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katiekeske's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was honestly nervous starting this book. I didn't love the first book (I liked Arokh but not Angie so much), but I was intrigued and really wanted to know what Callie's story would be. I'm very glad I went ahead with reading this. I knew what the content warnings would be and that helped prepare me to deal with the tough scenes and trauma.
I feel like this book was therapeutic for me. The descriptions of events, the flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts felt real, and I'm so glad that Callie had the strong but gentle and patient mate that is Z.
This story is a healing journey and an emotional slow burn romance between a sexu@lly traumatized woman and her alien rescuer. It does not sugar coat things, and it also discusses the trauma and choices that other characters have gone through.
This is not a book with a fun adventure. The two characters are confined to one place for most of the book. It was different than other books I've read, and I am glad I read it. I cried, I laughed, and I loved the characters.
I've read four of Amanda Milo's books so far, and I continue to be impressed with how well she writes the male aliens' POV. They feel so real and alien, but relatable at the same time.
I would take off maybe half a star rating for one scene that I think could have been handled better between Callie and her friends and their mates. I feel like they were very pushy in front of Z and everyone about a very sensitive topic. It did help move things along... But I cannot imagine real friends talking to a r@pe survivor about that in that way.
I see other reviews saying that this gets pro-life, but I didn't get that feeling. I was surprised by Callie's choice, but there are survivors who make the choice she made. I feel like the author tried to show that it was okay to make the opposite choice by the discussion that Callie has with Gracie, who chose to drink the @bortion drink. Survivors are allowed to have conflicting feelings. All feelings are valid.
I feel like this book was therapeutic for me. The descriptions of events, the flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts felt real, and I'm so glad that Callie had the strong but gentle and patient mate that is Z.
This story is a healing journey and an emotional slow burn romance between a sexu@lly traumatized woman and her alien rescuer. It does not sugar coat things, and it also discusses the trauma and choices that other characters have gone through.
This is not a book with a fun adventure. The two characters are confined to one place for most of the book. It was different than other books I've read, and I am glad I read it. I cried, I laughed, and I loved the characters.
I've read four of Amanda Milo's books so far, and I continue to be impressed with how well she writes the male aliens' POV. They feel so real and alien, but relatable at the same time.
I would take off maybe half a star rating for one scene that I think could have been handled better between Callie and her friends and their mates. I feel like they were very pushy in front of Z and everyone about a very sensitive topic. It did help move things along... But I cannot imagine real friends talking to a r@pe survivor about that in that way.
I see other reviews saying that this gets pro-life, but I didn't get that feeling. I was surprised by
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Body horror, Bullying, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion, Self harm, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
The heroine is r@ped before being rescued by the hero. Later in the book there is a surprise pregnancy from the r@pe. Another female character who was r@ped discusses her choice of an abortion later in the book.
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