Scan barcode
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism and Chronic illness
annie45's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Cursing, Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
callistag1's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
maresuju's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, and War
blewballoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the concept of the magic seamstress who could imbue her embroidery with emotion, and the tension that her magic came with a price and it would weaken her if she used it too much. I was baffled by the juxtaposition of this setup with a multitude of other (arguably more valuable and powerful) forms of magic that cost nothing for the users. People can just shoot lighting, have Elsa's Frozen powers, sprout plants everywhere, and more! This made it seem out of place that the main character's abilities would be so valuable, half the time she didn't even sew the right emotion into the garments that were commissioned of her. Speaking of, the book tries to make it seem like there's a little bit of a found family situation going on with the group of royals she is working for, but every time they are like "aww you work too hard, just relax!" it doesn't hit right because the reason she is working so hard is because of the complicated garments they have ordered her to create in such a short time frame?
I thought the political aspects of the plot were a bit weak and/or nonsensical.
Ultimately I probably could have looked past all of the above if I liked the romance more. I was looking for some cute tension with the premise of a seamstress falling in love with her client (like a gender swap of The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews) but I felt let down by the small amount of sewing/fitting/garments in the story. Kit kind of does the bare minimum in terms of being a love interest. He's outwardly a jerk most of the time and he turns on Niamh at the slightest discomfort. Their bickering/banter didn't feel healthy because the power dynamic was off-balance. I'm not even sure if having Kit's perspective would have helped.
I'll cut myself off there, I feel like I've complained enough. The audiobook narrator was pretty good, and the cover is gorgeous. I also didn't mind the writing style, there were some really pretty yet effective descriptions. I would try this author again.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
theresamothinmyroom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
ruebranch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Chronic illness
vagrantheather's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
The political dynamics of the kingdom are thinly veiled remarks on the generation immediately following the English genocide on the Irish.
Parts of it, especially in the first half, made me laugh out loud. I loved the scene with the first coat she made for Kit, and loved the impertinence of their developing relationship.
Lightly addressed living with chronic illness in a way that was not disagreeable.
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
nataliealane's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, and Death of parent
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness and Injury/Injury detail