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anathemasong's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well-written heist story driven by compelling, believable and lovable but flawed cast of queer characters.
queerkidreads's review against another edition
4.0
*4,5 stars
Thank you to S.M. Pearce for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
What originally got me hooked on this book was, of course, the premise, but also the fact that it contained a QPR, something i crave more of in books.
I loved the relationship between Blythe (aromantic allosexual) and Kalen (gay, non-binary he/they). It was so sweet how much they cared about each other and the way they were always there for one another. The uncertainty about whether or not the other felt- and wanted the same felt very realistic, and I loved seeing them have their own little family in the end. The found family lover in me was THRIVING.
speaking off, the characters involved in said found family was overall very likeable, with some good development, or just good debt in general. Saidth and Frida were enjoyable characters from the beginning, especially Frida. Kalen was my favourite character for sure, and seeing them overcome their fear of water due to his trauma made me really happy because my god did he deserve it. He had it rough, from the abuse to what happened to our sweet little servant boy (that part made me cry a little). The Viper/Arabella's character development was something I didn't really see happening, but was very happy about. She wasn't the most likeable character, though very interesting, but seeing her break free from her 'guilded cage' and join the others in the end was very sweet. Blythe was kind, and just wanted to help to the best of her abilities, but seeing her struggle with her morals got a bit tiring at times, even though it was very understandable, seeing as she came from a quiet life, raised by a father with strong morals himself. I even want to go as far as to say she struggles a bit with religious trauma as well, as her father was rather religious, and raised her on said religion(which, the religion, was an aspect I enjoyed as well). Oh and seeing her snap and kill a certain character was a girlboss moment, and I loved it.
On the topic of characters, S.M. Pearce managed really well to make us hate Marius because fuck him, honestly. He was the worst. I almost suspect his 'charm' was magic, but I guess we'll never know.
Now onto the plot. I liked it a lot, as the author took the 'We have to pretend to be nobles/royalty to infiltrate royalty' trope, and made it enjoyable and not cliché. She did that with Marius, but also with everything else. It just worked. Though, I will say, it was a bit slow at times, and I was missing some more action scenes, instead of just being told what happened by the characters.
The world was very homonormative, which was really refreshing, as that's usually not a thing in fantasy books, but there were just so many queer characters. Blythe and Kalen, of course, but also Marius and many of the nobles. I'm also pretty sure Saidth is Asexual and I think I've seen the author mention Frida being Sapphic?
I am a sucker for made up fantasy languages, and seeing it used throughout the book and being told about the different nations was so cool. And the Glossary!! I am begging more fantasy authors to use this.
Overall a really enjoyable story, and I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy queer, dark fantasy long-con heist books.
Thank you to S.M. Pearce for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
What originally got me hooked on this book was, of course, the premise, but also the fact that it contained a QPR, something i crave more of in books.
I loved the relationship between Blythe (aromantic allosexual) and Kalen (gay, non-binary he/they). It was so sweet how much they cared about each other and the way they were always there for one another. The uncertainty about whether or not the other felt- and wanted the same felt very realistic, and I loved seeing them have their own little family in the end. The found family lover in me was THRIVING.
speaking off, the characters involved in said found family was overall very likeable, with some good development, or just good debt in general. Saidth and Frida were enjoyable characters from the beginning, especially Frida. Kalen was my favourite character for sure, and seeing them overcome their fear of water due to his trauma made me really happy because my god did he deserve it. He had it rough, from the abuse to what happened to our sweet little servant boy (that part made me cry a little). The Viper/Arabella's character development was something I didn't really see happening, but was very happy about. She wasn't the most likeable character, though very interesting, but seeing her break free from her 'guilded cage' and join the others in the end was very sweet. Blythe was kind, and just wanted to help to the best of her abilities, but seeing her struggle with her morals got a bit tiring at times, even though it was very understandable, seeing as she came from a quiet life, raised by a father with strong morals himself. I even want to go as far as to say she struggles a bit with religious trauma as well, as her father was rather religious, and raised her on said religion(which, the religion, was an aspect I enjoyed as well). Oh and seeing her snap and kill a certain character was a girlboss moment, and I loved it.
On the topic of characters, S.M. Pearce managed really well to make us hate Marius because fuck him, honestly. He was the worst. I almost suspect his 'charm' was magic, but I guess we'll never know.
Now onto the plot. I liked it a lot, as the author took the 'We have to pretend to be nobles/royalty to infiltrate royalty' trope, and made it enjoyable and not cliché. She did that with Marius, but also with everything else. It just worked. Though, I will say, it was a bit slow at times, and I was missing some more action scenes, instead of just being told what happened by the characters.
The world was very homonormative, which was really refreshing, as that's usually not a thing in fantasy books, but there were just so many queer characters. Blythe and Kalen, of course, but also Marius and many of the nobles. I'm also pretty sure Saidth is Asexual and I think I've seen the author mention Frida being Sapphic?
I am a sucker for made up fantasy languages, and seeing it used throughout the book and being told about the different nations was so cool. And the Glossary!! I am begging more fantasy authors to use this.
Overall a really enjoyable story, and I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy queer, dark fantasy long-con heist books.
himalaya's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this! It’s very much like. typical YA-NA fake royalty/heist/competition kind of narrative BUT without romance, which honestly I can get behind.
It’s a bit messy in places - especially the start and end where it’s not within the main fake-royalty-heist plot. It very much starts with an almost suicide attempt, and she talks him down, and then they’re friends and thieving together. It’s not quite apparent how long has passed until later when it mentions they’ve been friends for two years. I think it would have been much better to just start the book in the present and then flashback to that scene at some other point. Also, the POVs are quite inconsistent - Blythe has most of the POV (maybe 2/3), Kalen just has it every now and then when it’s plot relevant. Which makes starting the book on his POV feel odd. I did appreciate their he/they pronouns also, though it took me a couple pages to realise it was intentional!
It definitely skips over action or pivotal moments, and I’m like wait what happened there? Like. so many times, for so many significant parts of the plot. (If you’re looking for a heist in here, most of the plot is the faking royalty in the enemy palace & gathering info part of the heist but the Actual Heist is pretty much off page)
I feel like I could have gotten to know some of the other royalty/contestants a little more? as well as worldbuilding re: gods and the minor magic abilities some people have. Why was the assassin who clearly knows everything about being royal not the one pretending to be royal, rather than Blythe, a poor girl who has to be taught it all? This is even asked in the book and not really answered (I guess, its that she’s the protagonist) Some of the politics felt a bit like just filling out background details rather than being solidly built, idk. There’s a peasants revolt which is relevant insofar as it helps them but doesn’t come up any other time. I did find the resolution to the politics/competition interesting though! Also Kalen’s addiction and suicidality feels……not fully handled? There’s a lot of areas that could have been improved, I guess.
Their QPR is pretty tell not show but I didn’t mind it too much - I mean again; basically what you expect from the central relationship of this kind of book if it were a romance. Though at some point she’s like, wait, you actually are my friend and not just hanging around out of debt? and it’s like…..two years? and you thought that? lmao? It could have used some more development in places.
BUT like overall I did enjoy this - and as I said I do appreciate This Sort Of Story But It Doesn’t Have Romance a lot! And an aromantic MC! I think I didn’t have the highest expectations for this, but I ended up having a good time.
clockworkchild's review against another edition
4.0
Obtained an ARC from the author for an honest, unbiased review.
Beware of spoilers below!
I'll admit, I went into this book almost completely blind, not really knowing anything about it or having heard of it beforehand, other than the fact that is has LGBT characters. And oh, did it deliver on that! One protagonist is canonically aromantic but allosexual, and the other is a gay nonbinary using he/ they pronouns interchangeably. That admittedly made me do a little happy dance as I realized that, using he/ they myself! Among them are a huge myriad of other queer characters and others in the background. So, a very homonormative world; it's a breath of fresh air compared to most fantasy going for the tired heteronormative tropes.
As for the plot itself...
I'll admit, I'm a little bit tired of the classic plot of having to pretend to be a royal or noble person to infiltrate royalty. However, S. M. Pearce did a good job of balancing this plot and building up the world around it, such as showing how the nobility works through King Marius and his noble people. She also did an excellent job of making you almost immediately hate him, though I really do wonder if his charm was literal magic, or if he did just have that much charisma. I suppose we'll never know, though.
