Scan barcode
A review by samsilvester
Captivated by Eve Dangerfield, Tessa Bailey
2.0
I really really wanted to like this as I love an unconventional hero (what, he's not classically good looking, ex-military, charming AF and ripped??).
I enjoyed Autumn's brash voice and uncompromising bad language and how starkly different this is to most US-focused tones and all-American heroines. The way they first connected over the sex comic she drew was fun and seemed like the star of something quirky and different (but this skill of hers was never seen again). I liked Blake's introverted nature and how he grew and changed when he felt loved and nurtured. I applaud the tackling of some potentially triggering kinks in a really mature way that is a great example of consensual non-consent (BUT I didn't spot a trigger warning, though I may have missed it). And just occasionally the book made me chuckle a little bit.
So why did I only give it two stars? Because I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters at all, they weren't engaging, they felt a bit whiny and self-absorbed and there just wasn't that connection that made it a must read. In fact, I found myself starting other books and almost didn't finish this one, something which is pretty much unheard of for me. Overall I was bored, and somewhat frustrated that the book blurb seemed to promise something that this was not.
I also found the Beauty and the Beast references off putting. Partly because it seems jarringly childish in a spicy story, but also, just because Blake is big, gloomy (I wouldn't describe him as grumpy, he's more shy) and a bit hairy, does that really justify calling him a Beast? That label felt 'othering' and is part of why I could never see him and Autumn as a valid, engaging couple. It's not about the term Beast per se, more that she had this offensive view of him even outside of their role play and games.
Overall I felt pretty 'meh' about the whole thing, but maybe because I had high expectations given the authors.
I enjoyed Autumn's brash voice and uncompromising bad language and how starkly different this is to most US-focused tones and all-American heroines. The way they first connected over the sex comic she drew was fun and seemed like the star of something quirky and different (but this skill of hers was never seen again). I liked Blake's introverted nature and how he grew and changed when he felt loved and nurtured. I applaud the tackling of some potentially triggering kinks in a really mature way that is a great example of consensual non-consent (BUT I didn't spot a trigger warning, though I may have missed it). And just occasionally the book made me chuckle a little bit.
So why did I only give it two stars? Because I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters at all, they weren't engaging, they felt a bit whiny and self-absorbed and there just wasn't that connection that made it a must read. In fact, I found myself starting other books and almost didn't finish this one, something which is pretty much unheard of for me. Overall I was bored, and somewhat frustrated that the book blurb seemed to promise something that this was not.
I also found the Beauty and the Beast references off putting. Partly because it seems jarringly childish in a spicy story, but also, just because Blake is big, gloomy (I wouldn't describe him as grumpy, he's more shy) and a bit hairy, does that really justify calling him a Beast? That label felt 'othering' and is part of why I could never see him and Autumn as a valid, engaging couple. It's not about the term Beast per se, more that she had this offensive view of him even outside of their role play and games.
Overall I felt pretty 'meh' about the whole thing, but maybe because I had high expectations given the authors.