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hollybobs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
xxamyrussellxx's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really enjoyed this unique scenario with the poly armoury element and unique character dynamic
anneyu40's review
4.0
First time reading this author, really loved her character and world building!
Ruya is not all she seems to be, and I love watching her grow and find her confidence a she begins to explore the relationships she has with the other members of the pack!
Ruya is not all she seems to be, and I love watching her grow and find her confidence a she begins to explore the relationships she has with the other members of the pack!
butyougotmysoul's review
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
Okay this was not at all what I expected when I started reading but it was fun and just what I needed to drag me from this reading slump. I’m off to buy the author’s other series! One note and the reason I took off some stars - this book wasn’t very thoroughly edited, and I also found some of the language regarding one of the characters in the book to be slightly…off. Nothing enough to completely put me off the book, but I could see that it might put others off. Otherwise, a well-told story.
sassime713's review
5.0
This book. Wow!! Let’s tick off some of the biggest appeals, imo.
✔️ Unusual shifters
✔️ Monsters/Boogeymen
✔️ Witches, Demons, & Dragons… oh my!
✔️ Polyamorous relationships
✔️ CONSENT, both sought out and given as well as explained
✔️ LGBTQIA+ characters
✔️ Disability Representation, done well! (FMC is blind)
✔️ Unique take on omegaverse
There’s SO much to like, honestly. And the writing is phenomenal. I really enjoyed the transition from kind of this stuffy, medieval feel in the beginning to this much more casual, modern dialogue and narration when the setting changes. I adored the characters, they’re all unique (no cookie cutters!) and they all have a depth to them. I also loved that despite her horrible start to life in captivity, being used for her gift and kept weak and dependent on her captors, as well her complete lack of knowledge, the FMC is strong, kind, compassionate, and grows into her confidence as she learns and is given space to just… be!
The relationships feel organic even though it’s a bit of forced proximity (and the whole omegaverse aspect) and I love that they all treat her with respect. They allow her to make her own choices, connections, and encourage her to explore and ask questions and support her in ways that I wish were in more stories. I also love that she doesn’t just fall into their laps, there’s no instalove or instalust. She questions their motives, her situation, if she is being used again; she keeps her newfound agency, which is important to me. She wasn’t whisked off from one captor to another (although, kinda yeah lol) where she’s traded on evil for another. Sure the court may be morally grey, and sure they’re definitely criminals… but they treat her like a person.
I also nearly wept with joy from the way they handled certain things (trying to do this without spoilers, agh) that over authors either mishandle or just flat out won’t touch, such as transgender characters. In the other books I’ve read Kaye Draper, they’ve always handled gender so effortlessly and beautifully I shouldn’t have expected anything less but it just meant a lot to see it handled the way it was not once but twice.
My only complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and I’m desperate to read more!!
✔️ Unusual shifters
✔️ Monsters/Boogeymen
✔️ Witches, Demons, & Dragons… oh my!
✔️ Polyamorous relationships
✔️ CONSENT, both sought out and given as well as explained
✔️ LGBTQIA+ characters
✔️ Disability Representation, done well! (FMC is blind)
✔️ Unique take on omegaverse
There’s SO much to like, honestly. And the writing is phenomenal. I really enjoyed the transition from kind of this stuffy, medieval feel in the beginning to this much more casual, modern dialogue and narration when the setting changes. I adored the characters, they’re all unique (no cookie cutters!) and they all have a depth to them. I also loved that despite her horrible start to life in captivity, being used for her gift and kept weak and dependent on her captors, as well her complete lack of knowledge, the FMC is strong, kind, compassionate, and grows into her confidence as she learns and is given space to just… be!
The relationships feel organic even though it’s a bit of forced proximity (and the whole omegaverse aspect) and I love that they all treat her with respect. They allow her to make her own choices, connections, and encourage her to explore and ask questions and support her in ways that I wish were in more stories. I also love that she doesn’t just fall into their laps, there’s no instalove or instalust. She questions their motives, her situation, if she is being used again; she keeps her newfound agency, which is important to me. She wasn’t whisked off from one captor to another (although, kinda yeah lol) where she’s traded on evil for another. Sure the court may be morally grey, and sure they’re definitely criminals… but they treat her like a person.
I also nearly wept with joy from the way they handled certain things (trying to do this without spoilers, agh) that over authors either mishandle or just flat out won’t touch, such as transgender characters. In the other books I’ve read Kaye Draper, they’ve always handled gender so effortlessly and beautifully I shouldn’t have expected anything less but it just meant a lot to see it handled the way it was not once but twice.
My only complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and I’m desperate to read more!!
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