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ashley_apairofreaders's review
4.0
4.5/5
Steamy story with lots of heart. I enjoyed the next addition in Schade's Fae of Brywilde series. If you are looking for a sweet, wintry story then check this one!
The characters:
Rachel did a wonderful job of creating characters that inspired really strong reactions, both good and bad. You wanted to root for Ren and Garrick. But, oof, this one had some characters that made me rage, like they were just evil. There were just some characters that were out to create challenges for our MCs. It was nice to be invested in these characters, both the good and bad. Plus, I love getting a secret cinnamon roll MMC. Just a little something extra.
The plot:
I loved the survival theme woven through the plot. Rachel did a wonderful job of weaving into what we already knew of Brytwilde, but adding new layers as our new MCs struggled against their demonic royalty and their tragic situations. The plot moved pretty swiftly and kept me plenty entertained.
Steamy story with lots of heart. I enjoyed the next addition in Schade's Fae of Brywilde series. If you are looking for a sweet, wintry story then check this one!
The characters:
Rachel did a wonderful job of creating characters that inspired really strong reactions, both good and bad. You wanted to root for Ren and Garrick. But, oof, this one had some characters that made me rage, like they were just evil. There were just some characters that were out to create challenges for our MCs. It was nice to be invested in these characters, both the good and bad. Plus, I love getting a secret cinnamon roll MMC. Just a little something extra.
The plot:
I loved the survival theme woven through the plot. Rachel did a wonderful job of weaving into what we already knew of Brytwilde, but adding new layers as our new MCs struggled against their demonic royalty and their tragic situations. The plot moved pretty swiftly and kept me plenty entertained.
rose_prickett's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I had some issues with the morality of the main character later in the book. At one point, the love interest insists the MC is "good" but in his list of what makes her good mentions nothing that a bad person could not have (he says she's pure, couragous, and powerful). The villains of the book are also pure (in their hatred and their purpose), courageous (in their previous lives, I'd argue), and powerful. They are most definitely not good, though. And I don't think the MC is as good as we're supposed to believe. She stops feeling bad about killing an innocent victim pretty quickly and spares no thought for the other three who were killed by the love interest and later kills a guy when I suspect she could have simply injured him or stopped him with her powers another way. Her reason? He was about to attack the love interest for killing his brother in the past.
I was also bugged that throughout the book "quiet" and "kind" seemed to be viewed as synonymous, weak, and possible even wrong. I think it was a bad attempt to show the MC's growth and developing agency, by embracing her anger and becoming willing to hurt or kill if necessary, but I've seen this arc done much better without diminishing the value of kindness or implying that to be quiet is to be weak.
I was also bugged that throughout the book "quiet" and "kind" seemed to be viewed as synonymous, weak, and possible even wrong. I think it was a bad attempt to show the MC's growth and developing agency, by embracing her anger and becoming willing to hurt or kill if necessary, but I've seen this arc done much better without diminishing the value of kindness or implying that to be quiet is to be weak.
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Abandonment, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Murder, and Physical abuse
completing_my_tbr's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
I loved this story!
I liked that we got a strong female character without her being the typical strong female character who’s honestly just kind of a jerk. Ren is super sweet and loving but will to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. She struggles with self doubt but continues pushing herself to be better and do the right thing.
Garrick as well is a nice change from a lot of the current MMCs who are all brooding and also low key jerks. He’s protective and loyal and kind and adorable. And like Ren he will do whatever he has to do to protect his loved ones.
The villains were also interesting and discovering their motives was very cool.
Rachel delivered another fantastic book and I can’t wait for more in the future!
I liked that we got a strong female character without her being the typical strong female character who’s honestly just kind of a jerk. Ren is super sweet and loving but will to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. She struggles with self doubt but continues pushing herself to be better and do the right thing.
Garrick as well is a nice change from a lot of the current MMCs who are all brooding and also low key jerks. He’s protective and loyal and kind and adorable. And like Ren he will do whatever he has to do to protect his loved ones.
The villains were also interesting and discovering their motives was very cool.
Rachel delivered another fantastic book and I can’t wait for more in the future!
bookishwitherin's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a great follow up! A loose retelling of Mansfield Park with fae! The world building was really good for a “standalone” book and I felt the action started pretty fast! I read this in one sitting that’s how enthralled I was in the story. I also loved the tension between our two love interests! Cannot wait for the next one!
maeilis's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lems_bookclub's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
You had me at “gothic Jane Austen retelling”.
This story was so fun and magical. It’s a loose gothic fantasy retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Parkand I ate it up! It was such a good winter read and I loved the characters and atmosphere. The plot was very fast-paced as well and the story never felt like it lagged at all. I also love how this is a spice-free book (which I prefer) but the romance was still DEFINITELY there. The TENSION, y’all. 😮💨 Which in my opinion is, like, 80% of a good romance. 😂
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am MOST definitely going to be reading the rest of the series as she writes them. And her other book in this series that’s already out, Castle of Dusk and Shadows, just so happens to be my favorite Austen novel so of course I’m going to be reading that one ASAP.
stephaninikole's review
5.0
After reading Castle of Dusk and Shadows, I was super excited for the release of this book! I love that it’s a standalone, but if you’ve read CoDaS you will see some familiar faces, and that was really fun. The plot of Fortress was really good, and it jumped right in to the action. There was the perfect amount of world building for a standalone novel, and the author definitely delivered on the romance. I feel like it’s hard to find an adult novel that doesn’t have spice, and as a 32 year old woman, I’m grateful I didn’t have to read about teenagers again just to avoid unnecessary spice. There were parts that definitely gave acotar “under the mountain” vibes, and the villains are spot on creepy and villainous. I can’t wait for more novels in this world!
cees_bookishheart's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75