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vespaform's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
maryhungerford's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Child death
kylieqrada's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
I have been picking some bangers lately!!!! I get the criticisms of this one, but it just worked for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Classism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: War, Kidnapping, and Child abuse
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Violence
miss_berry315's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I spent the majority of this book with a stupid goofy smile on my face bc of how romantic it is. A brush of the hand, glances across ballrooms, and regency era courting rules between contrarian individuals will always make me giddy and hold a special place in my heart.
Add in an interesting plot, some magic and faeries, and strong-willed women and it will never go below 4 stars.
That being said, this book was going to have a 5 star rating from me, until the very last paragraph. Leading up to that, my cheeks were sore from smiling and I couldn't put it down, but I felt that the last paragraph was disappointing and took the wind out of my sails.
I read the author's blurb on here for her reasons (which will spoil things btw), but I didn't feel it was necessary to the story, and took away from everything else that had been built up through the story.
I will be happily ignoring the existence of that paragraph when looking back on this book. 🥰✨
Add in an interesting plot, some magic and faeries, and strong-willed women and it will never go below 4 stars.
That being said, this book was going to have a 5 star rating from me, until the very last paragraph. Leading up to that, my cheeks were sore from smiling and I couldn't put it down, but I felt that the last paragraph was disappointing and took the wind out of my sails.
I read the author's blurb on here for her reasons (which will spoil things btw), but I didn't feel it was necessary to the story, and took away from everything else that had been built up through the story.
I will be happily ignoring the existence of that paragraph when looking back on this book. 🥰✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Classism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Blood
celeste_golds's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Kidnapping, and Child abuse
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death, and Blood
Minor: Slavery, Pregnancy, War, and Death of parent
folkofthebook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
“I have known many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality as you.”
oh this was a DELIGHT to read. the regency setting, a unique plot, the pacing, the banter, and the buildup of the romance... *chef's kiss* i'm really loving historical fantasy these days and this is easily one of my favorite reads this year so far, all genres included.
“Pleasant-mannered people are simply the worst sort of people. Decent people become properly angry when presented with miserable injustice, but pleasant-mannered people never do.”
“But sometimes, when you cannot force the world to come to its senses, you must settle only for wiping away some of the small evils in front of you.”
i loved elias. i will admit i was even put off a bit by his introduction bc of his attitude, but we learn about him quickly and it's impossible to not warm up to him. he is angry at the injustices of the world and wants to make it all better, but feels powerless to fix it all. dora is the perfect balance to him; she is calm and collected, but unintimidated to return his banter. watching this romance blossom had me kicking my feet and giggling in bed. très romantique!
side note, i did also adore albert. i'm happy he got his own happiness as well.
i will definitely be reading more of atwater's books, i can't wait to see what else is in store in this world!
“Was there anything else you were curious about, while we’re at it? Shall I take off my trousers and let you take my measure?”
“I did not come here only to dance. I came here only to dance with you. It is quite a different thing.”
“I think I am happy. What a lovely feeling. I am dreaming, and I don’t want to wake up.”
“I don’t want to wake up either,” he whispered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, War, Gun violence, Violence, Child abuse, and Child death
pho_ar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
I adored this book. It was comforting, whimsical, magical and I am so sad it is over and so happy it happened.
I related to Dora so much as someone who also does not react to things as she ought to and I love that Dora always had compassion and was kind and stood up for herself and others. I appreciated her so much.
Lord Sorcier, Elias. A good man who went to war. He was angry at the world and had a heart of gold. I loved that he loved Dora exactly how she was and saw her for who she was. When he said he already asked for her hand in marriage, I cried. It was so beautiful.
Theodora, I appreciated her too and her sacrifice and vigilante justice.
I also appreciated that they couldn't solve all the evil but tried to make the world a better place regardless. It was a beautiful regency fantasy romance adventure.
I related to Dora so much as someone who also does not react to things as she ought to and I love that Dora always had compassion and was kind and stood up for herself and others. I appreciated her so much.
Lord Sorcier, Elias. A good man who went to war. He was angry at the world and had a heart of gold. I loved that he loved Dora exactly how she was and saw her for who she was. When he said he already asked for her hand in marriage, I cried. It was so beautiful.
Theodora, I appreciated her too and her sacrifice and vigilante justice.
I also appreciated that they couldn't solve all the evil but tried to make the world a better place regardless. It was a beautiful regency fantasy romance adventure.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, and Trafficking
chichisode's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
if Pride and Prejudice had a baby with Howl's Moving Castle. finished this in half a day, best decision of my life. cured my reading slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, Death, and War
Moderate: Trafficking, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, and Child abuse
day23dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Ableism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, and Child abuse
macliffe's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Best book of this year so far! I’d heard many good things about it on BookTube, but it supremely exceeded my expectations. If you like Pride and Prejudice and Emily Wilde’ Encyclopaedia of Faeries, you will love this book. I will be reading the other two books in the series as soon as I can.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: War and Xenophobia