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brnreads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I loved this book. I loved the MCs and the chemistry and relationships. I loved their trusted guards and closest friends. I love the birthmarks and bond and what it all meant and allowed.
My biggest complaint is that there wasn't enough. I needed more. More angst prior to them falling more jokes and times with them getting used to each other. I wanted things to go a bit deeper exploring the characters and for the story to be a bit longer.
It did end with the possibility of another book which gives me hope I can get the more I crave.
I loved this book. I loved the MCs and the chemistry and relationships. I loved their trusted guards and closest friends. I love the birthmarks and bond and what it all meant and allowed.
My biggest complaint is that there wasn't enough. I needed more. More angst prior to them falling more jokes and times with them getting used to each other. I wanted things to go a bit deeper exploring the characters and for the story to be a bit longer.
It did end with the possibility of another book which gives me hope I can get the more I crave.
a_smith231's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
2.5
pshelling's review against another edition
2.0
First of all, I love the cover. Much of the anxiety/dread of looking at my TBR books in my library is offset just by looking at this cover. Gorgeous!
For additional context, I'm currently looking for fantasy novels with gay male protagonists, which is why I finally finished this book now, so I basically read this book across two days, even though it had been languishing on my "Currently Reading" shelf for years.
Back to the book... there are number of things that didn't work for me, some which are typical of my experience reading an N.R. Walker (I'm not the ideal reader for an M/M romance; I'm just that starved for representation) and some of which weren't. One of the things that keeps me coming back to N.R. Walker is their consistent ability to take me someplace. No matter how much I disliked a book, if it took me somewhere, it was worth it. There's was plenty of worldbuilding in Lacuna, but I just didn't connect with it the way I have in other books.
This might been aggravated by point two, which is that I found most of the characters to be annoying and/or unlikable. The bickering and posturing between Crow and Tancho got on my nerves, as did EVERYONE's threat to kill EVERYONE else if they so much as did something (mostly looking at Crow or Tancho wrong). That kind of attitude could have been for a singular interesting, but when spread throughout most of the cast, it was a lot.
This leads into point three, which is that the romance was not compelling to me. Because Crow and Tancho were so annoying to me and each other, I wasn't rooting for them to get together.
For additional context, I'm currently looking for fantasy novels with gay male protagonists, which is why I finally finished this book now, so I basically read this book across two days, even though it had been languishing on my "Currently Reading" shelf for years.
Back to the book... there are number of things that didn't work for me, some which are typical of my experience reading an N.R. Walker (I'm not the ideal reader for an M/M romance; I'm just that starved for representation) and some of which weren't. One of the things that keeps me coming back to N.R. Walker is their consistent ability to take me someplace. No matter how much I disliked a book, if it took me somewhere, it was worth it. There's was plenty of worldbuilding in Lacuna, but I just didn't connect with it the way I have in other books.
This might been aggravated by point two, which is that I found most of the characters to be annoying and/or unlikable. The bickering and posturing between Crow and Tancho got on my nerves, as did EVERYONE's threat to kill EVERYONE else if they so much as did something (mostly looking at Crow or Tancho wrong). That kind of attitude could have been for a singular interesting, but when spread throughout most of the cast, it was a lot.
This leads into point three, which is that the romance was not compelling to me. Because Crow and Tancho were so annoying to me and each other, I wasn't rooting for them to get together.
layla87's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I received an ARC from the author through Author's Direct and this is my honest review.
I was absolutely entranced with this story. I love fantasy and PNR and ever since Cronin's Key, I wanted more of it from her.
What I Loved:
1. The Characters:
Tancho: The King of the Westland, with beautiful long red hair. He was delicate but powerful and has been intrigued with Crow since he saw him as a young lad. #Enthralled
Crow: The King of the Northlands, a mountain man through and through who was swept off his feet by the pretty Tancho. He was power and grumpiness and strength, but Tancho softened his edges little by little. #BestPartOfMe
2. The Plot:
The four kings of the land were summoned to the same place for the eclipse. they had a job today, but fate had other ideas. Tancho and Crow are two pieces of a puzzle, they were complete together, and they ae the key to a peaceful existence for everyone. #WrittenInTheStars
3. The Romance:
At first, these two men don't like each other, but deep down they are intrigued with the other and can feel that there is something there...something important. Slowly but surely, they become closer and discover the other's qualities and secrets. they discover that are #MeantToBe
4. Steam-o-meter: Medium steam but with loads of UST!! #CanYouFeelItToo
5. Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst, mostly due to their fate and what they should do to save everyone. #StrongerTogether
6. The HEA:
There's a twist, which is sweetly and sexily overcome. These men are in it for the #LongHaul
7. The audiobook:
Nick Russo is one of my fave narrators and he did an excellent job with this book. He nailed everything... the emotions, the voices and the tones... all except the British accent. it took a while for me to get used to him using it because it didn't really sound right. #AlmostPerfect
I received an ARC from the author through Author's Direct and this is my honest review.
I was absolutely entranced with this story. I love fantasy and PNR and ever since Cronin's Key, I wanted more of it from her.
What I Loved:
1. The Characters:
Tancho: The King of the Westland, with beautiful long red hair. He was delicate but powerful and has been intrigued with Crow since he saw him as a young lad. #Enthralled
Crow: The King of the Northlands, a mountain man through and through who was swept off his feet by the pretty Tancho. He was power and grumpiness and strength, but Tancho softened his edges little by little. #BestPartOfMe
2. The Plot:
The four kings of the land were summoned to the same place for the eclipse. they had a job today, but fate had other ideas. Tancho and Crow are two pieces of a puzzle, they were complete together, and they ae the key to a peaceful existence for everyone. #WrittenInTheStars
3. The Romance:
At first, these two men don't like each other, but deep down they are intrigued with the other and can feel that there is something there...something important. Slowly but surely, they become closer and discover the other's qualities and secrets. they discover that are #MeantToBe
4. Steam-o-meter: Medium steam but with loads of UST!! #CanYouFeelItToo
5. Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst, mostly due to their fate and what they should do to save everyone. #StrongerTogether
6. The HEA:
There's a twist, which is sweetly and sexily overcome. These men are in it for the #LongHaul
7. The audiobook:
Nick Russo is one of my fave narrators and he did an excellent job with this book. He nailed everything... the emotions, the voices and the tones... all except the British accent. it took a while for me to get used to him using it because it didn't really sound right. #AlmostPerfect
diya13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookishvice's review against another edition
DNF at 15%
Fave author and I can't believe I couldn't get through this one. BUT I WAS SO BORED?
Fave author and I can't believe I couldn't get through this one. BUT I WAS SO BORED?
seethemoon's review against another edition
Read more like a fanfic, not really my vibe
spetestar's review against another edition
Pacing was too slow, and was not interested in characters
bebbiie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.5
frozel's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Ooof. Lacuna didn’t turn out to be what I expected at all and for that, I am fairly disappointed. There was so much potential for more with the story’s premise, but it fell flat.