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dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I tried to go into this purposefully NOT using my critical thinking brain, because I didn’t think the book would hold up to it considering it was recommended on TikTok like four years ago when Blood and Ash was huge. Lo and behold, I could not prevent the critical thinking, and the book doesn’t hold up against it. The tone and immaturity level of the writing and characters reminded me exactly of Jennifer L. Armentrout—who admittedly has written some of my guilty pleasure favorites, and who has also written some of the worst books and characters I’ve ever read. It’s not a good comparison. I think it would be better as a less romance-heavy book, though the fantasy elements need WAY more work.
The numerous references to Callie being a minor/a kid/only sixteen when she makes her deal with the bargainer—and then their relationships only grows from there? Meanwhile he’s a hundreds-year-old fae… it’s giving me the ick, it’s giving groomer, it’s giving predator—in a bad way, not a morally grey way. They literally changed a line in the indie pub from “not when you were sixteen” to “not when you were still recovering from what your stepdad did” in the trade pub… the author and editors know this is a problematic pairing.
Also Temper? She’s a walking POC stereotype. I’m reading the indie pub, while listening to the updated/edited trade pub version, and the author/editors clearly tried to correct some of this stereotype by removing the overuse of “bitch” and “girl” at the start of every sentence, but it’s really not a good look to have your only POC depicted this way.
Having the time jumps in the story did nothing to help explain their relationship and how it grew or fell apart. I think it just made it hard to follow along with the story, since almost the entire book is only Callie and Des, with little to no interaction from side characters.
The pacing sucked, and the only part I truly enjoyed was the last five chapters when something ACTUALLY HAPPENS with the plot. Will not be continuing this series.
The numerous references to Callie being a minor/a kid/only sixteen when she makes her deal with the bargainer—and then their relationships only grows from there? Meanwhile he’s a hundreds-year-old fae… it’s giving me the ick, it’s giving groomer, it’s giving predator—in a bad way, not a morally grey way. They literally changed a line in the indie pub from “not when you were sixteen” to “not when you were still recovering from what your stepdad did” in the trade pub… the author and editors know this is a problematic pairing.
Also Temper? She’s a walking POC stereotype. I’m reading the indie pub, while listening to the updated/edited trade pub version, and the author/editors clearly tried to correct some of this stereotype by removing the overuse of “bitch” and “girl” at the start of every sentence, but it’s really not a good look to have your only POC depicted this way.
Having the time jumps in the story did nothing to help explain their relationship and how it grew or fell apart. I think it just made it hard to follow along with the story, since almost the entire book is only Callie and Des, with little to no interaction from side characters.
The pacing sucked, and the only part I truly enjoyed was the last five chapters when something ACTUALLY HAPPENS with the plot. Will not be continuing this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
Minor: Gore, Vomit