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dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the premise of Imperial Rome and dragons, but it came off as lackluster execution for me. Love the worldbuilding and attention to the political interaction, but the relationship felt less believable to me and I was disappointed by the lack of politics. The smut was okay, but I was left feeling like its legs had been cut out from under it, that the worldbuilding had been thinned down too much, to make a faster/more sex-focused read; that takes away the import and impact of some of the character decisions, esp. for Malina, and the emotional weight and complexity that she could (should?) be undergoing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Book was marketed as a Historical Fanatsy with some romance. There was no mention of the colonizer dark romance aspect where a slave falls in love with her master.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Firebird was such a captivating star crossed lover/ enemies to lovers story!
It is set in roughly the Roman Empire but had a magical twist. There are dragon shifters and women blessed with magic from a goddess. I found the magically blessing to be quite unique and refreshing, such as the FMC being able to control emotions for a period of time. The debates surrounding what the extents of her powers were or could be were fascinating. I loved her heart and how brightly she burned.
I appreciated Juliette's forward and all of the research she put into this story. The Roman Empire was a gruesome period in history, and she does not sugarcoat it. It was also a period of innovation. Many of those innovations I have studied through my education and love for historical documentaries, I loved seeing so many references.
It is set in roughly the Roman Empire but had a magical twist. There are dragon shifters and women blessed with magic from a goddess. I found the magically blessing to be quite unique and refreshing, such as the FMC being able to control emotions for a period of time. The debates surrounding what the extents of her powers were or could be were fascinating. I loved her heart and how brightly she burned.
I appreciated Juliette's forward and all of the research she put into this story. The Roman Empire was a gruesome period in history, and she does not sugarcoat it. It was also a period of innovation. Many of those innovations I have studied through my education and love for historical documentaries, I loved seeing so many references.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Firebird the first book in The Fire That Binds trilogy by Juliette Cross. This Roman-inspired dual-POV dark fantasy romance is equal parts dark and romantic. The author does not shy away from the horrors of Ancient Rome. I would check trigger warnings.(Thereโs also an Authorโs Note at the beginning of the book.)
Iโm curious about what is going to happen next, and who elseโs POV we might be getting in the second book-IYKYK.
Iโm curious about what is going to happen next, and who elseโs POV we might be getting in the second book-IYKYK.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
<strong>Another junk food book</strong>
I read the reviews and still read it anyway, so I have no one to blame but myself. This book is in dual first-person POV from Malina and Julian, so that was nice at least. The Ancient Rome setting was also a nice change from quasi-Renaissance. But this is a messed up book y'all.
Roman setting or not, this is fantasy so the author picked and chose what she wanted to include. Malina and Julian first meet when she is a free woman (though a much lower class and different nationality, heck different species), and that's when their "bond" forms. But the meat of their relationship starts years later when he makes her his actual slave.
Julian could have freed her, immediately. His father did free his mother to marry her. And while Julian even tells Malina that story...he never frees her! At least nothing official and binding. She even brings up the stark disparity in their situation and how it doesn't give them room for an honest relationship. What a mess...
The dragon natures are interesting to be fair. There are different colors and different forms but no magic beyond the transformation itself. Malina has magic and is branded as a witch...in a world with shape-changing DRAGONS. Always blaming the women, somehow!
The romance is nearly insta-love for him, she takes a bit longer. Being ENSLAVED and all. There is a lot of spice but the descriptions don't start fun but rather show the evil dragon emperor's debauchery. Not a pleasant start to a book.
Lots of doom and gloom in this story, only little points of lightness.
I read the reviews and still read it anyway, so I have no one to blame but myself. This book is in dual first-person POV from Malina and Julian, so that was nice at least. The Ancient Rome setting was also a nice change from quasi-Renaissance. But this is a messed up book y'all.
Roman setting or not, this is fantasy so the author picked and chose what she wanted to include. Malina and Julian first meet when she is a free woman (though a much lower class and different nationality, heck different species), and that's when their "bond" forms. But the meat of their relationship starts years later when he makes her his actual slave.
Julian could have freed her, immediately. His father did free his mother to marry her. And while Julian even tells Malina that story...he never frees her! At least nothing official and binding. She even brings up the stark disparity in their situation and how it doesn't give them room for an honest relationship. What a mess...
The dragon natures are interesting to be fair. There are different colors and different forms but no magic beyond the transformation itself. Malina has magic and is branded as a witch...in a world with shape-changing DRAGONS. Always blaming the women, somehow!
The romance is nearly insta-love for him, she takes a bit longer. Being ENSLAVED and all. There is a lot of spice but the descriptions don't start fun but rather show the evil dragon emperor's debauchery. Not a pleasant start to a book.
Lots of doom and gloom in this story, only little points of lightness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Sexual harassment, War
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is like gladiator with dragons. It really is an interesting story and was a decent read/listen, but it wasn't a favorite. Would I read it again? maybe? Would I read the next book? Possibly, but it's not high on my list. There was more gore/violence than I typically prefer, but is anticipated based on Rome at that time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was not it. The plot was lacking, the characters were annoying. The smut was random and uncomfortable. Would not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent
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
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 ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
With this fail...i think I'll stop trying this genre ๐ ..it seems I'm not the target audience, and that's fine ๐
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 ๐ ๐คฃ
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 ๐..but as a Romanian...๐ ...maaan...we have a saying 'ca nuca-n perete' ( like a nut in the wall) - meaning it's extremely forced ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ..sometimes it uses the translation right next to the 'Dacian language'...example : she gathered her skirts and fustฤ ( which means skirt) ๐ถ.
