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booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The rapport between Edwin and Robin slowly builds, lagging behind the intensity of each man’s buried attraction to the other. Robin adjusts pretty quickly to the existence of magic (a situation made much harder to ignore by the harsh nature of his introduction). Edwin’s focus is on trying to remove Robin’s curse, initially thinking of their acquaintance as very temporary and somewhat reversible. Much of the book is spent on Edwin’s family’s estate, with his siblings whose pranks range from frustrating to cruel.
The worldbuilding is pretty subtle about placing the era, the setting is one where magic exists within the otherwise real history of the British Isles. Since I wasn't trying very hard to place it I was content to know it's a while ago, but after the invention of cars. I'm sure there are clues to place it more precisely if I looked hard, but the story wasn't trying to trouble me with those. It did more with the ways that magic could be secret, and the key seems to be that (in England, specifically), it's tied up in old money and old families since magic is passed through bloodlines.
I enjoyed this immensely and will definitely read the rest of the series. The ending sets up a clear idea for the arc of the series, and I'll happily read more in this setting even if Edwin and Robin don't stay as the protagonists.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent
emilyspex's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexism
friends2lovers's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
valpuri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Chronic illness, Racism, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
While the plot was well-paced and thrilling, I did however find that it lost its way at certain points. Particularly after some of the more intimate scenes, which disrupted the flow of the plot. It was hard to decipher whether the blossoming relationship or the mystery was meant to be the focal point. Overall I think the two ended up entangling in an amazing way, but midway through my read it was a tad confused.
Magic, queer romance and mystery - always a must-read, and this book series is definitely one that should be.
It wasn’t a broken heart. It was more like broken glass: a bottle, smashed, letting everything flow out from where it had been long corked and fermenting.
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Outing
Minor: Homophobia
ladythana's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Grief
pagelikebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Torture
Minor: Physical abuse
A few spicy sceneskingcrookback's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
lily_west's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Outing, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail