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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
This one has taken a lot of thought, and I'm still not sure I know exactly what I want to say about it. So this might end up being a list if I can not find it in me to flesh it out.
+ This was a very ambitious undertaking that largely worked.
But also.
- This tried too hard to be smart—it could be long, muddled, and confusing. I had a very hard time following the language choices used in it, including older grammar. At times I couldn't tell if something were just old or if it was an error that missed being addressed.
Related.
- This book has a rather niche target audience and assumes you are familiar with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and other works. Which felt a bit, I dunno...snobby/elitist to me at times, as if the presumption were, "If you're a Reader™, you will be familiar with all of these works to see just how smart I was!" As someone who has never read TN or many of the works others have said were referenced in here—honestly, I had to Wiki TN and realized that with the exception of one movie I haven't even seen that was a reworking of the tale, I haven't heard of or been exposed to this story at all; it lacks the cultural presence that, say, Romeo and Juliet has, or Pride and Prejudice. Even if someone hasn't seen them, they usually have heard of them and have a rough idea of the big plot/premise. It felt like I was intruding on an inside joke or private conversation at times, which was off-putting. Note: this doesn't mean I do not believe this should have been attempted or done, but rather some kind of notes of literary inspiration at the beginning would have been nice—maybe with reasons the author loves them or chose them as inspiration to encourage others to read them? Once I read the plot synopsis on Wiki, it was a lot easier to follow what was going on and being attempted in this story.
+/- Now throw in a feminist bent. Truly, a lot was going on in this book that would have caught readers who are here for the sexy times and not much else off-guard. I enjoyed Viola's discomfort at her realization that she viewed her fellow Omegas as inferior and silly and maybe she wasn't as great an ally to them as she thought. This aspect of the story felt very second wave-y to me,. And I liked the exploration of one's privilege without using the terminology. To realize one has had barriers removed to access of things that others are denied based on rigid social hierarchy.
+ I loved how the dynamics were treated in this. There was a nice subtlety to OV tropes that made it recognizable but new. There's some wank in other reviews that Viola isn't Omega enough, but really, wasn't that one of the big points for her character in this book? That she's not a perfect and ideal Omega? And others didn't think Syon was Alpha enough because he was okay with not being on top 100% of the time.
If you need to have OV a very certain way and can not handle a thoughtful interpretation of it then...well, go find the other hundreds of books that are to your taste.
+ I loved the play between biological instinct/drive and the self's ability to override it. There's a lot of consent in here for an OV tale, and I really enjoy the newer OV offerings coming out that are able to incorporate it.
+ There was a healthy sized cast of female side characters, all having varied motivations and views on mating, relationships, and dynamics. And no Jealous Bitches™. Thank you!
+ The casual queerness and normalcy of all types of relationships without casting any as deviant—with the possible exception of Alpha/Alpha or (my then implied) Omega/Omega pairings, but that came off more as they were uncommon because they're difficult and do not result in the end goal of children, which is a big driving motivation both here and in OV in general. It did my heart good.
+ OG is genuinely funny with some very Shakespearean banter...in a more Regency-ish setting. Like I said, this got confusing at times.
+ This was a very ambitious undertaking that largely worked.
But also.
- This tried too hard to be smart—it could be long, muddled, and confusing. I had a very hard time following the language choices used in it, including older grammar. At times I couldn't tell if something were just old or if it was an error that missed being addressed.
Related.
- This book has a rather niche target audience and assumes you are familiar with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and other works. Which felt a bit, I dunno...snobby/elitist to me at times, as if the presumption were, "If you're a Reader™, you will be familiar with all of these works to see just how smart I was!" As someone who has never read TN or many of the works others have said were referenced in here—honestly, I had to Wiki TN and realized that with the exception of one movie I haven't even seen that was a reworking of the tale, I haven't heard of or been exposed to this story at all; it lacks the cultural presence that, say, Romeo and Juliet has, or Pride and Prejudice. Even if someone hasn't seen them, they usually have heard of them and have a rough idea of the big plot/premise. It felt like I was intruding on an inside joke or private conversation at times, which was off-putting. Note: this doesn't mean I do not believe this should have been attempted or done, but rather some kind of notes of literary inspiration at the beginning would have been nice—maybe with reasons the author loves them or chose them as inspiration to encourage others to read them? Once I read the plot synopsis on Wiki, it was a lot easier to follow what was going on and being attempted in this story.
+/- Now throw in a feminist bent. Truly, a lot was going on in this book that would have caught readers who are here for the sexy times and not much else off-guard. I enjoyed Viola's discomfort at her realization that she viewed her fellow Omegas as inferior and silly and maybe she wasn't as great an ally to them as she thought. This aspect of the story felt very second wave-y to me,
Spoiler
the idea that the best way to throw off Omega inferiority was to be more Alpha, much like feminists of the 70s sneered at and avoided anything deemed feminine while trying to be more "manly" for respect+ I loved how the dynamics were treated in this. There was a nice subtlety to OV tropes that made it recognizable but new. There's some wank in other reviews that Viola isn't Omega enough, but really, wasn't that one of the big points for her character in this book? That she's not a perfect and ideal Omega? And others didn't think Syon was Alpha enough because he was okay with not being on top 100% of the time.
If you need to have OV a very certain way and can not handle a thoughtful interpretation of it then...well, go find the other hundreds of books that are to your taste.
+ I loved the play between biological instinct/drive and the self's ability to override it. There's a lot of consent in here for an OV tale, and I really enjoy the newer OV offerings coming out that are able to incorporate it.
+ There was a healthy sized cast of female side characters, all having varied motivations and views on mating, relationships, and dynamics. And no Jealous Bitches™. Thank you!
+ The casual queerness and normalcy of all types of relationships without casting any as deviant—with the possible exception of Alpha/Alpha or (my then implied) Omega/Omega pairings, but that came off more as they were uncommon because they're difficult and do not result in the end goal of children, which is a big driving motivation both here and in OV in general. It did my heart good.
+ OG is genuinely funny with some very Shakespearean banter...in a more Regency-ish setting. Like I said, this got confusing at times.
I’ll start by saying that I read the whole thing. I don’t read all books. This book stressed me out with the deception and miscommunication and rejection. I felt like this was dramatic, over the top, farcical. It felt like a Shakespearean comedy and perhaps it was in honor of one? I don’t know. I’m not sure what to think after this book.
A new venture!
This was my first forray into omegaverse and I think Violet had ruined all other omegas for me.
The characters are frustrating in their propriety and the world is well built.
This was my first forray into omegaverse and I think Violet had ruined all other omegas for me.
The characters are frustrating in their propriety and the world is well built.
medium-paced
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
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:
No
The writing was sometimes clunky but overall the story was engaging and interesting!
inspiring
slow-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
🌶🌶🌶🌶