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A review by xxivo
Matsdotter and Adrastus by Aelina Isaacs
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
The first of this series blew me away and this sequel proved this whole series is going to be phenomenal.
The romance in this book starts off in a fun way where the friendship becoming romantic between the main characters was already slightly teased to us in the previous book Phantom & Rook. It was fun to start with intense glances from the start as I am ever an impatient reader. And all the excitement I felt over these interactions were mirrored in the main characters friends which was all too fun.
This romance feels like a slow burn and at the same time not at all. Slow because they are very hesitant opening up and solidifying naming their relationship, but not so much at the same time because they both fall so hard and fast. There was a great balance between these two factors that made it feel like I couldn't wait for them to open up but also it not going to slow through seeing both their POV.
And gosh was this a good romance. It had so much sweetness and care for each other I ate it right up. Both of them are such sweet beans that want to hug and hold the other as soon as possible and damn do I agree with that. They each struggle with giving in to that though and following them with that was beautiful. Some good character growth where they realize that they are allowed to be loved is always the best. The author knew how to execute this and did it perfectly and it made my heart melt. When they then finally came together, I bet ya I was bawling hard.
There was also a lot of plot outside of the romance not as much regarding them. This gave us a lot of world building after the first book and how things ended with the main characters. I love love loved Arlo and Thatch having such a space in this book. Often second books in romance series have the previous protagonists more as cameos or as friends just sometimes there. But the story of Phantom & Rook was more than essential to this sequel and Arlo had a big presence in this book. From him being a trusted friend to many, someone trying to resolve world problems and grieving the way the last book ended. I wouldn't want him in this book any other way.
But too a big plot point revolved around Tobias with him becoming an archangel and how that revolves around Elochian. I thought it really awesome how this plot point unfolded and became something beautiful. Around the issues with this is a lot of community care and love, and gosh do I love some good found family care. It was great to see Thitwhisle be such a safe space still and I wish I could have one of those in my neighborhood. Too it was fun to see another of such spots come into the book with Primo's being a new introduced place. This plot point also gave us a lot of drama within the big arch demon and angel communities that definitely feel a bit hostile, so that contrast was great to see.
Talking about archdemon issues I have to mention Micheal too. Yes this is a romantasy with Elochian and Quentin being the protagonists. But Michael is so extremely close to Elochian it feels like a queerplatonic relationship in my opinion. Him being just as much a part of their configuration. It was thus then so great to see Quentin grow closer with Michael too and just take care of each other. He is a character that has become very dear to me and I hope whoever reads this review before picking up the book will open up their heart for them too.
I already said once that this book made me cry, but just mentioning that once is not enough. Aelina Isaacs is a master of the craft of making me sob, which definitely makes me come back to his books more and more. I know this book will release in a few days and thus isn't even out yet. But I'll gladly take any kind of content he can give me until the third book because damn I am here for it. I read Phantom and Rook twice this year, the novella When Witches Sing three times even. I am majorly invested in this universe and gosh I love it.
Concluding I hope anyone who reads this will pick this up as soon as possible after reading Phantom and Rook, and if you haven't read that yet please delve into this universe. I love it with all my heart and only hope more people will discover it's beauty.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
The romance in this book starts off in a fun way where the friendship becoming romantic between the main characters was already slightly teased to us in the previous book Phantom & Rook. It was fun to start with intense glances from the start as I am ever an impatient reader. And all the excitement I felt over these interactions were mirrored in the main characters friends which was all too fun.
This romance feels like a slow burn and at the same time not at all. Slow because they are very hesitant opening up and solidifying naming their relationship, but not so much at the same time because they both fall so hard and fast. There was a great balance between these two factors that made it feel like I couldn't wait for them to open up but also it not going to slow through seeing both their POV.
And gosh was this a good romance. It had so much sweetness and care for each other I ate it right up. Both of them are such sweet beans that want to hug and hold the other as soon as possible and damn do I agree with that. They each struggle with giving in to that though and following them with that was beautiful. Some good character growth where they realize that they are allowed to be loved is always the best. The author knew how to execute this and did it perfectly and it made my heart melt. When they then finally came together, I bet ya I was bawling hard.
There was also a lot of plot outside of the romance not as much regarding them. This gave us a lot of world building after the first book and how things ended with the main characters. I love love loved Arlo and Thatch having such a space in this book. Often second books in romance series have the previous protagonists more as cameos or as friends just sometimes there. But the story of Phantom & Rook was more than essential to this sequel and Arlo had a big presence in this book. From him being a trusted friend to many, someone trying to resolve world problems and grieving the way the last book ended. I wouldn't want him in this book any other way.
But too a big plot point revolved around Tobias with him becoming an archangel and how that revolves around Elochian. I thought it really awesome how this plot point unfolded and became something beautiful. Around the issues with this is a lot of community care and love, and gosh do I love some good found family care. It was great to see Thitwhisle be such a safe space still and I wish I could have one of those in my neighborhood. Too it was fun to see another of such spots come into the book with Primo's being a new introduced place. This plot point also gave us a lot of drama within the big arch demon and angel communities that definitely feel a bit hostile, so that contrast was great to see.
Talking about archdemon issues I have to mention Micheal too. Yes this is a romantasy with Elochian and Quentin being the protagonists. But Michael is so extremely close to Elochian it feels like a queerplatonic relationship in my opinion. Him being just as much a part of their configuration. It was thus then so great to see Quentin grow closer with Michael too and just take care of each other. He is a character that has become very dear to me and I hope whoever reads this review before picking up the book will open up their heart for them too.
I already said once that this book made me cry, but just mentioning that once is not enough. Aelina Isaacs is a master of the craft of making me sob, which definitely makes me come back to his books more and more. I know this book will release in a few days and thus isn't even out yet. But I'll gladly take any kind of content he can give me until the third book because damn I am here for it. I read Phantom and Rook twice this year, the novella When Witches Sing three times even. I am majorly invested in this universe and gosh I love it.
Concluding I hope anyone who reads this will pick this up as soon as possible after reading Phantom and Rook, and if you haven't read that yet please delve into this universe. I love it with all my heart and only hope more people will discover it's beauty.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.