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steph_weigle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Death, Physical abuse, War, Emotional abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
greystory's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Updating Review after reading books 1-4 in series.
If you enjoy:
* Language barrier
* Linguistics
* Etymology
* Linguistics and etymology in terms of where they overlap with social and cultural values and history and learning about a new species based on language
* Alien romance
Then this is a DELIGHT!
Additional things to note:
* M/M
* Use of tail during sex
* Sex means very different things for the humans and Rownt and therefore the Rownt perform sex with other Rownt without romantic attachment at all - that includes our MMC alien - so I get that may feel like cheating to some folks but it was very, VERY clear that it's not and Liam has to work through feelings about that
* Human version of sex is only performed between Ondry and Liam
* Sexual trauma, war, PTSD, and mental health are a very central part of Liam's story
First off, the aliens look nothing like the cover. They're 7-9ft tall, turtle-esque, purple, tailed, live much longer than humans (like, over a thousand years), and have massively different social, cultural, and linguistic differences from humans. One of the best things about this is getting to explore those differences and experience the main human MMC Liam, a linguist, try to navigate those differences without offending the alien race, the Rownt. I really loved that they were truly very different - from the way they trade to the value (or lack thereof) they place on technology to language to sex (not pleasurable for the Rownt and done purely for procreation), it was so different. There are even more challenges met when Liam is taken under Ondry's wing as his palteia, and Liam trying to understand what that really means.
When I say etymology and linguistics and language barrier, I mean they get into very detailed discussions about meanings of words and the human has to learn how to use pronouns and conjugate verbs correctly and learn to interpret body language and it takes YEARS. There is NO magical translator. If you would find this dry or boring, then it's not for you.
The reason I went back and gave this 4/5 from the original 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars is that each book in the series suffers from the same issue where the overall plot feels a bit too rushed and abruptly resolved at the end of the book. I would have liked a bit more plot development in each book.
I would have also liked it if there was some sense of closure in the final book. It's not a cliffhanger by any means but it doesn't feel like a series finale either, and it's really unclear to me if there are plans for more of Ondry and Liam's story or not. It also feels like there are so many more unanswered questions about the other alien species in this world and unexplored opportunities in this universe that I would LOVE to see. I'm commenting this on the FIRST book and not the last so that anyone interested in the series knows what they're getting into.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narration.
If you enjoy:
* Language barrier
* Linguistics
* Etymology
* Linguistics and etymology in terms of where they overlap with social and cultural values and history and learning about a new species based on language
* Alien romance
Then this is a DELIGHT!
Additional things to note:
* M/M
* Use of tail during sex
* Sex means very different things for the humans and Rownt and therefore the Rownt perform sex with other Rownt without romantic attachment at all - that includes our MMC alien - so I get that may feel like cheating to some folks but it was very, VERY clear that it's not and Liam has to work through feelings about that
* Human version of sex is only performed between Ondry and Liam
* Sexual trauma, war, PTSD, and mental health are a very central part of Liam's story
First off, the aliens look nothing like the cover. They're 7-9ft tall, turtle-esque, purple, tailed, live much longer than humans (like, over a thousand years), and have massively different social, cultural, and linguistic differences from humans. One of the best things about this is getting to explore those differences and experience the main human MMC Liam, a linguist, try to navigate those differences without offending the alien race, the Rownt. I really loved that they were truly very different - from the way they trade to the value (or lack thereof) they place on technology to language to sex (not pleasurable for the Rownt and done purely for procreation), it was so different. There are even more challenges met when Liam is taken under Ondry's wing as his palteia, and Liam trying to understand what that really means.
When I say etymology and linguistics and language barrier, I mean they get into very detailed discussions about meanings of words and the human has to learn how to use pronouns and conjugate verbs correctly and learn to interpret body language and it takes YEARS. There is NO magical translator. If you would find this dry or boring, then it's not for you.
The reason I went back and gave this 4/5 from the original 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars is that each book in the series suffers from the same issue where the overall plot feels a bit too rushed and abruptly resolved at the end of the book. I would have liked a bit more plot development in each book.
I would have also liked it if there was some sense of closure in the final book. It's not a cliffhanger by any means but it doesn't feel like a series finale either, and it's really unclear to me if there are plans for more of Ondry and Liam's story or not. It also feels like there are so many more unanswered questions about the other alien species in this world and unexplored opportunities in this universe that I would LOVE to see. I'm commenting this on the FIRST book and not the last so that anyone interested in the series knows what they're getting into.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: War
bonriki's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Was this deep, complex literature? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
jennifox's review
emotional
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
This was a skip work to read sort of book. The writing was a bit rough in places, but hoping it improves as the series continues.
Content Warnings
Minor: War, Trafficking, Sexual violence, and Rape
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