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kasialipa's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Misogyny
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Child death, War, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
jencolumb0's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Evie Dunmore’s writing anymore, she takes on the (typically unspoken) complexities around motherhood and immigration, contributes her efforts to reducing bi erasure, and more directly re-writes the script for neurodiversity (folks are more accepting) and colonialism (folks more stridently opposed thereto). Catronia, Elias and their story are lovely, complex, weighty characters who occupy spaces in history that are frequently, in pop culture, more about the aesthetic than the substance. There are also delightful, more direct check-ins with each of the three prior couples.
(Relatedly, while, technically, one can read the books separately, the series epilogue at the conclusion of this book would be quite lost on that reader.)
With this book, Evie Dunore has produced a powerful and satisfying end to a series that is astonishingly accurate and deft in its portrayal of navigating the modern, western world as an intelligent girl, then woman. If Barbie, the movie, brought out all the feels, then this is your new favorite series. Enjoy!
(Relatedly, while, technically, one can read the books separately, the series epilogue at the conclusion of this book would be quite lost on that reader.)
With this book, Evie Dunore has produced a powerful and satisfying end to a series that is astonishingly accurate and deft in its portrayal of navigating the modern, western world as an intelligent girl, then woman. If Barbie, the movie, brought out all the feels, then this is your new favorite series. Enjoy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Colonisation, Abandonment, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy
Minor: War and Abortion
Also, a scene or two in which piercing is discussed and some homophobia (challenged in the sense that the related character flees instead of stick around for it).haley49's review against another edition
4.5
Such a good ending to the series. I love this couple and the cameos from earlier ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Colonisation, Classism, and Pregnancy
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Islamophobia
samchase112's review
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What an interesting and lovely way to end a fantastic series! Oftentimes I felt bogged down by all the politics and context that was happening around the characters, and honestly this book felt more about that stuff than the romance or characters themselves — interesting. There were so many balls dropped, I felt, in honor of talking about the same political stuff over again. Even so, the romance was wonderful, full of chemistry, and started off with a bang… even if the progression didn’t really make sense or feel natural. (Honestly, Dunmore should just do what she so clearly wants to and write some academic books on 18th century women’s rights or Lebanon or whatever else she’s interested in!)
I enjoyed my time with this book, but the series definitely went downhill after the stellar first book. Either way, I’m glad to have read and finished it, and to had such fun along the way!
I enjoyed my time with this book, but the series definitely went downhill after the stellar first book. Either way, I’m glad to have read and finished it, and to had such fun along the way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Pregnancy and War
nadiajohnsonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This made for a satisfying conclusion to a series that I truly enjoyed. Elias is probably my favorite love interest of the four, which is saying something, and I thought the choice to include a Lebanese Maronite added an interesting bit of cultural diversity to the existing cast of characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between Elias and Catriona, as they both grew past their prior romantic disappointments. As an archaeologist, I loved and appreciated that the plot centered on the ethical question of who owns cultural heritage, as Elias sought to have some Phoenician artifacts repatriated to his homeland. It also added a fun heist dynamic to the standard Victorian drama of manners that is typical of historical romances. My only real complaint is that I wish that the denouement of their romance had a little more detail included with it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
This book, while set in the 1880s, is so incredibly timely, as Evie Dunmore sweeps the reader through a burning romance while also deftly covering tough topics like the occupation of the Levant, imperialism, and the stealing of cultural artifacts and the ethics of repatriation when the legal system fails. I absolutely loved how smart and deep this fourth installment of this series was. It was incredibly powerful, very well-written, and worth the wait. While I am very sad to see this series end, I can’t wait to see what Evie Dunmore writes next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
dani_reis's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic friendship
soniajoy98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Racism, Ableism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and War