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katbotelho's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I feel like i have a lot to say about this book but i dont know where to start… i have mixed feelings because i didnt hate it, it wss entertaining and i enjoyed the world but i couldnt really get attached to the characters nor the relationship really.
cylan and saffrons relationship feeling like a smooth ramp of enemies to lovers it was instead a very abrupt staircase (idk if that makes sense) it just felt like one day he was mean and the next day he wasn’t. and i feel like saffron more likes the idea of him than he actually likes him bc truly i dont know anything about him really and i cant imagine saffron does either so im left sitting here wondering what reason he has to like him.
also oh my god saffron was such a crybaby i found it hilarious that this guy was like ‘yes my prince i will protect you’ meanwhile he was beat up and injured countless times throughout the book and cried at least once a chapter. and if i had a nickel for every time saffron was beaten to a pulp and tied up and left to die in the woods i’d have two nickels but it’s weird that it happened twice.
that being said despite all the question marks and gripe this left me with it’s pretty likely that i’ll read the next book,, what can i say im easily entertained🤷
cylan and saffrons relationship feeling like a smooth ramp of enemies to lovers it was instead a very abrupt staircase (idk if that makes sense) it just felt like one day he was mean and the next day he wasn’t. and i feel like saffron more likes the idea of him than he actually likes him bc truly i dont know anything about him really and i cant imagine saffron does either so im left sitting here wondering what reason he has to like him.
also oh my god saffron was such a crybaby i found it hilarious that this guy was like ‘yes my prince i will protect you’ meanwhile he was beat up and injured countless times throughout the book and cried at least once a chapter. and if i had a nickel for every time saffron was beaten to a pulp and tied up and left to die in the woods i’d have two nickels but it’s weird that it happened twice.
that being said despite all the question marks and gripe this left me with it’s pretty likely that i’ll read the next book,, what can i say im easily entertained🤷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Drug abuse, Murder, and Violence
lindsaythelibrarian's review against another edition
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, and Slavery
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
flannelpetticoat's review against another edition
DNFing before starting chapter 12. The book is cruel and poorly written enough that I have no interest in continuing the series. Doesn't make sense to power through the misery
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Violence
mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
That was hilariously bad. But that said, why do I feel like I want to read the second book?
To be generous, this felt like a first draft of a novel from someone who read just enough Irish mythology to have a loose grasp of the subject matter. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and behaved like caricatures of fairy mythology OR acted like pod people with weird smiles during tense moments. Though the plot evolved more thoroughly than I first expected, there were still gaps that left me disgruntled with the high praise this duology has received on BookTok (why do I keep trusting BookTok?)
That said, there was something oddly compelling about the story. Like, it was kinda hot garbage but I wanted to know what happened next? Ugh. Am I really gonna drop another Audible credit on this? … shit, maybe.
To be generous, this felt like a first draft of a novel from someone who read just enough Irish mythology to have a loose grasp of the subject matter. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and behaved like caricatures of fairy mythology OR acted like pod people with weird smiles during tense moments. Though the plot evolved more thoroughly than I first expected, there were still gaps that left me disgruntled with the high praise this duology has received on BookTok (why do I keep trusting BookTok?)
That said, there was something oddly compelling about the story. Like, it was kinda hot garbage but I wanted to know what happened next? Ugh. Am I really gonna drop another Audible credit on this? … shit, maybe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Violence
turn_around_sammy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
scratches an itch
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Sexual content
Moderate: Torture and Violence
parawatch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Originally rated this book a 4, but looking back on it months later, because I'm rethinking it over and realized just how messed up this book is. I don't know how to properly spoil, but if you don't want to read attempted drugging and abuse, then don't read this book. I thought it was going to be a lighter book to read, but the straight up abuse is a turn off. This book did drag on at some parts, it was written good, but the fact that there was also no true forgiveness or resolution after the two main characters issues is kind of saddening. I own the second book but I don't think I'm going to read it. The conflicts between our two MCs gets annoying, too, as its one after another.
But thats all just my thoughts on the book.
But thats all just my thoughts on the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
haileeraye's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
lotte5322's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
fragoline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
baroo92's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everything about this world is fascinating- the divide in magic systems almost drew my attention more than the romance. I also love how diverse this world is- this is my first time seeing dozens of they/them characters in the same story! I was attached to everyone we were introduced to, and really felt Saffron's complex fears when it came to protecting his community. This story does a great job navigating really complex societal issues surrounding oppression and pseudo-racism, and how things can be addressed in certain ways but can't always be magically solved all in one go. Absolutely would recommend, and will definitely be reading again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Sexual harassment, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse