megreads12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
Minor: War, Death of parent, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Pregnancy
katbenimble's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was a quick read. The writing wasn't my favorite, and I think I will die if I ever see a clit referred to as a pearl ever again . There was also an obsession with linen and leather in this book 😂.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Classism, and Death
greystory's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall, alright. Didn't dislike it but didn't love it, either. Decent start to a series with establishing some basics - little bit of world building, little bit of tension/conflict, and the most well done part, an interesting cast of characters.
It's that cast of characters that has me looking forward more to the rest of the series than I was for this one. I'm already intrigued at some of the other books and hoping we get to see the young and excitable Neekar find a mate eventually since it looks like he doesn't have his own book yet. I also think the series will benefit from having more humans as part of the clan so that should help liven things up as well.
Some notes I jotted down to myself while reading:
I find the whole scenario of a grown human woman being taught how to masturbate by a man, even if it's an orc man, to be annoying. If there were in-world reasons that justified it, I'd be more likely to let it slide, but there wasn't given one in this case so her naivete seems unrealistic. For me, it wasn't hot or tantalizing or sweet or whatever, it was condescending.
Gorvor's unwillingness to be honest with Dawn was FRUSTRATING. Especially because he'd refuse to tell her anything on one hand, but then turn around and get upset at the guesses she was making based on the little information she had. You don't get to be upset about that if you're not willing to compromise! And in the end, it really didn't feel like it was that big of a deal that he was making it out to be. Like some of it was personal and painful for him to talk about it but literally everybody in the entire clan knew about it.
I wasn't too thrilled with the surprise public orgy involving the entire clan and guests at the very end. While it's true it's not really my thing, it also didn't feel like it fit well with the rest of the book and didn't serve as a great "ending" or final closure for the story.
It's that cast of characters that has me looking forward more to the rest of the series than I was for this one. I'm already intrigued at some of the other books and hoping we get to see the young and excitable Neekar find a mate eventually since it looks like he doesn't have his own book yet. I also think the series will benefit from having more humans as part of the clan so that should help liven things up as well.
Some notes I jotted down to myself while reading:
I find the whole scenario of a grown human woman being taught how to masturbate by a man, even if it's an orc man, to be annoying. If there were in-world reasons that justified it, I'd be more likely to let it slide, but there wasn't given one in this case so her naivete seems unrealistic. For me, it wasn't hot or tantalizing or sweet or whatever, it was condescending.
Gorvor's unwillingness to be honest with Dawn was FRUSTRATING. Especially because he'd refuse to tell her anything on one hand, but then turn around and get upset at the guesses she was making based on the little information she had. You don't get to be upset about that if you're not willing to compromise! And in the end, it really didn't feel like it was that big of a deal that he was making it out to be. Like some of it was personal and painful for him to talk about it but literally everybody in the entire clan knew about it.
I wasn't too thrilled with the surprise public orgy involving the entire clan and guests at the very end. While it's true it's not really my thing, it also didn't feel like it fit well with the rest of the book and didn't serve as a great "ending" or final closure for the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit and Slavery
Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
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