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aelin_morgenstern's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Violence and Kidnapping
tyras_bookshelf's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The writing was pretty good! There was an actual story and while it was a slightly predictable HEA, there was a lot of emotional growth and reflection for the characters. I definitely picked this up just thinking it was more monster smut; pleasantly surprised.
Emilia has a problem only a mate can solve (šš), Jasper wants to be seen as more than just a monster and Ari wants true love after being alone for so long.
Ari basically manipulates/gently coaxes them into a triad/throuple relationship (not cool) as he and Jasper help Emilia deal with her new cursed snake powers.
Through a lot of boinking, self-reflection and love declarations the three come to find their way to a somewhat healthy stable relationship and then ya know...consequences of previous actions come home to roost.
The stakes could have been higher or more drawn outāthey get caught by their underground secret society with little to no repercussions. Bro legit got a fine and his money stripped but it went right to his lovers. He didnāt even stew in his own actions very long outside of his liquor binging session which maybe lasted a weekend until Emilia's mom came to mother him. Which shoutout to Emilia's mama because she was very non-phased by all the monster hijinks. But this is like the third or fourth book in a connected universe so she's clearly been around the block.
A fun (very dirty) why choose monster romance (but also the boyfriends are boyfriends) with spells and curses and straight up fantastical nonsense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
nose_in_a_book's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
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Lilian Lark is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I have so many annotations in both of the books Iāve read by her where Iāve simply written āLilian!ā in either delighted shock or because she bullseyeād her way to a truth that hit emotionally.
Her Monstrous Matches series is quintessential cozy romantasy in plot. The stakes are low and vibes are immaculate, even during conflict, but somehow she still manages to sneak in these moments of earth shattering emotional depth that feel approachable instead of daunting.
This book starts with a break up and I was shocked by how much it hurt considering how little I knew the characters. In very few words, she managed to convey years of interactions filled with things unsaid to the point where I, as the reader, felt like I was at the same conclusion as both characters which is no easy feat. Additionally, throughout the book every character is given room for insecurity and flaw. The conflict is never that someone else has bad habits but instead about how those habits impact their partners which feels almost healing to read. No one is expected to change who they are, simply given the space to grow to be better.
The spice in this book was excellent. It was tension-filled and filthy in a way that only monster romances can achieve even when trying to be sweet. I liked how re-affirming it was without being saccharine or precious. No one is handled gently but they are handled with responsibility.
The only criticism I have is that there were a lot of similarities in plot between her Gargoyle book and this one. There were enough distinctions for me personally that I still loved it but Iāll be curious if this is a pattern she continues in all of her books.
Lilian Lark is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I have so many annotations in both of the books Iāve read by her where Iāve simply written āLilian!ā in either delighted shock or because she bullseyeād her way to a truth that hit emotionally.
Her Monstrous Matches series is quintessential cozy romantasy in plot. The stakes are low and vibes are immaculate, even during conflict, but somehow she still manages to sneak in these moments of earth shattering emotional depth that feel approachable instead of daunting.
This book starts with a break up and I was shocked by how much it hurt considering how little I knew the characters. In very few words, she managed to convey years of interactions filled with things unsaid to the point where I, as the reader, felt like I was at the same conclusion as both characters which is no easy feat. Additionally, throughout the book every character is given room for insecurity and flaw. The conflict is never that someone else has bad habits but instead about how those habits impact their partners which feels almost healing to read. No one is expected to change who they are, simply given the space to grow to be better.
The spice in this book was excellent. It was tension-filled and filthy in a way that only monster romances can achieve even when trying to be sweet. I liked how re-affirming it was without being saccharine or precious. No one is handled gently but they are handled with responsibility.
The only criticism I have is that there were a lot of similarities in plot between her Gargoyle book and this one. There were enough distinctions for me personally that I still loved it but Iāll be curious if this is a pattern she continues in all of her books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
lbelow's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
5.0
Lillian Lark is a master! Every book in this series expands this enthralling world a little more. We visit old favourite characters and meet new ones. Every page is filled with emotion and the personal arcs for everyone involved in the mating are so deep and complex! I cannot wait to read more of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Hate crime
cpachet's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
erkietheturkey's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is my first go-round with Lilian Lark and I think I may be a tad obsessed. I loved the romance between Amelia, Jasper, and Ari. Two basilisks and a modern day Medusa is the sweet MMF love story I didnāt know I needed. Oh and the spice was premium. I canāt wait to read Larkās backlist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
shaipanda's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really really enjoyed this but definitely not my favorite in the series so far
I just wasnāt quite as invested in their relationship as the gargoyle book which is the first one I read but I still loved it and really enjoyed the plot and character development in addition to the spice
I just wasnāt quite as invested in their relationship as the gargoyle book which is the first one I read but I still loved it and really enjoyed the plot and character development in addition to the spice
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and War
inkdrinkers's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Family is family wherever you go, but you only have one life and that's for happiness and adventure."
Emilia Rivera was just a book restoration artist before she was plunged into the world of magic. When she's kidnapped by witches as a way to blackmail her best friend, she doesn't know how to reconcile her sudden knowledge of the paranormal world. Everything gets so much more difficult when, while restoring a book one day, she's cursed by the snake Goddess and finds herself with snakes for hair and a deadly gaze. Luckily, her boss is a snake-kin and knows a friend who might be able to help.
Lillian Lark the WOMAN YOU ARE. This novel was so good. I want to throw myself back to page one. I thought I loved Stalked by the Kraken and Deceived by the Gargoyles but Ensnared really, really hit all my loves. Emilia is such a strong, relatable character. The growth she has during these pages is absolutely phenomenal and I loved her anxiety rep. I feel like so often anxiety in books isn't generalized anxiety - there are reasons for characters to have panic attacks - but Emilia's general anxiety around everything felt comforting to read about. Also Jasper's tactic of "I'll just hold your throat and command you to calm down" would 100% work on me, I'm sat.
Ari and Jasper are by far my favorites of Lark's love interests. (Sorry Broderick, you got the gentle boot) I loved how they had their own multi-layered backstory with each other and Emilia truly fell into the third side of their triad in a realistic way. I will only be fantasizing about laying on a bunch of pillows while being worshipped by two hot men from now on, that's my chosen way to die happily.
Content warnings: Sexual content (it's so good), Bullying/Violence (Jasper's story heavily), Panic attacks/disorders (wonderful rep), Gaslighting (it's light, we're ignoring it), Classism, Death of parent/ Abandonment/Grief (rolling these warnings into one because it's mostly past, but grief is handled extremely well)
Emilia Rivera was just a book restoration artist before she was plunged into the world of magic. When she's kidnapped by witches as a way to blackmail her best friend, she doesn't know how to reconcile her sudden knowledge of the paranormal world. Everything gets so much more difficult when, while restoring a book one day, she's cursed by the snake Goddess and finds herself with snakes for hair and a deadly gaze. Luckily, her boss is a snake-kin and knows a friend who might be able to help.
Lillian Lark the WOMAN YOU ARE. This novel was so good. I want to throw myself back to page one. I thought I loved Stalked by the Kraken and Deceived by the Gargoyles but Ensnared really, really hit all my loves. Emilia is such a strong, relatable character. The growth she has during these pages is absolutely phenomenal and I loved her anxiety rep. I feel like so often anxiety in books isn't generalized anxiety - there are reasons for characters to have panic attacks - but Emilia's general anxiety around everything felt comforting to read about. Also Jasper's tactic of "I'll just hold your throat and command you to calm down" would 100% work on me, I'm sat.
Ari and Jasper are by far my favorites of Lark's love interests. (Sorry Broderick, you got the gentle boot) I loved how they had their own multi-layered backstory with each other and Emilia truly fell into the third side of their triad in a realistic way. I will only be fantasizing about laying on a bunch of pillows while being worshipped by two hot men from now on, that's my chosen way to die happily.
Content warnings: Sexual content (it's so good), Bullying/Violence (Jasper's story heavily), Panic attacks/disorders (wonderful rep), Gaslighting (it's light, we're ignoring it), Classism, Death of parent/ Abandonment/Grief (rolling these warnings into one because it's mostly past, but grief is handled extremely well)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment