Scan barcode
sunny_r's review against another edition
2.0
No substance, an honestly horrid plot without direction, predictable plot holes, and a whole slew of other problems make this book an absolute waste of time. The only (somewhat) redeemable quality lies in the characters, although the main leads wallow in self-pity and problems of their own making far too often for my liking. I did like that the male lead was kind and compassionate, a wonderful difference from the overly confident, arrogant, “tall, dark, and handsome” trope, but that’s this novel’s only saving grace.
The weird way in which the author embraces some aspects of Indian culture but doesn’t embrace others make the society confusing (and the novel as a whole comes off a little disrespectfully). I’m unexcited by the world building in this “fantasy” novel thus far and almost offended on behalf of the Indian practices that were replicated in this novel for no...apparent purpose other than to seem other-worldly?
The novel wasn’t written poorly, and I liked the main male lead enough to bump this review up to a 2, but I honestly think that’s being much too generous for the amount of sheer frustration I felt while reading this book.
The weird way in which the author embraces some aspects of Indian culture but doesn’t embrace others make the society confusing (and the novel as a whole comes off a little disrespectfully). I’m unexcited by the world building in this “fantasy” novel thus far and almost offended on behalf of the Indian practices that were replicated in this novel for no...apparent purpose other than to seem other-worldly?
The novel wasn’t written poorly, and I liked the main male lead enough to bump this review up to a 2, but I honestly think that’s being much too generous for the amount of sheer frustration I felt while reading this book.
lifelongday's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.0
amberbkenoyer's review against another edition
5.0
Taxing Courtship is a well-written fantasy romance that I loved! I knew nothing about the plot going into it and this is actually my first fantasy romance (I usually read contemporary romance). The characters were my favorite part of the book. They were relatable and well-developed. Em and Quinton were easy to cheer for, with great chemistry! The world building aspect was new to me but easy to follow and a nice change of pace for me. If you enjoy forbidden and slow burn romances (and fantasy) definitely pick up this book!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
bract4813mypacksnet's review
4.0
Taxing Courtship is the first in author Jaycee Jarvis’s Hands of Destin fantasy romance series. The slow-burn romance between the Em and Hand Quintin is cute. Their romantic moments are sensual. There is a twist here in that Em, a royal Lady of the Realm, is a Robin-Hood-type thief, stealing from others to support her temple while the Hand (someone devoted to serving to the Troika) is a virtuous tax collector.
It took me forever to suspend my belief enough to really get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed the romance. The setting is exotic, however, it seemed to me to be a hodge-podge of vocabulary borrowed from multiple cultures, thus it didn’t feel cohesive (one of the reasons I had trouble suspending my belief. For example, the animals in this book are named after real animals, but pulled from different continents (cassowaries are from New Guinea and okapi are from Central Africa).
It took me forever to suspend my belief enough to really get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed the romance. The setting is exotic, however, it seemed to me to be a hodge-podge of vocabulary borrowed from multiple cultures, thus it didn’t feel cohesive (one of the reasons I had trouble suspending my belief. For example, the animals in this book are named after real animals, but pulled from different continents (cassowaries are from New Guinea and okapi are from Central Africa).
More...