As much as I did like the premise, however, several high action scenes were sort of... left off in the background? We are told what happened through the characters, but we don't see any of the action. That's a bit disappointing. Most of the book is scheming and political warfare, essentially, which does sum up most regencies.
Some characters were a bit frustrating to understand, particularly Blythe, who kept going back and forth between wanting to keep her virtues and wanting to help in any way she could. Though I guess that can't be helped, especially if you're forcibly picked up from a quiet life by a boy who's a tad bit feral and a pyromaniac.
I also adored the little family Blythe and Kalen made up for themselves, and they absolutely are a queerplatonic relationship. Together forever like a package deal, but not romantically or sexually involved together.
All in all, I did really enjoy this book! It's been a while since I haven't been able to put a book down, wanting to see what came next. I hope the story with the cast will continue some day, though even without a sequel, the plot is more or less tied up well.
Beware of spoilers below!
I'll admit, I went into this book almost completely blind, not really knowing anything about it or having heard of it beforehand, other than the fact that is has LGBT characters. And oh, did it deliver on that! One protagonist is canonically aromantic but allosexual, and the other is a gay nonbinary using he/ they pronouns interchangeably. That admittedly made me do a little happy dance as I realized that, using he/ they myself! Among them are a huge myriad of other queer characters and others in the background. So, a very homonormative world; it's a breath of fresh air compared to most fantasy going for the tired heteronormative tropes.
As for the plot itself...
I'll admit, I'm a little bit tired of the classic plot of having to pretend to be a royal or noble person to infiltrate royalty. However, S. M. Pearce did a good job of balancing this plot and building up the world around it, such as showing how the nobility works through King Marius and his noble people. She also did an excellent job of making you almost immediately hate him, though I really do wonder if his charm was literal magic, or if he did just have that much charisma. I suppose we'll never know, though.
As much as I did like the premise, however, several high action scenes were sort of... left off in the background? We are told what happened through the characters, but we don't see any of the action. That's a bit disappointing. Most of the book is scheming and political warfare, essentially, which does sum up most regencies.
Some characters were a bit frustrating to understand, particularly Blythe, who kept going back and forth between wanting to keep her virtues and wanting to help in any way she could. Though I guess that can't be helped, especially if you're forcibly picked up from a quiet life by a boy who's a tad bit feral and a pyromaniac.
I also adored the little family Blythe and Kalen made up for themselves, and they absolutely are a queerplatonic relationship. Together forever like a package deal, but not romantically or sexually involved together.
All in all, I did really enjoy this book! It's been a while since I haven't been able to put a book down, wanting to see what came next. I hope the story with the cast will continue some day, though even without a sequel, the plot is more or less tied up well.
bea__reads's review against another edition
3.0
ARC review
The description for this book was so exciting to read: a heist, found family, a QPR, queer characters, new adult, and some fantasy elements!!
All of this was spot on. The plot was centered around a small, desperate crew who need to pull off a heist in a royal court. The opening chapters were intense and hooked me in right away.
I was so happy to see such a diverse cast of characters and the inclusion of a POV character using he/they pronouns was really nice to see.
Also, the Viper was a great side character and I would love to read an entire book about her! I felt like she was the most three dimensional character and I was really rooting for her.
But I didn't love this book the way I had hoped to.
The writing style was often telling instead of showing and the pacing was inconsistent. Some scenes felt disconnected from each other. This made the plot and the characters feel underdeveloped. Some scenes that seemed really important as part of the experience of this story and its characters were only a couple sentences in passing. Important details were often explained only as they became relevant and this made it hard to be fully immersed in the world.
I didn't connect with the main characters for most of the book. I struggled to relate to Blythe. She made a lot of really questionable choices that I couldn't make sense of, especially in the second half of the book. Kalen started to grow on me towards the end, but by then I think it was just too late. I liked the on page discussion of their QPR, but it took so long to get there and I felt like their relationship was developed behind the scenes.
✨Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a diverse cast of queer characters. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next! I'd love to read more in this universe some day!
