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callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Rape, and Pregnancy
someryarns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Classism, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Abandonment, Outing, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
sarahmiller98's review
4.0
In my opinion, this is one of the gentler love stories the author has done - she is often very good at high friction, high angst romances between strong-willed and difficult people, but I actually really enjoy her softer romances too. In this case, both Joss and Gareth are basically kind and caring people who really like each other and, were it not for external events getting in the way, probably would never have had major issues to begin with. It makes for some refreshingly low-key and tender interactions between the two of them, which contrasts nicely with the high-octane smuggling plot. An all-around pleasure to read.
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Racism, and Xenophobia
20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Gun violence
displacedcactus's review
- 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
Aside from the natural history angle, this is a pretty standard M/M historical romance. KJ Parker is a solid author, though I do sometimes feel weird about women who primarily write M/M romance set during times/places when it was illegal to engage in gay sex. For that reason, and the fact that I usually prefer Sapphic romance, I'll probably not continue with this new series.
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence
tostita's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Abandonment
ridesthesun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I love this story, I love the different relationships developed, I love the exploration of family -all the good and bad and complicated feelings that come with it. And Gareth and Jos I'm so 🥺 🥺 🥺 🥺 🥺 🥺
They are so tender with each other. And the way they grow with each other and challenge each other is just so beautiful. And that ending for them 🥰🥰🥰 I'm in love
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Outing, Murder, Violence, Confinement, Child abuse, and Cursing
jjjreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, and Stalking
lapon's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment
purrson's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
While I generally prefer to read queer stories written by openly queer authors, I always make exceptions for Charles (who’s ID I don’t know): She’s so good at research that the historical settings ground and enrich the stories she tells so well I can’t help but love them. The period’s contexts of politics, class, various war times or law changes the characters are shaped by or responding to, in all of these different, sometimes insular communities and locations, she says ‘queer people existed here, queer communities were here, queer people deserved to be happy here, here’s how it maybe/could have looked’.
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
mild spoilers of subplots: