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eesasoo 's review for:
The Kingdoms
by Natasha Pulley
This book was everything I wanted it to be when I read the first page in between the shelves of Barnes n Noble during one of my ridiculous book splurges. I do not regret buying it at all. At all. I read it all in its entirety today after trying to get myself to read it a few days ago and just didn't have the motivation. I regret not finishing it sooner. Plot-wise, it is beautifully constructed and is part of the reason why I couldn't put it down and spent my entire day reading it. The thought and time it must've took really shows with how complex it is. The other part of why I couldn't stop reading is because of the characters. I am a lover of dynamic, morally grey characters and Natasha Pulley gave me just that with Kite AND Joe.
The Kingdoms is beautifully written, and I could see everything so vividly in my little brain.
The only thing I struggled with were the slavery and pedigree bits, but I also believe it's meant to disturb the reader and it only lead me to cheer a bit for London in the end.
The end was everything I wanted though, and I'm so glad both Kite and Joe got the ending they got. They deserved it after that shit storm. I usually don't put up with slow burns because authors tend to give unsatisfactory endings in attempts to be unique or unconventional. Fuck that, let your characters be together! Thank you Natasha for giving us this beautiful piece of art.
I wasn't going to give it 5 stars because I personally wish more time was spent at the actual siege. It felt like everything in this book was leading up to that moment and days before, Joe and Kite are taking walks, and then they very conveniently intercept French telegraph communications and then Kite is like "Ride on, Joe! Be free!" ... Are you kidding? The entire future Joe lives in was dependent on this moment. I wanted to see it. Also, I wish there was more time spent with other characters. I wanted more of Wellesley's reaction to finding out Kite literally threw Fred INTO THE OCEAN and then excused it with "oho battle fatigue." Bro. BATTLE FATIGUE? Ok. Nonetheless, these are just my personal feelings and I don't necessarily think it would have made The Kingdoms better or worse. It's still going onto my favorites shelf. I am going to give it five stars because the research that must have gone into this book amazes me and I wish every day that more authors would take such an approach. As an aspiring writer, I am.. well amazed. Bravo, Pulley.
The Kingdoms is beautifully written, and I could see everything so vividly in my little brain.
The only thing I struggled with were the slavery and pedigree bits, but I also believe it's meant to disturb the reader and it only lead me to cheer a bit for London in the end.
The end was everything I wanted though, and I'm so glad both Kite and Joe got the ending they got. They deserved it after that shit storm. I usually don't put up with slow burns because authors tend to give unsatisfactory endings in attempts to be unique or unconventional. Fuck that, let your characters be together! Thank you Natasha for giving us this beautiful piece of art.
I wasn't going to give it 5 stars because I personally wish more time was spent at the actual siege. It felt like everything in this book was leading up to that moment and days before, Joe and Kite are taking walks, and then they very conveniently intercept French telegraph communications and then Kite is like "Ride on, Joe! Be free!" ... Are you kidding? The entire future Joe lives in was dependent on this moment. I wanted to see it. Also, I wish there was more time spent with other characters. I wanted more of Wellesley's reaction to finding out Kite literally threw Fred INTO THE OCEAN and then excused it with "oho battle fatigue." Bro. BATTLE FATIGUE? Ok. Nonetheless, these are just my personal feelings and I don't necessarily think it would have made The Kingdoms better or worse. It's still going onto my favorites shelf. I am going to give it five stars because the research that must have gone into this book amazes me and I wish every day that more authors would take such an approach. As an aspiring writer, I am.. well amazed. Bravo, Pulley.