Scan barcode
robynnehood's review against another edition
5.0
I really didn’t think I’d enjoy this book as much as I did! A soft romance with a fun fantastical setting, it was a cozy read whose low stakes let me take my time with it.
zemightyenby's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
crocmaster17's review against another edition
4.0
“A Book of High Fantasy & Low Stakes” is the tagline of this book and I find it the perfect encapsulation of what it is. An easy read with enjoyable characters, a found family dynamic, and a very very slow burn romance. Despite the fairly light tone, Baldree’s writing excels in the emotional scenes. Viv and Tandri’s shared fear/insecurity over the stereotypes of their species and repeating the past are feelings that are so grounded in real life struggles and really grounds these fantastical characters. I just wish there was more exploration of this theme.
Despite nearly all the characters being fantasy species, they feel real in the way they’re written and I just know that most people have met a Cal before. It’s easy to see why this book is so popular.
I feel that if I had to choose my biggest points of contention/complaint are:
- While I enjoyed this book, I wish there was more all around. Less time skip more story. Maybe that’s just a greedy request for more of this book. Weirdly enough, I want more Tandri and would love a prequel centered on her.
- The Madrigal ended up being kind of a cop out in a way? I love that she ended up being an old lady and it’s funny that she accepted her payment in baked goods but an exploitative crime boss seems like a threat that should be addressed more thoroughly. A funny subversion of the crime boss idea with little payoff.
- Fennus. I like that Viv’s ultimate villain ended up being a ghost of the past she was running from. However, there was never a reason given for their poor relationship (or at least not one that I picked up on) so he just felt like a cartoon villain.
Overall really enjoyed reading this and I look forward to seeing more from Baldree and fantasy books of this nature as a whole.
Favorite Excerpts:
“Viv held her sword in both hands, head bowed.
She’d forsworn her old life, crossing a bridge to a new land, and now knelt in its ruin.
This was the bridge burning away behind her, leaving her in desolation.
She tossed the blade back into the ash and took the only path that remained.”
“A part of her understood that she was hurting them, wounding these people who were friends. That some older, crueler self was emerging, crawling from the wreckage of who she thought she had become. That newly ruined part of her cried out for her to stop, to let it be for now, but the crueler self was ascendant, its opponent too weakened and diminished to intervene.”
Despite nearly all the characters being fantasy species, they feel real in the way they’re written and I just know that most people have met a Cal before. It’s easy to see why this book is so popular.
I feel that if I had to choose my biggest points of contention/complaint are:
- While I enjoyed this book, I wish there was more all around. Less time skip more story. Maybe that’s just a greedy request for more of this book. Weirdly enough, I want more Tandri and would love a prequel centered on her.
- The Madrigal ended up being kind of a cop out in a way? I love that she ended up being an old lady and it’s funny that she accepted her payment in baked goods but an exploitative crime boss seems like a threat that should be addressed more thoroughly. A funny subversion of the crime boss idea with little payoff.
- Fennus. I like that Viv’s ultimate villain ended up being a ghost of the past she was running from. However, there was never a reason given for their poor relationship (or at least not one that I picked up on) so he just felt like a cartoon villain.
Overall really enjoyed reading this and I look forward to seeing more from Baldree and fantasy books of this nature as a whole.
Favorite Excerpts:
“Viv held her sword in both hands, head bowed.
She’d forsworn her old life, crossing a bridge to a new land, and now knelt in its ruin.
This was the bridge burning away behind her, leaving her in desolation.
She tossed the blade back into the ash and took the only path that remained.”
“A part of her understood that she was hurting them, wounding these people who were friends. That some older, crueler self was emerging, crawling from the wreckage of who she thought she had become. That newly ruined part of her cried out for her to stop, to let it be for now, but the crueler self was ascendant, its opponent too weakened and diminished to intervene.”
mitskacir's review against another edition
3.0
Read this for a bookclub. I was very skeptical at first, but I did enjoy it quite a bit once I got started. If you're looking for an absolutely calming, feel-good read I would highly recommend this. Reading this made me feel peaceful, but maybe a little too much so to really get me invested in the plot. I've put the prequel on hold and plan to read it when I need some good, low-conflict, pleasant escapism.
tregina's review against another edition
4.0
I grabbed this pretty much as soon as it was released and I've been saving it for a rainy day when I knew I would need a comfort read. Today is that day.
And honestly it was everything that I hoped it would be. I am an unabashed lover of coffeeshop AUs in the fanfic tradition and this isn't that, not in tone or style, but there's still that element of sociability and found family and, like, baking. There was actually more conflict and plot than I had been led to believe there would be but in the good way, it all clipped along at a great pace and kept me interested.
And the sweetest, most gentle romance. Like this whisper in the background of everything. Just a delight.
And honestly it was everything that I hoped it would be. I am an unabashed lover of coffeeshop AUs in the fanfic tradition and this isn't that, not in tone or style, but there's still that element of sociability and found family and, like, baking. There was actually more conflict and plot than I had been led to believe there would be but in the good way, it all clipped along at a great pace and kept me interested.
And the sweetest, most gentle romance. Like this whisper in the background of everything. Just a delight.
sleepyfordays's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.25
zecdavies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dreafloresita's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
currentlychloe's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
sussex_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5