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A review by xxivo
Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an audiobook ARC in return for an honest review.
This audiobook was amazing. I actually started the last chapter again in the background while writing this. Because I simply loved it so much and writing this review makes me want to relive that part once more.
This book was exactly what I want a cozy romantic fantasy to be. Full of warmth and love, some mystery to keep the plot going, some issues that need to be resolved, and a focus on personal connections.
Arlo is a great character to love, slightly grumpy making him very relatable, and someone with lovely character and a longer story to his life. He tries to do well and support people but he's not perfect either and that makes him perfectly human.
Thatch is more quiet and is pulled into the brightness that is Arlo's group of misfits and finally finds that he has friends in his life. Seeing Thatch bloom into someone who accepts love instead of shuts it out to protect others was such a beautiful journey to be a part of. Him being unable to keep away from Arlo and open up more and more is great character development that I enjoyed so so much.
I also want to talk a bit about the smutty scene later in the book. Gosh that made me want to hug my partner close myself. It was so so tender and full of love it made me incredibly emotional. Especially with everything that was still an issue in the background regarding Thatch his life, it made it bittersweet. It was written really well and I absolutely loved it.
Coming back to that friend group I want to say that their interactions were great fun. I had good laughing moments with their jokes and the fun they had. It gave the book that lightness and joy that I adore in cozy fantasy. Sometimes heavy books are great, but damn do I need these happy books too.
Them drinking together and going out partying, to the simple chilling made me smile a lot.
I ended this book sitting on my couch staring into the spring sun while tears fell down my face listening to the last minutes of this book. And I absolutely loved every second of it.
This audiobook was amazing. I actually started the last chapter again in the background while writing this. Because I simply loved it so much and writing this review makes me want to relive that part once more.
This book was exactly what I want a cozy romantic fantasy to be. Full of warmth and love, some mystery to keep the plot going, some issues that need to be resolved, and a focus on personal connections.
Arlo is a great character to love, slightly grumpy making him very relatable, and someone with lovely character and a longer story to his life. He tries to do well and support people but he's not perfect either and that makes him perfectly human.
Thatch is more quiet and is pulled into the brightness that is Arlo's group of misfits and finally finds that he has friends in his life. Seeing Thatch bloom into someone who accepts love instead of shuts it out to protect others was such a beautiful journey to be a part of. Him being unable to keep away from Arlo and open up more and more is great character development that I enjoyed so so much.
I also want to talk a bit about the smutty scene later in the book. Gosh that made me want to hug my partner close myself. It was so so tender and full of love it made me incredibly emotional. Especially with everything that was still an issue in the background regarding Thatch his life, it made it bittersweet. It was written really well and I absolutely loved it.
Coming back to that friend group I want to say that their interactions were great fun. I had good laughing moments with their jokes and the fun they had. It gave the book that lightness and joy that I adore in cozy fantasy. Sometimes heavy books are great, but damn do I need these happy books too.
Them drinking together and going out partying, to the simple chilling made me smile a lot.
I ended this book sitting on my couch staring into the spring sun while tears fell down my face listening to the last minutes of this book. And I absolutely loved every second of it.