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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
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Added political context is interesting and the characters are engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Colonisation
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
meghanm404's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Forced institutionalization, War, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny
luckykosmos's review against another edition
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
3.75
I liked the character dynamics, but the main romance fell second to the reflections on how previous relationships are going now (even the pair from the book I really didn't like, deeply charmed me here). I loved the main character of this one independently, but I didn't feel the chemistry I wanted from them together, despite their delightful introduction and obvious ways that they match each other.
re: the epilogue, I'm now desperate for a spin-off about how Henry and Artemis happened!
re: the epilogue, I'm now desperate for a spin-off about how Henry and Artemis happened!
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Colonisation
le3713's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite historical romance series. I was glad to see a fair amount of Annabelle, Lucie, and Hattie in addition to the central plot between Catriona and Elias. I thought it was interesting to see the exploration of neurodivergence, as well as the historical pieces about the women's rights movement and historical artifacts/colonialism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Colonisation
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
jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
I love this series, and this is the best one so far. Catriona is a complex and deeply intriguing character as a scholar, suffragist, and socially uncomfortable woman in Victorian England. Meeting a man from Lebanon with his own business and family concerns challenges both of them to consider how they can both follow their ambitions and their hearts in societies with very strict standards for public and private behaviors in prescribed roles.
Dunmore clearly did her homework on the history of the women's movement, life in Victorian England, the silk business in Lebanon, and more. I am intrigued by some of the topics discussed and will do additional reading on my own.
Plus there are some steamy scenes as well.
Dunmore clearly did her homework on the history of the women's movement, life in Victorian England, the silk business in Lebanon, and more. I am intrigued by some of the topics discussed and will do additional reading on my own.
Plus there are some steamy scenes as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia