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joygarcialim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Here are two main characters who were really likeable(maybe not if they were actual people, but the actual character writing is immaculate). The psyche/mentality of these characters, motivations and personality are all extremely coherent with each other and consistent character writing is such a delight, so thank you to the author.
The romance between the two MCs
The author did not give this subplot of having this colonisation stuff going a lot of attention, so it did not resolve itself well imo and also somehow resolved itself without any proper conclusion?? Also there really wasn't any updates on Niahm's friend that was talked about in the beginning, she just kinda MIA-ed and wasn't written about much after, like the author kinda forgot that Niahm has a friend.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, War, and Deportation
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
nakole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
By: Allison Saft
Contemporary Regency Romance
๐ช๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐ 3.5/5
๐ฎ๐ ๐พ๐ธ๐ 1/5
JUNE BOOK CLUB PICK
๐ ๐๐๐พ๐๐: This book was pretty good, it was giving major Bridgeton vibes. I was giggling and kicking my feet at points. There were a couple plot points that just didnโt give everything they could have. For one Niamhโs friend was really hyped in the beginning and we more from/about her maybe once or twice. Also the fact that Niamhโs magic will eventually kill her, which is made to seem really important in the synopsis, just kind of is and that is it. Also Rosa was my favorite character and I canโt actually give you a concrete reason why.
๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐:
โIโm all thorns.โ
โI donโt know about that. I think youโre more like a weed.โ
โIs that supposed to make me feel better?โ
โYes! Weeds areโฆtenacious. They survive against all odds, wherever they land, no matter how many times you cut them down. And sometimes they can be quite beautiful.โ
๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐๐: GrumpyXSunshine; Enemies to Lovers; LGBTQIA+ Rep; Slow Burn; Forbidden Romance; Forced Proximity; Regency Era; RoyalXCommoner
๐ฏ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐: Terminal Illness; Chronic Illness; Infidelity; Blackmail; Death of a Parent; Alcoholism; Xenophobia; Sexual Content (minor)(consensual);Violence (minor); Child Abuse (minor); Colonization(mentioned)
Graphic: Xenophobia and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
niftyreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Colonisation
susiemarie1111's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Death of parent
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
inkysplodge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
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