The description for this book was so exciting to read: a heist, found family, a QPR, queer characters, new adult, and some fantasy elements!!
All of this was spot on. The plot was centered around a small, desperate crew who need to pull off a heist in a royal court. The opening chapters were intense and hooked me in right away.
I was so happy to see such a diverse cast of characters and the inclusion of a POV character using he/they pronouns was really nice to see.
Also, the Viper was a great side character and I would love to read an entire book about her! I felt like she was the most three dimensional character and I was really rooting for her.
But I didn't love this book the way I had hoped to.
The writing style was often telling instead of showing and the pacing was inconsistent. Some scenes felt disconnected from each other. This made the plot and the characters feel underdeveloped. Some scenes that seemed really important as part of the experience of this story and its characters were only a couple sentences in passing. Important details were often explained only as they became relevant and this made it hard to be fully immersed in the world.
I didn't connect with the main characters for most of the book. I struggled to relate to Blythe. She made a lot of really questionable choices that I couldn't make sense of, especially in the second half of the book. Kalen started to grow on me towards the end, but by then I think it was just too late. I liked the on page discussion of their QPR, but it took so long to get there and I felt like their relationship was developed behind the scenes.
✨Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a diverse cast of queer characters. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next! I'd love to read more in this universe some day!
mxbluet18's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Trigger warnings for Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty include: suicide attempts; sexual assault & coercion; mind control; violent abuse, drug & alcohol use; queerphobia & fictional slurs; classism, colonialism, death & grief; mental health issues and aquaphobia.
☆
☆
Happy release day to this book.
•
Listen, I know that many authors enjoy emotionally and physically prodding their cinnamon roll characters, but I can't help but care about them. One particular quote I loved was “Kalen deserved all the happiness in the world.” because it's very true. After everything they've been put through he needs someone to care about them.
~
And that opening. That was enough to get me intrigued and wanting to find out more, why where they there, what was going on. And it only got more intense from there. It was high stakes in the best kind of way. I thought I knew what was happening, turns out I didn't, but that's fine.
~
High stakes is right, but so is unfairly good. It was addictive, I swear there was some sort of substance in the pages cause there ain't no way I got that addicted and invested in the characters. But God damn.
~
I also really liked the dedication in the front of this book, which reads: "This book is dedicated to anyone who's ever been made to feel like the world doesn't have space for them. We'll make space." It really spoke to me because I've felt that way before. And in time I had a place where space was made for me to be myself and be loved for exactly who I am.
•
Thank you to author S.M. Pearce for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
☆
☆
Happy release day to this book.
•
Listen, I know that many authors enjoy emotionally and physically prodding their cinnamon roll characters, but I can't help but care about them. One particular quote I loved was “Kalen deserved all the happiness in the world.” because it's very true. After everything they've been put through he needs someone to care about them.
~
And that opening. That was enough to get me intrigued and wanting to find out more, why where they there, what was going on. And it only got more intense from there. It was high stakes in the best kind of way. I thought I knew what was happening, turns out I didn't, but that's fine.
~
High stakes is right, but so is unfairly good. It was addictive, I swear there was some sort of substance in the pages cause there ain't no way I got that addicted and invested in the characters. But God damn.
~
I also really liked the dedication in the front of this book, which reads: "This book is dedicated to anyone who's ever been made to feel like the world doesn't have space for them. We'll make space." It really spoke to me because I've felt that way before. And in time I had a place where space was made for me to be myself and be loved for exactly who I am.
•
Thank you to author S.M. Pearce for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
metaphorsandmisc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Self harm, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury
raesreadingcorner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
tmdreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I received an ARC but review/opinions is my own.
This book is a romp. It’s of of those stories you just go with (Don’t question the premise) and you’ll have a good time. It’s not light though, there is lots of trama here. Check the Content warning.
It’s a Story of found family, which I love. Good character development, character driven story. I had complex feelings about the character that I’m still pondering. It was a bit rough trying to like them at certain points but they had good character arcs.
