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daisycantread24's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
andreaaaoid's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Loved this! This might be my favorite in the series so far. The relationship felt so different from the other books. In the first four books, the start of the relationships felt much more accidental and the women were in a place of confusion for such a big portion of the story. In this book, Gwyn and Joarr's relationship felt like a partnership, where Gwyn had a lot of agency. I also appreciated the way Fenn approached the self-harm part of the story line; it was very thoughtfully written, filled with the desperation that people who self-harm feel, and with compassion for that pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Violence, and Pregnancy
unhinged_book_goblin's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
olayinka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
christyjoreads's review
5.0
Now, this one is a little lighter. Gwyn figures out Joarr's manipulation early on and there is a really great side story about her self-harm.
At the end, I was confused by the competitve fucking between the two men and their mates, but with Orc culture, I've just let it be what it is....exhibitionism is the norm, so it shouldn't have surprised me.
Another 5 star read! I have ordered the next two books in the series and pre-ordered Beauty and the Orc. Honestly, these have been some of the best books I have read in a long time - hits every dirty little fantasy. Love you Finley Fenn! You. Are. Amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Pregnancy
isitcake's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
I didn't like this as much as the first book. Surprised the Heaving Bosoms podcast chose this one to read from the series.
Likes
-The midwife concept for Orc Mountain, like the IPB series all these pregnant girls definitely need one
-How she has and continues her career as a midwife even after getting with Joarr
-Gwynn helps Joarr become accepted by his new clan (his backstory is fairly complex, his grandfather was Seer of the Bautal(sp) clan but he made some mistake and was outcast, he pretended and became part of the Skai clan. His son, and his grandson Joarr all thought they were Skai until some Ka-esh researcher orc revealed his ancestry and he was publicly outed. Now as a Seer of Bautal clan, the current leader Stilfast feels threatened and has had made him extremely unwelcome. Joarr has been pretty miserable since and he takes some of this out on Gwynn. Joarr made a pledge as part of the Bautal coming-of-age requirement that he would seduce Gwynn, get her pregnant, and she would be forced to testify and humiliate her father as part of the new law he's pushing that will endanger all women who become involved with orcs. That's like the central plot of the book.)
-Also liked the ending. Stilfast and his pregnant wife Stella have martial problems this entire book and it comes to a head when she drugs him with henbane and runs away to hide at Gwynn's house. Gwynn realizes she'll need to go there and sacrifice herself, to knowingly go through Joarr's original plan even though it will humiliate her, but it will protect all the women she's come to befriend. But Stilfast shows up, he and Stella make up and we learn their whole problem was the orc healer told them they couldn't have rough sex which was straining their relationship. Gwynn quickly corrects that assumption. While they're making up in the bedroom, Gwynn's betrothed Roy shows up and plans to drag her away to marry him. Gwynn shoots him with a crossbow but doesn't kill him. Then her FATHER shows up and Gwynn is like "I found the best man ever I want to marry" and then reveals its an orc, Joarr. He tries to shoot Joarr with the crossbow but Joarr dodges. And then he accepts Joarr after Joarr cooks him a great meal and agrees after some bargaining to sleep him with hallucinogenic mushrooms!? wtf!?!? They both laugh after at least
Like & Dislike!?
-Ugh the "is it raining?" cum shower on the guards below after they have sex in a tree and then THEY KEEP REFERENCING IT and laughing about it throughout the entire book. And in the last scene Joarr fucking pulls out to unleash Gwynn's load onto Stilfast who was right next to him in this double fuck competition scene on the goddess' alter. Jfc what did I read!?
Dislikes
-Gwynn cuts herself and finds release from self-harm
-She constantly belittles herself, calling herself stupid, even though it seems like only Roy does this to her so idk why it would get to her so much
-She just expects Joarr to instantly reveal all his secrets right away?? Like out of the blue? I thought Joarr waiting to reveal everything about himself was pretty normal considering their a different species and her dad is a powerful lord. But Gwynn takes it personally and every secret withheld is an act of betrayal in her eyes. I also just didn't like her constantly questioning their relationship at the drop of a hat.
Likes
-The midwife concept for Orc Mountain, like the IPB series all these pregnant girls definitely need one
-How she has and continues her career as a midwife even after getting with Joarr
-Gwynn helps Joarr become accepted by his new clan (his backstory is fairly complex, his grandfather was Seer of the Bautal(sp) clan but he made some mistake and was outcast, he pretended and became part of the Skai clan. His son, and his grandson Joarr all thought they were Skai until some Ka-esh researcher orc revealed his ancestry and he was publicly outed. Now as a Seer of Bautal clan, the current leader Stilfast feels threatened and has had made him extremely unwelcome. Joarr has been pretty miserable since and he takes some of this out on Gwynn. Joarr made a pledge as part of the Bautal coming-of-age requirement that he would seduce Gwynn, get her pregnant, and she would be forced to testify and humiliate her father as part of the new law he's pushing that will endanger all women who become involved with orcs. That's like the central plot of the book.)
-Also liked the ending. Stilfast and his pregnant wife Stella have martial problems this entire book and it comes to a head when she drugs him with henbane and runs away to hide at Gwynn's house. Gwynn realizes she'll need to go there and sacrifice herself, to knowingly go through Joarr's original plan even though it will humiliate her, but it will protect all the women she's come to befriend. But Stilfast shows up, he and Stella make up and we learn their whole problem was the orc healer told them they couldn't have rough sex which was straining their relationship. Gwynn quickly corrects that assumption. While they're making up in the bedroom, Gwynn's betrothed Roy shows up and plans to drag her away to marry him. Gwynn shoots him with a crossbow but doesn't kill him. Then her FATHER shows up and Gwynn is like "I found the best man ever I want to marry" and then reveals its an orc, Joarr. He tries to shoot Joarr with the crossbow but Joarr dodges. And then he accepts Joarr after Joarr cooks him a great meal and agrees after some bargaining to sleep him with hallucinogenic mushrooms!? wtf!?!? They both laugh after at least
Like & Dislike!?
-Ugh the "is it raining?" cum shower on the guards below after they have sex in a tree and then THEY KEEP REFERENCING IT and laughing about it throughout the entire book. And in the last scene Joarr fucking pulls out to unleash Gwynn's load onto Stilfast who was right next to him in this double fuck competition scene on the goddess' alter. Jfc what did I read!?
Dislikes
-Gwynn cuts herself and finds release from self-harm
-She constantly belittles herself, calling herself stupid, even though it seems like only Roy does this to her so idk why it would get to her so much
-She just expects Joarr to instantly reveal all his secrets right away?? Like out of the blue? I thought Joarr waiting to reveal everything about himself was pretty normal considering their a different species and her dad is a powerful lord. But Gwynn takes it personally and every secret withheld is an act of betrayal in her eyes. I also just didn't like her constantly questioning their relationship at the drop of a hat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Sexual content
onlyonebookshelf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Violence
essie__reads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Possibly my favorite in this series so far!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual content, War, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Blood, Kidnapping, Drug use, Gaslighting, Violence, Mental illness, and Abortion