summerunderawillowtree's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Do you like steamy romance with very clear consent? Yeah. Then this book is not for you.
Also- why… just WHY are the two people that are “bound” to the main (white) characters the only fleshed out characters of Color? Gross. Racist and gross.
I kept thinking, okay maybe I am missing something. But no. We’ve got virginity tropes, “I know better that you about your own safety” tropes, and an age gap that feels as yucky as Rhys and Feyre’s would’ve had the batboy not understood the meaning of no.
Skip it.
Also- why… just WHY are the two people that are “bound” to the main (white) characters the only fleshed out characters of Color? Gross. Racist and gross.
I kept thinking, okay maybe I am missing something. But no. We’ve got virginity tropes, “I know better that you about your own safety” tropes, and an age gap that feels as yucky as Rhys and Feyre’s would’ve had the batboy not understood the meaning of no.
Skip it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Sexual assault, and Child death
kerttuli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Gore, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Racism, and Genocide
katloupet's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book stared out kind of slow and I had a hard time getting into it but once it picked up I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the characters and the romance as well as the world, though the world building was confusing in the beginning there is a good reason for that. I’m exited to read the next book and continue the story
That said I do think it’s important to mention the the POC rep in this book is terrible. Most of the characters in this book are white and those who aren’t are in service to main white characters. Additionally one of them turns into an wolf. Not to mention their names, Tawny and Kieran, mean brown and “little dark one” respectively. (This was pointed out by mynameismarines on tiktok I didn’t realize it myself)
Link to tiktok video
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdtUpAXe/
That said I do think it’s important to mention the the POC rep in this book is terrible. Most of the characters in this book are white and those who aren’t are in service to main white characters. Additionally one of them turns into an wolf. Not to mention their names, Tawny and Kieran, mean brown and “little dark one” respectively. (This was pointed out by mynameismarines on tiktok I didn’t realize it myself)
Link to tiktok video
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdtUpAXe/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Gore, Sexism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
moonchild_88's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
It's disheartening to see that something so blatantly racist can get published. The protagonist's best friend is a black girl, named Tawny, ffs, who acts as her maid. The love interest's best friend is a black guy named Kieran, which means the little dark one, who is magically bound to him, so, also a servant. It's ridiculous. This entire book is also filled with sexual assault. The main guy conceals his indentity until the end, which is a form of sexual assault. She would have never done it with him if she had known who he was. Once she finds out who he is, he relentlessly mocks her, and so does everyone else. He also promises her that it's going to happen again. I was rage crying by the end. But honestly I don't even know how I managed to get there. The book was extremely slow, the writing was poor, and the protagonist had no personality. I had to start skimming. This was my worst read of the year, and looking back I really wish I had dnf'd. I struggled so hard to finish it that I should have just given up. I will not be reading anything else by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Not only is she a bad writer with no concept of consent, but she is also a racist. It's really unfortunate how popular this book is, and it's sad to see how many people call themselves allies and in the same breath recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
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