Wold building was through the story, which I liked, it wasn’t an info-dump but developed through the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction
Moderate: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Sexism
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, child abuse/abuse in general, cursing, homophobia, misogyny, suicidal ideation, sexual content, attempted rape, vomiting, death of a parent, death of a child, substance use/addiction
Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty by S.M. Pierce is an adult dark fantasy that is super queer and has a heist! We get some wonderful found family moments and some great rep as follows: queer platonic relationship between main characters, Kalen uses he/they and is attracted to men, Blythe is alloaro and bi, Frida is a lesbian, and Saihd is (I think) intersex and ace.
We start with Kalen and his suicide attempt and Blythe talking him down. Kalen came from the home of an abusive noble, and Blythe is a poor girl just trying to take care of her ailing father while trying to please her god by being self sacrificing. Kalen is an expert in making bombs, and Blythe has a bestowment (sort like a talent like a Grace in Graceling) that makes it easy for her to hide or go unnoticed. When Kalen convinces Blythe to steal from the rich to feed themselves and pay rent, they are caught by the Governor, and coerced into planning a heist against a rival nation.
Blythe has to pretend to be a noble and go unnoticed in order to pull off the heist while Kalen is a servant, Frida (their roommate) poses as a cook, the Sea captain Saihd posing as an advisor, and the Viper (the governor's ward/indentured servant) poses as Blythe's lady in waiting. Blythe struggles with the need to harm other people as it goes against her self sacrificing way. She's a little too rightous, and it gets her into trouble. Kalen is struggling with the abuse they must endure at the hands of the servant Superior, triggering memories of his abusive father. The Viper must learn that kindness doesn't always come with a cost. Yay found family!
The Fletch King is the worst! He has a bestowment that makes him hard to resist and he gave me the major ick. I loved the relationship between Kalen and Blythe. We do get a bit of a miscommunication trope between them, but in this case it works pretty well, but I still wanted to yell at them to just talk about it. I do wish we had gotten more from Frida and Saihd, but I loved the growth that the Viper, or should I say, Arabella had. Although her arc was predictable, it was satisfying.
I don't know if there is going to be a book two or not, but I would totally read about these characters smuggling "natural Outlaws" (queer people) to safe places. This was super queer and I love the found family. Looking forward to more from this author.
This book releases August 12th, so get your copy!
Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty by S.M. Pierce is an adult dark fantasy that is super queer and has a heist! We get some wonderful found family moments and some great rep as follows: queer platonic relationship between main characters, Kalen uses he/they and is attracted to men, Blythe is alloaro and bi, Frida is a lesbian, and Saihd is (I think) intersex and ace.
We start with Kalen and his suicide attempt and Blythe talking him down. Kalen came from the home of an abusive noble, and Blythe is a poor girl just trying to take care of her ailing father while trying to please her god by being self sacrificing. Kalen is an expert in making bombs, and Blythe has a bestowment (sort like a talent like a Grace in Graceling) that makes it easy for her to hide or go unnoticed. When Kalen convinces Blythe to steal from the rich to feed themselves and pay rent, they are caught by the Governor, and coerced into planning a heist against a rival nation.
Blythe has to pretend to be a noble and go unnoticed in order to pull off the heist while Kalen is a servant, Frida (their roommate) poses as a cook, the Sea captain Saihd posing as an advisor, and the Viper (the governor's ward/indentured servant) poses as Blythe's lady in waiting. Blythe struggles with the need to harm other people as it goes against her self sacrificing way. She's a little too rightous, and it gets her into trouble. Kalen is struggling with the abuse they must endure at the hands of the servant Superior, triggering memories of his abusive father. The Viper must learn that kindness doesn't always come with a cost. Yay found family!
The Fletch King is the worst! He has a bestowment that makes him hard to resist and he gave me the major ick. I loved the relationship between Kalen and Blythe. We do get a bit of a miscommunication trope between them, but in this case it works pretty well, but I still wanted to yell at them to just talk about it. I do wish we had gotten more from Frida and Saihd, but I loved the growth that the Viper, or should I say, Arabella had. Although her arc was predictable, it was satisfying.
I don't know if there is going to be a book two or not, but I would totally read about these characters smuggling "natural Outlaws" (queer people) to safe places. This was super queer and I love the found family. Looking forward to more from this author.
This book releases August 12th, so get your copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Homophobia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing and Vomit