This was so hard to rate! On the one hand, there were still some repetitiveness in dialogue and plot, but in the other hand, there were some of the moThis was so hard to rate! On the one hand, there were still some repetitiveness in dialogue and plot, but in the other hand, there were some of the most emotional scenes I have ever read in this book! The main character had tension filled relationships with her father, lover, and her own self that had me sitting on the edge of a knife and finding small moments of satisfaction in her gradual growth and eventual creation of boundaries and adoption of perspective that allowed her to continue in these relationships while making room for her own needs and goals.
And the first full reunited sex scene between the two love interests was the most emotional and impactful love scene I have ever read! I read the scene so slowly to give myself a chance to feel the loneliness, relief, care, longing, grief, and hope that this scene brought up for both characters. It was so full of meaning and processing of everything they went through and full of promise of where they would go together.
This is one of the rare books where I liked the dual POV and felt that the change between character perspectives actually added to the story and the tension and the stakes because the author wrote the male and female PoVs so well and because the two characters were basically always together taking turns describing the beats of a scene one after the other, so I wasn’t taken completely out of a scene and a setting and thirst into a new scene with a different plot thread that I often find jarring in dual POV.
I also really think that the author did one of the best jobs I’ve seen of communicating a characters power and status mostly by showing rather than telling. There’s a lot of girl boss books I read where I feel like I’m told how strong she is more than actually shown what she’s capable of and how characters recognize that fact through their actions rather than their words. I don’t like hearing every two chapters how everyone knows she’s not to be messed with and she’s feared and she’s the strongest fighter ever; I want to be shown through characters fearful glances, deference and how seriously they take her as a threat in how many resources they throw at her. I felt this book did a good job in communicating that without saying it directly.
I do agree with other people who say that the world building was lacking in some key areas, which made it so some plot points or character choices didn’t make sense to me, but it didn’t take away from the romance, which is why I’m still rating it five stars.
Although, I still don’t understand why Oraya wanted to lead the Hjaj vampires so bad when in the first book she was only ever shown as being separate from them and not belonging in that world. I don’t think the discovery of who her father is is enough of a believable motivator for her to choose a life and a role she showed little to no interest in, nor was there much effort to show her transition into wanting to be a leader. There was some effort put into showing her embracing a life among vampires but definitely not leadership. ...more
Ha! Turns out I’ve been seeing some of these comics online posted as memes for years now. It is soooo relatable and clever and I definitely laughed ouHa! Turns out I’ve been seeing some of these comics online posted as memes for years now. It is soooo relatable and clever and I definitely laughed out loud many times. ...more
The most relatable comics to me by Sarah Andersen! I’ve had so many of the thoughts she has demonstrated in this book. I especially like the section iThe most relatable comics to me by Sarah Andersen! I’ve had so many of the thoughts she has demonstrated in this book. I especially like the section in the the back talking about the growing necessity of having an online presence in society and how we have a lot of work to do to make it a healthier and safer place to be, especially when it comes to harnessing and expressing creativity and perspective in the world. ...more
Wow, a short story I loved, which is rare for me, and it was a very short story. It had so much depth and communicated so much about character in suchWow, a short story I loved, which is rare for me, and it was a very short story. It had so much depth and communicated so much about character in such a short amount of time. ...more
4.5-4.75 stars! This book had a lot of the tropes I like, a fast enough pace(although not as fast as my usual preference), and characters that felt un4.5-4.75 stars! This book had a lot of the tropes I like, a fast enough pace(although not as fast as my usual preference), and characters that felt unique and dynamics that were the primary driver of my interest in the plot. The writing contained poignant and concise descriptions that didn’t take me out of the plot, and often added needed context and meaning that increased the tension and stakes.
This is my favourite ever fae fiction I have read. It shows the fickleness and danger of the fae while also showing ways mortals can still interact in their world with some competence, but with enough weaknesses that force the character to grow by finding that balance.
I like how the characters had their own unique goals that would overlap to allow them to work together. Sometimes, especially when there’s a romantic subplot, the goal of one character or both may just be to be with the other character, and i don’t find that conveys the complexity of human desire and purpose.
I do agree with some critiques I’ve heard that there climax was somewhat lacking in that the tension and stakes built up in the main plot were not paid off to their fullest potential; the payoff did not match the promises that I thought were so skillfully laid in the first three quarters of the book.
Also, this author is so good at making subtle connections between plot, theme, and character that I found every chapter to be full of meaning that continued to build depth chapter after chapter. ...more
4.5 stars. It’s so close to being 5! But I found that there were enough moments that were close to being fully believable for me but weren’t entirely 4.5 stars. It’s so close to being 5! But I found that there were enough moments that were close to being fully believable for me but weren’t entirely which took me out a bit. Like the character motivation for the main character to keep her secret as long as she did felt weak for me; I think if more time was spent showing the reader the nuance and depth of her emotion behind her hesitation, I would have bought in more.
That being said, the characters were top notch! They all had clear unique strengths and weaknesses that felt nuanced enough that no character felt like a cliche or stereotype.
And the romance was also top notch for me! The romance always added to the stakes without taking away or halting the plot.
And the magic system is very cool. The author set it up and hinted at multiple ways magic could be used, how it could harm, and how there were still mysteries to it, which always had me guessing at how each character’s use of magic could play out or manifest.
As soon as I finish this review, I am going to buy the ebook of the second book because the library wait would be weeks and to buy a physical copy would take a week to get here. I can’t remember the last time I was so invested in a series I was willing to pay for it twice (once as an ebook I can get instantaneously and later when I inevitably will want a physical copy.) for context, I’m not much of an ebook reader so for me to be willing to pay for an ebook means something is going right in a book series. ...more
OMG! I think I may be obsessed with fae stories. First it was the Emily Wilde series and now this! When fae are done right: presented as fickle, unablOMG! I think I may be obsessed with fae stories. First it was the Emily Wilde series and now this! When fae are done right: presented as fickle, unable to lie, unpredictable, defying logic, acting on whims, etc, they make for one hell of a story.
And the pursuit of fae in this book to be “virtuous English� and follow Victorian English customs for the sake of just being able to say that they do English virtue better was one hell of a mirror to hold up to the illogic and immorality of English law and culture and workhouses and class injustice in Victorian London.
And I ate up the romance! I love how the two main love interests didn’t act or react to each other in the ways we come to expect in romances. I definitely didn’t feel like I was following a romance script for how the man and the woman should each respectively act in the dance of courtship, which is really saying something because this story takes place in Victorian England with all the rules of propriety that comes with it, which I think added to my enjoyment of their lack of adherence to what people normally do and say and my investment in their unique character portrayals.
I am a sucker for a protagonist that struggle with feelings and emotions in ways that are often not portrayed in media. And in this book, Dora, literally lost the passionate emotional half of her soul so she is left with what she calls “short tail� emotions or small versions of human emotion. Seeing her react to big emotional moments, especially ones of of her own mistreatment, in muted ways was sad to read but rewarding in that I can relate to having moments when I talked myself out of feeling justified in well…feeling a certain away about how I was being treated, except in Dora’s case, she literally couldn’t feel the full scale of her emotional reactions if she wanted to. But she would still try to explain away her mistreatment as her potentially deserving it or as just the way things are like people are prone to do in situations they feel they have no power to change.
And the plot! There were somethings I could see coming but they were all things I wanted to happen anyway so it was fine. But there were definitely things that I didn’t see coming at all but I still found satisfying. Some of the romantic partnerships in the end were predictable and also not, but all satisfying to read.
The wit and banter between almost every character, and particularly three main romantic interests, was so good and had me smiling to myself. And every single character exchange felt real and had emotional impact and communicated important parts of character and plot because the characters were fleshed out and unique and had clearly communicated personalities and motivations.
There was definitely no over explaining of plot or world-building, which I appreciated. The magic system was soft and believable and whimsical, which is a trait of fae magic anyway so I’m glad it was consistent in this world. We didn’t learn things about character we didn’t need to; only the most meaningful and impactful bits of character were communicated to best enhance the stakes and meaning of each character interaction and plot development.
I could nitpick a few things, but they’re definitely not big enough for me to lower my rating. The conversations on how immoral English upper class and laws and systems and workhouses were could be a little preachy and repetitive at times, but also still believable in that I believed the characters who were preaching would actually speak this often in real life on the topic and feel that strongly. But I think they didn’t need to have it spoken so much by the character because the author did so well in allowing for commentary to be demonstrated in ways that let the reader feel it and experience the message more. How the author used the faes obsession with performing English virtue was a very powerful way to comment on the illogical and immoral nature of English systems and culture without having to say it word for word. Also having the characters go into the workhouses and see the conditions for themselves was powerful as well.
I also loved the message that each of us can make a difference by doing our best to combat the small evils when can, because the big evils often take more time and movements to change, so every little bit counts.
I would love to read about when the romantic interests go back to fairie in the end! It was told to us in one paragraph in the epilogue but I want to read more about their journey back there! ...more
I really enjoyed this. It’s been awhile since I read a book I got lost in. I like how it was a rom-com that also dealt with grief, because life is oftI really enjoyed this. It’s been awhile since I read a book I got lost in. I like how it was a rom-com that also dealt with grief, because life is often an experience of multiple feelings at once. I did laugh out loud a few times at the humor but a lot of Uk references were lost on me....more
I love how this children’s book explored the topic of homelessness with one big extended metaphor that not only touched on the struggles, but the giftI love how this children’s book explored the topic of homelessness with one big extended metaphor that not only touched on the struggles, but the gifts as well. ...more
This may be one of the best romance book I’ve ever read.
The writer, Sarah Grunder Ruiz, does dialogue so well. The banter between characters was sharThis may be one of the best romance book I’ve ever read.
The writer, Sarah Grunder Ruiz, does dialogue so well. The banter between characters was sharp and witty; very little was cliche.
I immensely appreciated how original the characters were. Their personalities, their problems, and their goals were all unique to them, as they are with all humans. Yet I find that often in romance stories the same personalities, problems, and goals are shown over and over again. Even when this romance did something similar to other romances, it was written in a way that made the character’s experience feel unique to them; it made me feel as if I’ve never read a similar rendering before.
The focus on mental health is always an enjoyable topic for me. Most problems in relationships are due to past trauma being unresolved and this writer incorporated it phenomenally. The way the main character, Nina, thought of her life and relationship to her love interest was so believable that it made total sense to me as the reader why she was holding back. I, as the reader, and Nina as the character could both see that there was something wrong with how her life was, but we both didn’t know what she needed. I got to discover that with her along the way, which is another sign of great writing because I couldn’t predict anything with more any large amount of certainty; I always knew that there were important pieces of information yet to come and that kept me reading diligently.
And the chemistry between Nina and Ollie was intense!! I’m so thankful that Ruiz knows how to keep up a good pace. I find that romance writers can spend too much time with side characters and adding fluffy feel good scenes when I want the focus to be on the main character’s relationship with themselves and how that affects their ability to engage with others. Many of the problems Nina and Ollie face are from their traumatic childhoods with their parents, but this author never made us meet these characters unnecessarily. We never meet Ollie’s parents, and we only very briefly meet Nina’s, which I appreciated because it wasn’t about them; it was about two characters learning about what they need, and trying to meet those needs; if the characters didn’t find it necessary to involve the parents in meeting those needs, then I appreciated that the author didn’t force it. Romances don’t need to tidy up all relationships in a character’s life to be a successful story, because life doesn’t work that way.
Oh and the fact that both lovers changes their last names after marriage was so great to see!...more
This is definitely a fantasy author I will continue to read. Deonn explores many themes such as trauma, grief, racism, and identity in such unique andThis is definitely a fantasy author I will continue to read. Deonn explores many themes such as trauma, grief, racism, and identity in such unique and thought-provoking ways, and she uses elements of her magic system to do this, which makes it even more fascinating to me.
The only reason it’s not 5 stars for me is because there were a few places where the plot seemed a little too convenient or where the stakes didn’t quite fit the situation in my opinion....more
This is one of my favourites by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. I loved reading about two people who love each other but also struggle to find reasons to stay toThis is one of my favourites by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. I loved reading about two people who love each other but also struggle to find reasons to stay together. I like reading stories about how relationships aren't perfect and when you prioritize doing what's best for you, it doesn't matter how things end up in a relationship.
The unique way that Jenkins-Reid had the characters keep awareness of each other during their trial separation was interesting to me....more
I love Brene Brown's insights into the human condition. This book is my favorite of hers so far becuase of it's usefulness as a type of dictionary forI love Brene Brown's insights into the human condition. This book is my favorite of hers so far becuase of it's usefulness as a type of dictionary for emotions. The categories she places emotions in makes the connections between emotions very clear and gives context as to why we may feel particular emotions at particular times. The dictionary-style makes this a great resource to reference back quite easily when I want to read about specific emotional concepts. ...more
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