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_isabel_'s review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
This was such a satisfactory read. Adorable, with the right amount of angst and sweet, intimate moments that made my toes curl.
It had all the things I love in a romance, but above all, delicious enemies-to-lovers vibes and arranged marriages.
The first half of the book was really good, with lots of angst and heartache and typical relationship misunderstandings. I actually disliked Raphael a lot at the beginning: he treated Milan in such a horrible way. However, his reasons, the scars he carried from his previous relationship and past heartache, made me feel for him and I ended up absolutely adoring both of the MCs.
Milan deserves a special mention though. He goes through so much, he abandons his home and family for duty and a man he doesn't know but still manages to keep his fiery spirit, his independence, his willfulness. I loved him, so much, and I loved seeing his more playful side but also his surprisingly protective one too: he's an Omega, so I wasn't expecting the way he protected and defended Raphael, being so strong and resilient all the time. There were lots of sweet and sexy moments and lots of profound and difficult ones too, that offered some very wise and interesting insights into trauma and abuse that I wasn't expecting but I really really appreciated.
The writing was phenomenal, the world-building simple but effective, the side characters adorable and the ending? So lovely.
An immensely enjoyable read, and although it's supposed to be part of the Omegaverse, the Alpha/Omega dynamics are surprisingly tame and the Mpreg hardly there. I loved it.
It had all the things I love in a romance, but above all, delicious enemies-to-lovers vibes and arranged marriages.
The first half of the book was really good, with lots of angst and heartache and typical relationship misunderstandings. I actually disliked Raphael a lot at the beginning: he treated Milan in such a horrible way. However, his reasons, the scars he carried from his previous relationship and past heartache, made me feel for him and I ended up absolutely adoring both of the MCs.
Milan deserves a special mention though. He goes through so much, he abandons his home and family for duty and a man he doesn't know but still manages to keep his fiery spirit, his independence, his willfulness. I loved him, so much, and I loved seeing his more playful side but also his surprisingly protective one too: he's an Omega, so I wasn't expecting the way he protected and defended Raphael, being so strong and resilient all the time. There were lots of sweet and sexy moments and lots of profound and difficult ones too, that offered some very wise and interesting insights into trauma and abuse that I wasn't expecting but I really really appreciated.
The writing was phenomenal, the world-building simple but effective, the side characters adorable and the ending? So lovely.
An immensely enjoyable read, and although it's supposed to be part of the Omegaverse, the Alpha/Omega dynamics are surprisingly tame and the Mpreg hardly there. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting
zabeishumanish's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
Reflections from a second reading: I stand by my initial 3-star rating, simply because nothing about the book or synopsis even attempted to prepare the reader for the sheer brutality of this book. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my second reading. This book is a pinnacle example of the hurt/comfort trope in romance books. The lovers are undergoing simultaneous trauma (one in the form of flashbacks) they are unwittingly enacting on each other and in the end, they come together to take comfort in their shared experience and bond. The book is beautifully written and the characters demonstrate a beautiful and patient level of healing over the second half of the book. I just wish I had been prepared for my first reading, I was genuinely crushed for days after the first read-through. As long as you know what you are going into though this is fantastic.
Review from first read-through: I was not prepared when I started this. The synopsis said that the alpha, Raphael, was a cold man, but damn. For nearly the entire first half of the book, Milan (the omega and narrator) believes that Raphael is actively trying to kill him. I genuinely sobbed at least twice trying to figure out how Milan could ever possibly forgive Raphael. Milan has a long-drawn-out sickness that culminates with him being less than a day or two from death. I was devasted reading about Raphael's perceived cruelty, and though it turns out none of it was intentional, the emotional damage was done.
Review from first read-through: I was not prepared when I started this. The synopsis said that the alpha, Raphael, was a cold man, but damn. For nearly the entire first half of the book, Milan (the omega and narrator) believes that Raphael is actively trying to kill him. I genuinely sobbed at least twice trying to figure out how Milan could ever possibly forgive Raphael. Milan has a long-drawn-out sickness that culminates with him being less than a day or two from death. I was devasted reading about Raphael's perceived cruelty, and though it turns out none of it was intentional, the emotional damage was done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
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