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littleowlette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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
2.25
The book felt a little rushed in some places, and slow in others. I almost DNF'd on several occasions, however I pushed through.
It felt very much like it was trying to be the next ACOTAR, down to feeling like certain characters had been copy/pasted. I found myself rereading parts to try and understand why certain things happened, or how A lead to B. There was an entire chapter about an event that was made out to be a big deal, but was never elaborated on, nor had any further substance. There was an entire part about X equaling to Y that wasn't explained and it too me far too long to understand how two previously unlinked things were now linked and held great importance. We only see a very important, must occur often event happen twice within the book, then we see characters becoming confused as to why the consequences of the inaction are occurring.
The plot twist at the end was a little unexpected (though I admit I didn't think far into the book), and I quite enjoyed it. The enemies to lovers was well written, as well as the slow burn.
All in all, whilst perhaps not my cup of tea, it may be someone else's.
It felt very much like it was trying to be the next ACOTAR, down to feeling like certain characters had been copy/pasted. I found myself rereading parts to try and understand why certain things happened, or how A lead to B. There was an entire chapter about an event that was made out to be a big deal, but was never elaborated on, nor had any further substance. There was an entire part about X equaling to Y that wasn't explained and it too me far too long to understand how two previously unlinked things were now linked and held great importance. We only see a very important, must occur often event happen twice within the book, then we see characters becoming confused as to why the consequences of the inaction are occurring.
The plot twist at the end was a little unexpected (though I admit I didn't think far into the book), and I quite enjoyed it. The enemies to lovers was well written, as well as the slow burn.
All in all, whilst perhaps not my cup of tea, it may be someone else's.
raylovesya'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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a really enjoyable standalone Romantasy with a rewarding slow burn romance!
teeganlee17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
akiikomori's review against another edition
3.0
**read and listened to the audiobook from Audible**
I was super excited about this book which sat on my TBR for a while before I got a chance to read it.
As excited as I was for it - Beauty and the Beast, Taking of Persephone inspired - I found it sort of... all over the place... maybe it was too long, maybe it could have been cut down more, maybe it could have gone through some more edits?
And then I found out that this was the author's NANOWRIMO for 2020 and I went OHHHH THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I'm an aspiring writer though I don't take the hobby seriously. I've started many things (novels/stories) but am much better writing shorter pieces or having a writing partner to bounce ideas off of.
I've finished one nanowrimo book that remains unpublished in my drawer.
To me writing is VERY PERSONAL and I feel like people can see right through me with my writing, and the author even admitted that their writing was also personal to them and I felt myself relating to this journey a lot.
It might not be the most polished story (IMHO though others may say other wise) but to be brave enough to write something this long, to put it out there into the world - mad respect.
Definitely more beats in line with Beauty and the Beast than The Taking of Persephone.
I don't know if I will read the others - if the author decides to write more;
But again, mad respect.
I was super excited about this book which sat on my TBR for a while before I got a chance to read it.
As excited as I was for it - Beauty and the Beast, Taking of Persephone inspired - I found it sort of... all over the place... maybe it was too long, maybe it could have been cut down more, maybe it could have gone through some more edits?
And then I found out that this was the author's NANOWRIMO for 2020 and I went OHHHH THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
I'm an aspiring writer though I don't take the hobby seriously. I've started many things (novels/stories) but am much better writing shorter pieces or having a writing partner to bounce ideas off of.
I've finished one nanowrimo book that remains unpublished in my drawer.
To me writing is VERY PERSONAL and I feel like people can see right through me with my writing, and the author even admitted that their writing was also personal to them and I felt myself relating to this journey a lot.
It might not be the most polished story (IMHO though others may say other wise) but to be brave enough to write something this long, to put it out there into the world - mad respect.
Definitely more beats in line with Beauty and the Beast than The Taking of Persephone.
I don't know if I will read the others - if the author decides to write more;
But again, mad respect.
chandelierskies's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kamilleslibrary's review against another edition
DNF ≈ 40%, after two months trying to finish this book, I decided to DNF it… I might come back to it eventually, but I’m just not interested to continue reading this book, right now.
Things I liked so far:
- The banter,
- The characters are actually enemies in the beginning of this book.
- The world / magic system, It’s kind of different from all the other persophone&hades / beauty&thebeast retelling I’ve read so far.
Things I didn’t like:
- I couldn’t get attached to any characters.
- The pacing, nothing really happen and I almost half way through the book.
TW: alcoholism
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Things I liked so far:
- The banter,
- The characters are actually enemies in the beginning of this book.
- The world / magic system, It’s kind of different from all the other persophone&hades / beauty&thebeast retelling I’ve read so far.
Things I didn’t like:
- I couldn’t get attached to any characters.
- The pacing, nothing really happen and I almost half way through the book.
TW: alcoholism
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book!
isadora_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hooked me from the beginning and I finished it in 1 day. This is a Beauty and the Beast themed spicy romance, with many call backs to the Disney version we are all familiar with. The comparison to Hades and Persephone is limited to the land being trapped in winter and the male lead being a god, who has been banished and judges the dead.
There is also some cross over with ACOTAR #1, if you like strong heroines with are the main family providers that find themselves forcefully taken to the more magical side of their world.
Stand out tropes: one horse, one bed, enemies to lovers, godXhuman relationships, grumpy/grumpy, caregiving, strong heroine, she keeps trying to kill him but he's super patient.
I love the Beauty and the Beast formula, and this book does it very well. But in this story both the MMC and FMC have their own darkness and issues to work out. The burn is slow as both characters find themselves falling in love, despite her goal to kill him in order to give the land reprieve from winter.
I totally look forward to reading the rest of the series and recommend this to anyone who likes spicy fantasy romance.
There is also some cross over with ACOTAR #1, if you like strong heroines with are the main family providers that find themselves forcefully taken to the more magical side of their world.
Stand out tropes: one horse, one bed, enemies to lovers, godXhuman relationships, grumpy/grumpy, caregiving, strong heroine, she keeps trying to kill him but he's super patient.
I love the Beauty and the Beast formula, and this book does it very well. But in this story both the MMC and FMC have their own darkness and issues to work out. The burn is slow as both characters find themselves falling in love, despite her goal to kill him in order to give the land reprieve from winter.
I totally look forward to reading the rest of the series and recommend this to anyone who likes spicy fantasy romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction
sbruns1's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
meahwilson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
5.0