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missbliss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Formulaic Spicy Exactly What You Expect
I think listening to these books are better enjoyed when you set your expectations. Similar to when you sit down for a Hallmark, looking to be entertained more than experiencing some kind of world ending story telling. That said there are far worse in this genre and some better. I love Dohner's Mate Set. I could not get through book one of New Species or VLG. Both are very formulaic, there is enough story that it doesn't feel like total smut, but not far off. Clearly the sex is what is driving the whole narrative, and the author writes a good sex scene. TRIGGER WARNING attempted rape is discussed in the story. Also with this genre there is the level of really no choice for most women, essentially be the mate of a barbarian or be a sex slave or sold off. It is odd to feel like wow lucked out because at least my barbarian and I have great sex but definitely not a situation where it feels like complete autonomous choice, just a bright side of orgasm in essentially a complete wreck of a world. This makes the volumes of this series seem hard to tell apart if you quickly read the summaries for all the stories they are almost all identical. So these are hard for me to binge because I get tired so quickly of the one note nature of it. But hey if you want the same meal everyday cause it's your favorite meal go for it. That meal is big alpha man with almost zero personality (think Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy), weak "irrational" woman who in her show of independence and spirit will make nonsensical decisions that put her in danger that the alpha will save her from but create conflict that the woman did not obey him, monogamy, only male/female pairing, male loves pleasuring woman and gives woman better orgasms that she ever has before, instant love, WAY quick easy HEA no matter how insane the odds were stacked against the couple. The end of this story I was eye rolling so hard at the main female and her ridiculous antics it was painful. I will return to the series but need breaks between. I enjoy Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarian series for actually being able to inject humor and more realistic characters and world building that feels more fleshed out. Dohner's males are big, horny, angry, possessive, cold. And yes always big man and tiny fragile woman. The narration is well done much better than other stories for sure. I will say I would enjoy if they had a solid male narrator for these stories but I know they are already long completed so no hope for that. When you are in the mood for this style the book delivers but as I said I would mix this up with others so you don't get bogged down in the sameness of it.
I think listening to these books are better enjoyed when you set your expectations. Similar to when you sit down for a Hallmark, looking to be entertained more than experiencing some kind of world ending story telling. That said there are far worse in this genre and some better. I love Dohner's Mate Set. I could not get through book one of New Species or VLG. Both are very formulaic, there is enough story that it doesn't feel like total smut, but not far off. Clearly the sex is what is driving the whole narrative, and the author writes a good sex scene. TRIGGER WARNING attempted rape is discussed in the story. Also with this genre there is the level of really no choice for most women, essentially be the mate of a barbarian or be a sex slave or sold off. It is odd to feel like wow lucked out because at least my barbarian and I have great sex but definitely not a situation where it feels like complete autonomous choice, just a bright side of orgasm in essentially a complete wreck of a world. This makes the volumes of this series seem hard to tell apart if you quickly read the summaries for all the stories they are almost all identical. So these are hard for me to binge because I get tired so quickly of the one note nature of it. But hey if you want the same meal everyday cause it's your favorite meal go for it. That meal is big alpha man with almost zero personality (think Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy), weak "irrational" woman who in her show of independence and spirit will make nonsensical decisions that put her in danger that the alpha will save her from but create conflict that the woman did not obey him, monogamy, only male/female pairing, male loves pleasuring woman and gives woman better orgasms that she ever has before, instant love, WAY quick easy HEA no matter how insane the odds were stacked against the couple. The end of this story I was eye rolling so hard at the main female and her ridiculous antics it was painful. I will return to the series but need breaks between. I enjoy Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarian series for actually being able to inject humor and more realistic characters and world building that feels more fleshed out. Dohner's males are big, horny, angry, possessive, cold. And yes always big man and tiny fragile woman. The narration is well done much better than other stories for sure. I will say I would enjoy if they had a solid male narrator for these stories but I know they are already long completed so no hope for that. When you are in the mood for this style the book delivers but as I said I would mix this up with others so you don't get bogged down in the sameness of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
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