Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
dark
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am so angry that I bought the sequels before finishing this book. The first half is alright, but the handling of physical abuse was horrible. The last line absolutely sums up the rest of the book: Poppy is given the illusion of choice, but the men have already made a decision regarding her life for her. Hawke's savior complex is gross, there are no likable characters in this book. The plot is nonexistent for the first 100 or so pages, then infodumped at random.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Armentrout utilizes a lot of popular fantasy tropes really well (the chosen one, the jealous/protective lover, werewolves and vampires, etc.). While these things aren’t new, they were super engaging and fun to relish in.
⁕ Most of y’all already know this, but there’s A LOT of smut in this book.... like a lot. Sometimes so much so that I felt it detracted from the plot (but to each their own, I suppose 😅).
⁕ For a book labeled as “high fantasy,” I was expecting more world-building. Hopefully, such developments will come in the next books of the series.
⁕ I’m not sure I 100% buy into the main relationship of the book (but honestly I don’t think the main character does either, so, again, we’ll see where the sequel takes us).
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ Armentrout utilizes a lot of popular fantasy tropes really well (the chosen one, the jealous/protective lover, werewolves and vampires, etc.). While these things aren’t new, they were super engaging and fun to relish in.
⁕ Most of y’all already know this, but there’s A LOT of smut in this book.... like a lot. Sometimes so much so that I felt it detracted from the plot (but to each their own, I suppose 😅).
⁕ For a book labeled as “high fantasy,” I was expecting more world-building. Hopefully, such developments will come in the next books of the series.
⁕ I’m not sure I 100% buy into the main relationship of the book (but honestly I don’t think the main character does either, so, again, we’ll see where the sequel takes us).
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4/5 stars.
this was going to be a 3 star but then it shocked the shit out of me twice. it has the trope of “i’m not like other girls”, except for this book it was, “i’m not like other to-be ascenders”. i am not even complaining though. this book had been a completely different experience then i’d expected.
Poppy.
i was quite impressed by the main character, Poppy. Poppy’s character is what I’d say is the most realistic with her emotions, her thought process, the reasons she does certain things opposed to something else, as well as her character development.
Hawke.
the minute i knew this was a bodyguard romance i had to pick it up. thankfully i did. Hawke’s characteristics and everything else that made him who he was were done phenomenally. I’ve heard that some people didn’t like how long it took for him to become Poppy’s bodyguard, but I personally think it took just as long as the story needed.
Poppy + Hawke.
Poppy and Hawke’s relationship was very steamy from the beginning, and it just took off from there. They’re chemistry was done in a way that sometimes i was iffy about them but that was just as steamy as when i was rooting for them.
Conclusion.
The major twists as the ending and all of the events between the beginning and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
this was going to be a 3 star but then it shocked the shit out of me twice. it has the trope of “i’m not like other girls”, except for this book it was, “i’m not like other to-be ascenders”. i am not even complaining though. this book had been a completely different experience then i’d expected.
Poppy.
i was quite impressed by the main character, Poppy. Poppy’s character is what I’d say is the most realistic with her emotions, her thought process, the reasons she does certain things opposed to something else, as well as her character development.
Hawke.
the minute i knew this was a bodyguard romance i had to pick it up. thankfully i did. Hawke’s characteristics and everything else that made him who he was were done phenomenally. I’ve heard that some people didn’t like how long it took for him to become Poppy’s bodyguard, but I personally think it took just as long as the story needed.
Poppy + Hawke.
Poppy and Hawke’s relationship was very steamy from the beginning, and it just took off from there. They’re chemistry was done in a way that sometimes i was iffy about them but that was just as steamy as when i was rooting for them.
Conclusion.
The major twists as the ending and all of the events between the beginning and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Terrible. I’m going to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder