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justagirlwithbooks's review
3.5
“I don't think you realize how strong you are, because sometimes strength isn't swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes it's found in quiet, gentle places.”
Hmmmm... This was a very... interesting book indeed. On one hand, I liked the premise of the romance. On the other, I felt like the worldbuilding was a bit confusing and could have been expanded upon more. The ending felt a bit sudden and rushed in my opinion. I think some interesting plots were dropped halfway through, which was a bit annoying. I feel like the pacing was a bit off as well, things were happening way too fast in this book. Maybe it's just the fact that I read a better academic rivals to lovers right before this. Oh well... it is what it is.
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Sexual content
spazzcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
aj9moon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lauramparis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
krieg98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and War
katasaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My biggest complaint is that the romance ends up becoming so focused on the sensual aspects, when the premise lends itself so well to exploring the intellectual/emotional side. This is partly a personal preference thing (and the fact that I hate sex scenes in my books). But I wished the implications of the letters and the emotional connection would have been explored a little more thoroughly.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and War
twincessz's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Minor: Sexual content
The spoiler is about the sex scenedowntown_kb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars rounded up.
While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.
I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.
I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology.
On audio this is decent but not outstanding.
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
karlin0336's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content