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paracosim's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Trafficking and Xenophobia
time4tori2read's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Forced institutionalization
clockworkbee's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I’m afraid the World Fantasy Award has lost all credibility with me now that I know this book won it in 2019. I can’t understand how such an incredibly poorly edited book won such a prestigious award. Seriously- I was shocked this wasn’t self published because it read like fan fiction. The author assumes the readers already know everything about the world and it’s races and she never bothers to explain. Her world building is nearly nonexistent. She clearly wanted to set it in Edwardian England, but for some unknown reason she instead makes a fantasy world based of off it with a few minor changes instead. Monday becomes Firstday for example. These changes weren’t necessary and didn’t add anything to the world. So much is never explained. What is Tristan? His race is never explained and we are left to assume he’s something like a fae. How are secondaries determined? How are they assigned? Miles seemed to grow up knowing he would be his younger sister’s secondary, but it seems his mother was secondary to his father. Why wasn’t he bound as a child? If they have to be a certain age before the binding that should have been explained. What exactly is a witch mark? The magic system of this fantasy world makes zero sense because the author glossed over it.
The romance, if you can call it that, is instalove. We are told they are falling in love versus being shown it. They barely know each other at the end of the book, yet somehow they decide to get married. There’s no development of their relationship. They eat a few meals together and Miles moves in after knowing Tristan a few days, but we rarely see them discuss anything but the mystery. Tristan promised to teach Miles how to use his magic, but that never really happens either. Miles mainly stares into mirrors while Tristan reads a book. There is a ton of buildup towards Miles and Tristan finally sleeping together, but it fails to live up to expectations. We are told they go into a bedroom and that’s it. It kind of felt like the author wasn’t up to the task of writing a gay sex scene. It was weird for a book that’s been lauded for its inclusivity. The whole romance consisted of maybe two kisses and a bedroom scene that we don’t get to read. Does that really count as inclusive?? Tristan is a cardboard cut out of a character. At one point Miles lists his faults to his sister and they aren’t even believable because we haven’t seen any of the faults he’s describing!
The character of Grace was all over the place! The author sets it up so you will absolutely despise her, but then wants you to sympathize with her in the end. She’s the main character of the next book and that ruined any chance that I’d continue with this series. Her character is a sociopath! She would literally rather die than release her brother because she’s so determined to inherit her father’s role. I read the audiobook version, but if I hadn’t I would have thrown the book across the room when Miles refused to kill her to reclaim his freedom. She claims she wants to make life better for the secondaries, but then once her brother is bound to her she betrays him at every turn. Her motivations for wanting to improve life for the secondaries was clear as mud. Apparently it had something to do with her childhood sweetheart? Then at the end she suddenly decides to free Miles after all. No idea why. She just does. Her character makes no sense! I know people were very excited for the sequel because Grace is supposed to be in a f/f relationship, but that makes no sense either. She spent most of the book making homophobic statements about her brother’s preferences.
I wanted to root for Miles, but it was hard to like his character. He claims that being bound is his worst nightmare, but then he immediately forgives his sister for doing it. He had zero spine when it came to his sister and that really made it difficult for me to empathize with him. He just resigns himself to his fate. His refusal to hate his sister didn’t seem realistic to me. If my sister was constantly homophobic towards me, bound me so she could steal my power, and was trying to arrange my marriage (while ignoring my sexuality) for her political gain, I wouldn’t be falling all over myself to help her.
I think the author suffered from too many ideas for the plot and that’s where a good editor would have been helpful. Instead, the three mysteries are barely developed and then loosely tied together in the end. The mystery with the veterans was probably the most interesting, but Miles barely investigates it. Really he only solves everything due to luck. The villains she spent most of the book setting up just disappear and we never learn their motivations. Instead his father is the man behind the curtain. The conclusion of the mystery is unsatisfying because you don’t understand how they got there when they did so little sleuthing! This could have been really interesting if it had been fleshed out properly. Instead the author bogged down the book with tons of scenes that did little to advance the plot. It was at once both too slow and too rushed in regards to pacing. It really seemed like the author forgot about certain plot points at time. Like what did Miles’ landlady see in Grace’s tea leaves? Why did Robin disappear for most of the book? Why did the other doctor have it out for Miles? The book ends extremely abruptly after Tristan proposed. It left a ton of loose ends and I’m not even sure what the next book will be about because of how awkward the ending is.
The book had a ton of potential but was ultimately pretty disappointing. Usually historical fantasy is right up my alley, but this was a big miss. I think the author could be pretty decent someday, but she definitely needs a stronger editor.
The romance, if you can call it that, is instalove. We are told they are falling in love versus being shown it. They barely know each other at the end of the book, yet somehow they decide to get married. There’s no development of their relationship. They eat a few meals together and Miles moves in after knowing Tristan a few days, but we rarely see them discuss anything but the mystery. Tristan promised to teach Miles how to use his magic, but that never really happens either. Miles mainly stares into mirrors while Tristan reads a book. There is a ton of buildup towards Miles and Tristan finally sleeping together, but it fails to live up to expectations. We are told they go into a bedroom and that’s it. It kind of felt like the author wasn’t up to the task of writing a gay sex scene. It was weird for a book that’s been lauded for its inclusivity. The whole romance consisted of maybe two kisses and a bedroom scene that we don’t get to read. Does that really count as inclusive?? Tristan is a cardboard cut out of a character. At one point Miles lists his faults to his sister and they aren’t even believable because we haven’t seen any of the faults he’s describing!
