Scan barcode
thewordsdevourer's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
this was a rly cute read! a rival most vial was my first cozy fantasy, and it was a fun, lighthearted read w/ a lot of heart and also grounded in relatable issues.
the characters are truly what make this book; not only ames and eli, but also the other characters particularly those on rosemont street, who all shine both individually and together. for the main couple, i enjoy the true enemies-to-lovers relationship and seeing them both develop and grow thruout the book; their internal issues and conflict are v much relatable and add depth to the story, and theyre a v cute couple who gives me butterflies. i also love the bond between everyone on rosemont st that truly envelops the found family trope; theyre super wholesome and heartwarming.
meanwhile, the writing flows nicely and is never an issue, fitting at all the right moments. as for the worldbuilding, for the immediate vicinity it's nice, giving the reader an atmosphere of the scar but it doesnt rly extend much beyond that to the other parts of the kingdom. perhaps ashwick will explore that more in the sequels. i do like the unique layout of the scar tho, and it's undeniable that the setting makes the book cozy as much as the characters.
i have one main issue w/ the book, however, w/ how it doesnt focus enough on the consequences of some characters' actions. thruout the novel, whenever sth happens the fault is often pinned on ames and he's called to apologize, w/ no mention of the party's part in the issue, namely dawn and - towards the end - eli. for the latter it ends too abruptly, w/ no mention of the hows and whys whatsoever ofhis shop blowing up and the immediate aftermath of that is skipped . dawn is the one that upsets me more tho, doing what she did despite being aware of ames' deeper issues, and instead it's only ames whos expected to plan a whole apology tour for trying to save her. she also doesnt seem to have changed at all from the incident, remaining an overachiever (or more like overcommitter) despite the consequences it could wreak on not only herself but those around her, and there's no discussion of her issues at all, which is disappointing.
in conclusion this novel does have its issues, but it's still an enjoyable, lighthearted read thats could make one feel both giddy and cozy. i look forward to the sequel!
the characters are truly what make this book; not only ames and eli, but also the other characters particularly those on rosemont street, who all shine both individually and together. for the main couple, i enjoy the true enemies-to-lovers relationship and seeing them both develop and grow thruout the book; their internal issues and conflict are v much relatable and add depth to the story, and theyre a v cute couple who gives me butterflies. i also love the bond between everyone on rosemont st that truly envelops the found family trope; theyre super wholesome and heartwarming.
meanwhile, the writing flows nicely and is never an issue, fitting at all the right moments. as for the worldbuilding, for the immediate vicinity it's nice, giving the reader an atmosphere of the scar but it doesnt rly extend much beyond that to the other parts of the kingdom. perhaps ashwick will explore that more in the sequels. i do like the unique layout of the scar tho, and it's undeniable that the setting makes the book cozy as much as the characters.
i have one main issue w/ the book, however, w/ how it doesnt focus enough on the consequences of some characters' actions. thruout the novel, whenever sth happens the fault is often pinned on ames and he's called to apologize, w/ no mention of the party's part in the issue, namely dawn and - towards the end - eli. for the latter it ends too abruptly, w/ no mention of the hows and whys whatsoever of
in conclusion this novel does have its issues, but it's still an enjoyable, lighthearted read thats could make one feel both giddy and cozy. i look forward to the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual content
ambers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Are you someone who reads LoTR and thinks 'wow, I wish we'd spent more time watching the Hobbits do their funky little thing?' Do you enjoy enemies to lovers, but often go 'hmm not enough punching each other and ALSO not enough tenderness and explicit consent'? Have you ever played Apothecaria? I could go on, but if you're nodding along even a little, then A Rival Most Vial is the read for you.
This is my first foray into the 'low stakes/cozy fantasy' genre, but I suspect not my last. I want to be clear that when I say 'low stakes' I don't mean low effort or low engagement - I was every bit as invested in Ambrose and Eli as I was when I read Rand's journey to the Eye of the World earlier this year. What I mean by that is our dual protagonists are focused on healing from trauma, loving their families (both by blood and of choice), and finding their way in the world, rather than changing all of history somehow. And honestly, isn't that just as rewarding to see?
From start to finish, this book is just such a joy to read, and there are many little touches that make it feel like a true labor of love on the author's part. For example, the titles are potion instructions. Each of our dual POV characters gets his own themed potion bottle to start their chapters. There's an art break midway through. But these are all bonuses, because at its core, this is just a wonderful story. Reading through Eli and Ambrose's love story left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and the world around them is just as delightful. Oh, to go shopping on Rosemond Street one day!
Of all places to find this novel, I randomly stumbled across this author posting on an ARC readers subreddit. So, I obligatory 'I got this for free, and this is my unbiased review' - but honestly, I feel very fortunate to have read this book, and I recommend people keep an eye out for it when it releases on 03/20/2023!
This is my first foray into the 'low stakes/cozy fantasy' genre, but I suspect not my last. I want to be clear that when I say 'low stakes' I don't mean low effort or low engagement - I was every bit as invested in Ambrose and Eli as I was when I read Rand's journey to the Eye of the World earlier this year. What I mean by that is our dual protagonists are focused on healing from trauma, loving their families (both by blood and of choice), and finding their way in the world, rather than changing all of history somehow. And honestly, isn't that just as rewarding to see?
From start to finish, this book is just such a joy to read, and there are many little touches that make it feel like a true labor of love on the author's part. For example, the titles are potion instructions. Each of our dual POV characters gets his own themed potion bottle to start their chapters. There's an art break midway through. But these are all bonuses, because at its core, this is just a wonderful story. Reading through Eli and Ambrose's love story left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and the world around them is just as delightful. Oh, to go shopping on Rosemond Street one day!
Of all places to find this novel, I randomly stumbled across this author posting on an ARC readers subreddit. So, I obligatory 'I got this for free, and this is my unbiased review' - but honestly, I feel very fortunate to have read this book, and I recommend people keep an eye out for it when it releases on 03/20/2023!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
Sex scene is nongraphic
More...