Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved this romantasy set in Ancient Rome. The mix between historical and romantasy was a fun combination. Loved this book and looking forward to part 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
This isn’t my usual genre… but Juliette completely converted me!
This mystical retelling of the fall of Julius Caesar is nothing short of epic. Before I begin, please note I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review—and honestly, I was blown away.
Going in, I was hesitant. This isn’t typically what I reach for, and the first chapter starts off slow, taking its time to build the world. But stick with it—the payoff is worth it. The author gradually immerses you in a reimagined Rome, one pulled into an alternate dimension where dragon shifters rule and live among the gods. I know, I know—it sounds wild. I was skeptical too. But hear me out…
Let me set the stage: enter Julianus Drakkus, our magnetic MMC. Once he appeared (end of ch. 1, I was hooked. The chemistry between him and the FMC is electric, the tension deliciously drawn out. And the slow-burn romance? Absolutely worth the wait. The spice was seamlessly woven into the story— tasteful, intentional, and oh-so-satisfying. I’m giving it a solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️.75
The pacing of the book was masterfully done, with plot twists perfectly placed to keep you on edge. And Caesar? He was written as the kind of villain you LOVE to hate. I especially appreciated the depth and complexity of the characters, it’s clear the author poured care into each one.
As for the narration, it was strong overall. The dual narration mostly worked well, though I’ll admit a couple of mismatched voice moments had me giggling. Still, the story was compelling enough that those moments were easy to overlook. In terms of tone and performance, the narrators nailed it.
Bottom line? I’d absolutely recommend this audiobook to anyone open to a genre-bending, mythology-infused, slow-burn fantasy romance. And I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
This mystical retelling of the fall of Julius Caesar is nothing short of epic. Before I begin, please note I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review—and honestly, I was blown away.
Going in, I was hesitant. This isn’t typically what I reach for, and the first chapter starts off slow, taking its time to build the world. But stick with it—the payoff is worth it. The author gradually immerses you in a reimagined Rome, one pulled into an alternate dimension where dragon shifters rule and live among the gods. I know, I know—it sounds wild. I was skeptical too. But hear me out…
Let me set the stage: enter Julianus Drakkus, our magnetic MMC. Once he appeared (end of ch. 1, I was hooked. The chemistry between him and the FMC is electric, the tension deliciously drawn out. And the slow-burn romance? Absolutely worth the wait. The spice was seamlessly woven into the story— tasteful, intentional, and oh-so-satisfying. I’m giving it a solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️.75
The pacing of the book was masterfully done, with plot twists perfectly placed to keep you on edge. And Caesar? He was written as the kind of villain you LOVE to hate. I especially appreciated the depth and complexity of the characters, it’s clear the author poured care into each one.
As for the narration, it was strong overall. The dual narration mostly worked well, though I’ll admit a couple of mismatched voice moments had me giggling. Still, the story was compelling enough that those moments were easy to overlook. In terms of tone and performance, the narrators nailed it.
Bottom line? I’d absolutely recommend this audiobook to anyone open to a genre-bending, mythology-infused, slow-burn fantasy romance. And I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Alcohol
This isn’t my usual genre… but Juliette completely converted me!
This mystical retelling of the fall of Julius Caesar is nothing short of epic. Before I begin, please note I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review—and honestly, I was blown away.
Going in, I was hesitant. This isn’t typically what I reach for, and the first chapter starts off slow, taking its time to build the world. But stick with it—the payoff is worth it. The author gradually immerses you in a reimagined Rome, one pulled into an alternate dimension where dragon shifters rule and live among the gods. I know, I know—it sounds wild. I was skeptical too. But hear me out…
Let me set the stage: enter Julianus Drakkus, our magnetic MMC. Once he appeared (end of ch. 1, I was hooked. The chemistry between him and the FMC is electric, the tension deliciously drawn out. And the slow-burn romance? Absolutely worth the wait. The spice was seamlessly woven into the story— tasteful, intentional, and oh-so-satisfying. I’m giving it a solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️.75
The pacing of the book was masterfully done, with plot twists perfectly placed to keep you on edge. And Caesar? He was written as the kind of villain you LOVE to hate. I especially appreciated the depth and complexity of the characters, it’s clear the author poured care into each one.
As for the narration, it was strong overall. The dual narration mostly worked well, though I’ll admit a couple of mismatched voice moments had me giggling. Still, the story was compelling enough that those moments were easy to overlook. In terms of tone and performance, the narrators nailed it.
Bottom line? I’d absolutely recommend this audiobook to anyone open to a genre-bending, mythology-infused, slow-burn fantasy romance. And I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
DNF'd at 90%. I simply don't care how this ends and that's astonishing considering I never DNF. But this book is a WRECK of racialized stereotypes and despite Bramble and the author presenting this as Romantasy- IT IS NOT. This is dark taboo "romance". And that's certainly some peoples cup of tea, but it's not mine. And I think they knew they were intentionally deceiving readers by burying the lead of the fact it's a SLAVE/MASTER "romance" in the author's note rather than the back of the book.
Spoilers past this point cause oh boy do I have thoughts.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, why the hell is our FMC underage when we first meet her? I recognize that the "barely legal" trope and fetishization is my own personal ick, but ICK. A teenager whose first meeting of our colonizer- I mean, MMC, is a SEXY BELLYDANCE. What is wrong with making adult characters for your adult fantasy? Especially since it adds nothing to this story. We could have had this EXACT scene play out with her as 19-20 and it wouldn't have changed a damn thing. Which leads me to think the only reason she is underage for this prologue is because of fetishizing "barely legal" girls.
Anyway, hello 4 year time skip. (Again, if we are skipping into adulthood anyway, why couldn't we have started with adult ages) And hello TW's for attempted SA. Which while I'm glad the author's note did warn about, I kinda feel like the author wanted her cake and to eat it too. She clarifies that this isn't historical Rome. But then uses historical Rome to justify the sexual violence scattered throughout the book. But if this is the culture, and this is the expected norms, then our MMC Julian shouldn't have any moral objections to it at all. Especially since he's a general for the Empire. To hold his position I assure you he would have done terrible things. But I think the author was seeking a way to make him somewhat redeemable or likeable just moments after murdering Malina's clan and enslaving the survivors. So let's have him 'save' her from SA and enslave her for himself! #BoyfriendMaterial right? Who needs a ring when you have a literal collar with his name declaring you his property.
Early on into Malina's enslavement she notes how the empire is never satisfied with its wealth or power. And tbh, this is where we could have had a much more interesting fantasy had we leaned into these themes and decided to write more realistic (even for fantasy) rebellion story. Instead we get instalove! For the man- and I cannot emphasize this enough- who just SLAUGHTERED her adoptive family, enslaved the survivors, and then enslaved her. AND HOURS INTO THIS SHE THINKS HOW PRETTY HE IS AND HOW THRILLING THIS IS. BITCH, GET A BACKBONE. I could not handle how poorly this was executed. The few times she muses about running or attempting to kill Julian are so pathetically halfhearted and completely deflated when put next to her thoughts about how this is kind of thrilling. It lacks any sense. And reads like she drank up Stockholm syndrome the second she was placed onto the premises.
And while I'm talking about Malina-Malina is Romanian. Dacian more specifically, which is now Romania today. She speaks the language and according to the author's note, this is what she's supposed to be ethnically. But I genuinely believe that the author has gotten Romanian and Romani confused. Because Malina doesn't read like a Dacian woman. She reads like a Romani stereotype. From her clothing in her teenager dance for coin, to her clothes as we meet her later (all of which come off as a 'boho' style and nothing like Dacian or Roman wear for the time), to how her people are depicted as traveling caravans who perform for money and are largely looked down upon by the empire- she reads like a Romani caricature. Read that opening scene and tell me you couldn't perfectly place Esmeralda from the feast of fools in her place.
Her fetishized exotic beauty is used as an excuse for why she's kidnapped and enslaved. Julian can't stop thinking about the underaged girl who danced for him, and so using the guise of "his dragon" going crazy, he just HAS to have her when he sees her again 4 years later. And then uses her beauty as a self blaming tool to forbid her to leave the house even when other slaves are permitted to go on duties.
"My direct gaze?" I huffed in anger. "So you're saying I invite the attention of other men?"
"Yes." I flinched at the insult. He sat up from the lounge and faced me.
"You may not mean to, Malina, but that fire burning in your eyes is a challenge to any man. But to a Roman and especially a dragon, it's like summoning a siren's call. Not to mention the rest of you."
I wonder where I've heard this kind of rhetoric before?
And again, we use the sexual violence of a colonizing empire to make a point but still try to make Julian the exception.
Anyway, I cannot emphasize enough how much I detest the COMPLETE LACK of build up or consent for this "relationship." They barely speak the first week. Aside from BUYING her maternal figure, (because remember how he killed her clan and enslaved the survivors?) Julian has done nothing to earn her trust much less any sort of attraction. It's been only DAYS since he MURDERED HER CLAN, ENSLAVED THE OTHERS, AND ENSLAVED HER. Even if I could get past the fact that he owns her, there's no courting or romance here. There's NOTHING to justify Malina's horny thoughts.
"There should be absolutely nothing living inside me but disgust and hatred for this man. This Roman." YES BITCH, THAT'S THE POINT. If only she could stick with that thought for longer than a few paragraphs before thinking how pretty he is again.
Enemies to lovers only works when you ACTUALLY build it up. And this is far beyond that, so the fact it couldn't even TRY to manage a genuine slow build is massively disappointing along with the rest of this book.
-5000 aura points for using "cunny" unironically.
And you know what's extra disappointing as I got about 50% into this? It was boring. Our build up is with the wrong things. Because Malina is established to already instaloving or at the very least, insta-atrraction in her mind, we're left with trying to build up Julian as a "good" colonizer- I mean, person, to the reader. By trying to show that 'oh but he's trying to establish a coup'. But it's just dreadfully boring.
By the time we have engaging battles and wounds to patch up, they've already been messing around. And to me, heavy petting and fingering count as sex. She can't consent. She is owned. And I don't care that before "going all the way" he offers to free her and take her anywhere. Because by this point she still read like a Stockholm case who's in love with her captor BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE IS. If he actually gave a shit, he'd fly her someplace far from the empire with a bag of gold and let her go.
I think the folks who enjoy the gratuitous sexual violence in Game of Thrones would probably like this. But most of the romance readers I'm in circles with require more consent and less on page assault.
Spoilers past this point cause oh boy do I have thoughts.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, why the hell is our FMC underage when we first meet her? I recognize that the "barely legal" trope and fetishization is my own personal ick, but ICK. A teenager whose first meeting of our colonizer- I mean, MMC, is a SEXY BELLYDANCE. What is wrong with making adult characters for your adult fantasy? Especially since it adds nothing to this story. We could have had this EXACT scene play out with her as 19-20 and it wouldn't have changed a damn thing. Which leads me to think the only reason she is underage for this prologue is because of fetishizing "barely legal" girls.
Anyway, hello 4 year time skip. (Again, if we are skipping into adulthood anyway, why couldn't we have started with adult ages) And hello TW's for attempted SA. Which while I'm glad the author's note did warn about, I kinda feel like the author wanted her cake and to eat it too. She clarifies that this isn't historical Rome. But then uses historical Rome to justify the sexual violence scattered throughout the book. But if this is the culture, and this is the expected norms, then our MMC Julian shouldn't have any moral objections to it at all. Especially since he's a general for the Empire. To hold his position I assure you he would have done terrible things. But I think the author was seeking a way to make him somewhat redeemable or likeable just moments after murdering Malina's clan and enslaving the survivors. So let's have him 'save' her from SA and enslave her for himself! #BoyfriendMaterial right? Who needs a ring when you have a literal collar with his name declaring you his property.
Early on into Malina's enslavement she notes how the empire is never satisfied with its wealth or power. And tbh, this is where we could have had a much more interesting fantasy had we leaned into these themes and decided to write more realistic (even for fantasy) rebellion story. Instead we get instalove! For the man- and I cannot emphasize this enough- who just SLAUGHTERED her adoptive family, enslaved the survivors, and then enslaved her. AND HOURS INTO THIS SHE THINKS HOW PRETTY HE IS AND HOW THRILLING THIS IS. BITCH, GET A BACKBONE. I could not handle how poorly this was executed. The few times she muses about running or attempting to kill Julian are so pathetically halfhearted and completely deflated when put next to her thoughts about how this is kind of thrilling. It lacks any sense. And reads like she drank up Stockholm syndrome the second she was placed onto the premises.
And while I'm talking about Malina-Malina is Romanian. Dacian more specifically, which is now Romania today. She speaks the language and according to the author's note, this is what she's supposed to be ethnically. But I genuinely believe that the author has gotten Romanian and Romani confused. Because Malina doesn't read like a Dacian woman. She reads like a Romani stereotype. From her clothing in her teenager dance for coin, to her clothes as we meet her later (all of which come off as a 'boho' style and nothing like Dacian or Roman wear for the time), to how her people are depicted as traveling caravans who perform for money and are largely looked down upon by the empire- she reads like a Romani caricature. Read that opening scene and tell me you couldn't perfectly place Esmeralda from the feast of fools in her place.
Her fetishized exotic beauty is used as an excuse for why she's kidnapped and enslaved. Julian can't stop thinking about the underaged girl who danced for him, and so using the guise of "his dragon" going crazy, he just HAS to have her when he sees her again 4 years later. And then uses her beauty as a self blaming tool to forbid her to leave the house even when other slaves are permitted to go on duties.
"My direct gaze?" I huffed in anger. "So you're saying I invite the attention of other men?"
"Yes." I flinched at the insult. He sat up from the lounge and faced me.
"You may not mean to, Malina, but that fire burning in your eyes is a challenge to any man. But to a Roman and especially a dragon, it's like summoning a siren's call. Not to mention the rest of you."
I wonder where I've heard this kind of rhetoric before?
And again, we use the sexual violence of a colonizing empire to make a point but still try to make Julian the exception.
Anyway, I cannot emphasize enough how much I detest the COMPLETE LACK of build up or consent for this "relationship." They barely speak the first week. Aside from BUYING her maternal figure, (because remember how he killed her clan and enslaved the survivors?) Julian has done nothing to earn her trust much less any sort of attraction. It's been only DAYS since he MURDERED HER CLAN, ENSLAVED THE OTHERS, AND ENSLAVED HER. Even if I could get past the fact that he owns her, there's no courting or romance here. There's NOTHING to justify Malina's horny thoughts.
"There should be absolutely nothing living inside me but disgust and hatred for this man. This Roman." YES BITCH, THAT'S THE POINT. If only she could stick with that thought for longer than a few paragraphs before thinking how pretty he is again.
Enemies to lovers only works when you ACTUALLY build it up. And this is far beyond that, so the fact it couldn't even TRY to manage a genuine slow build is massively disappointing along with the rest of this book.
-5000 aura points for using "cunny" unironically.
And you know what's extra disappointing as I got about 50% into this? It was boring. Our build up is with the wrong things. Because Malina is established to already instaloving or at the very least, insta-atrraction in her mind, we're left with trying to build up Julian as a "good" colonizer- I mean, person, to the reader. By trying to show that 'oh but he's trying to establish a coup'. But it's just dreadfully boring.
By the time we have engaging battles and wounds to patch up, they've already been messing around. And to me, heavy petting and fingering count as sex. She can't consent. She is owned. And I don't care that before "going all the way" he offers to free her and take her anywhere. Because by this point she still read like a Stockholm case who's in love with her captor BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE IS. If he actually gave a shit, he'd fly her someplace far from the empire with a bag of gold and let her go.
I think the folks who enjoy the gratuitous sexual violence in Game of Thrones would probably like this. But most of the romance readers I'm in circles with require more consent and less on page assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, War
Minor: Vomit
Slave/Master "romance", GRAPHIC on page rape scenes multiple times. Physical abuse.
dnf at 37%...I'll do a short review later
---------------------
My first review for April will be a dnf ...unfortunately, it seems that Firebird wasn't for me 🤷🏼♀️
With this fail...i think I'll stop trying this genre 😅..it seems I'm not the target audience, and that's fine 🙃
General info: first in the Fire that Binds adult romantasy series ; inspired by Ancient Rome ; with dragons
CW : attempted sexual assault ; sexual assault ; public humiliation ; slavery ; violence
#bookthoughts
I believe I've read enough to have an opinion on this title..37%...and I identified some very funny things 😅🤣
The author says that she used Romanian as the language of the Dacian people in the book..as the original is long dead...fair enough 🙂..but as a Romanian...😅...maaan...we have a saying 'ca nuca-n perete' ( like a nut in the wall) - meaning it's extremely forced 🤷🏼♀️..sometimes it uses the translation right next to the 'Dacian language'...example : she gathered her skirts and fustă ( which means skirt) 😶.
It's like she looked up some words she was interested in...but didn't bother to look up how they're used
If you don't want to commit...DON'T USE a different language....
NEXT : The world is vague at best..and I get it...we don't need a map with details on everything.
