Scan barcode
chaptersofmads's review against another edition
2.0
“Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?”
Call me picky but when I decide to read a cozy fantasy, I do - in fact - hope to find myself reading a cozy fantasy. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
This felt like reading the first draft of a novel where the author hasn't quite figured out what to do with the story or the characters. The plot with the Queen is both rushed and sloppily resolved. The actual mystery is poorly handled, due to the author wanting to extend the plot to the sequel. There's a bit of transphobia? For no reason? We could have had non-binary characters without saying they weren't accepted elsewhere, especially in what is meant to be an escapist, cozy novel.
The entire book is a repetition of the same collection of scenes that usually end up with someone a.) sick, b.) fainting, c.) fighting, or d.) having the most melodramatic love confessions and flirtations at the most awkward times. Sometimes there was a magical fifth option where all four happen in the same scene, complete with thinking about how much she wished to kiss her girlfriend senseless (if she could stop vomiting long enough to, of course.)
I understand they're in love and I'm happy for them, but why so much kissing and vomiting? Please stop. I beg.
This isn't even delving into the fact that the plot was a whole mess. A rip-off of Legends & Lattes without any of the heart or actual cozy elements that made that book the success it was for me. This wasn't a cozy fantasy; it was a rushed and underdeveloped regular fantasy that had an undercurrent of steeping tea and a bookstore. A bookstore we're barely in.
The sad thing is, if we had actually spent more time on the bookstore and tea shop, if the story had been cleaned up a bit, if the characters had acted a bit more maturely, I might have really enjoyed this. There were moments in the writing when I felt how much I could have loved it and it only made me more sad that I was having such a poor time with it.
With all of this being said and my critical review, I get why people like this. I wanted to love it and - as I said - I really think I could have. It wasn't a terrible book, but unfortunately, the negative aspects were just too glaring for me. I did love the griffons though!
While I won't carry on with the duology, I'm glad so many people love it and I hope it continues to find the right audience.
Call me picky but when I decide to read a cozy fantasy, I do - in fact - hope to find myself reading a cozy fantasy. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
This felt like reading the first draft of a novel where the author hasn't quite figured out what to do with the story or the characters. The plot with the Queen is both rushed and sloppily resolved. The actual mystery is poorly handled, due to the author wanting to extend the plot to the sequel. There's a bit of transphobia? For no reason? We could have had non-binary characters without saying they weren't accepted elsewhere, especially in what is meant to be an escapist, cozy novel.
The entire book is a repetition of the same collection of scenes that usually end up with someone a.) sick, b.) fainting, c.) fighting, or d.) having the most melodramatic love confessions and flirtations at the most awkward times. Sometimes there was a magical fifth option where all four happen in the same scene, complete with thinking about how much she wished to kiss her girlfriend senseless (if she could stop vomiting long enough to, of course.)
I understand they're in love and I'm happy for them, but why so much kissing and vomiting? Please stop. I beg.
This isn't even delving into the fact that the plot was a whole mess. A rip-off of Legends & Lattes without any of the heart or actual cozy elements that made that book the success it was for me. This wasn't a cozy fantasy; it was a rushed and underdeveloped regular fantasy that had an undercurrent of steeping tea and a bookstore. A bookstore we're barely in.
The sad thing is, if we had actually spent more time on the bookstore and tea shop, if the story had been cleaned up a bit, if the characters had acted a bit more maturely, I might have really enjoyed this. There were moments in the writing when I felt how much I could have loved it and it only made me more sad that I was having such a poor time with it.
With all of this being said and my critical review, I get why people like this. I wanted to love it and - as I said - I really think I could have. It wasn't a terrible book, but unfortunately, the negative aspects were just too glaring for me. I did love the griffons though!
While I won't carry on with the duology, I'm glad so many people love it and I hope it continues to find the right audience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
More...