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bujo_bellel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
This was absolutely beautiful, I'm very tempted to buy a copy for myself because of the story and the beautiful cover!! I really liked reading Niamh and Kit's love story, I liked reading about the politics and also really enjoyed the magic system in this book. I really liked the writing and how it's closed door(I think it's implied). The characters are well thought out and I really like the addition of Rosa and Miriam would LOVE to read about their story (talking to you, Author). Rosa and Miriam are so cute together and I really want to see how the rest of their story unfolds and what happens with the politics. I really hope that Jack and Sofia fall in love so they won't be in a loveless marriage and also be able to share their burdens with each other. I think Jack and Kit's relationship although is complicated, but after knowing the reason why both sides react that way, you can't help but see that they love each other, just that they don't know how to express it properly due to their upbringing. I hope to see in the next book (hopefully there is and is focusing on Rosa and Miriam) that we get to see how being married to Kit has affected Niamh and her family and their business which Miriam also works at ( i think). Really enjoyed this book and went in almost blind and I was not really expecting to enjoy it this much because I didn't really enjoy A Far Wilder Magic that much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, War, and Sexual content
alexijai98's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A predictable and lighthearted read, if a bit repetitive. The main characters were pretty flat and I found myself skimming the last third of the book just to get to the conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Classism, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content
shadowinferno's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Despite some questionable world building choices, I really loved this book thanks to every single one of the characters (and the plot going harder than it really had to). It made me deliriously happy. Real kicking my little feet in the air vibes :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Homophobia, Racism, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, War, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Drug use
bookish_cam27's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My start with this book was slow, but somewhere in between page 50 and 100 I was hooked. I was initially bothered by the formatting of my edition—closely packed words that were very large— but I got over that quickly as I found myself falling in love with the characters. The story revolved around their individual flaws and what that meant for their relationship. I wasn’t expecting to get called out the way I did by this book. It had an incredibly beautiful— and surprising— message about taking life slow and enjoying the time you have and the people around you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death and Violence
bookbratt's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism and Physical abuse
narsere's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Homophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
becca_w_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Classism, Violence, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Medical content, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexism, Terminal illness, Addiction, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, War, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing, Confinement, Abandonment, Outing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
cristina_margarita's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was so dreamy & romantic! I loved all of the characters & the world was thoughtfully constructed. I very much enjoyed the backdrop of a royal wedding. It was such a comforting and light read, I truly did love it.
On to the criticisms.
The last 40% of the book felt incredibly rushed, I very much enjoyed the languid pace of the first 60%. It suited the tone of a Regency inspired fantasy novel. I understand that this was likely a decision on the publisher’s side but I wish Allison could have gotten a chance to finish the book with the same slightly meandering pace it started with.
Additionally, the timeline doesn’t make a ton of sense. Niamh says she will be there for 6 weeks but within the first few chapters (after she makes the first coat for Kit) she has already been there for 12 days. How does everything else happen in like a month????? It doesn’t make sense!
The characters were unequivocally too young. Kit has been gone for 4 years because he was banished for being an alcoholic & was for years but he’s also a year sober? At 19? No. This man is 22 at the youngest. Again, like you a decision made to keep the characters YA aged but it sat poorly with me.
I have to say, I was surprised at the sexual content in this book. While not graphic, it still felt rather explicit for a YA novel. I had expected this to be a much more closed door romance. But also not sure why I was surprised, Niamh was SO horny on main for the entire book.
The novel is structured just like an adult romance novel, so despite all of Allison’s previous work being YA, I think this would have been a better novel with that key structural change.
On to the criticisms.
The last 40% of the book felt incredibly rushed, I very much enjoyed the languid pace of the first 60%. It suited the tone of a Regency inspired fantasy novel. I understand that this was likely a decision on the publisher’s side but I wish Allison could have gotten a chance to finish the book with the same slightly meandering pace it started with.
Additionally, the timeline doesn’t make a ton of sense. Niamh says she will be there for 6 weeks but within the first few chapters (after she makes the first coat for Kit) she has already been there for 12 days. How does everything else happen in like a month????? It doesn’t make sense!
The characters were unequivocally too young. Kit has been gone for 4 years because he was banished for being an alcoholic & was for years but he’s also a year sober? At 19? No. This man is 22 at the youngest. Again, like you a decision made to keep the characters YA aged but it sat poorly with me.
I have to say, I was surprised at the sexual content in this book. While not graphic, it still felt rather explicit for a YA novel. I had expected this to be a much more closed door romance. But also not sure why I was surprised, Niamh was SO horny on main for the entire book.
The novel is structured just like an adult romance novel, so despite all of Allison’s previous work being YA, I think this would have been a better novel with that key structural change.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
briannad4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, War, and Alcoholism
doot's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
Minor: Sexual content