The character of Grace was all over the place! The author sets it up so you will absolutely despise her, but then wants you to sympathize with her in the end. She’s the main character of the next book and that ruined any chance that I’d continue with this series. Her character is a sociopath! She would literally rather die than release her brother because she’s so determined to inherit her father’s role. I read the audiobook version, but if I hadn’t I would have thrown the book across the room when Miles refused to kill her to reclaim his freedom. She claims she wants to make life better for the secondaries, but then once her brother is bound to her she betrays him at every turn. Her motivations for wanting to improve life for the secondaries was clear as mud. Apparently it had something to do with her childhood sweetheart? Then at the end she suddenly decides to free Miles after all. No idea why. She just does. Her character makes no sense! I know people were very excited for the sequel because Grace is supposed to be in a f/f relationship, but that makes no sense either. She spent most of the book making homophobic statements about her brother’s preferences.
I wanted to root for Miles, but it was hard to like his character. He claims that being bound is his worst nightmare, but then he immediately forgives his sister for doing it. He had zero spine when it came to his sister and that really made it difficult for me to empathize with him. He just resigns himself to his fate. His refusal to hate his sister didn’t seem realistic to me. If my sister was constantly homophobic towards me, bound me so she could steal my power, and was trying to arrange my marriage (while ignoring my sexuality) for her political gain, I wouldn’t be falling all over myself to help her.
I think the author suffered from too many ideas for the plot and that’s where a good editor would have been helpful. Instead, the three mysteries are barely developed and then loosely tied together in the end. The mystery with the veterans was probably the most interesting, but Miles barely investigates it. Really he only solves everything due to luck. The villains she spent most of the book setting up just disappear and we never learn their motivations. Instead his father is the man behind the curtain. The conclusion of the mystery is unsatisfying because you don’t understand how they got there when they did so little sleuthing! This could have been really interesting if it had been fleshed out properly. Instead the author bogged down the book with tons of scenes that did little to advance the plot. It was at once both too slow and too rushed in regards to pacing. It really seemed like the author forgot about certain plot points at time. Like what did Miles’ landlady see in Grace’s tea leaves? Why did Robin disappear for most of the book? Why did the other doctor have it out for Miles? The book ends extremely abruptly after Tristan proposed. It left a ton of loose ends and I’m not even sure what the next book will be about because of how awkward the ending is.
The book had a ton of potential but was ultimately pretty disappointing. Usually historical fantasy is right up my alley, but this was a big miss. I think the author could be pretty decent someday, but she definitely needs a stronger editor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Homophobia
micheala's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
This is an alternative history with hidden magic type of book. I really liked the atmosphere and the dual ways that magic was treated in societies. It had a nice little mystery and gave me a ship to care about, so really this was set up to be a book I was going to really love. For the most part I did really enjoy it.
If it was unclear before, I have strong feelings about characters, and I loathed Grace. Did I knock an entire star off this book because of her? Yes, yes I did. Am I debating not continuing with the series because I don't want her to have a happily ever after? Yup. Jessica /might/ be able to convince me to read the second book, but only if the third book is amazing, otherwise this will live in my heart as a standalone.
Even with that all said, the actual main characters of Miles and Tristan were *chefs kiss* and I feel like this is one of those books that I'll end up rereading on a at least semi-regular basis.
Even though I'm not a fan of first person narration, I liked Polk's writing enough that I'm interested to check out other things that they publishes.
If it was unclear before, I have strong feelings about characters, and I loathed Grace. Did I knock an entire star off this book because of her? Yes, yes I did. Am I debating not continuing with the series because I don't want her to have a happily ever after? Yup. Jessica /might/ be able to convince me to read the second book, but only if the third book is amazing, otherwise this will live in my heart as a standalone.
Even with that all said, the actual main characters of Miles and Tristan were *chefs kiss* and I feel like this is one of those books that I'll end up rereading on a at least semi-regular basis.
Even though I'm not a fan of first person narration, I liked Polk's writing enough that I'm interested to check out other things that they publishes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Genocide, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
purplatypus's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Excrement, Infidelity, and Torture
ehmannky's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
I didn't know what to expect with this book, other than a friend with impeccable taste recommended it. And she did not disappoint. What a beautiful read, and I'm reeling from the tenderness of care Polk allows her characters to express. It's a book about the bonds that bind us, and what willing (Friends, community) vs unwilling bonds (family that doesn't understand boundaries or bodily autonomy) look like on a literal level. The world that magic has built is one built on unfairness and oppression, and when the question of " is this oppression good because of the needs of the many" is offered, the answer unequivocally and loudly "no."
The emphasis on care and empathy for others, for not turning away, all of that is enough to make me recommend this book. And the relationships between Miles and Tristan was so tender and loving and Miles and Grace brought tears to my eyes because it was a bond of love so strained by power and damaged.
The emphasis on care and empathy for others, for not turning away, all of that is enough to make me recommend this book. And the relationships between Miles and Tristan was so tender and loving and Miles and Grace brought tears to my eyes because it was a bond of love so strained by power and damaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Child death and Drug use
astudyinfic's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I could give a book more than 5 stars, this would be it. It has everything I love in a novel (queer, romance, supernatural, historical), along with amazing world-building and many fleshed-out characters. I want more time with Miles and Tristan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, and Slavery
Minor: Domestic abuse and Torture
betsy's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This world has an inventive kind of magic and an interesting political structure that unfolds. Even though it deals with some heavy topics it is mainly light, and it involves romance that fits in with but doesn't overshadow the mystery / thriller aspects of the plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse
It involves a character working at a veterans' hospital, helping address trauma from the war. Most of the violence and discussion of domestic abuse is offstage, though there are fight scenes and
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