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bibliophilicjester's review against another edition
3.0
Again, 2.5 stars! I really have fun reading these stories. I’ve just bought the rest of the series for my kindle.
For me, these books as close to a “guilty pleasure” read as I think I can get. I’m not apologetic - I like what I like. So I don’t really use that term often. I mean it a bit more as a critical analysis of the book as a whole. The writing is decent, but nothing spectacular. I often appreciate authors who just tell the damn story without spending hundreds of pages trying to prove how clever they are, and this author seems to be one of them. No frills, I guess. You can picture the characters and places, but you won’t feel like you’re there in the Otherworld with them. In fact, Munro’s age wasn’t even mentioned in the first book, and all I know about his physical appearance is that he has blue eyes.
Anyway, I’m getting off track... guilty pleasure reads. Yes. It’s kind of like, I know the book isn’t making me see the world differently or gain any sort of insight into anything except delightful Scottish slang and such. I don’t really think about these characters when I’m not reading. It’s just FUN to read. Good fun. I like getting lost in these (digital) pages for a few hours at a time. *shrug* I’m not so good at describing feelings sometimes.
Likes!!
• The characters felt a bit more real this time. I understood their motivations and desires. I don’t mind sticking it out an entire series and watching characters slowly grow. I don’t have to love everyone right away!
• It was interesting to see the other druids more in this book. They played a decent part too - they weren’t just hanging in the background waiting to find a faerie to bond with. They actively wanted to help and sort of prove that they were good even though they were previously involved with the blood faerie. Although, in their defense, they didn’t know any better - he was the only faerie they knew.
• I liked that Eilidh was more open to Munro. Not that she was flinging herself at him the whole time, but she did indulge her emotions a bit.
• I still like the portrayal of fae in this series. I know I’ve read some other books with fae of all sorts over he years, but I HAVE also read all the Sarah j Maas books, and they have a very particular type of fae. A type that I don’t much care for. The fae in this series are interesting. Very obviously not human, but not a bunch of arrogant douches either.
Dislikes:
• All the sexual bits. I DO appreciate that things aren’t detailed. Very much. Many thanks. Because I always find sex in books awkward even if it’s well done. There’s something about reading descriptions of physical sensations that makes me cringe. I’m not a huge fan of romantic elements in general, so that might be part of my...intolerance? Idk. But consummating a marriage in front of people?? Who stay until you’re finished?! No no. Not okay. I’ve read books where they carry the married couple to their bedroom and strip their clothes on the walk and throw them into the room naked and wait outside. Which is creepy, but at least they’re not watching?!?? Omg. Anyway. Very unsettling idea, even if they’re not human.
• Munro is actually obsessed with Eilidh. It’s not just the bond or his “love” for her or whatever. It’s stalkerish. I get that fae don’t feel the need to define or label a relationship, but legit he misses her and drives hours to where she is. And just hangs out with her. Idk. Creeps me out. It seems way more like obsession than love.
• Some parts were confusing. When told Eilidh to speak in everyone’s mind that the queen was dead, I thought it was a ruse to get her army to fracture. But she was actually dead?! Who killed her? When did it happen? We got to see lots of things in detail, but the death of a monarch is like, “she’s dead, pass it on, haha” ?! Nope.
So overall an enjoyable read. Just some light fae fun. Sometimes I think that’s all I want or need!! I like reading an entire book in a day. Nom nom.
For me, these books as close to a “guilty pleasure” read as I think I can get. I’m not apologetic - I like what I like. So I don’t really use that term often. I mean it a bit more as a critical analysis of the book as a whole. The writing is decent, but nothing spectacular. I often appreciate authors who just tell the damn story without spending hundreds of pages trying to prove how clever they are, and this author seems to be one of them. No frills, I guess. You can picture the characters and places, but you won’t feel like you’re there in the Otherworld with them. In fact, Munro’s age wasn’t even mentioned in the first book, and all I know about his physical appearance is that he has blue eyes.
Anyway, I’m getting off track... guilty pleasure reads. Yes. It’s kind of like, I know the book isn’t making me see the world differently or gain any sort of insight into anything except delightful Scottish slang and such. I don’t really think about these characters when I’m not reading. It’s just FUN to read. Good fun. I like getting lost in these (digital) pages for a few hours at a time. *shrug* I’m not so good at describing feelings sometimes.
Likes!!
• The characters felt a bit more real this time. I understood their motivations and desires. I don’t mind sticking it out an entire series and watching characters slowly grow. I don’t have to love everyone right away!
• It was interesting to see the other druids more in this book. They played a decent part too - they weren’t just hanging in the background waiting to find a faerie to bond with. They actively wanted to help and sort of prove that they were good even though they were previously involved with the blood faerie. Although, in their defense, they didn’t know any better - he was the only faerie they knew.
• I liked that Eilidh was more open to Munro. Not that she was flinging herself at him the whole time, but she did indulge her emotions a bit.
• I still like the portrayal of fae in this series. I know I’ve read some other books with fae of all sorts over he years, but I HAVE also read all the Sarah j Maas books, and they have a very particular type of fae. A type that I don’t much care for. The fae in this series are interesting. Very obviously not human, but not a bunch of arrogant douches either.
Dislikes:
• All the sexual bits. I DO appreciate that things aren’t detailed. Very much. Many thanks. Because I always find sex in books awkward even if it’s well done. There’s something about reading descriptions of physical sensations that makes me cringe. I’m not a huge fan of romantic elements in general, so that might be part of my...intolerance? Idk. But consummating a marriage in front of people?? Who stay until you’re finished?! No no. Not okay. I’ve read books where they carry the married couple to their bedroom and strip their clothes on the walk and throw them into the room naked and wait outside. Which is creepy, but at least they’re not watching?!?? Omg. Anyway. Very unsettling idea, even if they’re not human.
• Munro is actually obsessed with Eilidh. It’s not just the bond or his “love” for her or whatever. It’s stalkerish. I get that fae don’t feel the need to define or label a relationship, but legit he misses her and drives hours to where she is. And just hangs out with her. Idk. Creeps me out. It seems way more like obsession than love.
• Some parts were confusing. When
So overall an enjoyable read. Just some light fae fun. Sometimes I think that’s all I want or need!! I like reading an entire book in a day. Nom nom.
helenid's review against another edition
3.0
Quite enjoying this series, quick to read, pages keep being turned.
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