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bangiebangs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As far as spicy monster romance goes, these are really enjoyable. It's more novella length, so can be read in a few hours. Felt a bit different from the first of the series, in that pacing seemed a little rushed towards the end, and I'd have liked just a little more story around the personal development part. Some developments feel a tad rushed.
All that said, though, this was really enjoyable and had me smiling and even chuckling on occasion, and I'll continue reading the series.
Ok the one thing that was a bit too much for me was the sentence "It is prehensile?".. like yes, you are currently getting hot and heavy with a half kraken person, but who says "prehensile" in the heat of the moment? Just a tiny thing obv, but that interrupted the scene for me.
All that said, though, this was really enjoyable and had me smiling and even chuckling on occasion, and I'll continue reading the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Abortion
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
mspilesofpaper's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I really enjoyed The Dragon’s Bride, so I thought that this one would be a good choice as well but I was utterly mistaken.
Aside from an extremely odd pacing and all the baggage that both characters have (loss of his love for Thane, childhood trauma and emotional/mental abuse for Catalina), which would have profited from being a longer story: wtf did the author really think? Thane is extremely cold, distant and stand offish (even for his own people) and leaves Catalina after sex. He basically triggers the harm clause from the contract several times and he’s just not loosing his territory because Catalina has no concept of self-preservation.
The book includes an abortion scene, which just happens because Thane forgot about protection. I wish it would have been handled better because it’s just put in after they fuck around for over a month (and do relationship stuff), the abortion happens and somehow it triggers their happy end. Of course, the harm clause (which could’ve been triggered apparently because Catalina got pregnant against her will) doesn’t happen because Catalina waves it off again.
Both deserve someone better because I can’t see that pairing work at all.
Aside from an extremely odd pacing and all the baggage that both characters have (loss of his love for Thane, childhood trauma and emotional/mental abuse for Catalina), which would have profited from being a longer story: wtf did the author really think? Thane is extremely cold, distant and stand offish (even for his own people) and leaves Catalina after sex. He basically triggers the harm clause from the contract several times and he’s just not loosing his territory because Catalina has no concept of self-preservation.
The book includes an abortion scene, which just happens because Thane forgot about protection. I wish it would have been handled better because it’s just put in after they fuck around for over a month (and do relationship stuff), the abortion happens and somehow it triggers their happy end. Of course, the harm clause (which could’ve been triggered apparently because Catalina got pregnant against her will) doesn’t happen because Catalina waves it off again.
Both deserve someone better because I can’t see that pairing work at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
caseymac's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
aislinghelen's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, and Abortion
Minor: War, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
nyx_999's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
Barely 3 ⭐️
I liked the first book way more.
This book gave bratty sub and soft dom energy tho the fmc was bratty bcs of past experience not so much for the dynamic.
It definitely gave a bit of enemies to lovers even tho the enemy part took most of the book which made the end and the lover part seem rushed.
3,5/5 smut 🌶
I liked the first book way more.
This book gave bratty sub and soft dom energy tho the fmc was bratty bcs of past experience not so much for the dynamic.
It definitely gave a bit of enemies to lovers even tho the enemy part took most of the book which made the end and the lover part seem rushed.
3,5/5 smut 🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Emotional abuse
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, and Fatphobia
Minor: War, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
CW provided by author: Abuse/neglect (mental/emotional, parent to child, historical), spousal death (historical, non-graphic, off-page), explicit sex, vomit (non-graphic), pregnancy termination (non-graphic), incidental injuries for magical purposes, grief, body shaming (historical, referenced briefly), reference to age play and to DDlg, slight dollification, use of unconventional gagmarsh_mall0w's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Emotional abuse
alanadcr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
seawiiitch's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
An agreeable read, though it did not really hit the mark with me. I found the romance a little underwhelming and at some point, I felt a little disconnected from the story. It might have been because I did not like it as I liked "The Dragon's Bride".
It has definitely some appeal if you want to read something short with some "spice" in it, but it was missing a little something for me.
It has definitely some appeal if you want to read something short with some "spice" in it, but it was missing a little something for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was Very Nervous going into this for one reason and one reason only: tentacles. And I won’t lie—I did find the smut scenes weird for that reason, but not enough so that I didn’t enjoy the rest of the book. I did, much more than I expected to. Although there was a portion of the book where I found Thane to be rather annoying and insensitive, he grew on me significantly; I loved Catalina from the start and that never stopped. And pushing through was so, so worth it, because I got to see them become comfortable around each other, heal and build their future together. 💙
Also, in the biggest twist of the year—this book made me genuinely like Ramanu. They had much more page time here than in the first book, which annoyed me at first because I thought they were an obnoxious asshole. But seeing how they softened around Cat and were such a good friend to her… it really endeared them to me. I’m suddenly quite eager to read their book in the Peculiar Tastes series, which I’d already been thinking about but now will definitely be diving into next.
Current ranking of the series:
Also, in the biggest twist of the year—this book made me genuinely like Ramanu. They had much more page time here than in the first book, which annoyed me at first because I thought they were an obnoxious asshole. But seeing how they softened around Cat and were such a good friend to her… it really endeared them to me. I’m suddenly quite eager to read their book in the Peculiar Tastes series, which I’d already been thinking about but now will definitely be diving into next.
Current ranking of the series:
- The Kraken’s Sacrifice
- The Dragon’s Bride
Representation:
- two queer protagonists, each attracted to multiple genders
- nonbinary side character that uses ze/zir
- nonbinary side character that uses they/them
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy
Death & grief: Thane’s husband was killed prior to the story. Emotional abuse & gaslighting: experienced by Catalina prior to the story, by both her mother and various friends and partners. Pregnancy & abortion: Catalina ends up with and thus terminates an unwanted pregnancy. This is handled with care and respect, and she’s supported by everyone involved.