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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lovely light read after Oroppa, though not without its heavy themes. I liked the gothicness of it, as well as the faerietheme, but I must confess I didn't entirely follow the faerie-plots.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
I am so mixed on this.
I adored Winnie, she is cunning and independent, and you understand exactly why once her backstory is revealed. I think consent of someone who experienced molestation as a child was incredibly well done (and dare I say, hot.) I almost put the book down several times as we experience her disembodied assault during her dreams (again, another great representation / metaphor of dissociation during abuse.) It made me so uncomfortable, which was its aim as a gothic romance, and I do not fault it for that.
But, as one of the other reviews notes, this does not stand alone. Now, I've read the other three books in Atwater's regency trilogy but I do not recall details of the stories because I rarely do after I read (more, the emotions of enjoying Half a Soul is what I recall.) As such, I felt very lost. I could tell I was supposed to recognize names, characters, and stories but I was so lost and it became very frustrating. You can tell that you are missing half of story, which led to an empty experience. Like...what the Lord Sorcier is within this world is not explained, nor is the system or world of magic and faerie. I know from the previous books that he's the King's magical leader, but something as simple as that should be defined for new readers who have not read the other books. I felt like I was reading mist, I couldn't pin down any of the story concretely or understand what was going on as the worldbuilding and historical context was not defined or explained. I muddled through but I can see this being a very frustrating read for new readers who do not know they should start with Half a Soul.
Also... I'm not into rat-men vampires as my romantic lead. Some people are into monster romances! And I am not. Truly, attempt a drinking game with this and how many times "wine-red eyes" are used, you'll be in hospital a quarter of the book. I also don't find the smell of blood attractive nor rat tails that twitch, attached to humanesque bodies. ALSO the book does not convey that there is meant to be a romance between Winnie and Mr Quincy until 78% through the book. I was so taken aback and checked my percentage read when that happened. That far along, I'd resigned myself to there being no romance. And I'm not sure it being rushed in the 22% that remained salvaged it.
I dunno. There's something here, I just wish an editor had prodded for worldbuilding and context to be explained so that this can be the story it wants to be.
I adored Winnie, she is cunning and independent, and you understand exactly why once her backstory is revealed. I think consent of someone who experienced molestation as a child was incredibly well done (and dare I say, hot.) I almost put the book down several times as we experience her disembodied assault during her dreams (again, another great representation / metaphor of dissociation during abuse.) It made me so uncomfortable, which was its aim as a gothic romance, and I do not fault it for that.
But, as one of the other reviews notes, this does not stand alone. Now, I've read the other three books in Atwater's regency trilogy but I do not recall details of the stories because I rarely do after I read (more, the emotions of enjoying Half a Soul is what I recall.) As such, I felt very lost. I could tell I was supposed to recognize names, characters, and stories but I was so lost and it became very frustrating. You can tell that you are missing half of story, which led to an empty experience. Like...what the Lord Sorcier is within this world is not explained, nor is the system or world of magic and faerie. I know from the previous books that he's the King's magical leader, but something as simple as that should be defined for new readers who have not read the other books. I felt like I was reading mist, I couldn't pin down any of the story concretely or understand what was going on as the worldbuilding and historical context was not defined or explained. I muddled through but I can see this being a very frustrating read for new readers who do not know they should start with Half a Soul.
Also... I'm not into rat-men vampires as my romantic lead. Some people are into monster romances! And I am not. Truly, attempt a drinking game with this and how many times "wine-red eyes" are used, you'll be in hospital a quarter of the book. I also don't find the smell of blood attractive nor rat tails that twitch, attached to humanesque bodies. ALSO the book does not convey that there is meant to be a romance between Winnie and Mr Quincy until 78% through the book. I was so taken aback and checked my percentage read when that happened. That far along, I'd resigned myself to there being no romance. And I'm not sure it being rushed in the 22% that remained salvaged it.
I dunno. There's something here, I just wish an editor had prodded for worldbuilding and context to be explained so that this can be the story it wants to be.
It just made me want to read the others all over again!
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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