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alyanthea's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this was the first book I read after an almost 2-year long reading slump, and I needed something to break me out of it. well, it definitely did! there is something so compulsively readable and engaging about cate c wells' books, even when they make me so mad sometimes.
the fatphobia in this book was a lot, and the author did put a warning up at the beginning of the book. I'm not a fan of how this was handled, and the dramatic contrast betweenthe two packs and how they treated her was a little over the top. I wasn't a fan of how flora being sexually objectified by groups of men ogling her while she works (but in a ~~respectful~~ way so it's okay) was highlighted not only as a way to boost her self-esteem and self-image, but a way to highlight how this pack was better than the other one. I wasn't a fan of how pivotal external sexual validation was to her own self-image and self-worth, although I can understand it, I felt that it drove a lot of flora's character development in the latter half. ymmv on whether or not this will resonate, but it was rough to read.
as for their relationship, I'm not entirely sold on alec's character development, as there was just so big of a gap between their history and how he treated her vs. how he treated her after he found out she was his mate. his POV chapters were very compelling to read, and I loved that version of him, the one who actually gave a shit, but he's got a rough history to overcome. I'm not sure that Wells pulls that off for me this time, personally.their sexual relationship for example--even though it's revealed he's very inexperienced, the fact that all their sexual history is for his own gratification in the past doesn't quite connect with how he suddenly gives a shit about her pleasure in the present, only when they're mated. it was certainly a choice to make him that much of an inconsiderate asshole, and I'm not sure that disconnect was bridged through his character development.
overall though, I did give this 2.5 stars because it did make me cry and I am a sucker for what is, essentially, a book-long grovel. I'm here for the angst and Wells does deliver on that fairly consistently.
the fatphobia in this book was a lot, and the author did put a warning up at the beginning of the book. I'm not a fan of how this was handled, and the dramatic contrast between
as for their relationship, I'm not entirely sold on alec's character development, as there was just so big of a gap between their history and how he treated her vs. how he treated her after he found out she was his mate. his POV chapters were very compelling to read, and I loved that version of him, the one who actually gave a shit, but he's got a rough history to overcome. I'm not sure that Wells pulls that off for me this time, personally.
overall though, I did give this 2.5 stars because it did make me cry and I am a sucker for what is, essentially, a book-long grovel. I'm here for the angst and Wells does deliver on that fairly consistently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
stuffandwhatnot's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Ugh, so frickin' good. Perfectly captures the frustration and hopelessness of growing up in a tiny little cruddy town where everyone knows everyone else and God help you if you're even the slightest bit different or want something out of life other than your prescribed role.
Flora is overweight, which is apparently almost unheard of in the shifter world, due to some hand-wavy super fast metabolisms and such. So she's not only a fat girl, she's the only fat girl in town. She experiences intense fat shaming all her life, from almost everyone in the community. Since she has no family to stick up for her, she's also one of the lowest ranked shifters in a cruddy town obsessed with rank. As a result, her self-esteem is lower than the Mariana Trench.
Alec is a handsome alpha who is one of the three contenders to be the next pack alpha. He seems so douchey at first and you'll want to punch him right in the dick more than once, but Wells works her magic and by the end of the book I just wanted to give him a blankie and some hot cocoa. He's the alpha who is more than strong enough to seize power, but in truth he doesn't really want to lead, especially not their cruddy shitty town.
We get to see Rosie and Cadoc and their newly formed Old Den pack again, which is a lot of fun and (as so often happens when people move away from their small towns for the first time) pretty eye opening for our main couple as they see a world where being different can be attractive, or where everyone isn't constantly jockeying for rank. The story also seems to take place concurrently with the last book, as we hear about some of the stuff that happened in it near the end of this book.
Loved it, loved Flora, grew to love Alec, and I can't wait to see what happens next in the shifter world.
Flora is overweight, which is apparently almost unheard of in the shifter world, due to some hand-wavy super fast metabolisms and such. So she's not only a fat girl, she's the only fat girl in town. She experiences intense fat shaming all her life, from almost everyone in the community. Since she has no family to stick up for her, she's also one of the lowest ranked shifters in a cruddy town obsessed with rank. As a result, her self-esteem is lower than the Mariana Trench.
Alec is a handsome alpha who is one of the three contenders to be the next pack alpha. He seems so douchey at first and you'll want to punch him right in the dick more than once, but Wells works her magic and by the end of the book I just wanted to give him a blankie and some hot cocoa. He's the alpha who is more than strong enough to seize power, but in truth he doesn't really want to lead, especially not their cruddy shitty town.
We get to see Rosie and Cadoc and their newly formed Old Den pack again, which is a lot of fun and (as so often happens when people move away from their small towns for the first time) pretty eye opening for our main couple as they see a world where being different can be attractive, or where everyone isn't constantly jockeying for rank. The story also seems to take place concurrently with the last book, as we hear about some of the stuff that happened in it near the end of this book.
Loved it, loved Flora, grew to love Alec, and I can't wait to see what happens next in the shifter world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
evildevilfish's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Fat shaming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Abandonment
lalalaura_92's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood
bookedinsideout's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Abandonment
madrona's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The world of this series can be pretty bleak, especially for women, and it’s even more pronounced in this book. The early rejection is really rough and hard to read, but like in every other book, it then shifts to showing Flora growing stronger in herself, and Alec is redeemed well. All the same, the tone stays pretty heavy for much of the book. It suits the story, but the ending comes quickly and I would’ve liked to see the happy ending expanded a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
smithrachaelynn's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really emotional read for me. I wish we had gotten more background on Alec and context for his character. I liked him more over time but it took me a while to get there. I was so proud of Flora’s journey though!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
onlyonebookshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying
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