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mollie_3's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
weirdover's review
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? No
1.0
I have several issues with this book. First is the world building. It was set in a fantasy world so bad written. I don't know whose idea it was to use czech language? There were several grammatical mistakes, the names were not even czech which was super confusing for me. For example in the name Maalik (no double A in czech)
The second issue i have is with almost all the characters. The FMC is shallow and selfish. The fact she didn't question any of the things that were happening around her is astounding. We need to wait for almost half of the book for her to actually remember her brother. I was cringing so hard on all of her povs i almost DNFed the book several times.
She doesn't care about anything other than build in closet and jumping all of the men in 5km radius. "How there he doesn't want to mate with me when he knows me for less than 24 hours?" I was rooting for Maalik to just disappear and never come back.
All of her husbands/mates are basically the same person with different hair color. There is absolutely no character diversity. They don't speak the same language and almost all of the big decisions are made without proper consent.
The third things is the age gap. The FMC is 24 and her mates are all over 100. The funny thing was when one of her mates called an 18 years old a child but was totally okay with his 24 years old wife.
The author put other women down on every occasion they got. It felt like it was written by a man.
The second issue i have is with almost all the characters. The FMC is shallow and selfish. The fact she didn't question any of the things that were happening around her is astounding. We need to wait for almost half of the book for her to actually remember her brother. I was cringing so hard on all of her povs i almost DNFed the book several times.
She doesn't care about anything other than build in closet and jumping all of the men in 5km radius. "How there he doesn't want to mate with me when he knows me for less than 24 hours?" I was rooting for Maalik to just disappear and never come back.
All of her husbands/mates are basically the same person with different hair color. There is absolutely no character diversity. They don't speak the same language and almost all of the big decisions are made without proper consent.
The third things is the age gap. The FMC is 24 and her mates are all over 100. The funny thing was when one of her mates called an 18 years old a child but was totally okay with his 24 years old wife.
The author put other women down on every occasion they got. It felt like it was written by a man.
thewitchykitty's review
4.0
I think this needs to be stated: this is a character-driven book. There isn’t much plot besides Isla getting to know her guys as best as she can with the language barrier. It reminds me a lot of slice-of-life anime. There isn’t much happening besides the guys fighting the influence of the Beast Moons and Isla adjusting to her new life as best as she can in the first 40% of the book. Then, the spice starts
nemerith's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
anca_antoci's review
4.0
I got this book on a whim because I love the cover and the back cover description piqued my interest. Isla, the main character, is sold on the supernatural black market and ends up in a different realm where no one speaks her language.
The premises of the story is original (I've never read anything even remotely similar) and I was really curious to see how she would do in this situation.
I like the author's writing style but the large number of "cute" and "adorable" made me roll my eyes quite a bit. Other than that, the prose is beautiful and the characters are endearing. There's insta love that I'm not a huge fan of, but at least the plot was intriguing so I didn't mind.
There are multiple POVs and the story drags a little when we're told the same thing from a different perspective.
The heat level is good and I like that there's a lot more going on in the story than sex.
All in all, I liked it but wasn't happy with the cliffhanger. I know that cliffhangers are supposed to make you want the next book, but I prefer to get closure for the story and then a cliffhanger announcing a new adventure in the next installment.
The premises of the story is original (I've never read anything even remotely similar) and I was really curious to see how she would do in this situation.
I like the author's writing style but the large number of "cute" and "adorable" made me roll my eyes quite a bit. Other than that, the prose is beautiful and the characters are endearing. There's insta love that I'm not a huge fan of, but at least the plot was intriguing so I didn't mind.
There are multiple POVs and the story drags a little when we're told the same thing from a different perspective.
The heat level is good and I like that there's a lot more going on in the story than sex.
All in all, I liked it but wasn't happy with the cliffhanger. I know that cliffhangers are supposed to make you want the next book, but I prefer to get closure for the story and then a cliffhanger announcing a new adventure in the next installment.
phoenix_rising_4682's review
5.0
The plot is definitely a different take on the typical RH trope and I can't wait to see how the two groups of men plays out in the second book.
readingrage's review
5.0
This is the best one yet. At least in my opinion. I devoured all books by Willow Hadley so far. I can’t wait for the Guardians to meet Alistair! I love the different point of views and the language barrier thing but how Isla and the Guardians were still able to communicate with her. Favorite part of the book is when Isla meets Reule and them getting to know each other and her meeting his brothers. Her wearing that crown was just so hilarious and sweet.
thebookplatypus91's review
3.0
Sold on the supernatural black market doesn’t exactly sound like a good time does it?
