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junojuniper's review
I'm marking this as DNF. Cause I didn't read it all.
66% : I'm struggling. I finished a chapter and don't want to pick the book back up. I wanna know what happens, or should I say, I wanna know how they will inevitably get to their HEA, but I don't actually wanna invest more time in finishing the book. This troubles me.
Maybe this book wasn't a great fit for me. I was under the impression it was a slow burn, but it's really not.
*sigh* I don't know what to do. Bleh.
99% : I super-skimmed the rest of the book after 66%. I wanted to know how it ended without investing time. It was a wise decision. Rolled my eyes pretty hard.
66% : I'm struggling. I finished a chapter and don't want to pick the book back up. I wanna know what happens, or should I say, I wanna know how they will inevitably get to their HEA, but I don't actually wanna invest more time in finishing the book. This troubles me.
Maybe this book wasn't a great fit for me. I was under the impression it was a slow burn, but it's really not.
*sigh* I don't know what to do. Bleh.
99% : I super-skimmed the rest of the book after 66%. I wanted to know how it ended without investing time. It was a wise decision. Rolled my eyes pretty hard.
scarletine6's review
3.0
The initial premise of the story was good, set in Roman Britain. As was the building relationship between the slave 'Roman' and the 'thrall' Aron. I didn't get the distinction between the titles slave and thrall- because a thrall is also a slave...anyway... They had a surprisingly nice master and lived on a virtual holiday camp by the sounds of it. Apart from the obvious baddie- a jelous, violent battle lord, neither had a bad time of it as slaves. The discourse and miscommunication between the couple became a little ridiculous a third of the way into the story. The sex became 'paint by numbers'- 'he did this, then he did that' and for a couple having such mindblowing sex, in reality they were unable to communicate their simplest feelings! The use of 'Darkling' as a name of affection for Roman was sweet at first, but it's over use became grating. A sweet ending- if not a little 'Mills and Boon'. A pleasant read over all.
maya56's review
4.0
I really did like this book. I liked the characters - some more than others and some at different times. I was totally engrossed...for the first 2/3 of the book. By about the last 1/3 I felt myself starting to lose patience with the 2 MCs, wanting to grab them both, knock their stubborn heads together and scream "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!" ;)
angelwrites's review
4.0
Hooray! A historical that's pre-2oth century! This fact alone attracted me to the book. I even rather liked the cartoonish (almost anime-esque) cover - something appealing about actual art work instead of the image manipulation one sees on most covers these days.
Sorry. There is a story here, as well.
At its heart, this is a romance that illustrates in no uncertain terms how damaging it can be to turn hurt inward and keep silent. It causes the principles of this story no end of grief and nearly kills Roman. (Which would have been a shame, I truly like Roman.)
The historical aspect is well done - the food, the architecture, the materials used - all fit the period. The time line is a teensy bit off. Once the Angle/Saxon/Norse types began settling on the eastern shore of Britain with established kings and all, the Romans had already beat feet and abandoned the place. But that's not such a big leap and you can sense that the pull-out isn't far off in the story.
A couple of small issues...I had some trouble warming up to Aron. I still haven't. In his first scene, he does a truly noble thing, taking the thane's wrath on himself to save his family, so i thought we were supposed to see him as noble and honorable. He is anything but. An oathbreaker and a stubborn brat, he's one of those young men who never, ever admit that anything is their fault. I was hoping for some serious character growth by the end, and while he did grow up a little in regard to Roman, that's the extent of it.
I will say the boy was true to character throughout. Completely consistent, so as a character, even if I didn't LIKE him, it works.
Also not happy about how Wulgar is treated by the boys. In historical context, Wulgar is well within his rights as thane for every action he takes and, let's be honest, is really far more lenient than he should be. I do see there's a sequel...hoping that Wulgar gets his HEA, too, poor dear...
All in all, it's well done, though, both from a plot and genre standpoint. And as you can see from above, my emotions were fully engaged, full steam ahead. Angry at points? Yes. But it was quite a ride.
Sorry. There is a story here, as well.
At its heart, this is a romance that illustrates in no uncertain terms how damaging it can be to turn hurt inward and keep silent. It causes the principles of this story no end of grief and nearly kills Roman. (Which would have been a shame, I truly like Roman.)
The historical aspect is well done - the food, the architecture, the materials used - all fit the period. The time line is a teensy bit off. Once the Angle/Saxon/Norse types began settling on the eastern shore of Britain with established kings and all, the Romans had already beat feet and abandoned the place. But that's not such a big leap and you can sense that the pull-out isn't far off in the story.
A couple of small issues...I had some trouble warming up to Aron. I still haven't. In his first scene, he does a truly noble thing, taking the thane's wrath on himself to save his family, so i thought we were supposed to see him as noble and honorable. He is anything but. An oathbreaker and a stubborn brat, he's one of those young men who never, ever admit that anything is their fault. I was hoping for some serious character growth by the end, and while he did grow up a little in regard to Roman, that's the extent of it.
I will say the boy was true to character throughout. Completely consistent, so as a character, even if I didn't LIKE him, it works.
Also not happy about how Wulgar is treated by the boys. In historical context, Wulgar is well within his rights as thane for every action he takes and, let's be honest, is really far more lenient than he should be. I do see there's a sequel...hoping that Wulgar gets his HEA, too, poor dear...
All in all, it's well done, though, both from a plot and genre standpoint. And as you can see from above, my emotions were fully engaged, full steam ahead. Angry at points? Yes. But it was quite a ride.
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