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spicyspookypotato's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Racism
spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I enjoyed this historical romance featuring Ailsa Connery, a Black highland lass who has been held captive for three years after being mistaken for an escaped enslaved woman. Now enslaved by none other than King James, she has waited three years for her opportunity to escape and rejoin her clan. Her plans are scuttled by Kallum MacNeill, the chief warrior of a rival clan. And hijinks ensue…
There are a few twists and turns along the way that make this an enjoyable read. Some were formulaic for the genre and others were a surprise. It did take me a while to get past the author’s use of anachronistic language. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I am not new to the genre either and something about the way she wrote the characters’ speech and thoughts was difficult for me to parse. But about 25% in, it either smoothed out or I became accustomed to it and it became less intrusive.
The secondary characters, especially Inan and Caitrin are well-written though they remain fairly surface-level.
Ailsa and Kallum are both Black and there is a character that liberates enslaved persons. Ailsa occasionally speaks Yoruba though we are told this rather than shown it, which is a missed opportunity, especially given that the author does include Gaelic phrases from time to time. But there is quite a bit of diverse representation in this read.
The spice is a slow burn. When it hits, it is fairly euphemistic. I give it 🌶️🌶️.
As I look back in my highlights I am noting that the book lacks any passages where there are lyrical thoughts of yearning or poetic declarations. Nothing I can really add to my reviews as a quote that I loved. Aside from strong character development, words and language have probably the biggest impact on my reading experience. So that undoubtedly contributes to me rating it in the 3-star range rather than 4.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I read it as a buddy read with a friend. We are going to SteamyLit Con and Rayne is one of the attending authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️
There are a few twists and turns along the way that make this an enjoyable read. Some were formulaic for the genre and others were a surprise. It did take me a while to get past the author’s use of anachronistic language. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I am not new to the genre either and something about the way she wrote the characters’ speech and thoughts was difficult for me to parse. But about 25% in, it either smoothed out or I became accustomed to it and it became less intrusive.
The secondary characters, especially Inan and Caitrin are well-written though they remain fairly surface-level.
Ailsa and Kallum are both Black and there is a character that liberates enslaved persons. Ailsa occasionally speaks Yoruba though we are told this rather than shown it, which is a missed opportunity, especially given that the author does include Gaelic phrases from time to time. But there is quite a bit of diverse representation in this read.
The spice is a slow burn. When it hits, it is fairly euphemistic. I give it 🌶️🌶️.
As I look back in my highlights I am noting that the book lacks any passages where there are lyrical thoughts of yearning or poetic declarations. Nothing I can really add to my reviews as a quote that I loved. Aside from strong character development, words and language have probably the biggest impact on my reading experience. So that undoubtedly contributes to me rating it in the 3-star range rather than 4.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I read it as a buddy read with a friend. We are going to SteamyLit Con and Rayne is one of the attending authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
SA is attempted off page during the narrative and implied as having happened in the past.
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