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pondinea's review
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
the_lawyer_librarian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
edel_29's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cloudsurfing's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
redfed03's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Writing felt naive and clumsy at points and the plot line poor and under developed. The 'world' could have had significant expansion but it was barely explained at all. Felt little for the characters and was grateful when it ended. Wouldn't bother with this author again
atrailofpages's review
5.0
OMG the romance in this book!!!!
This story follows Selene Sinclair who becomes an orphan after her brother William tries to save her from being sold to a man by her father and gets killed in an earthquake. She is taken in to the Orson's household where they take care of orphans and she lives there until she is twenty. One day, the man known as The Collector comes to get some orphans for his home, and sees Selene and decides to take Selene and five of the orphans with him. They go to The Collector's home with Selene wondering what kind of life they will live now since the world they live in is unforgiving, when it turns out it may not be quite what she thought it would be and The Collector himself is not quite what she expected either.
Now, I will first say I'm not usually one for dystopians, BUT I do love retellings, and romances, so I knew I wanted to check this one out, and I'm glad I did! The setting of this book is very dark and gritty and definitely dystopian. The world is filled with unforgiving people and a council that seems to rule New London that allows people to have slaves working for them, even under unappealing circumstances. And women are viewed as nothing more than breeders. It was tough to read some aspects of that because it is not a pretty world that seems to have no hope in it, and the way we follow Selene through this story from a life of almost misery, to dread, and then maybe hope is so well done. And although Selene irritated me at times at first, I can understand why she may act out the way she did since all she wanted was to find happiness, especially for the orphans. And I think maybe she just needed to learn the hard way that life was actually going to be okay for her and the kids, and that maybe the reason she acted out is because she was already feeling comfortable at Blackburn Manor. Let's just say her development is slow but well done, and I really liked her in the end!
Now for my favorite aspect of this book...the romance! OMG this romance just, I just don't even know what to say! The tension throughout the entirety of this book! I'm just yelling at my book telling them to just kiss already or something, just do something! Gahhhhh!!! It is such a slow burn, it was practically torture sitting there reading how they're feeling, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT! I mean how can I sit there and read this and not be vocal about?! I loved it! I loved the tension, the slow burn, those long lingering glances at each other, and the "will they or won't they" thoughts. I mean if you don't like dystopians, just read this book for the romance! It is a lovely mix of Beauty and the Beast and Jane Eyre, a lovely dark and romantic romance, and really reminded me why I love my men so broody!
This was just so so good! And I am looking forward to reading Killian's story next!!!! Because the moment I heard about him in this book and what he does and what he likes, I knew he would be a favorite and I want to read his story now! Seriously, just go read this series now!
I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story follows Selene Sinclair who becomes an orphan after her brother William tries to save her from being sold to a man by her father and gets killed in an earthquake. She is taken in to the Orson's household where they take care of orphans and she lives there until she is twenty. One day, the man known as The Collector comes to get some orphans for his home, and sees Selene and decides to take Selene and five of the orphans with him. They go to The Collector's home with Selene wondering what kind of life they will live now since the world they live in is unforgiving, when it turns out it may not be quite what she thought it would be and The Collector himself is not quite what she expected either.
Now, I will first say I'm not usually one for dystopians, BUT I do love retellings, and romances, so I knew I wanted to check this one out, and I'm glad I did! The setting of this book is very dark and gritty and definitely dystopian. The world is filled with unforgiving people and a council that seems to rule New London that allows people to have slaves working for them, even under unappealing circumstances. And women are viewed as nothing more than breeders. It was tough to read some aspects of that because it is not a pretty world that seems to have no hope in it, and the way we follow Selene through this story from a life of almost misery, to dread, and then maybe hope is so well done. And although Selene irritated me at times at first, I can understand why she may act out the way she did since all she wanted was to find happiness, especially for the orphans. And I think maybe she just needed to learn the hard way that life was actually going to be okay for her and the kids, and that maybe the reason she acted out is because she was already feeling comfortable at Blackburn Manor. Let's just say her development is slow but well done, and I really liked her in the end!
Now for my favorite aspect of this book...the romance! OMG this romance just, I just don't even know what to say! The tension throughout the entirety of this book! I'm just yelling at my book telling them to just kiss already or something, just do something! Gahhhhh!!! It is such a slow burn, it was practically torture sitting there reading how they're feeling, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT! I mean how can I sit there and read this and not be vocal about?! I loved it! I loved the tension, the slow burn, those long lingering glances at each other, and the "will they or won't they" thoughts. I mean if you don't like dystopians, just read this book for the romance! It is a lovely mix of Beauty and the Beast and Jane Eyre, a lovely dark and romantic romance, and really reminded me why I love my men so broody!
This was just so so good! And I am looking forward to reading Killian's story next!!!! Because the moment I heard about him in this book and what he does and what he likes, I knew he would be a favorite and I want to read his story now! Seriously, just go read this series now!
I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
toastyness's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
whatsmacksaid's review
DNF at page 88. I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but it never did. The prose isn’t lush enough to warrant that kind of lingering, and the Orsons came across as caricatures instead of genuinely awful people.