Scan barcode
han_did's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
I read this for the first time a few years ago but have been working on buying audios of books I love - so the Spires series is one I recently grabbed.
In some respects this is a difficult romance to get through because it’s not a lot of fun, happy feelings in comparison to Ash’s constant talk of Bipolar/depression/suicide. But that’s what makes it so heartbreakingly authentic. Folks who are really living this are living it daily, often minute by minute. Those who love them are left feeling the brunt, even if it’s not intentional/in their control.
While told entirely from Ash’s 1st person POV - Nicholas Bolton’s narration is so fantastic that it’s like listening to a cast production. (makes note to hunt down everything Bolton has ever narrated). Darian is beyond fabulous as Ash’s glitter pirate that I was in love with him before Ash was.
My only complaint - a recipe is not an epilogue.
In some respects this is a difficult romance to get through because it’s not a lot of fun, happy feelings in comparison to Ash’s constant talk of Bipolar/depression/suicide. But that’s what makes it so heartbreakingly authentic. Folks who are really living this are living it daily, often minute by minute. Those who love them are left feeling the brunt, even if it’s not intentional/in their control.
While told entirely from Ash’s 1st person POV - Nicholas Bolton’s narration is so fantastic that it’s like listening to a cast production. (makes note to hunt down everything Bolton has ever narrated). Darian is beyond fabulous as Ash’s glitter pirate that I was in love with him before Ash was.
My only complaint - a recipe is not an epilogue.
alice_hesse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarahknits's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bitchie's review against another edition
5.0
This was just wonderful. Yes, it took me a bit to get into it, and Darian's voice drove me nuts at first, but I'm SO glad I stuck it out!
I don't know who the heck put this book in the lighthearted list, because, as delightful and happy as I found the Darian character, this was NOT a lighthearted book. This book was about depression and mania and pain and finally learning to live with who you are and accepting you might be worthy of love too, even if you are pretty fucked up.
I don't know who the heck put this book in the lighthearted list, because, as delightful and happy as I found the Darian character, this was NOT a lighthearted book. This book was about depression and mania and pain and finally learning to live with who you are and accepting you might be worthy of love too, even if you are pretty fucked up.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars for Darian!!!
There’s not going to be much for me to add to the multitude of reviews out there singing this book’s praises, and it’s quite obvious what I loved most in this book.
What I will say is that for my first Alexis Hall, I call this a definite win.
Ash is a complex character, one weighed down by mental illness that he’s so acutely aware of. He knows his limitations, he knows his faults to a sobering degree and for most of the time, he's just barely surviving the darkness that envelops him despite some great and not so great efforts to bring order to his life. He wants to feel better, he wants to be better but always, that’s easier said than done.
Enter Darian, who’s a bit rough around the edges when compared to Ash’s air of refinement. He may be the complete opposite of Ash and seemingly all sorts of wrong but really, he is the perfect fucking rainbow to Ash’s doom and gloom cloud. A truly delightful memorable character who can easily be dismissed for his surface glare but has so much more depth, warmth, and layers, and I absolutely adored him.
So yes, Ash is inevitably an ass but he pretty much redeems himself and again, Darian is the shining light of this book and in Ash’s life. The writing is eloquent and descriptive, capturing the real anxieties and fears and insecurities that make up all of who Ash is, and in turn makes you “bedazzled” by Darian’s infallible, kind, optimistic nature, where you know Ash never had a chance of resisting and really, neither did the reader. This was full of emotions and heavy issues but equally balanced by the wry humor and some decent sexy. Alexis Hall still intimidates me to no end but I’ve got my feet wet, and I’m not backing down from future reads!!!
There’s not going to be much for me to add to the multitude of reviews out there singing this book’s praises, and it’s quite obvious what I loved most in this book.
What I will say is that for my first Alexis Hall, I call this a definite win.
Ash is a complex character, one weighed down by mental illness that he’s so acutely aware of. He knows his limitations, he knows his faults to a sobering degree and for most of the time, he's just barely surviving the darkness that envelops him despite some great and not so great efforts to bring order to his life. He wants to feel better, he wants to be better but always, that’s easier said than done.
Enter Darian, who’s a bit rough around the edges when compared to Ash’s air of refinement. He may be the complete opposite of Ash and seemingly all sorts of wrong but really, he is the perfect fucking rainbow to Ash’s doom and gloom cloud. A truly delightful memorable character who can easily be dismissed for his surface glare but has so much more depth, warmth, and layers, and I absolutely adored him.
So yes, Ash is inevitably an ass but he pretty much redeems himself and again, Darian is the shining light of this book and in Ash’s life. The writing is eloquent and descriptive, capturing the real anxieties and fears and insecurities that make up all of who Ash is, and in turn makes you “bedazzled” by Darian’s infallible, kind, optimistic nature, where you know Ash never had a chance of resisting and really, neither did the reader. This was full of emotions and heavy issues but equally balanced by the wry humor and some decent sexy. Alexis Hall still intimidates me to no end but I’ve got my feet wet, and I’m not backing down from future reads!!!
hayamaakito's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
islandbookwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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