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intermvndos's review against another edition
4.5
I was genuinely wowed by this series over and over again. When I initially came across it as a rec on r/RomanceBooks, I was kind of meh and wasn’t super sold on it but oh my was I wrong! There was such a lovely depth to these characters that you don’t typically get to see in reverse harem stories, and normally I’d balk at a 7 book romantasy series, but Alex Liddell pulled it off. I’ve seen people argue that the story could/should have ended with book four, but with the amnesia plotline, you basically got to see them fall in love all over again with all the delicious angst , so I disagree! I think the plot overall was very well paced, if maybe a touch rushed sometimes. There’s definitely two distinct story arcs in the series but I think it worked well once the series was over. Look at it like books 1-4 are season 1 and books 5-7 are season 2! All the same characters you loved from season 1 but just up to new hijinks.
Lera is such a strong person because I personally would have curled up into a ball and sobbed a number of different times that she just brushed the dirt off her shoulders and moved forward. There was no confusing the men with each other (another common problem with reverse harem imo) because they were actually fully formed characters! And genuinely acted differently from each other with their own motivations and feelings! And we love that! Plus their love for each other felt so genuine even outside of their love for Lera.
My rough handful of grievances that kept this from being a 5 star series (and honestly that may change in the future) were relatively small things like what happened toMors ? Is that just like…not a concern anymore? I would’ve liked more with that personally. I was expecting a point where the story would lead them into going there and Coal would be forced to face his fears in a much more literal way like Lera had to . I suppose it leaves it open for more books? I certainly wouldn’t complain, especially if it meant we got to see more of Lera’s pregnancy! I want to see the twins! Did they have two boys, two girls, one of each? What powers did they have? TELLL MEEEEEE give me like 100 pages of epilogue 😭 but that’s pretty much it, I had a great time with this series and read it all in like three days lmao
Lera is such a strong person because I personally would have curled up into a ball and sobbed a number of different times that she just brushed the dirt off her shoulders and moved forward. There was no confusing the men with each other (another common problem with reverse harem imo) because they were actually fully formed characters! And genuinely acted differently from each other with their own motivations and feelings! And we love that! Plus their love for each other felt so genuine even outside of their love for Lera.
My rough handful of grievances that kept this from being a 5 star series (and honestly that may change in the future) were relatively small things like what happened to
guardyourhonor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Series review: Big ol' mixed bag, here.
Always start with the positives: I was really into them. They were fun to read and I'm sad not to spend any more time with them. The heroes are very distinct characters with personalities and backstories and identifiable voices and I really liked them all. The world is very fun and not just a standard version of Faerie. Honestly, 4.5 stars if purely based on enjoyment.
But on to the negatives:
I'll be upfront: the writing in the first book is bad. Dialogue is unrealistic and cringe, the characterization of Lera is all over the place, and the pacing is truly terrible - particularly the pacing of the relationships. It <i>does</i> get better as the series goes on. All three issues even out the further into the series, thankfully. Unfortunately they do continue to call them 'her males' until the end of time, though, so just make peace with it.
The last three books - when the writing is on more solid footing - are like an entirely different series? In which the plotting is better I guess but also more frustrating narratively. Things dragged on too long and the whole point of reading reverse harem - the harem - is missing so it's a real shift from the first four. Maybe even just stop at the 4th, honestly.
But why, <b>why</b> are Lera's chapters in 1st person present tense and 'the males' voices in 3rd person past tense? It's bad and confusing and adds nothing, but Lidell sticks with it all the way through the series.
Also Leralynn is a stupid name and jarred me every time.
Always start with the positives: I was really into them. They were fun to read and I'm sad not to spend any more time with them. The heroes are very distinct characters with personalities and backstories and identifiable voices and I really liked them all. The world is very fun and not just a standard version of Faerie. Honestly, 4.5 stars if purely based on enjoyment.
But on to the negatives:
I'll be upfront: the writing in the first book is bad. Dialogue is unrealistic and cringe, the characterization of Lera is all over the place, and the pacing is truly terrible - particularly the pacing of the relationships. It <i>does</i> get better as the series goes on. All three issues even out the further into the series, thankfully. Unfortunately they do continue to call them 'her males' until the end of time, though, so just make peace with it.
The last three books - when the writing is on more solid footing - are like an entirely different series? In which the plotting is better I guess but also more frustrating narratively. Things dragged on too long and the whole point of reading reverse harem - the harem - is missing so it's a real shift from the first four. Maybe even just stop at the 4th, honestly.
But why, <b>why</b> are Lera's chapters in 1st person present tense and 'the males' voices in 3rd person past tense? It's bad and confusing and adds nothing, but Lidell sticks with it all the way through the series.
Also Leralynn is a stupid name and jarred me every time.
zaliw77's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
macodi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hmb86's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
marauch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
ashward5302's review against another edition
3.0
Despite only having read them a few days ago, I cannot remember what substantiated the first four books in this series. Not that I'm complaining, I know that I enjoyed them. It's just that the last three books filled me with such a high level of wonderful stress that I cannot remember the prior story arc.
Book 5, Great Falls Cadet, cut my soul up in the best way possible. Watching Lera try to interact with the guys and them not remembering her *at all* hurt so bad. Legit felt like I was being stabbed. Book 6, Great Falls Rogue, hurt in a much more nuanced way. The growing animosity between Tye and Lera wounded me as much as it did her while she built up emotional calluses towards the man she loved but that did not remember her. Book 7, Great Falls Protector, *finally* reunites the squad. They all have their memories back and varying degrees of guilt and remorse for how they treated Lera while they didn't know who she was to them. As they should. Especially Tye. He was an asshole. Book 7 also showed us Lera standing up to Lord Zake (her previous "provider" that whipped her senseless for years) and putting some cracks in the hold he had over her memories and emotions. We also got to see her own up to her shortcomings and her mistakes, rather than excusing it. River saw her leadership potential, Coal realized the importance of letting her in--both for his own trauma and hers. Shade learned how to step back and balance his needs with her rights, Tye learned how to prioritize what truly matters to him.
I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy the spinoff arc of the final three books, and contemplated on stopping at Book 4, Lera of Lunos, because it tied up fairly well. But I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.
The only thing I found myself wishing for more of across this series was emphasis on character behaviors and the breaking down of said behaviors. For example, River and Lera butt heads a lot. It's enjoyable and often slightly humorous when they do, which I enjoy. However, at times I wished that the reactions were a bit more severe between the two--really punching in on the moment the scale tips in favor of either River or Lera. I would have *loved* to see a moment where Coal truly lets Lera in and vice verse, highlighting the exact moment that they decide to let the walls down and how that feels.
Book 5, Great Falls Cadet, cut my soul up in the best way possible. Watching Lera try to interact with the guys and them not remembering her *at all* hurt so bad. Legit felt like I was being stabbed. Book 6, Great Falls Rogue, hurt in a much more nuanced way. The growing animosity between Tye and Lera wounded me as much as it did her while she built up emotional calluses towards the man she loved but that did not remember her. Book 7, Great Falls Protector, *finally* reunites the squad. They all have their memories back and varying degrees of guilt and remorse for how they treated Lera while they didn't know who she was to them. As they should. Especially Tye. He was an asshole. Book 7 also showed us Lera standing up to Lord Zake (her previous "provider" that whipped her senseless for years) and putting some cracks in the hold he had over her memories and emotions. We also got to see her own up to her shortcomings and her mistakes, rather than excusing it. River saw her leadership potential, Coal realized the importance of letting her in--both for his own trauma and hers. Shade learned how to step back and balance his needs with her rights, Tye learned how to prioritize what truly matters to him.
I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy the spinoff arc of the final three books, and contemplated on stopping at Book 4, Lera of Lunos, because it tied up fairly well. But I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.
The only thing I found myself wishing for more of across this series was emphasis on character behaviors and the breaking down of said behaviors. For example, River and Lera butt heads a lot. It's enjoyable and often slightly humorous when they do, which I enjoy. However, at times I wished that the reactions were a bit more severe between the two--really punching in on the moment the scale tips in favor of either River or Lera. I would have *loved* to see a moment where Coal truly lets Lera in and vice verse, highlighting the exact moment that they decide to let the walls down and how that feels.
wellers3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kmesa's review against another edition
4.0
Good ending to the series. Love the characters in these books so much and love to see how far they’ve come since the beginning. Lera stands out obviously though I think she’s a little too quick to forgive sometimes. I like that she still has her faults and shortcomings. Love all four of the love interests, it’s hard to pick a favorite (maybe Coal?) and I would never be able to pick out my least favorite. Missed Autumn though. I also kind of wish we could have seen a little more jealousy though I love all the over-protectiveness. Loved this series start to finish. Would recommend to others as long as they know what they’re getting into (spicy reverse harem).
afestivalaparade's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0