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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
38 reviews
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
A refreshingly witty, enemies to lovers fantasy that I didn’t want to put down!
From the hilarious, banter-filled interactions (and dialogue) between MCs, Aurienne and Osric, (whose petty remarks, dirty jokes and lighthearted animosity had me absolutely cackling) to the chaotic field trips and eccentric side characters we meet along the way. There wasn’t anything I didn’t enjoy.
I loved Brigitte’s Knighley’s prose, which was entertaining in a fun, unputdownable way that had me hooked. Our MCs vocabulary during their interactions was pretty fun too, and had a Terry Pratchett-esque charm that (in my opinion) only added to the overall whimsy.
But of course, the main attraction was our grumpy x sunshine-esque duo, Aurienne (the scholarly healer who follows the rules) and Osric (the silver tongued assassin who loves to break them.)
They were both incredibly nuanced, flawed and in-depth characters who, (despite their very different moral views) can’t stop the slowburn and gorgeously intense chemistry that simmers between them.
I really liked Aurienne, she’s smart and compassionate with an unwavering drive to do what’s right. But I loved seeing her grow and realise that people (and the choices they make) can’t always be neatly categorised.
I also adored Osric and found his charming, flirtatious personality soo joyfully infectious. Even his interactions with Aurienne’s Deofol and fellow assassin Leofric were hilarious. I’ll also never look at a fork the same way again!
There’s not much else I can say without spoilers. However, with its soft magic system and world-building that focuses heavily on its characters (rather than exposition heavy lore), this might not appeal to everyone.
But, if you’ve read (and loved) Olivia Atwater or Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s work, then you’ll probably really enjoy this!
Also, a huge thank you to Nazia & Orbit books UK for this stunning finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, War
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
A slow burn so slow, if it took any longer it would be going backwards.
Ok ok so as a big fanfic girlie, this was one of my most highly anticipated reads of Q2 and I wasn't disappointed. The chemistry and banter between the main two characters was delicious and the way the slow burn unfolded had me screaming at the page.
That being said, there were a couple of things I wasn't as obsessed with:
1) pacing issues around the middle - for a while the plot felt a bit repetitive and the dynamic between the characters didn't seem to be developing at all. However, things picked up from the 70% mark and it was a gallop to the finish line!
2) the world building was a little weak - I generally think this is a problem with the vast amount of fanfics turned published novels, but it wasn't terrible.
Overall, I am ready and raring for book 2!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.
Ok ok so as a big fanfic girlie, this was one of my most highly anticipated reads of Q2 and I wasn't disappointed. The chemistry and banter between the main two characters was delicious and the way the slow burn unfolded had me screaming at the page.
That being said, there were a couple of things I wasn't as obsessed with:
1) pacing issues around the middle - for a while the plot felt a bit repetitive and the dynamic between the characters didn't seem to be developing at all. However, things picked up from the 70% mark and it was a gallop to the finish line!
2) the world building was a little weak - I generally think this is a problem with the vast amount of fanfics turned published novels, but it wasn't terrible.
Overall, I am ready and raring for book 2!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
oh okay so its just going to end like that huh?
I don't even know how to put into words the experience that was this book.
It was that good.
My god.
Bi4Bi
dramione coded (obviously)
POC characters
and I'm counting the costs as disability rep. Even if its 'healed' the next day, its something that is constant and will always come back.
I don't even know how to put into words the experience that was this book.
It was that good.
My god.
Bi4Bi
dramione coded (obviously)
POC characters
and I'm counting the costs as disability rep. Even if its 'healed' the next day, its something that is constant and will always come back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Kidnapping, War
A hilarious enemies to lovers romcom with a side of magical science and folklore.
This book was such a good time! A confident, no-nonsense healer, and a cocky, ever-optimistic assassin reluctantly team up for the most ridiculous quest - hunting for an impossible cure for a deadly magical nerve injury using nothing but folklore and "thin places" that may or may not actually work.
The whole thing is chaotic in the best way, packed with wit, snark, and banter that had me constantly grinning and laughing out loud. Aurienne’s cool, collected attitude is such a breath of fresh air, and Osric’s relentless charm makes him the most loveable murderous rogue I've ever had the pleasure of reading about.
The world was just as enjoyable, set in a magical-and-not-quite-modern-day version of the British Isles, with enough familiar names to get a sense of place without needing a map. I especially loved watching the characters wrestle with the clash between evidence-based, scientific magic and the wild unpredictability of folklore magic.
It's very slow burn, and so worth it - watching Aurienne and Osric go from squabbling and screaming insults at each other every chance they get to somewhat trusting (and maybe even needing) each other was utterly heartwarming, and exactly what I needed. I don't know how I'm going to survive waiting for book two!
This book was such a good time! A confident, no-nonsense healer, and a cocky, ever-optimistic assassin reluctantly team up for the most ridiculous quest - hunting for an impossible cure for a deadly magical nerve injury using nothing but folklore and "thin places" that may or may not actually work.
The whole thing is chaotic in the best way, packed with wit, snark, and banter that had me constantly grinning and laughing out loud. Aurienne’s cool, collected attitude is such a breath of fresh air, and Osric’s relentless charm makes him the most loveable murderous rogue I've ever had the pleasure of reading about.
The world was just as enjoyable, set in a magical-and-not-quite-modern-day version of the British Isles, with enough familiar names to get a sense of place without needing a map. I especially loved watching the characters wrestle with the clash between evidence-based, scientific magic and the wild unpredictability of folklore magic.
It's very slow burn, and so worth it - watching Aurienne and Osric go from squabbling and screaming insults at each other every chance they get to somewhat trusting (and maybe even needing) each other was utterly heartwarming, and exactly what I needed. I don't know how I'm going to survive waiting for book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent
adventurous
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You can tell when someone has had fun writing something and this gives that vibe! I truly laughed out loud at some of the witticisms between A and O.
We jump right into the story without being inundated with exposition, which I greatly appreciated. The powers and mythology at play is intriguing and a combination of norse/gaelic as far as I can tell, and feels fresh.
The story itself moves forward with purpose, and the focus slowly moves from our central problem into our central relationship. I was sad when this ended so soon!
Definitely recommend for those who enjoy Lemming or Hazelwood or Kingfisher, as this has similar style and/or character building.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I devoured this in a few hours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Brigette and have since DMATMOOBIL but I could've done with 90% less crude body humor. Became repetitive and distracting. I'm still going to read the next one though as the ending had less of that and more plot movement that was really interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse