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el_wheel's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I'll start by saying I won this book in a giveaway and am grateful for the opportunity but unfortunately, this is a book I have some very mixed feelings on. The idea is a very interesting one and I like the concept but I found I always had more questions than answers. It could be argued this is due to it being assumedly the first of a series, but it was frustrating at times and made it hard to get into the book. I just wanted more explanation than was usually provided, mostly about the supernatural elements of the story and on the goddess worshippers which were intriguing, especially as a fully male group, but who I feel never get proper attention in the story due to a focus on the story's relationships.
On that note, I also am not sure how to feel about one particular romance in the book. Firstly, I think this book has much more romance and is much more of a romance novel than it's description leads one to believe, and while I like romance novels that's not what I expected of this book which effects my feelings on it as well. Additionally, while Will and Xenia are sweet, I don't understand the need for the secondary "romance" in the book, if you can even call it that. It was creepy and felt very coerced and non-consensual frequently which was uncomfortable. I would compare it to a Stockholm Sydrome situation more than an "enemies-to-lovers" concept.
My other big note on the story is with the actual writing. While the content of the book itself was interesting and the writing was well done, there were a few structural elements that broke my flow of reading. For example, grammatical errors left me rereading passages multiple times to understand them, and inconvenient footnote locations meant I had to flip between pages to get further context. This second issue was especially noticeable in the digital format I read the book in, but would likely be less of an issue with a physical copy.
On that note, I also am not sure how to feel about one particular romance in the book. Firstly, I think this book has much more romance and is much more of a romance novel than it's description leads one to believe, and while I like romance novels that's not what I expected of this book which effects my feelings on it as well. Additionally, while Will and Xenia are sweet, I don't understand the need for the secondary "romance" in the book, if you can even call it that. It was creepy and felt very coerced and non-consensual frequently which was uncomfortable. I would compare it to a Stockholm Sydrome situation more than an "enemies-to-lovers" concept.
My other big note on the story is with the actual writing. While the content of the book itself was interesting and the writing was well done, there were a few structural elements that broke my flow of reading. For example, grammatical errors left me rereading passages multiple times to understand them, and inconvenient footnote locations meant I had to flip between pages to get further context. This second issue was especially noticeable in the digital format I read the book in, but would likely be less of an issue with a physical copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Dysphoria
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, and Sexual assault
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