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 ๐คฃ..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 ๐ถ...like...bro has 300km/h ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
It's very funny ๐๐ค
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 ๐ซ
Also..Malina, despite never seeing Rome before...she knows that building to be the Colosseum ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ...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 ๐๐ซ ๐ฅฒ
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...๐...but, รฎn my opinion, it's used to show you why this guy is bad๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ...
My question is : how on earth did he stay alive and in power if he's like this all the time???๐ค...no answer ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
Finally, the elephant in the room : the master/ slave dynamic...yes, it's there and you may very well hate it ๐ฅน
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 โบ๏ธ
---------------------
My first review for April will be a dnf ...unfortunately, it seems that Firebird wasn't for me ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
With this fail...i think I'll stop trying this genre ๐ ..it seems I'm not the target audience, and that's fine ๐
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 ๐ ๐คฃ
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 ๐..but as a Romanian...๐ ...maaan...we have a saying 'ca nuca-n perete' ( like a nut in the wall) - meaning it's extremely forced ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ..sometimes it uses the translation right next to the 'Dacian language'...example : she gathered her skirts and fustฤ ( which means skirt) ๐ถ.
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 ๐คฃ..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 ๐ถ...like...bro has 300km/h ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
It's very funny ๐๐ค
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 ๐ซ
Also..Malina, despite never seeing Rome before...she knows that building to be the Colosseum ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ...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 ๐๐ซ ๐ฅฒ
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...๐...but, รฎn my opinion, it's used to show you why this guy is bad๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ...
My question is : how on earth did he stay alive and in power if he's like this all the time???๐ค...no answer ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ
Finally, the elephant in the room : the master/ slave dynamic...yes, it's there and you may very well hate it ๐ฅน
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 โบ๏ธ
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:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall, I personally really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and packed with lots of great political intrigue (and ofc good-good spice). Plus a dragon-shifting Rome was too interesting to not read.
I will try to responsibly begin, though, by mentioning this book had some darker themes alongside its romance and you should always check content & trigger warnings when reading to make sure a book is for you! Contextually and tracking with the story, I didn't personally have troubles suspending my imagination for the sake of the story being told when these themes came into play, but I could see how this would be a non-starter for someone else. There are things like unfair power dynamics (ie - master/slave) that I personally understood to be intentional and indicative of the time/place/culture of the book's setting. I think knowing that upfront is important to the reading experience, regardless.
Now onto the things I looooooooved about this book! Something I really appreciated about was the way the author Juliette painted us such a clear picture of the world and how the mythos crossed over into the magic abilities we see in play. Like there's still a lot to be explored but I think I have a good grasp on the world from the way she built it in her writing. I also can't speak more highly of the narration for this book! I listened to an ALC of this book and am really glad I did because Blair Dade (Malina) and Kale Williams (Julian) gave a phenomenal performance! I think their narrations made me like this even more. I also personally like insta-affection stories as a result of fated-mates so this one definitely scratched an itch for me in that regard. Also the possessive MMC that Julian (and his dragon) were was *chef's kiss* to me.
I'm really excited for the next book now! I want to know what's going to happen next after that ending and look at the next book ๐ Like what's the next move?? I guess I'll have to wait to find out. Side note: I always do this to myself with fantasy series when I choose to read an advanced copy of a Book 1 ๐ฉ But it's okay I think it's only going to be three books so we just gotta wait for two more ๐
A huge thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
I will try to responsibly begin, though, by mentioning this book had some darker themes alongside its romance and you should always check content & trigger warnings when reading to make sure a book is for you! Contextually and tracking with the story, I didn't personally have troubles suspending my imagination for the sake of the story being told when these themes came into play, but I could see how this would be a non-starter for someone else. There are things like unfair power dynamics (ie - master/slave) that I personally understood to be intentional and indicative of the time/place/culture of the book's setting. I think knowing that upfront is important to the reading experience, regardless.
Now onto the things I looooooooved about this book! Something I really appreciated about was the way the author Juliette painted us such a clear picture of the world and how the mythos crossed over into the magic abilities we see in play. Like there's still a lot to be explored but I think I have a good grasp on the world from the way she built it in her writing. I also can't speak more highly of the narration for this book! I listened to an ALC of this book and am really glad I did because Blair Dade (Malina) and Kale Williams (Julian) gave a phenomenal performance! I think their narrations made me like this even more.
I'm really excited for the next book now! I want to know what's going to happen next after that ending and look at the next book ๐ Like what's the next move?? I guess I'll have to wait to find out. Side note: I always do this to myself with fantasy series when I choose to read an advanced copy of a Book 1 ๐ฉ But it's okay I think it's only going to be three books so we just gotta wait for two more ๐
A huge thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence, War