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lalesbianlune's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I always enjoy a book with magical worldbuilding, especially one that can bring something unique. The actual plot of this book wasn’t particularly mysterious or compelling, but it led you through the characters and magical system easily. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters, but I was disappointed by how underdeveloped the side characters felt and some of the ‘leaning in” to the Edwardian period attitudes. Generally fun and easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
discarded_dust_jacket's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don’t know why I allowed this to sit on my TBR untouched for so long. It was an utter delight—a pleasure to read.
There’s some authors whose writing style make reading their books like swimming upstream. Not that it’s bad, but it just feels incongruent with the way your mind works, and so digesting the words takes effort and concentration. Then there’s some who just have a way of crafting sentences that feels so satisfying. Like a scalp massage. That was the way it felt to read this book, for me.
The prose was so elegant and yet accessible. And the characters! So achingly endearing, it almost hurt. I loved this book. A lot.
There’s some authors whose writing style make reading their books like swimming upstream. Not that it’s bad, but it just feels incongruent with the way your mind works, and so digesting the words takes effort and concentration. Then there’s some who just have a way of crafting sentences that feels so satisfying. Like a scalp massage. That was the way it felt to read this book, for me.
The prose was so elegant and yet accessible. And the characters! So achingly endearing, it almost hurt. I loved this book. A lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness
Minor: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
hexe_19's review against another edition
So much torture! This was marketed as cozy fantasy ...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Homophobia
xandry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, Misogyny, Homophobia, Violence, Torture, Murder, Chronic illness, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Xenophobia and Racism
embarcaderosky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Outing, Racism, Sexism, Confinement, Classism, and Homophobia
blewballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.5
I listened to this on audiobook and it was excellent! I was multitasking a lot as I listened, so I didn't follow along as precisely or speculate as much as I would have liked. The plot threads all weave together really elegantly by the end of the story, and I feel like if I had been paying closer attention I could have appreciated that even more. The setup of the world with how magic works was interesting, I like fantasy worlds where magic is known but I'm a bigger fan I think of stories that take place in what's essentially our world, but with some magic under the covers that not everyone knows about. I thought the two male leads were engaging and enjoyable, and the romance worked well for their personalities and histories. I'm looking forward to more from this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Homophobia, and Violence
cozyteareads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Chronic illness
hannahrogers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Suicide
sinceraly's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
I love Robin so much. Man is both a brawler and the emotionally intelligent one and his back must be hurting over carrying Edwin through every social situation.
That being said Edwin was also a treasure, the isolated, emotionally dense man he is, and I hope he gets all the nice things.
I genuinely loved my time with the book, and once I got to the last half of the book I couldn't put it down. Robin and Edwin's dynamic was phenomenal, the dialogue was snappy but felt realistic and not at all like the Marvel movie type quips that can get so irritating. The mystery was interesting and let me build my own theories and sets up an ongoing plot very well. I also loved the magic system, treating different magic styles as more native to specific countries, like recipes in cookbooks. I think the worldbuilding gives a lot to be interested in, despite a more stifling era chosen for a historical fantasy.
That being said, I think the two things that really stopped me from being able to label the book with 5 stars came down to odd pacing at times and a few decisions made in the course of Robin and Edwin's relationship that left me wanting more. The largest section of the book takes place somewhere where - though research is being done for the main quest - stakes don't seem to exist. It seems casual. And given what was at risk, it felt like a weird choice to make. The focus on character building was great, but it came at a cost of making it hard to really feel like things were at risk.
The second critique was a lack of a proper relationship-based dialogue between Edwin and Robin when it really seemed like it should be there. This review is spoiler free so I won't go into any details, really, but their last interaction alone in the book - though well written and still imbued (hah) with emotional and romantic context - felt kind of out of place considering what had happened prior, and what needed to be said. I'd give the author the fact that their relationship takes place in a stifling society that doesn't except gay relationships, so maybe they don't truly have the experience to talk it out, but I would have enjoyed more of an actual conversation in that stead.
That all being said, this book was still lovely, and a very fun read. Highly recommended for anyone into historical fantasy.
That being said Edwin was also a treasure, the isolated, emotionally dense man he is, and I hope he gets all the nice things.
I genuinely loved my time with the book, and once I got to the last half of the book I couldn't put it down. Robin and Edwin's dynamic was phenomenal, the dialogue was snappy but felt realistic and not at all like the Marvel movie type quips that can get so irritating. The mystery was interesting and let me build my own theories and sets up an ongoing plot very well. I also loved the magic system, treating different magic styles as more native to specific countries, like recipes in cookbooks. I think the worldbuilding gives a lot to be interested in, despite a more stifling era chosen for a historical fantasy.
That being said, I think the two things that really stopped me from being able to label the book with 5 stars came down to odd pacing at times and a few decisions made in the course of Robin and Edwin's relationship that left me wanting more. The largest section of the book takes place somewhere where - though research is being done for the main quest - stakes don't seem to exist. It seems casual. And given what was at risk, it felt like a weird choice to make. The focus on character building was great, but it came at a cost of making it hard to really feel like things were at risk.
The second critique was a lack of a proper relationship-based dialogue between Edwin and Robin when it really seemed like it should be there. This review is spoiler free so I won't go into any details, really, but their last interaction alone in the book - though well written and still imbued (hah) with emotional and romantic context - felt kind of out of place considering what had happened prior, and what needed to be said. I'd give the author the fact that their relationship takes place in a stifling society that doesn't except gay relationships, so maybe they don't truly have the experience to talk it out, but I would have enjoyed more of an actual conversation in that stead.
That all being said, this book was still lovely, and a very fun read. Highly recommended for anyone into historical fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Sexual content, and Bullying
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
lizzym126's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Death, Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Blood, Grief, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent