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thalassa_reading's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the plot and resolution of the series, it was very satisfying and brought our gaggle of characters, who've become a found family by now, plus some new characters (Hawthorn's mother!!) together in such delightful ways. I can't say often enough how amazing the magic system is, I love the concept of magic of the land so much, and this book had it in spades. Introducing the heirs to the house by showing the newborns to mirror! Bowing to the bee hives! So awesome!
Unfortunately I disliked the dynamic of the new couple so intensely I had to skip many pages. Alan and Hawthorn are forever hissing, spitting venom, using derogatory language, it was extremely exhausting. Class is a huge wedge between them and an important issue the book discusses, but the way it was done imo undermined those efforts, not least because the power difference is such a defining feature of their sex role plays. About those I can only say, dom/sub all the way, degrading language, consensual non-consent etc, no romance until the very end and then it was suddenly too sentimental. Alan's pov additionally undermines the camaraderie because for him everyone is rich and privileged first and a human being second.
Unfortunately I disliked the dynamic of the new couple so intensely I had to skip many pages. Alan and Hawthorn are forever hissing, spitting venom, using derogatory language, it was extremely exhausting. Class is a huge wedge between them and an important issue the book discusses, but the way it was done imo undermined those efforts, not least because the power difference is such a defining feature of their sex role plays. About those I can only say, dom/sub all the way, degrading language, consensual non-consent etc, no romance until the very end and then it was suddenly too sentimental. Alan's pov additionally undermines the camaraderie because for him everyone is rich and privileged first and a human being second.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Death
iamizi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
adearen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
tiefling48's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
mo_ber's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition
Guess who picked up a book that was the last of a trilogy without realising it and had no idea what was happening the entire time? ME~!
Hopefully this is a soft DNF until I read the series properly from the beginning, but the dubcon in it kind of put me off a little to be honest.
Hopefully this is a soft DNF until I read the series properly from the beginning, but the dubcon in it kind of put me off a little to be honest.
emreads0's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
ashction's review against another edition
5.0
i adore and cherish this series so much! what a perfect end for this found family i adore. and i loved jack and alan's relationship so much!! can't wait to read more from freya in the future
libraryalissa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Final book in the trilogy and it wasn’t my favorite but it wasn’t my least favorite. I liked getting to know the characters more and seeing their little magical found family come together. I liked the dynamics between the love interests as well but didn’t love the sex scenes in this one. It is by far the most explicit of the three but somehow also less steamy? Maybe just wasn’t for me. This one was also very slow at parts, but I couldn’t not finish the series after my complete adoration of the first book. All around definitely a worthwhile series if queer historical romantasy sounds like your jam.