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denois's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an ARC and am leaving an unbiased review.
I greatly enjoyed this book. For the first time in many years, I stayed up all night reading it because I didn't want to stop to sleep, I wanted to find out what was happening. Don't let that make you think it takes a long time, I didn't start reading until about midnight and finished around 7. It's a quick read.
If you like rivals to friends to lovers, if you like fantasy settings, if you have wondered what the lives of NPCs were like in your ttrpg campaign (most similar to D&D, but probably cross applicable to others), if you like gay main characters, if you like the grumpy one becoming soft for the sunshiny one, if you like a cast of characters that includes nonbinary characters, mspec characters, wlw characters, old women who kick ass and make armor, and aroace characters, then this book will probably be very enjoyable for you.
It's not all sunshine and roses. Both of the main characters have some very difficult things to work through and one is dealing with some pretty significant tragic backstory. This is probably the one thing that I wish had a bit more time devoted to it to develop and resolve on page. I understand the word count restrictions in play and the pacing constraints, and I think that how it was handled is probably the best option that was strictly available. I personally would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the emotional journey for the character there, but it would have changed the pacing too much.
In addition to the tragic backstory issues, there are also dangerous adventures and misadventures and the risk of injury and death is quite real, which worked to keep me engaged in the story and worrying about the characters.
The love story is the main plot, but the subplots generally feel significant and developed enough that they don't feel incidental. They are reasonable things that would occur in the lives of the characters even if the love story plot wasn't happening. At the same time, they are woven together in a way that allows the subplots to move the main plot as well.
I greatly enjoyed this book. For the first time in many years, I stayed up all night reading it because I didn't want to stop to sleep, I wanted to find out what was happening. Don't let that make you think it takes a long time, I didn't start reading until about midnight and finished around 7. It's a quick read.
If you like rivals to friends to lovers, if you like fantasy settings, if you have wondered what the lives of NPCs were like in your ttrpg campaign (most similar to D&D, but probably cross applicable to others), if you like gay main characters, if you like the grumpy one becoming soft for the sunshiny one, if you like a cast of characters that includes nonbinary characters, mspec characters, wlw characters, old women who kick ass and make armor, and aroace characters, then this book will probably be very enjoyable for you.
It's not all sunshine and roses. Both of the main characters have some very difficult things to work through and one is dealing with some pretty significant tragic backstory. This is probably the one thing that I wish had a bit more time devoted to it to develop and resolve on page. I understand the word count restrictions in play and the pacing constraints, and I think that how it was handled is probably the best option that was strictly available. I personally would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the emotional journey for the character there, but it would have changed the pacing too much.
In addition to the tragic backstory issues, there are also dangerous adventures and misadventures and the risk of injury and death is quite real, which worked to keep me engaged in the story and worrying about the characters.
The love story is the main plot, but the subplots generally feel significant and developed enough that they don't feel incidental. They are reasonable things that would occur in the lives of the characters even if the love story plot wasn't happening. At the same time, they are woven together in a way that allows the subplots to move the main plot as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence and Medical content
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