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faithd's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
My first FF romance! Took me a bit to get into it, but once the plot started moving it was great. The only thing that bothered me was having to read about another “brilliant” character who couldn’t figure out who the love interest really was even though I’m sure every reader had figured it out by the second chapter.
Other than that, I loved the characters, and the romance, and there was some great steamy scenes!
My first FF romance! Took me a bit to get into it, but once the plot started moving it was great. The only thing that bothered me was having to read about another “brilliant” character who couldn’t figure out who the love interest really was even though I’m sure every reader had figured it out by the second chapter.
Other than that, I loved the characters, and the romance, and there was some great steamy scenes!
eggsandwich's review against another edition
5.0
I can't get over this book, I have read it over and over and over again.
nicoletavares's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
The pacing of this is really rough and the world building is poor. As a result the book sets itself up to fail on its third act as it can't possibly pull off the situation it's put it's main characters in. Without Assistants point of view - a necessity to accomplish the twist, which ends up being too obvious regardless - the romance has unsteady footing. It had its moments, but ultimately fell flat for me.
ruhi_d's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
salicer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The pacing was off, and the main conflicts of the book wrapped up in a way that felt unearned. The first 2/3 of the book were enjoyable, though.
aljj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
I can not discribe to you how much I dislike this story. But I do have a quote from my origional review that perfectly encompasses my feelings on this story.
"My favorite character is a bug, so I should've seen his death coming."
My actually reasoning is that I hate the characters and also the plot. I have nothing against sci-fi, or space battles, or pirates, in fact I love those things. I also love plants and smut. But somehow this managed to just make me want the characters to kill each other by the end of it.If that had happened, I would've honestly given the story 5/5, because that would've been a twist I didn't spot a mile away.
No hate if you like the book or the author. I love their other book, this one just hit wrong on every level. It took me at least a year to finish. It was an audio book. I slam through those in a day. Anyways rant over, enjoy your day.
My actually reasoning is that I hate the characters and also the plot. I have nothing against sci-fi, or space battles, or pirates, in fact I love those things. I also love plants and smut. But somehow this managed to just make me want the characters to kill each other by the end of it.
No hate if you like the book or the author. I love their other book, this one just hit wrong on every level. It took me at least a year to finish. It was an audio book. I slam through those in a day. Anyways rant over, enjoy your day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
raggsokk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
snowangel526's review against another edition
dark
emotional
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fun read if you want tropey romance like me. It hit the spot for me with an older possessive and dominant woman vs a meeker and kind younger woman
pixip's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book I couldn't put it down and by the time I did finish it, I wanted to read it again because I wasn't ready to leave the characters behind. I loved Ari and her simple outlook on the world and her naivety. She wanted for nothing in life except her plants and the way her world was flipped by Assistant was amazing to watch. It was like watching a flower bloom while still beautiful when closed for the night the beauty that is revealed when the sun touches its petals was stunning. I will admit I saw the twist very early on but I feel like that was intentional to add to Ari's character. It had me close to tears at one point and fanning myself the next. I totally want more of their life after the end of the book. I want to check in on them so badly. They were the kinds of characters that you just felt like you knew but wanted to know more of.
sil_the_lobster's review against another edition
5.0
I much enjoyed this book. I was initially drawn to it because of the scifi setting and I will admit that at first I was a little disappointed about how it is less of a scifi and more of a romance in a scifi setting. However, the book is so beautifully written that I very quickly ditched the disappointment and enjoyed the book for what it is.
It’s not an angsty or overly problem driven story although there’s some family heartbreak in Ari’s background and some personality issues, too (shy bordering on hermit), but overall it’s about how opposites occasionally do attract and how even the meekest of flowers (to stay in the botanist’s world) will bloom if tended to with patience and understanding.
I especially liked how this book for once doesn’t grip the reader by the hair and yanks us from one nail-biting action sequence into the next pit of despair (I really, really hate it when books start like that!!!). Instead, it allows you to get to know the surroundings as you follow Ari into her gardens and watch her come alive, and oh, how beautiful all of the descriptions are! You even see the bloody mantis before your very eyes…It’s what a good storyteller does, make it all come to life in the reader’s mind, and it’s superbly done here.
The end – what is Assistant’s true identity? – didn’t really surprise me although I’m usually rather slow when it comes to a story’s mysteries but it was still great fun to read. Well, it sure wasn’t fun for poor Ari who went through quite some heartache and pain because of Assistant, but it makes for an interesting twist.
If there’s anything I’d frown upon it’s the rather rapid ending. I would have liked to read a bit more about how Ari familiarizes herself with her new situation and how she makes herself a new home in her new surroundings, but the book doesn’t end so abruptly as to leave tons of questions. Rather, it was more of a ‘I don’t want to say goodbye just yet’ kind of thing for me. And there is a rather lovely epilogue to wrap it all up, so: no harm done!
Definitely recommend this for an enjoyable read!!!
5 out of 5 stars.
It’s not an angsty or overly problem driven story although there’s some family heartbreak in Ari’s background and some personality issues, too (shy bordering on hermit), but overall it’s about how opposites occasionally do attract and how even the meekest of flowers (to stay in the botanist’s world) will bloom if tended to with patience and understanding.
I especially liked how this book for once doesn’t grip the reader by the hair and yanks us from one nail-biting action sequence into the next pit of despair (I really, really hate it when books start like that!!!). Instead, it allows you to get to know the surroundings as you follow Ari into her gardens and watch her come alive, and oh, how beautiful all of the descriptions are! You even see the bloody mantis before your very eyes…It’s what a good storyteller does, make it all come to life in the reader’s mind, and it’s superbly done here.
The end – what is Assistant’s true identity? – didn’t really surprise me although I’m usually rather slow when it comes to a story’s mysteries but it was still great fun to read. Well, it sure wasn’t fun for poor Ari who went through quite some heartache and pain because of Assistant, but it makes for an interesting twist.
If there’s anything I’d frown upon it’s the rather rapid ending. I would have liked to read a bit more about how Ari familiarizes herself with her new situation and how she makes herself a new home in her new surroundings, but the book doesn’t end so abruptly as to leave tons of questions. Rather, it was more of a ‘I don’t want to say goodbye just yet’ kind of thing for me. And there is a rather lovely epilogue to wrap it all up, so: no harm done!
Definitely recommend this for an enjoyable read!!!
5 out of 5 stars.