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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book left me with more questions than answers. It’s hard to understand why the MC Orlaith has an attraction to someone who saved her as a child and sort of raised her. He treats her horribly and they have a really toxic relationship so I am not team Rhordyn. Orlaith has a lot of trauma and addicted to a drug she makes but once she stops taking it she has no side effects. That makes no sense and I don’t see the point of adding that into the story. Orlaith has no women in her life (friends or mother figure) and only men who she finds attractive. It’s an okay read that leaves so many questions unanswered at the end and the story does not move along enough for me to want to read the sequel.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Because lies are pretty little masks we place on our words to tint the truth into something palatable.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
When I tell you I absolutely DEVOURED this series once I started it.
TBACB is a whimsical Rapunzel retelling through and through, and that really shines through as Orlaith, the FMC, through her naivety and sheltered upbringing.
Book one spends a majority of time building the unique world, developing the fantasy and lore. Even though all of this is quite confusing at times, it suits Orlaiths perspective who’s life is built on secrets, and narrative constantly framed to suit Rhordyn, the MMC, and his hidden agenda.
Tropes include all the best ones:
🥀 Forbidden Romance
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🥀 Morally grey MMC
🗡️ Dark Rapaunzel retelling
🥀 Age Gap
🗡️ Touch her and die
Rhordyn BTW, better be endgame (even though he’s a massive wank in book 1), and their relationship is quite literally toxic.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve come from; it’s in our nature to fall in love with the shackle that binds us.”
Book one does an excellent job setting up the world, and the narrative for the rest of the series, and doesn’t fail to keep you hanging onto the edge of your seat.
Set yourself a weekend before jumping into this series because you won’t be putting it down!
(Also Cain is def the worst, you heard it first)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
When I tell you I absolutely DEVOURED this series once I started it.
TBACB is a whimsical Rapunzel retelling through and through, and that really shines through as Orlaith, the FMC, through her naivety and sheltered upbringing.
Book one spends a majority of time building the unique world, developing the fantasy and lore. Even though all of this is quite confusing at times, it suits Orlaiths perspective who’s life is built on secrets, and narrative constantly framed to suit Rhordyn, the MMC, and his hidden agenda.
Tropes include all the best ones:
🥀 Forbidden Romance
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🥀 Morally grey MMC
🗡️ Dark Rapaunzel retelling
🥀 Age Gap
🗡️ Touch her and die
Rhordyn BTW, better be endgame (even though he’s a massive wank in book 1), and their relationship is quite literally toxic.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve come from; it’s in our nature to fall in love with the shackle that binds us.”
Book one does an excellent job setting up the world, and the narrative for the rest of the series, and doesn’t fail to keep you hanging onto the edge of your seat.
Set yourself a weekend before jumping into this series because you won’t be putting it down!
(Also Cain is def the worst, you heard it first)
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book just didn’t draw me in… I was left confused and disappointed. I did not care for the love interest and it honestly gave me the ick. The FMC just wasn’t someone I felt like reading a whole book about.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Dafuq?! I'm confused a f and cannot decide if I want to read the rest to understand what is going on or if I want to throw the book into the next corner and forget that it even exists.
The more I think about this book, the more I hate it.
What in the world. Such a messy story-line. I tried to explain it to a friend and I ended up confusing myself.
It's like the author rolled a dice on what each chapter will highlight or feature and nothing flows or connects through the entire story. We don't even know if they're, like, human. Or I thought Fae? But then someone drinks blood... so... Vampire? Idek.
First she crushing on her adoptive dad (who is described as having gray hair but *not because of age*)
Bro, if you have to explain it like that, at least clarify the age/species thing cuz my brain is taking this a creepy place and I feel like the author should, like, explain what she wants us to see? Please?
And then we meet cute comic relief friend. so maybe this will be the love interest? But then a few chapters later she's making out with a mermaid/shark...? And then back to wanting *Judge Turpin* for a few chapters...
Enter some very vividly awkward chapters about her going into heat out of no where that had never even been mentioned before or after in the book. WUT. IS. HAPPENING.
All of thr sudden, there's a 4th *gloriously attractive male* who she's interested in. I'm just... confused. Who am I supposed to be rooting for here? Wait. Is this a RH?
Oh, and there's like 2 paragraphs mentioning a terrible monster in the basement. So? I have no idea.
What in the world. Such a messy story-line. I tried to explain it to a friend and I ended up confusing myself.
It's like the author rolled a dice on what each chapter will highlight or feature and nothing flows or connects through the entire story. We don't even know if they're, like, human. Or I thought Fae? But then someone drinks blood... so... Vampire? Idek.
First she crushing on her adoptive dad (who is described as having gray hair but *not because of age*)
Bro, if you have to explain it like that, at least clarify the age/species thing cuz my brain is taking this a creepy place and I feel like the author should, like, explain what she wants us to see? Please?
And then we meet cute comic relief friend. so maybe this will be the love interest? But then a few chapters later she's making out with a mermaid/shark...? And then back to wanting *Judge Turpin* for a few chapters...
Enter some very vividly awkward chapters about her going into heat out of no where that had never even been mentioned before or after in the book. WUT. IS. HAPPENING.
All of thr sudden, there's a 4th *gloriously attractive male* who she's interested in. I'm just... confused. Who am I supposed to be rooting for here? Wait. Is this a RH?
Oh, and there's like 2 paragraphs mentioning a terrible monster in the basement. So? I have no idea.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i devoured this. so good.
DNF @ 25%
I was very excited to read this book after reading the synopsis and some of the reviews. I was very not excited after reading the first quarter of this book. It did not draw me in, there is nothing that commands your attention thought the author does have a way of keeping you feeling like "ok, something must be about to happen", but then it doesn't. The "adventure" seems to take place in the shallow end of imagination, because nothing truly happens. She starts to build the world and the characters, and then immediately beings dismantling them. I think I have a sense of who someone is, and it changes (and we are only 25% into the book mind you!). I think this needed better editing; it felt unfocused.
I was very excited to read this book after reading the synopsis and some of the reviews. I was very not excited after reading the first quarter of this book. It did not draw me in, there is nothing that commands your attention thought the author does have a way of keeping you feeling like "ok, something must be about to happen", but then it doesn't. The "adventure" seems to take place in the shallow end of imagination, because nothing truly happens. She starts to build the world and the characters, and then immediately beings dismantling them. I think I have a sense of who someone is, and it changes (and we are only 25% into the book mind you!). I think this needed better editing; it felt unfocused.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix