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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I loved this! I loved how different the cultures were and I loved seeing new traditions that are definitely very different. We don’t really see anyone acting what people would call ‘barbaric’ in any of the scenes, but their customs are what showed it to us and I really enjoyed that, no matter how out there or shocking they were.
I would really enjoy more of this type of thing from Ruby. I think she does really well at world building, no matter the setting. Fingers crossed!
I would really enjoy more of this type of thing from Ruby. I think she does really well at world building, no matter the setting. Fingers crossed!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a good job. I didn't connect with H/h or the story.
This was a cute little romantasy novella with an intense and possessive MMC with a good sense of humor, and a strong and kind FMC who likes to sass him. I enjoyed the age gap where she was older than him. I would have liked more time for them to grow as a couple before marriage, but that wouldn’t fit the intensity of upheaval in her land.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: exhibitionism, death of parent (off page), beheading and desecration of body (off page), threatened physical harm to child, pregnancy and childbirth (off page), war, mention of riots
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: exhibitionism, death of parent (off page), beheading and desecration of body (off page), threatened physical harm to child, pregnancy and childbirth (off page), war, mention of riots
Fun quick little novella. Ruby never disappoints on these. Great guilty pleasure read.
- i did not expect to enjoy this one nearly as much as i did and i will absolutely be continuing on in the series
- i think there's something that i love so much about the dynamic of two characters bonding over something when they're young and holding onto that as adults and bonding over it all over again while creating new memories (if it's done well, of course, which it was in this novella)
- i'm not a huge novella person, but i felt like the pacing was perfect and ruby is very good at writing dialogue that this one just knit together in every possible way for me
- also it was sexy so i'm not complaining about that at all
- not even sure what the next books in this series are about but i'm here for it
- i think there's something that i love so much about the dynamic of two characters bonding over something when they're young and holding onto that as adults and bonding over it all over again while creating new memories (if it's done well, of course, which it was in this novella)
- i'm not a huge novella person, but i felt like the pacing was perfect and ruby is very good at writing dialogue that this one just knit together in every possible way for me
- also it was sexy so i'm not complaining about that at all
- not even sure what the next books in this series are about but i'm here for it
fast-paced
Short and sweet.
Things I appreciated:
- A drawn-out wedding ceremony with days of (sexy) ritual leading up to it
- Halla calling him out to reciprocate in some of those ceremonies, and reciprocating herself.
- Cool worldbuilding and lore
Regarding the age gap. I normally am a sucker for an age gap but this one didn't do anything me. I think there were a few reasons for this:
- Due to her hiding in a convent while he became a warrior, she didn't seem older than him in mannerisms or characteristics.
- The age gap was always her saying "You deserve better" and from her POV. I don't think we ever got anything from Mathior appreciating the age gap, which is one of the things I love, when the younger character is into how much older/wiser/more experienced the older character is. Even when he was a kid, we could've gotten a clearer picture of why he fell in love/lust with this older character, but we didn't really. He was pretty neutral about their respective ages.
Things I appreciated:
- A drawn-out wedding ceremony with days of (sexy) ritual leading up to it
- Halla calling him out to reciprocate in some of those ceremonies, and reciprocating herself.
- Cool worldbuilding and lore
Regarding the age gap. I normally am a sucker for an age gap but this one didn't do anything me. I think there were a few reasons for this:
- Due to her hiding in a convent while he became a warrior, she didn't seem older than him in mannerisms or characteristics.
- The age gap was always her saying "You deserve better" and from her POV. I don't think we ever got anything from Mathior appreciating the age gap, which is one of the things I love, when the younger character is into how much older/wiser/more experienced the older character is. Even when he was a kid, we could've gotten a clearer picture of why he fell in love/lust with this older character, but we didn't really. He was pretty neutral about their respective ages.
fast-paced
Not much substance. I understand that it has its place and purpose, but I kept just wanting more. More world building. More characterization. More everything.
