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vermontsnowboarder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I've described this book to people before as pocket trash. You know it's terrible.
The writing isn't great. In terms of the plot, there are a lot of plotholes—things that don't really make sense, and once you start to pull at one, the entire thing unravels and doesn't make any sense. Armentrout needs a better editor. There are A LOT of unnecessary moments and words. The FMC has so many inner monologues that it's exhausting and pointless. Her views and random thoughts do not add to the story; they take away from it by bogging the reader down.
The worldbuilding is lackluster. It's supposed to be grand and sweeping and yet, it's flat and blase. It's not just that things are waiting to be revealed; it's that there is a lack of description and connection to the world in which this story is set.
Another thing that really bothers me is the blatant racism. The FMC's "best friend" is a black woman named, I kid you not, Tawny. Are you ready for her role? She is the FMC's lady's maid. The MCC's best friend is a black man who can shift into a werewolf (wolven) named Kieran (which means black, in case you didn't know), who is bound to the MCC. So basically, both of them are servants. The main characters and those in power are all white.
Want a book with loads of sexual assault? This book has it in spades. The MCC hides his identity and uses his false one to get close to the FMC, proceeds to seduce her, take her virginity, and then gaslight her by telling her that it was "real". He knew full well that she never ever would have gone near him if she had known who he really was. After he takes her virginity, he continues invading her space and touching her despite her telling him no several times.
The writing isn't great. In terms of the plot, there are a lot of plotholes—things that don't really make sense, and once you start to pull at one, the entire thing unravels and doesn't make any sense. Armentrout needs a better editor. There are A LOT of unnecessary moments and words. The FMC has so many inner monologues that it's exhausting and pointless. Her views and random thoughts do not add to the story; they take away from it by bogging the reader down.
The worldbuilding is lackluster. It's supposed to be grand and sweeping and yet, it's flat and blase. It's not just that things are waiting to be revealed; it's that there is a lack of description and connection to the world in which this story is set.
Another thing that really bothers me is the blatant racism. The FMC's "best friend" is a black woman named, I kid you not, Tawny. Are you ready for her role? She is the FMC's lady's maid. The MCC's best friend is a black man who can shift into a werewolf (wolven) named Kieran (which means black, in case you didn't know), who is bound to the MCC. So basically, both of them are servants. The main characters and those in power are all white.
Want a book with loads of sexual assault? This book has it in spades. The MCC hides his identity and uses his false one to get close to the FMC, proceeds to seduce her, take her virginity, and then gaslight her by telling her that it was "real". He knew full well that she never ever would have gone near him if she had known who he really was. After he takes her virginity, he continues invading her space and touching her despite her telling him no several times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol
wiltingnightshade's review against another edition
slow-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? No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism
summerunderawillowtree's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Do you like steamy romance with very clear consent? Yeah. Then this book is not for you.
Also- why… just WHY are the two people that are “bound” to the main (white) characters the only fleshed out characters of Color? Gross. Racist and gross.
I kept thinking, okay maybe I am missing something. But no. We’ve got virginity tropes, “I know better that you about your own safety” tropes, and an age gap that feels as yucky as Rhys and Feyre’s would’ve had the batboy not understood the meaning of no.
Skip it.
Also- why… just WHY are the two people that are “bound” to the main (white) characters the only fleshed out characters of Color? Gross. Racist and gross.
I kept thinking, okay maybe I am missing something. But no. We’ve got virginity tropes, “I know better that you about your own safety” tropes, and an age gap that feels as yucky as Rhys and Feyre’s would’ve had the batboy not understood the meaning of no.
Skip it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
kerttuli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Racism, and Death of parent
katloupet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book stared out kind of slow and I had a hard time getting into it but once it picked up I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the characters and the romance as well as the world, though the world building was confusing in the beginning there is a good reason for that. I’m exited to read the next book and continue the story
That said I do think it’s important to mention the the POC rep in this book is terrible. Most of the characters in this book are white and those who aren’t are in service to main white characters. Additionally one of them turns into an wolf. Not to mention their names, Tawny and Kieran, mean brown and “little dark one” respectively. (This was pointed out by mynameismarines on tiktok I didn’t realize it myself)
Link to tiktok video
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdtUpAXe/
That said I do think it’s important to mention the the POC rep in this book is terrible. Most of the characters in this book are white and those who aren’t are in service to main white characters. Additionally one of them turns into an wolf. Not to mention their names, Tawny and Kieran, mean brown and “little dark one” respectively. (This was pointed out by mynameismarines on tiktok I didn’t realize it myself)
Link to tiktok video
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdtUpAXe/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Gore, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
strawberrymoonceci's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
It's disheartening to see that something so blatantly racist can get published. The protagonist's best friend is a black girl, named Tawny, ffs, who acts as her maid. The love interest's best friend is a black guy named Kieran, which means the little dark one, who is magically bound to him, so, also a servant. It's ridiculous. This entire book is also filled with sexual assault. The main guy conceals his indentity until the end, which is a form of sexual assault. She would have never done it with him if she had known who he was. Once she finds out who he is, he relentlessly mocks her, and so does everyone else. He also promises her that it's going to happen again. I was rage crying by the end. But honestly I don't even know how I managed to get there. The book was extremely slow, the writing was poor, and the protagonist had no personality. I had to start skimming. This was my worst read of the year, and looking back I really wish I had dnf'd. I struggled so hard to finish it that I should have just given up. I will not be reading anything else by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Not only is she a bad writer with no concept of consent, but she is also a racist. It's really unfortunate how popular this book is, and it's sad to see how many people call themselves allies and in the same breath recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism