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ashlightgrayson's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This book was delayed multiple times, so I was happy when I was able to purchase the e-book this month after such a long wait. Unfortunately, this book seemed rushed and I could tell by reading it. The first book had fast pacing, but at least the main characters had time to get to know each other and develop a romantic relationship. Dhuro is a lot more unlikeable than Veron and it feels like he wasn't given time to grow as a character because the story was so short. I would have liked him a lot more if he had. Arabella and him are disagreeable with each other at the beginning of the book and the transition to having a romantic relationship felt like it came out of nowhere. Dhuro and her had argued viciously and they transitioned to a romantic and sexual relationship before his previous behavior towards her was properly addressed. They also didn't spend enough time together for me to be convinced of the extent of their feelings for each other. I think this would have worked out better if it had just been left at "they like each other" rather than trying to sell us on "they are head over heels in love". I believe the potential for the being in love should have been left out in the open. The story was disappointing, unfortunately. I really wanted to like Dhuro more. I usually like the grumpy jerk with a heart of gold, but it seems this was not the one for me.
Since they get married at the end (in part for external but mutually convenient reasons) it would have been more satisfactory if they were entering married life with the hope that their infatuation would turn into love. In the world of arranged marriages, that seems a lot more realistic and wouldn't have completely suspended my disbelief in the story. I also don't think every romance needs to end with marriage. Sometimes an ending with potential for a stronger long lasting love is okay for me. This is just my opinion on how I think the story could have ended on a better note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Blood and Death
emilyrainsford's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5/5
Bright of the Moon picks up the story of Dhuro, the brother of the main dark-elf character in No Man Can Tame, and Bella, a human girl who rebels against her family's war mongering ways and accidentally gets herself turned into a unicorn.
Dhuro is tasked with getting unicorn Bella to the other unicorns to learn to control her new form. They both infuriate each other (she can talk via unicorn telepathy), until the full moon changes her back into a human and they realise maybe the tension between them is something else...
I picked up the first book, No Man Can Tame, last year via a Facebook ad, and we all know how risky that can be in terms of book quality. I was pleasantly surprised however, to find that the book was fairly well written and quite enjoyable. The sequel has been long awaited, and again I found it quite a fun read. The world they inhabit has an Italian flair, while also being populated with all kinds of elves, pixies, griffins, and other magical beings.
The romance takes centre stage, as it did in the first book. They are essentially romance stories in a fantasy setting, and all the other political and war aspects mainly serve as a backdrop to the love story. I don't mind this at all, but it's good to know what you're getting into. It turns out that, while I find normal modern romances a bit tedious and annoying, make them a blue-skinned elf and a women-cum-unicorn in a fantasy world instead and suddenly I'm all about it lol!
I enjoyed the tension between Bella and Dhurro, they had great chemistry. There are a couple of brief, fairly tame but still hot sex scenes, pretty much my perfect steam level. Even though they kind of have an enemy to lovers thing going on, I did find their relationship moved rather quickly from "do me" to "I love you and want to commit to you forever"... but okay, it's a fun fantasy romance, it's meant to be escapist.
There are definitely some plot points that didn't make much sense, but I think this is one of those reads where I just take it for what it is without engaging the inner critic too much.
Although it's said this can be read as a standalone, I am glad I had the context and worldbuilding of the first book behind me, as this one kind of just jumps straight in.
A fun, light, easy read with a nice mushy love story, and sometimes that's just exactly what I want.
Bright of the Moon picks up the story of Dhuro, the brother of the main dark-elf character in No Man Can Tame, and Bella, a human girl who rebels against her family's war mongering ways and accidentally gets herself turned into a unicorn.
Dhuro is tasked with getting unicorn Bella to the other unicorns to learn to control her new form. They both infuriate each other (she can talk via unicorn telepathy), until the full moon changes her back into a human and they realise maybe the tension between them is something else...
I picked up the first book, No Man Can Tame, last year via a Facebook ad, and we all know how risky that can be in terms of book quality. I was pleasantly surprised however, to find that the book was fairly well written and quite enjoyable. The sequel has been long awaited, and again I found it quite a fun read. The world they inhabit has an Italian flair, while also being populated with all kinds of elves, pixies, griffins, and other magical beings.
The romance takes centre stage, as it did in the first book. They are essentially romance stories in a fantasy setting, and all the other political and war aspects mainly serve as a backdrop to the love story. I don't mind this at all, but it's good to know what you're getting into. It turns out that, while I find normal modern romances a bit tedious and annoying, make them a blue-skinned elf and a women-cum-unicorn in a fantasy world instead and suddenly I'm all about it lol!
I enjoyed the tension between Bella and Dhurro, they had great chemistry. There are a couple of brief, fairly tame but still hot sex scenes, pretty much my perfect steam level. Even though they kind of have an enemy to lovers thing going on, I did find their relationship moved rather quickly from "do me" to "I love you and want to commit to you forever"... but okay, it's a fun fantasy romance, it's meant to be escapist.
There are definitely some plot points that didn't make much sense, but I think this is one of those reads where I just take it for what it is without engaging the inner critic too much.
Although it's said this can be read as a standalone, I am glad I had the context and worldbuilding of the first book behind me, as this one kind of just jumps straight in.
A fun, light, easy read with a nice mushy love story, and sometimes that's just exactly what I want.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
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