That’s exactly what happens to Ilsa, a mere human.
Only she ends up in the hands of immortal shifters Reule, Caelan, Maalik, and Audun. They are guardians of an entirely different realm.
The plot of this book was really fun and interesting to read. You get a feeling that there’s something more to Ilsa.
Since she doesn’t know her background by being a foster child since she was a baby. I’m very interested to see the full backstory of her.
The book starts off with her and her male BFF Alistair who is a half demon working for a prestigious vampire, Madame. They go to an event where they meet two powerful men who claim Ilsa and her BFF as their mates. So you think that’s going to be the main plot of the book but then Ilsa gets kidnapped and it just takes a whole different route for the rest of the book.
I don’t know if the setting in her realm and her first set of potential mates are going to be a part of the second book but I felt like they were just left out.
And it took away from me fully enjoying her new reality because I was always questioning what the hell happened to the first part of the book and all of those characters that were introduced to us.
Especially her werewolf ex-boyfriend.
So once she ends up mated to these four shifters, I felt like Ilsa had a weird personality change where it seemed like I was reading about two different characters. It was really hard to connect with her and normally I’m never one to say this but I was just a little confused on who she was supposed to be. One minute she’s overly confident cocky and bratty and the next minute she’s trying to be this serene and loving mate. And then two minutes later she’s questioning her old life. I just had a hard time believing in the flow of her emotions and personality.
Because they all speak a different language it was very interesting to see how the five of them try to connect with each other. The sex scenes are so so.
But I was fully engaged and reading the book to the very end. It does leave off on a cliffhanger but not one that’s gonna make you bite your nails until the next book is out. It more or less leaves off with just more questions.
I like this different approach to reverse harem. I don’t know what’s gonna happen with the first set of guys and her BFF who claimed that she was also their mate so will definitely have to wait and find out what in the world is going on in the next book!
3.5 stars
That’s exactly what happens to Ilsa, a mere human.
Only she ends up in the hands of immortal shifters Reule, Caelan, Maalik, and Audun. They are guardians of an entirely different realm.
The plot of this book was really fun and interesting to read. You get a feeling that there’s something more to Ilsa.
Since she doesn’t know her background by being a foster child since she was a baby. I’m very interested to see the full backstory of her.
The book starts off with her and her male BFF Alistair who is a half demon working for a prestigious vampire, Madame. They go to an event where they meet two powerful men who claim Ilsa and her BFF as their mates. So you think that’s going to be the main plot of the book but then Ilsa gets kidnapped and it just takes a whole different route for the rest of the book.
I don’t know if the setting in her realm and her first set of potential mates are going to be a part of the second book but I felt like they were just left out.
And it took away from me fully enjoying her new reality because I was always questioning what the hell happened to the first part of the book and all of those characters that were introduced to us.
Especially her werewolf ex-boyfriend.
So once she ends up mated to these four shifters, I felt like Ilsa had a weird personality change where it seemed like I was reading about two different characters. It was really hard to connect with her and normally I’m never one to say this but I was just a little confused on who she was supposed to be. One minute she’s overly confident cocky and bratty and the next minute she’s trying to be this serene and loving mate. And then two minutes later she’s questioning her old life. I just had a hard time believing in the flow of her emotions and personality.
Because they all speak a different language it was very interesting to see how the five of them try to connect with each other. The sex scenes are so so.
But I was fully engaged and reading the book to the very end. It does leave off on a cliffhanger but not one that’s gonna make you bite your nails until the next book is out. It more or less leaves off with just more questions.
I like this different approach to reverse harem. I don’t know what’s gonna happen with the first set of guys and her BFF who claimed that she was also their mate so will definitely have to wait and find out what in the world is going on in the next book!
3.5 stars
thiccandired's review
DNF 14% this isn’t well written. Even the cover copy isn’t very captivating and the characters are very shallow. Not worth it.