But I almost died laughing with a friend because of this vagueness 🤣..I mean...our MCs travel from one place to another pretty early in the book...but the fmc has 3 paragraphs of inner speech where she basically whines why everyone has any faith in her..and we arrived at our destination 😶...like...bro has 300km/h 🤣🤣🤣
It's very funny 😌🤌
Similar things happen almost every chapter. We discuss that something needs to be done regarding the main villain...yes, we need to do something...I also agree with you, what about you my friend?...yes...and then we proceed to do nothing 🫠
Also..Malina, despite never seeing Rome before...she knows that building to be the Colosseum 🤷🏼♀️...and she can navigate her way around the city that she tells someone to wait for her in a spot, like it's not her first time there 😂🫠🥲
In a more serious note...the relationship has no chemistry, it's insta-love with fated mate stuff, high doses of possessive behaviour, and on the plot side of things...we have lazy writing...something happens with someone's wife...👀...but, în my opinion, it's used to show you why this guy is bad🤷🏼♀️...
My question is : how on earth did he stay alive and in power if he's like this all the time???🤔...no answer 🤷🏼♀️
Finally, the elephant in the room : the master/ slave dynamic...yes, it's there and you may very well hate it 🥹
Overall, I feel I'm looking for different things in this story than the actual target audience..and that's fine..hope that anyone who enjoys this, will continue to do so ☺️
---------------------
My first review for April will be a dnf ...unfortunately, it seems that Firebird wasn't for me 🤷🏼♀️
With this fail...i think I'll stop trying this genre 😅..it seems I'm not the target audience, and that's fine 🙃
General info: first in the Fire that Binds adult romantasy series ; inspired by Ancient Rome ; with dragons
CW : attempted sexual assault ; sexual assault ; public humiliation ; slavery ; violence
#bookthoughts
I believe I've read enough to have an opinion on this title..37%...and I identified some very funny things 😅🤣
The author says that she used Romanian as the language of the Dacian people in the book..as the original is long dead...fair enough 🙂..but as a Romanian...😅...maaan...we have a saying 'ca nuca-n perete' ( like a nut in the wall) - meaning it's extremely forced 🤷🏼♀️..sometimes it uses the translation right next to the 'Dacian language'...example : she gathered her skirts and fustă ( which means skirt) 😶.
It's like she looked up some words she was interested in...but didn't bother to look up how they're used
If you don't want to commit...DON'T USE a different language....
NEXT : The world is vague at best..and I get it...we don't need a map with details on everything.
But I almost died laughing with a friend because of this vagueness 🤣..I mean...our MCs travel from one place to another pretty early in the book...but the fmc has 3 paragraphs of inner speech where she basically whines why everyone has any faith in her..and we arrived at our destination 😶...like...bro has 300km/h 🤣🤣🤣
It's very funny 😌🤌
Similar things happen almost every chapter. We discuss that something needs to be done regarding the main villain...yes, we need to do something...I also agree with you, what about you my friend?...yes...and then we proceed to do nothing 🫠
Also..Malina, despite never seeing Rome before...she knows that building to be the Colosseum 🤷🏼♀️...and she can navigate her way around the city that she tells someone to wait for her in a spot, like it's not her first time there 😂🫠🥲
In a more serious note...the relationship has no chemistry, it's insta-love with fated mate stuff, high doses of possessive behaviour, and on the plot side of things...we have lazy writing...something happens with someone's wife...👀...but, în my opinion, it's used to show you why this guy is bad🤷🏼♀️...
My question is : how on earth did he stay alive and in power if he's like this all the time???🤔...no answer 🤷🏼♀️
Finally, the elephant in the room : the master/ slave dynamic...yes, it's there and you may very well hate it 🥹
Overall, I feel I'm looking for different things in this story than the actual target audience..and that's fine..hope that anyone who enjoys this, will continue to do so ☺️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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:
No
I’m a huge fan of Juliette Cross’s Stay a Spell series, which is more of what I would consider more of an urban-type fantasy, so I was pretty excited to try a more straight up fantasy world built by her—and it didn’t disappoint! I loved the reimagined Roman mythology with dragons! I’ll definitely be continuing this series as it comes out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Spicy historical romantasy the book says, when it's dark monster romance. And the only tw at the beginning is that this is NOT historical and the romans are awful.
There were 3 spicy scenes, which I skip bc I understood this is a series, so why is there instalove? Slowburn would've been great, specially cos this is slave/master relationship and it didn't need to be.
