Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Dark Night Golden Dawn by Allison Carr Waechter

2 reviews

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

For a book that I thought started pretty strong, rating it so low is such a disappointment.

I LOVED how casually queer it was. I loved the setup of immortals and immortal adjacent being high society and needing to navigate that. I love how the MC’s history was hinted at and implied and it gave us a sense of the dynamics between her and the other characters and how fragile they were. And I LOVED how much it reminded me of Pride & Prejudice and Bridgerton.

HOWEVER I felt like it fell off at the middle. The MC and LI had a conflict from their past and it would take a lot to work through and resolve. And while the book handled recovering from an unhealthy relationship fairly well, this conflict was just brushed over. This was an early sign for the rest of the plot where issues and plot points were rushed through, information was dumped onto the audience, and the romance was FLOWN through and felt rushed.

My only other notable issues were how easy it was to get lost while magic was being practiced. Everything was described in a really loose way, which can work to emphasise how other worldly it is, but if it’s to the detriment of the reader understanding what’s happening in the scene it ought to be reworked. Finally, as always, these characters were REALLY horny at REALLY weird times. Like y’all should not be thinking about hooking up in the remains of your ex, just saying.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

teaand_tomes's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

I found the plot of Dark Night Golden Dawn to be incredibly intricate and filled with intriguing lore and mystery. The exploration of the Scroll of Akatei and its significance to the characters' past, present, and future has left me curious and eager to uncover its secrets.

The relationship between Finn and Harlow, with its second-chance romance, was charming. While I enjoyed their reconciliation, I personally would have appreciated a bit more angst before they reunited.

The author skillfully portrayed Harlow's dark and complex emotions, making her a relatable and tangible character. I appreciated how the author depicted Harlow navigating her struggles both independently and with the support of her loved ones. The moments where Harlow withdrew from others in response to stress and overwhelming emotions felt incredibly realistic.

I particularly enjoyed how the story initially resembled a fantasy version of Pride & Prejudice, with its five sisters, well-meaning parents, and high society gentlemen reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. However, I also appreciated the deviations from this familiar path, allowing the story to pay homage to Jane Austen's classic without simply reinterpreting it.

Overall, Dark Night Golden Dawn is a captivating fantasy romance set in a contemporary world of magic, deception, and betrayal. Its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and realistic exploration of emotions make for an engaging read. I eagerly anticipate diving further into The Immortal Orders Trilogy and discovering what lies ahead for Finn and Harlow.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...