Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

1 review

thoughtsstained's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-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? No

5.0

 LIKES:

  • Lysande Prior. Oh boy, do I fucking love Lysande Prior? Like, I want to BE HER when I grow up!? The way she grows into a role thrust upon her and allows herself to feel ambition and use her unique talents and strengths is legendary. Her mind is fantastic. The tenacity. I bend a knee to Prior, gladly.
  • The uniqueness of focus. I've read very few books where the scholar is the prime focus and it was positively refreshing. Plus, it felt like, in many areas, where we'd traditionally focus in one area, it was instead shifted to a different (and more interesting) conflict than the one we expected. (Being purposely vague here, due to avoiding spoilers.)
  • It's GAAYYYYYYY. Queernorm world? Check. BISEXUAL MAIN CHARACTER!? Yes and my little bi heart did NOT realize how refreshing that would be. Queer relationships unapologetically on the page!? YES.
  • Beautifully written. Like, holy shit, this was gorgeous!? Plus, it was written with a scholar's perspective in mind and I fucking loved that.
  • Last 100 pages. So, I started reading the last 100 pages on my lunch break and then promptly turned off my camera during a Zoom meeting at 1pm and read for another hour during work because I couldn't stop (sorry day job). Everything had been set up so perfectly. The twists! The reveals! The sexual tension!!! Setting up a sequel!! I just!!!!

DISLIKES:
  • Nothing. This is perfection.

The Councillor has skyrocketed to be one of my favorite books (and I don't say that lightly). Combining gorgeous writing with a main character I both admire and fear, with a cast of secondary characters that I'm attached to (hello Litany!!), despite (FUCK YOU, REDACTED) and am, um, way too attracted to (you all know who I mean here, surely). The plot was thrilling, I am 100% invested in what happens next and I am both kicking myself for waiting to read this and berating myself for reading it too soon before the sequel comes out, now stuck longing. Also, can I just saw that queernorm worlds are just so superior? 

So, none of us are surprised that The Councillor by E.J. Beaton is getting 5 gems out of 5 gems, right? Gorgeous, shiny gems. 
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