If I'd known this, the book would have got 4 stars.
There were 3 spicy scenes, which I skip bc I understood this is a series, so why is there instalove? Slowburn would've been great, specially cos this is slave/master relationship and it didn't need to be.
If I'd known this, the book would have got 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If this meeting could've been an email - was a book...
This book had so much potential but unfortunately didn't live up to any of it.
First of all, there are no content trigger warnings for the master/slave dynamic, the implied SA, attempted SA & DubCon. There is a tiny blurb added as an afterthought to the bottom of the Goodreads synopsis and that's it.
The world building could have been amazing but the author seemingly just relied on the fact that it's set in Ancient Rome and was like, BAM! add dragons and there ya go! That's all you need to know! There's minimal political intrigue IN ANCIENT ROME. So many trips to the forum and discussions about the senate but not actually getting to witness any of it? That's a travesty. All we get to witness is some behind closed doors plotting and it's secondary to the romance, which is also lacking.
The romance is love/lust at first sight. There's no yearning or pining. No tension. Just insta-lust. The majority of the book is the 2 main characters talking and it's painfully obvious what happening between them. The spice was also disappointing. To say I was bored is an understatement because NOTHING HAPPENS until like 90% into the book. None of the reveals or "twists" were shocking, the few action scenes are so short and underdeveloped they resolve within a few pages. I understand that this book is majorly setting up all the action to take place in the next book but this does not leave me needing to know what's happening next. Just left feeling unsatisfied at all the loose ends.
The master/slave dynamic was also not it for me. I get that he's a dragon but the amount of times he says "mine" is crazy. Especially since she's his slave... It just feels icky. Then there's the dubcon scene (dubious consent). It's one thing to be between the MCs and there's an established trust and understanding between them but for it to be between the villain and another character as a show of power was gross.
Malina was the only saving grace of this book. It was refreshing to have a FMC who was strong and confident and not whiny.
This book had so much potential but unfortunately didn't live up to any of it.
First of all, there are no content trigger warnings for the master/slave dynamic, the implied SA, attempted SA & DubCon. There is a tiny blurb added as an afterthought to the bottom of the Goodreads synopsis and that's it.
The world building could have been amazing but the author seemingly just relied on the fact that it's set in Ancient Rome and was like, BAM! add dragons and there ya go! That's all you need to know! There's minimal political intrigue IN ANCIENT ROME. So many trips to the forum and discussions about the senate but not actually getting to witness any of it? That's a travesty. All we get to witness is some behind closed doors plotting and it's secondary to the romance, which is also lacking.
The romance is love/lust at first sight. There's no yearning or pining. No tension. Just insta-lust. The majority of the book is the 2 main characters talking and it's painfully obvious what happening between them. The spice was also disappointing. To say I was bored is an understatement because NOTHING HAPPENS until like 90% into the book. None of the reveals or "twists" were shocking, the few action scenes are so short and underdeveloped they resolve within a few pages. I understand that this book is majorly setting up all the action to take place in the next book but this does not leave me needing to know what's happening next. Just left feeling unsatisfied at all the loose ends.
The master/slave dynamic was also not it for me. I get that he's a dragon but the amount of times he says "mine" is crazy. Especially since she's his slave... It just feels icky. Then there's the dubcon scene (dubious consent). It's one thing to be between the MCs and there's an established trust and understanding between them but for it to be between the villain and another character as a show of power was gross.
Malina was the only saving grace of this book. It was refreshing to have a FMC who was strong and confident and not whiny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence
This was a much needed re-read, but with the audio. It's been about a year since I've read the digital ARC and I think this might be my top favorite by Juliette. Simply said, I’m ready for more! The excitement and anticipation, I just couldn’t stop putting this down. And thank goodness Juliette likes to write interconnected standalones because I’m not so patient. Dragons in Roman times, while fascinating, this world is absolutely ruthless. But it gripped me the entire way, yet eager for a lot of things to unfold.
Saddle up for this one!
All the stars for the narration by Blair Dade and Kale Williams, both new to me narrators! They did such a great job bring everything forward with Malina and Julian.
Please take note of the content warnings.
Saddle up for this one!
All the stars for the narration by Blair Dade and Kale Williams, both new to me narrators! They did such a great job bring everything forward with Malina and Julian.
Please take note of the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence