Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Initiation

This is such a bonkers book but quite a fun time. I quite liked the main three characters, and have some minor favorites I hope to see more of (Ambra my love). The romance was also very sweet for a book like this. Because the book tackles such a breadth of subject, not everything was to my taste but I think it made a valiant effort at trying to explain why someone would like it, even if some I really did not lol. I do wish Dom had said no, even once. This boy went from supposedly straight to a bi verse switch in like three days with no angst and never felt the need to stop anything. Like good for him but come on. It also gets weirdly dark in the final bit, though it fits the worldbuilding and was handled better than a lot of books so it didn't bother me much. Overall I enjoyed it and will be continuing on.

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suicana's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I liked the positive and healthy depictions of sex and kink, and how casually the sexually and racially diverse cast is treated. The characters were all very likable too, and since nothing much happens plotwise for almost the entire book, it was nice to read a chapter every other evening.
That's also why I'm not rating it higher though because while I didn't expect much plot going in, I do wish there had been some more. It's all very focused on Dom's sexual experiences and while that was nice and well done, it didn't leave room for much else. But as a Sex Wizards book about wizards who have sex... nailed it.

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just_remy's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-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? No

4.25

I would've liked a bit more plot but otherwise thoroughly enjoyed it. Actually a healthy portrayal of kink where consent and safe words are important!

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morainjay's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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? N/A

3.25

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palebea's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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? No

5.0

This was an incredible read. Smut I see recommended on booktok has always been a bit of a miss but this was more than smut? This is a great book, with a good, solid premise. The characters are complex and relationships are explored. The premise is original and the continual awareness of consent is perfect. I cannot wait to finish this series.

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galleytrot's review against another edition

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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? No

4.5

FIRST READ: Jan 2024

SECOND READ: Apr 2024
FORMAT: Digital, Audio

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4.75 / 5⭐

TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4 / 5⭐

FINAL – OVERALL: 4.5 / 5⭐

In this book, Dominai finally arrives at the wizard’s towers after it was suggested he might have some magical aptitude, leaving behind a life that could no longer guarantee his security. Methods of casting magic are far more carnal than he ever would have guessed, and he is taken under wing by several of the Crux’s more experienced casters to help him find the schools of magic he would most like to earn his mastery in. One of their castings give him a vision of a missing wizard of the tower, confirming her to be alive and held captive and sparking a rescue mission for her and the others who have since gone missing.

This book is entirely aware of exactly what it is at all times, from cover to cover; it’s right there, in the name of the series. I wasn’t confident going in that it would amount to anything more than pure erotica, but it actually surprised me. I won’t claim that the plot is necessarily all that clever, but it is surprising and entertaining right to the end. I was worried for the first handful of chapters, because our main character is very much a blank slate who isn’t even given so much as a physical description until way later, just being yanked around from one encounter to the next by people who are just immediately enamoured with him. Eventually we get to know more about him, once we’re done being inundated by the setting and rules of this world.

If you want to poke and prod, the whole premise is a bit silly and might not hold up to very much scrutiny; but if you’re willing to put that aside for some sex-positive, diverse, and kinky fun, then this book has it in spades. As far as representation of kink goes, I have only one complaint: Dominai is thrown into every encounter without any real conversation to explicitly tell him what he’s agreeing to. He is endlessly curious and willing, and he is always given the freedom to stop at any given moment, but by-and-large his consent is uninformed more often than not.

All that aside, I had an extremely good time reading this book and I’m raring to go for the next ones in the series.

This book has representation for pansexuals, polyamory, and intersex individuals. Multiple characters are non-white, and several others are sentient, non-human fantasy races.

The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.

This book contains:

past injury (broken arm, healed poorly); past parent death (illness); alcohol use; mentions of animal deaths (for protection and for food); kidnapping, confinement; consensual piercing; physically and mentally harmful past violation of trust; weapon violence (weaponized magic, blades, bow and arrows); mentions of rape, sexual assault, abuses, brutality; racial prejudice (against a fantasy race); mention of past colonization; blood, burns, injuries; drugging/sedation; death; and, vomiting.

Content Warnings

yeah_she_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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