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jenniferbbookdragon's review
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
4.0
A madcap tumble through the underworld that also had a romance and some quality smut.
This series has that quality found in so many of my favorites where the romance part fits so closely into a tale of found family. I’ve long loved family dynasty style series like Stephanie Laurens’ Cynsters and Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, but there’s no coincidence that Laurens’ Bastion Club is collectively my favorite of her works. Family isn’t always linked to biology. For many of us, it is something we have found and grown over the years. Add into that strong male friendships surrounding the primary relationships in this and so many of my favorite m/m series, and I am here for it with bells on.
Toxic masculinity is such a pervasive part of our culture that it still sometimes startles me when the men who are part of my found family talk about love and being family without any prompting. Imagining adding the historical persecution and murder of queer men in particular for no other reason than who they were born to that culture, and the depictions of entire communities coming together and flourishing bring me even more joy than just the relationship and smut.
Don’t get me wrong though, the smut is excellent.
This series has that quality found in so many of my favorites where the romance part fits so closely into a tale of found family. I’ve long loved family dynasty style series like Stephanie Laurens’ Cynsters and Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, but there’s no coincidence that Laurens’ Bastion Club is collectively my favorite of her works. Family isn’t always linked to biology. For many of us, it is something we have found and grown over the years. Add into that strong male friendships surrounding the primary relationships in this and so many of my favorite m/m series, and I am here for it with bells on.
Toxic masculinity is such a pervasive part of our culture that it still sometimes startles me when the men who are part of my found family talk about love and being family without any prompting. Imagining adding the historical persecution and murder of queer men in particular for no other reason than who they were born to that culture, and the depictions of entire communities coming together and flourishing bring me even more joy than just the relationship and smut.
Don’t get me wrong though, the smut is excellent.
wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
The overarching plot of this series is so dark and serious and heart-wrenching. But the relationships between the MCs? They're so sweet and perfect and aching and I just love them all. This series, so far, has been an utter delight.
tambrilyn_dvorski's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
5.0
cluckieduck's review
While it's been over a year since I read book 1 Just a Little Wickedness), everything I remember enjoying fell flat with this entry. I've got a wider swath of romantic reads under my belt now to compare it to now and this one is just...not good (I suspect as well that if I were to reread book 1, I'd have similar thoughts).
The writing is bland, the instalove dry, the dialogue cringy, and the overall historical setting/kidnapping plot has zero consistency. I've picked up other entries in the series as they pop up for free, but I don't think I'll be revisiting.
The writing is bland, the instalove dry, the dialogue cringy, and the overall historical setting/kidnapping plot has zero consistency. I've picked up other entries in the series as they pop up for free, but I don't think I'll be revisiting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Classism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexism, and Cursing
Minor: Religious bigotry
spacearcheologist's review
3.0
Whilst this is a sequel novel it’s a loose sequel- about two different men and their love story but it is connected through the primary obstacle in the book which is a continuation from the first novel.
It’s a sweet read and both characters are very likable, particularly Stephen who I adored from the first few pages. This continues to be an enjoyable series for me.
It’s a sweet read and both characters are very likable, particularly Stephen who I adored from the first few pages. This continues to be an enjoyable series for me.
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