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hebberelle's review against another edition
3.0
Started out well, then slowed to a crawl. The end just went on and on and on and on.
fmcfranny's review against another edition
5.0
I do not think words can describe how amazing this was without actually just telling the whole story from beginning to end.This is a book you sit down to read beginning to end, as evident by the fact that I went to bed after 1am knowing I would be up at 6am this morning. It was that amazing.
The characters were deep, real, weak and strong at the same time. they had secrets and hidden lives. Even the villains had scars that caused pity to run though you This book was an excellent example of light and dark being an illusion. When you take a deeper look everything is tinted grey. When Miss Martin's secret was revealed my heart ached for her. When Lucien starts to embrace trust and hope I almost cried. And poor poor Sebastien. I could not understand how life could deal so much wrongness to one individual and I swore I would seek him out for a hug he much needed when I finished reading.
The plot while super interesting promises to get even better in book two continuing the fight against demons and uncontrollable power threatening to destroy London in the next installment with Lucien's brother staring in the lead. I do have to admit I was quite curious about him when he was introduced. He seems so dark. But then nothing is as it seems in this book.
I do hope Sebastien gets his own book for book three. I more than anyone I hope he gets a happy ending. I guess I shall see what the author has in store as time goes on and I continue the series.
The characters were deep, real, weak and strong at the same time. they had secrets and hidden lives. Even the villains had scars that caused pity to run though you This book was an excellent example of light and dark being an illusion. When you take a deeper look everything is tinted grey. When Miss Martin's secret was revealed my heart ached for her. When Lucien starts to embrace trust and hope I almost cried. And poor poor Sebastien. I could not understand how life could deal so much wrongness to one individual and I swore I would seek him out for a hug he much needed when I finished reading.
The plot while super interesting promises to get even better in book two continuing the fight against demons and uncontrollable power threatening to destroy London in the next installment with Lucien's brother staring in the lead. I do have to admit I was quite curious about him when he was introduced. He seems so dark. But then nothing is as it seems in this book.
I do hope Sebastien gets his own book for book three. I more than anyone I hope he gets a happy ending. I guess I shall see what the author has in store as time goes on and I continue the series.
avid_reader_96's review against another edition
4.0
"You shall discover her identity soon enough." The entity bowed his head to her. "Until we meet again, Cassandra."
I don't know how Bec McMaster does it but she certainly can weave a story that sucks me in from the first page. I've been in a reading funk and wary of starting a new series but I'm glad I took this one off my TBR pile. Ianthe was the perfect heroine, an amazing blend of vulnerability and confidence. The steam factor was off the charts. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I was hoping Sebastian and Cleo's story was next but the epilogue certaintly set the stage for Adrian's book.
I don't know how Bec McMaster does it but she certainly can weave a story that sucks me in from the first page. I've been in a reading funk and wary of starting a new series but I'm glad I took this one off my TBR pile. Ianthe was the perfect heroine, an amazing blend of vulnerability and confidence. The steam factor was off the charts. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I was hoping Sebastian and Cleo's story was next but the epilogue certaintly set the stage for Adrian's book.
eg_m's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
The author is hugely popular so I jumped a chance to score a freebie and check her out. Love the world building around magic and magic users. I found the push-pull between the main characters a bit trying. The core conflict was something that would have been readily resolved with a frank conversation.
I've included this as Urban Fantasy since it is London-based, even though it's Victorian/Edwardian London.
The author is hugely popular so I jumped a chance to score a freebie and check her out. Love the world building around magic and magic users. I found the push-pull between the main characters a bit trying. The core conflict was something that would have been readily resolved with a frank conversation.
I've included this as Urban Fantasy since it is London-based, even though it's Victorian/Edwardian London.
thewordslinger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Woo, where to start with this book.
It's a bit slower than I'd have liked. And the middle third is a right slog to get through. But the plot that's set up is interesting enough. I was engaged, but at the same time, pretty underwhelmed.
This is a 3.5 star read for me, but I'm going to round down for now, because it really took me far too long to get through this book.
Also I have a few complaints.
1. This book's mostly written pretty well. But there's sections where I don't feel like it was edited at all. The same words and phrases are repeated over and over again to the point of exhaustion. There was one point (during a sex scene, no less) where the same sentence is literally repeated 3 lines apart. and the phrase "within her" is used 4 times in 12 lines. Like how do you overlook that?
2. The pacing. Jesus Christ, the pacing. This whole book takes place over the span of about a week. I was counting the days, and I think I only reached 5 or 6. To be honest time got pretty vague in the last 25%. Keep that in mind when, half way through and 2 days in, the characters are confessing their deep and intense feelings for each other. Remember it when he asks her to marry him or when they're shouting I love you into the void.
3. The world building. Look. Obviously we're in 1800s London. There wasn't a major issue with the setting. But the magic system? Buckle up folks. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. Cause you're not eased in to anything. McMaster just threw terms around at you and expected you to grasp what they mean with zero explanation. It honestly felt like this series is a spin-off of another set in the same world. And Bec expected you to read and understand that other series first before picking this one up.
4. The POV shifts. I couldn't quite figure out who's head I was in half the time. This is all written in 3rd person, for starters, but when you're following, say Ianthe and Lucien, the perspective sort of flip-flops between them willy-nilly. I think we spend quite a lot of time in his head, gleaning his thoughts and feelings and emotions, which is sort of weird, especially when reading all the smut that's in this book.
5. This book robs you of any chance to figure stuff out for yourself. If you're like me, you like having mysteries and plot twists and major character revelations to unravel as the story unfolds. Bec McMaster does not, apparently, share that sentiment. There were so many times in this book I was going "Oooh, I wonder if..." only for the next paragraph to spell it all out for me. It never gave me a chance to wonder or theorize for myself. I think this sucked a lot of enjoyment out of reading for me.
6. Don't let anybody tell you this is Steampunk. It is not. It is straight up fantasy or magical realism. There's absolutely nothing steampunk about anything in this book.
There's probably other stuff I haven't listed that I've forgotten about. But I'm gonna leave my reader's notes if you're curious. Be warned, thar be spoilers:
Reader's Notes: Chapter 1: What a crazy thing to suggest -- Let me fuck you and I'll do what you want.
Excuse me, Sir?
And why on earth - outside of the random fact that this woman has a crush on Lucian would she agree?
Mental.
Chapter 2: Oh shit so SHE actually stole the blade.
Chapter 4: Louisa is Ianthe's CHILD?! With LUCIEN!!! This story just keeps getting wilder and wilder.
God I feel like all the massive, major revelations that happened in this chapter should have happened MUCH later in the story. Granted, Ianthe hasn't told Lucien anything yet, but still! It's unusual for stories to just out and out dump this kind of stuff on the reader not even 15% into a book.
Chapter 5: I thought Lucien was supposed to be psycho cray-cray? Don't tell me he's gone and caught feelings already cause it's been like...12 hours?
Seriously, I realize this was written sort of before the rise in Dark Romance, but this man was introduced to us as this unhinged, psycho powerful wizard guy. And 2 seconds after he gets out of Bedlam (for godsake!) he propositions Ianthe--"I'll do whatever you want during the day, if you do whatever I want during the night."
And he's trying to make out this weird sexual relationship is his revenge???
I don't get it.
And so far, we haven't seen anything except maybe atrophy and snark. I wanna like him, but I came for dark and broody and badass annnnd I've just gotten sort of sappy with a side of PTSD.
Chapter 6: I still think bro's method of revenge is super bizarre. His plan now is to make her want him so bad and then, what, dip out and leave her?
And he can't even make her come?
I just feel like there could have been a better pretense for this enemies-to-lovers plot (that's not actually enemies-to-lovers at all)
I will give McMaster this: the PTSD and physical effects Lucien is experiencing after having been in Bedlam for over a year is a great (and accurate) inclusion.
Chapter 7: I also have to say the world-building leaves a little bit to be desired. Obviously this is 1800s London, so I don't need language/race/location information so much--but the magic system is a teensy bit difficult to follow. It's been INTENSE so far, and we're not really told a ton about how it works. I feel like we're just being expected to go along with things as they happen, but I don't know the rules!
It ALMOST feels like this is not the 1st series set in this world and readers are meant to have read some other series before this one to truly understand how things work.
Chapter 9: Could Sebastian be the Duke's actual son?
--Welp, that mystery lasted all of a page and a half. McMaster doesn't really do well with dragging out mysteries, does she? Every time I think I have a clue for some future massive revelation to chew on, it's snatched away and I'm swatted on the nose for even considering it. It's taking all the fun out of reading this book for me.
Chapter 10: The POV shifts are killing me. I was okay with Ianthe and Lucien, even if their perspectives blur together sometimes. But now we've got Chloe and Drake and Sebastian and Morgana...Nothing is labeled and all of these people are starting to sound the same!
Okay. I already love Chloe and Sebastian. Can we get to their story?
Chapter 14: Let me remind all of you reading along--it has been TWO DAYS. That's 48 HOURS. And already Lucien and Ianthe have caught feelings. Majorly.
Chapter 15: Are we ever gonna find out how old everybody is? I keep hoping but so far, we've only been given Chloe's age (21). We know Lucien and Ianthe had their 1-night-stand tryst when she was 17. And we know Louisa is the product of that. But HOW OLD IS SHE?
I also hate all this sex. So far it's been a tool for 'revenge' for him and a method of escape for her. Not once has it been an intimate or affectionate affair. And while I know it's realistic, I REALLY hate how most of the time Ianthe doesn't climax. And how it's written off as "oh well, for some women it's not easy". Obviously, realistic, especially given everything that's on her mind, but it's still gross. Am I supposed to enjoy the FMC being unsatisfied?
Chapter 16: Fucking FINALLY. They slept together 10 years ago. Which makes Ianthe 27ish and Louisa about 9. Still no fucking idea about any of the men, but it's a start. Why did it take 258 pages?
Chapters 19 & 20: Okay, so Ianthe and Lucien share this bond, right? So how is it they still question whether they can trust one another? Could they not sense it between them? It's difficult for me to reconcile this growing bond when stupid decisions like drugging Lucien get made.
And her going "if he'd only spoken up sooner..." blaming HIM for her own lack of trust? Nah, fam.
Chapter 22: All this casual mention of the magical levels and not once has this education system been explained.
Cleo and Bastian's story is going to be so dark, but so good.
Chapter 23: I know circumstances are weird, but now Lucien's asking Ianthe to marry him AND IT'S ONLY BEEN 3-4 DAYS.
So I've been noticing this for a while, but it's gotta be said here. There are parts of this book that really don't feel like they've been passed under an editor's eyeballs at all.
"His cock rasped over something deep within her."
Then, just 39 words later: "Hips pistoning within her, he shifted the angle until his cock rasped over something deep within her."
GUYS. What. Why.
And the phrase "within her" occurs 4 times in 12 lines of text here. Twice in the same sentence, as you've just seen. What editor could read that and go, "yeah, that's perfect just the way it is."????
Also rasp
/rasp/ - verb
past tense: rasped; past participle: rasped
1. make a harsh, grating noise. say in a harsh, grating voice.
Similar: croak, say/utter hoarsely, squawk
2. scrape (something) with a rasp in order to make it smoother.
So, either something is bone-dry, or you're taking a cheese-grater to it.
Assuming Lucien's appendage isn't barbed or covered in sandpaper....You're gonna tell me Ianthe's DRY while this is going on? Bombastic side-eye. Criminal offensive side-eye.
Also it wasn't his HIPS pistoning within her.
Chapter 24: "With his newfound abilities" -- Uh, sir? What new abilities? Where'd they come from? How'd they get there? How do they work? I thought he couldn't do magic without a migraine?
But I guess it's convenient to the plot, eh?
Chapter 29: Is Lucien an Earl or a Duke? Cause he's been referred to as both throughout this book and I'm not British but I'm pretty sure they're 2 different things.
This whole Shield/Anchor thing doesn't make any sense to me. I probably should have brought this up WAY before now, but I kept hoping it'd make some kind of sense. But we're at the final battle now and it's still a fucking mystery. How is Lucien Ianthe's shield if he can't wield magic? What does it mean to be a shield? What does it mean to be an Anchor? HELP.
Not gonna lie this battle--with people on different floors and Ianthe and Lucien slipping between dimensions in his mind or whatever and following like 3 different perspectives at once...I'm so goddamned confused and I don't really have any idea what happened.
Chapter 31: You mean to tell me that Morgana's dead by house-collapse? After this whole book's worth of buildup? Nah. I don't believe that one bit.
Chapter 32: Ah. Trauma bonding at its finest. these confessions of love are profound and sweet but IT'S STILL ONLY BEEN LIKE 5 DAYS!
It's a bit slower than I'd have liked. And the middle third is a right slog to get through. But the plot that's set up is interesting enough. I was engaged, but at the same time, pretty underwhelmed.
This is a 3.5 star read for me, but I'm going to round down for now, because it really took me far too long to get through this book.
Also I have a few complaints.
1. This book's mostly written pretty well. But there's sections where I don't feel like it was edited at all. The same words and phrases are repeated over and over again to the point of exhaustion. There was one point (during a sex scene, no less) where the same sentence is literally repeated 3 lines apart. and the phrase "within her" is used 4 times in 12 lines. Like how do you overlook that?
2. The pacing. Jesus Christ, the pacing. This whole book takes place over the span of about a week. I was counting the days, and I think I only reached 5 or 6. To be honest time got pretty vague in the last 25%. Keep that in mind when, half way through and 2 days in, the characters are confessing their deep and intense feelings for each other. Remember it when he asks her to marry him or when they're shouting I love you into the void.
3. The world building. Look. Obviously we're in 1800s London. There wasn't a major issue with the setting. But the magic system? Buckle up folks. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. Cause you're not eased in to anything. McMaster just threw terms around at you and expected you to grasp what they mean with zero explanation. It honestly felt like this series is a spin-off of another set in the same world. And Bec expected you to read and understand that other series first before picking this one up.
4. The POV shifts. I couldn't quite figure out who's head I was in half the time. This is all written in 3rd person, for starters, but when you're following, say Ianthe and Lucien, the perspective sort of flip-flops between them willy-nilly. I think we spend quite a lot of time in his head, gleaning his thoughts and feelings and emotions, which is sort of weird, especially when reading all the smut that's in this book.
5. This book robs you of any chance to figure stuff out for yourself. If you're like me, you like having mysteries and plot twists and major character revelations to unravel as the story unfolds. Bec McMaster does not, apparently, share that sentiment. There were so many times in this book I was going "Oooh, I wonder if..." only for the next paragraph to spell it all out for me. It never gave me a chance to wonder or theorize for myself. I think this sucked a lot of enjoyment out of reading for me.
6. Don't let anybody tell you this is Steampunk. It is not. It is straight up fantasy or magical realism. There's absolutely nothing steampunk about anything in this book.
There's probably other stuff I haven't listed that I've forgotten about. But I'm gonna leave my reader's notes if you're curious. Be warned, thar be spoilers:
Reader's Notes: Chapter 1: What a crazy thing to suggest -- Let me fuck you and I'll do what you want.
Excuse me, Sir?
And why on earth - outside of the random fact that this woman has a crush on Lucian would she agree?
Mental.
Chapter 2: Oh shit so SHE actually stole the blade.
Chapter 4: Louisa is Ianthe's CHILD?! With LUCIEN!!! This story just keeps getting wilder and wilder.
God I feel like all the massive, major revelations that happened in this chapter should have happened MUCH later in the story. Granted, Ianthe hasn't told Lucien anything yet, but still! It's unusual for stories to just out and out dump this kind of stuff on the reader not even 15% into a book.
Chapter 5: I thought Lucien was supposed to be psycho cray-cray? Don't tell me he's gone and caught feelings already cause it's been like...12 hours?
Seriously, I realize this was written sort of before the rise in Dark Romance, but this man was introduced to us as this unhinged, psycho powerful wizard guy. And 2 seconds after he gets out of Bedlam (for godsake!) he propositions Ianthe--"I'll do whatever you want during the day, if you do whatever I want during the night."
And he's trying to make out this weird sexual relationship is his revenge???
I don't get it.
And so far, we haven't seen anything except maybe atrophy and snark. I wanna like him, but I came for dark and broody and badass annnnd I've just gotten sort of sappy with a side of PTSD.
Chapter 6: I still think bro's method of revenge is super bizarre. His plan now is to make her want him so bad and then, what, dip out and leave her?
And he can't even make her come?
I just feel like there could have been a better pretense for this enemies-to-lovers plot (that's not actually enemies-to-lovers at all)
I will give McMaster this: the PTSD and physical effects Lucien is experiencing after having been in Bedlam for over a year is a great (and accurate) inclusion.
Chapter 7: I also have to say the world-building leaves a little bit to be desired. Obviously this is 1800s London, so I don't need language/race/location information so much--but the magic system is a teensy bit difficult to follow. It's been INTENSE so far, and we're not really told a ton about how it works. I feel like we're just being expected to go along with things as they happen, but I don't know the rules!
It ALMOST feels like this is not the 1st series set in this world and readers are meant to have read some other series before this one to truly understand how things work.
Chapter 9: Could Sebastian be the Duke's actual son?
--Welp, that mystery lasted all of a page and a half. McMaster doesn't really do well with dragging out mysteries, does she? Every time I think I have a clue for some future massive revelation to chew on, it's snatched away and I'm swatted on the nose for even considering it. It's taking all the fun out of reading this book for me.
Chapter 10: The POV shifts are killing me. I was okay with Ianthe and Lucien, even if their perspectives blur together sometimes. But now we've got Chloe and Drake and Sebastian and Morgana...Nothing is labeled and all of these people are starting to sound the same!
Okay. I already love Chloe and Sebastian. Can we get to their story?
Chapter 14: Let me remind all of you reading along--it has been TWO DAYS. That's 48 HOURS. And already Lucien and Ianthe have caught feelings. Majorly.
Chapter 15: Are we ever gonna find out how old everybody is? I keep hoping but so far, we've only been given Chloe's age (21). We know Lucien and Ianthe had their 1-night-stand tryst when she was 17. And we know Louisa is the product of that. But HOW OLD IS SHE?
I also hate all this sex. So far it's been a tool for 'revenge' for him and a method of escape for her. Not once has it been an intimate or affectionate affair. And while I know it's realistic, I REALLY hate how most of the time Ianthe doesn't climax. And how it's written off as "oh well, for some women it's not easy". Obviously, realistic, especially given everything that's on her mind, but it's still gross. Am I supposed to enjoy the FMC being unsatisfied?
Chapter 16: Fucking FINALLY. They slept together 10 years ago. Which makes Ianthe 27ish and Louisa about 9. Still no fucking idea about any of the men, but it's a start. Why did it take 258 pages?
Chapters 19 & 20: Okay, so Ianthe and Lucien share this bond, right? So how is it they still question whether they can trust one another? Could they not sense it between them? It's difficult for me to reconcile this growing bond when stupid decisions like drugging Lucien get made.
And her going "if he'd only spoken up sooner..." blaming HIM for her own lack of trust? Nah, fam.
Chapter 22: All this casual mention of the magical levels and not once has this education system been explained.
Cleo and Bastian's story is going to be so dark, but so good.
Chapter 23: I know circumstances are weird, but now Lucien's asking Ianthe to marry him AND IT'S ONLY BEEN 3-4 DAYS.
So I've been noticing this for a while, but it's gotta be said here. There are parts of this book that really don't feel like they've been passed under an editor's eyeballs at all.
"His cock rasped over something deep within her."
Then, just 39 words later: "Hips pistoning within her, he shifted the angle until his cock rasped over something deep within her."
GUYS. What. Why.
And the phrase "within her" occurs 4 times in 12 lines of text here. Twice in the same sentence, as you've just seen. What editor could read that and go, "yeah, that's perfect just the way it is."????
Also rasp
/rasp/ - verb
past tense: rasped; past participle: rasped
1. make a harsh, grating noise. say in a harsh, grating voice.
Similar: croak, say/utter hoarsely, squawk
2. scrape (something) with a rasp in order to make it smoother.
So, either something is bone-dry, or you're taking a cheese-grater to it.
Assuming Lucien's appendage isn't barbed or covered in sandpaper....You're gonna tell me Ianthe's DRY while this is going on? Bombastic side-eye. Criminal offensive side-eye.
Also it wasn't his HIPS pistoning within her.
Chapter 24: "With his newfound abilities" -- Uh, sir? What new abilities? Where'd they come from? How'd they get there? How do they work? I thought he couldn't do magic without a migraine?
But I guess it's convenient to the plot, eh?
Chapter 29: Is Lucien an Earl or a Duke? Cause he's been referred to as both throughout this book and I'm not British but I'm pretty sure they're 2 different things.
This whole Shield/Anchor thing doesn't make any sense to me. I probably should have brought this up WAY before now, but I kept hoping it'd make some kind of sense. But we're at the final battle now and it's still a fucking mystery. How is Lucien Ianthe's shield if he can't wield magic? What does it mean to be a shield? What does it mean to be an Anchor? HELP.
Not gonna lie this battle--with people on different floors and Ianthe and Lucien slipping between dimensions in his mind or whatever and following like 3 different perspectives at once...I'm so goddamned confused and I don't really have any idea what happened.
Chapter 31: You mean to tell me that Morgana's dead by house-collapse? After this whole book's worth of buildup? Nah. I don't believe that one bit.
Chapter 32: Ah. Trauma bonding at its finest. these confessions of love are profound and sweet but IT'S STILL ONLY BEEN LIKE 5 DAYS!
nevclue's review
3.0
Really 2.5 stars. This just didn't work for me, although I haven't been able to really get into a paranormal romance in years. Magic system didn't feel fully thought out, the romance felt cursory, and the plot was bonkers but not in a fun way.
roobie's review
3.0
⭐️3 stars⭐️
"I have never had an enemy," Cleo mused. "I wonder who will win, the one who sees the future, or the one who clings to the past?"
"I have never had an enemy," Cleo mused. "I wonder who will win, the one who sees the future, or the one who clings to the past?"
mdalida's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a die-hard Bec McMaster fan and cannot get enough of her books! I wouldn't rank this as my absolute top (I don't think anything can knock Nobody's Hero out of that spot - hot damn, that book was gold), but I enjoyed it for all the things that are McMaster - traumatic pasts, both characters dealing with feelings of loneliness and abandonment, awesome fiery sex scenes, badass heroines, and feeling the trust/support that comes from being there for your partner in their worst times.
Lucien and Ianthe are sorcerers with their own private demons (literally and figuratively! Bada-ching!) Lucien can "read" emotions on people's face as colors, but he is also psychically scarred from a demon and cannot use his sorcery without pain. Ianthe carries her childhood traumas around like a battleshield. There is prophecy, sorcerers, spells, divination, scrying, foretelling, grimoires... all building towards a big upcoming battle.
I love romances for the romance aspect, especially when the characters help each other to heal in some way. I loved Lucien so so much because at times, he reminded me so much of my partner - not the revenge side of him, but when he started being tender, supportive, non-judgmental, caring, protective... some of the things he would say to Ianthe or how he would reason instead of being angry, some of his feelings of loneliness or abandonment.. it was so striking. So maybe my love of this book is a little biased:-)
Ianthe really was my favorite kind of badass heroine. She was in charge, commanding, loving, protective, stubborn, and powerful. I loved the power dynamics here made the heroine more magically powerful than the hero because it made it less "damsel in distress" and more "damsel is stressed tf out".
Sexy times.... always very hot and steamy:-) in this book, however, even as someone who loves it hot and steamy, I was kinda surprised at how quick it started and how random the set up for sex was. A woman who arrested you pulls you out of prison for Reason, and in negotiations, your main thing is to say she had to sleep with you at night? A) Why is the prisoner able to make negotiations? You want out of prison or not? And B) I hate hate hate the "barter for sex" trope; winning someone in a poker game, agreeing to help someone only if you can fuck them, taking on someone's debts but with a price tag. It's too much of forced prostitution and sick patriarchal power displays. And from Lucien's character, it was completely wacky.
BUT - I did like that McMaster brought up the very real dilemma that women don't always orgasm and of using condoms or sheaths. Whatever the time period, there have been women faking orgasms and women doing some things to avoid pregnancy. Not always fool proof and not always "the thing" but worldly women would likely have known about sheaths, so I liked that McMaster had that in the book.
This book was also a little different than her last two series because, while McMaster usually does some scenes as sequel bait, there was a LOT more of that here than previously. It made me wonder if there was not enough Lucien/Ianthe story to build on...
Either way, solid A! There are some popular authors whose stories I initially love but that don't hold up during rereads. It's one of the reasons McMaster is definitely a favorite because I'm often going back to certain scenes in her books!!
Lucien and Ianthe are sorcerers with their own private demons (literally and figuratively! Bada-ching!) Lucien can "read" emotions on people's face as colors, but he is also psychically scarred from a demon and cannot use his sorcery without pain. Ianthe carries her childhood traumas around like a battleshield. There is prophecy, sorcerers, spells, divination, scrying, foretelling, grimoires... all building towards a big upcoming battle.
I love romances for the romance aspect, especially when the characters help each other to heal in some way. I loved Lucien so so much because at times, he reminded me so much of my partner - not the revenge side of him, but when he started being tender, supportive, non-judgmental, caring, protective... some of the things he would say to Ianthe or how he would reason instead of being angry, some of his feelings of loneliness or abandonment.. it was so striking. So maybe my love of this book is a little biased:-)
Ianthe really was my favorite kind of badass heroine. She was in charge, commanding, loving, protective, stubborn, and powerful. I loved the power dynamics here made the heroine more magically powerful than the hero because it made it less "damsel in distress" and more "damsel is stressed tf out".
Sexy times.... always very hot and steamy:-) in this book, however, even as someone who loves it hot and steamy, I was kinda surprised at how quick it started and how random the set up for sex was. A woman who arrested you pulls you out of prison for Reason, and in negotiations, your main thing is to say she had to sleep with you at night? A) Why is the prisoner able to make negotiations? You want out of prison or not? And B) I hate hate hate the "barter for sex" trope; winning someone in a poker game, agreeing to help someone only if you can fuck them, taking on someone's debts but with a price tag. It's too much of forced prostitution and sick patriarchal power displays. And from Lucien's character, it was completely wacky.
BUT - I did like that McMaster brought up the very real dilemma that women don't always orgasm and of using condoms or sheaths. Whatever the time period, there have been women faking orgasms and women doing some things to avoid pregnancy. Not always fool proof and not always "the thing" but worldly women would likely have known about sheaths, so I liked that McMaster had that in the book.
This book was also a little different than her last two series because, while McMaster usually does some scenes as sequel bait, there was a LOT more of that here than previously. It made me wonder if there was not enough Lucien/Ianthe story to build on...
Either way, solid A! There are some popular authors whose stories I initially love but that don't hold up during rereads. It's one of the reasons McMaster is definitely a favorite because I'm often going back to certain scenes in her books!!
madrona's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75