the mercy of a merciless god. The King of Flesh and Bone, the ruler of the Pale Court (think Hades and the Underworld, but with a dark fantasy twist), who can control flesh or bone - rot corpses, raise a dead army, break the bones of the living at will, distort ones flesh to either age or remain young, etc. The story primarily follows the dynamics of their relationship and the King of Flesh and Bone's role outside of the Pale Court.
I would like to preface this review with the fact that I have not read many dark fantasy romance stories, so I am not sure if the content of this book is typical for the genre or if the dark elements are not aligned with what the genre is meant to be. I do plan on reading more dark fantasy romance in the future, so I may revisit this review following additional reference points.
---I do not guarantee that the review / TWs are not spoiler free, read with this in mind. ---
Be advised that this story is about a villain. Not a hero. There is no redemption. There is no good. Just a dark and distorted god and a lot of smut (including quite a bit of peach play, in case you were interested).
That aside, the writing is nothing outstanding and there is no plot (and what little plot does exist feels forced). The pacing is fast, very fast. The explanation of the King, his brothers, and their entire existence/purpose/boundaries of their powers is very underdeveloped. Also, it ends on a cliffhanger, which is neither here nor there.
Like I said, I wanted to hate this book, but I didn't...I enjoyed it. If you are okay with the dark elements/TWs and are looking for a quick read with little investment in world building with dirty/dark smut, then this book may be for you.
The second book however....well, see my review of that book for more information. Overall, I would have recommended this book, but the second book in the series was enough for me to say that I will not be recommending this book.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Auri Alden and Gregory Salinas, via NetGalley. An advanced reader's copy of this audiobook was provided to me via NetGalley by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
TWs:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Grief
Minor: Animal death
gnlee26's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
blueee7777's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.5
ML is god of death and ppl basically, FL is human who captured his heart. she is feisty and sticks to her word. she is called unwomen bc she can’t have kids but she is a talented midwife. (i read this book bc of booktok, they told me he breaks her legs to keep her from leaving, (he did it was good.) so yeah it’s pretty good) it ends on a cliffhanger so i’m gonna read the second one rn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Vomit, Child death, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Animal death, Pregnancy, Infertility, Gore, and Blood
bluebearywitchy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“Your heart will beat for eternity, and no age shall befall your warm body while in my service, little mortal.” The King’s dark whisper hushed against my sweat- pearled temple. “Welcome to the Pale Court.”
This book features morally gray characters, the god most of all, so don't jump in expecting the hero of the story to have a complete change of personality when the heroine appears.
Enosh is a god who's been "demoted" to a mere king and despises mankind for their treatment of him, therefore refusing to lay their dead to rest. He has the ability to control both the dead and living amongst other things and has a checks and balances system with his two brothers Eliam and Yarin. The god craves warmth but has lived the last 200 years in a cold, lonely, empty ass Pale Court since his last object of his affection betrayed him.
That is, until Ada, a midwife who's practically shunned by her people because she's "cursed" to have no kids gets dragged by her mule into his court and he decides to enslave her for his entertainment.
Their relationship is one you'd need to look at through very objective eyes because, remember, these are very morally gray characters. Enosh is a god able to control the flesh, so he makes Ada succumb to him against her will not just physically, but fucks with her emotions as well.
"Her voice trailed off as I slowed her compromised heart, tampering her anger into the faintest tingle beneath her skin....
....“You did that.” She pressed a hand against her chest, but only until her blazing eyes snapped to mine. “So, it’s not enough to take the last bit of pride from me, but now you have to steal my rage?”
.
.
.
He rapes her, chains her to his throne, talks down to her, and breaks her legs anytime she tries to escape.
“You broke my legs.” “Twisted,” he corrected with a sigh of annoyance.
But because he dulls her pain, tends to her, and pleases her sexually (whether it's against her will or not) he doesn't see where the mistreatment lies, despite being told multiple times. He IS a god, after all, so being an arrogant bastard honestly comes with it. However, he does genuinely care for Ada and her devotions to her vows, something that makes her different from humans in his past. And unlike the humans, he's the only one who doesn't see her as defective for not bearing kids.
The ending of this book leaves off with Enosh saved from his torturers and questioning Ada's loyalty to him, meanwhile Ada is pregnant with his child and on the brink of death from getting fucking shanked.
I would have given this book a higher rating, but save for a few quotes, the dialogue was very lackluster to me. And downright cringy whenever Enosh spoke to her sexually. Their chemistry also was pretty nonexistent for, like, 65% of the book.
This book features morally gray characters, the god most of all, so don't jump in expecting the hero of the story to have a complete change of personality when the heroine appears.
Enosh is a god who's been "demoted" to a mere king and despises mankind for their treatment of him, therefore refusing to lay their dead to rest. He has the ability to control both the dead and living amongst other things and has a checks and balances system with his two brothers Eliam and Yarin. The god craves warmth but has lived the last 200 years in a cold, lonely, empty ass Pale Court since his last object of his affection betrayed him.
That is, until Ada, a midwife who's practically shunned by her people because she's "cursed" to have no kids gets dragged by her mule into his court and he decides to enslave her for his entertainment.
Their relationship is one you'd need to look at through very objective eyes because, remember, these are very morally gray characters. Enosh is a god able to control the flesh, so he makes Ada succumb to him against her will not just physically, but fucks with her emotions as well.
....“You did that.” She pressed a hand against her chest, but only until her blazing eyes snapped to mine. “So, it’s not enough to take the last bit of pride from me, but now you have to steal my rage?”
.
.
.
He rapes her, chains her to his throne, talks down to her, and breaks her legs anytime she tries to escape.
“You broke my legs.” “Twisted,” he corrected with a sigh of annoyance.
But because he dulls her pain, tends to her, and pleases her sexually (whether it's against her will or not) he doesn't see where the mistreatment lies, despite being told multiple times. He IS a god, after all, so being an arrogant bastard honestly comes with it. However, he does genuinely care for Ada and her devotions to her vows, something that makes her different from humans in his past. And unlike the humans, he's the only one who doesn't see her as defective for not bearing kids.
The ending of this book leaves off with Enosh saved from his torturers and questioning Ada's loyalty to him, meanwhile Ada is pregnant with his child and on the brink of death from getting fucking shanked.
I would have given this book a higher rating, but save for a few quotes, the dialogue was very lackluster to me. And downright cringy whenever Enosh spoke to her sexually. Their chemistry also was pretty nonexistent for, like, 65% of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Confinement, Torture, Rape, Violence, Death, and Infertility
Moderate: Child death
literamy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
The prose in this book was both gorgeous and visceral. I loved Ada, and how her kindness and ferocity were both so present. I am much more of a character person than a plot person, so I didn’t mind that the plot was quick and a bit muddied at times. What I did mind, though, was Enosh. The non-con/dub-con was NOT it for me, and the moments where we got his perspective weren’t enough for me to look past the inherent violence he acted with. I love a Hades/Persephone or Beauty and the Beast retelling, but the way that literal SA and BREAKING OF THE HEROINE’S LEGS were glossed over left a bad taste in my mouth. I am curious enough about Ada’s journey and well-being to read the second one, but I don’t want anything to do with Enosh. A dark romance doesn’t need to involve this much violence to be dark—or effective. I’m in the rest of this series for Ada, and Ada alone, and I hope that Liv Zander’s beautiful writing will branch out into other stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
elfsteel's review against another edition
I just couldn’t deal with the breeding/pregnancy obsession. The weird attempt at making the reader feel bad for the objectively kind of evil MMC was also obnoxious and not very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
This story is the first of a duet. I would highly recommend reading the two books back to back.
Check the trigger warnings.
An important note, there is nothing morally gray about Enosh, just a straight up villain. He is entirely unlikely for most of the book. Truly violent, most of the sex in the book is noncon, bordering on straight up rape given Enosh’s full control over all flesh and forcing reactions from Ada.
I feel a bit bad marking this book down from 5 stars. The story is just a touch too much and a touch too violent for me, all of the magical elements of the book made it a palatable read. I feel bad marking it down, because I think the book is an almost perfect version of the kind of story it has set out to be. This is a truly fantastic take on a dark dark villain romance. Enosh truly doesn’t care about anything, but keeping Ada. One of the best examples of an obsessive and dangerous kind of overwhelming love, or just lust is Enosh is believed.
Check the trigger warnings.
An important note, there is nothing morally gray about Enosh, just a straight up villain. He is entirely unlikely for most of the book. Truly violent, most of the sex in the book is noncon, bordering on straight up rape given Enosh’s full control over all flesh and forcing reactions from Ada.
I feel a bit bad marking this book down from 5 stars. The story is just a touch too much and a touch too violent for me, all of the magical elements of the book made it a palatable read. I feel bad marking it down, because I think the book is an almost perfect version of the kind of story it has set out to be. This is a truly fantastic take on a dark dark villain romance. Enosh truly doesn’t care about anything, but keeping Ada. One of the best examples of an obsessive and dangerous kind of overwhelming love, or just lust is Enosh is believed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Grief, Infertility, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
theshrew's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Infertility, Child death, and Pregnancy
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