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witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The vampire lore and the mysterious tensions are intriquing, giving strength to the worldbuilding around the romance – the romance being the main plot. The story is entertaining, though I struggled a lot to come to terms with the huge status imbalances between the main characters; I'm not sure if I can wholeheartedly root for them becoming a couple because of this. The rest of my review will be rambling/reasoning about this imbalance.
The romance relies very heavily on the trope of forbidden romance and a premise of an inexperienced human woman learning about her romantic and sexual likes with a centuries old, very experienced immortal man. This premise puts these two in a very imbalanced relationship, especially when it is paired with a huge financial imbalance as well: she is struggling with crippling debt and he is "richer than God", as she puts it. The potential threats or red flags in this kind of setting are mentioned by Thea's roommate, but only briefly, and Thea chooses to ignore them. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, since the clear hint to a billionaire romance is in the title of the book. But does the experience/financial status need to be flaunted so much without pondering the imbalance between the main characters? Perhaps it is needed for the plot to be able to strongarm the allure in the relationship to be in the forefront and to make the vampire society's norms to be the aspect that makes the relationship forbidden, instead of theforbiddenness coming from imbalanced status.
I wish, though, that these premise issues got more room in the plot alongside the societal struggles. The imbalanced premises of the relationship make the experienced, rich party hold all the power in the relationship, making it very hard for the other one to stand up for herself if there ever is a need for it. Even though there is specualtion about amate bond between them that could even things out a little, I still find this kind of power imbalance in a romantic setting unsettling for all the potential to strip the "weaker" party from any real agency, and even putting them in the potential harm's way, if the relationship turns sour. The experience and financial status come around in the plot much more than the vampire society's norms, so it would be good to address them more as well.
The romance relies very heavily on the trope of forbidden romance and a premise of an inexperienced human woman learning about her romantic and sexual likes with a centuries old, very experienced immortal man. This premise puts these two in a very imbalanced relationship, especially when it is paired with a huge financial imbalance as well: she is struggling with crippling debt and he is "richer than God", as she puts it. The potential threats or red flags in this kind of setting are mentioned by Thea's roommate, but only briefly, and Thea chooses to ignore them. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, since the clear hint to a billionaire romance is in the title of the book. But does the experience/financial status need to be flaunted so much without pondering the imbalance between the main characters? Perhaps it is needed for the plot to be able to strongarm the allure in the relationship to be in the forefront and to make the vampire society's norms to be the aspect that makes the relationship forbidden, instead of theforbiddenness coming from imbalanced status.
I wish, though, that these premise issues got more room in the plot alongside the societal struggles. The imbalanced premises of the relationship make the experienced, rich party hold all the power in the relationship, making it very hard for the other one to stand up for herself if there ever is a need for it. Even though there is specualtion about a
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer and Alcohol
Minor: Kidnapping and Pregnancy
katerina_l's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
elketjhee's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoilers!
Julian I like. Thea... She is a weirdo ... Like why are you so heartbroken someone doesn't want to eat you?
As a slow burn fan this passionate love after only two days seems fast. The vampire obsession Julian had I get. It's the smell ... But Thea she seems to have fallen so easily. I would like to have seen the shift from finding him a hot vampire to lover to "oh damn he is my mate'" gone one for a little longer.
But let's be honest I too would instantly be in love with Julian.
Also, I have an imaginative imagination and Julian is like one of the hottest male characters I have imagined. I can't wait on the struggle it will be to draw him later
Julian I like. Thea... She is a weirdo ... Like why are you so heartbroken someone doesn't want to eat you?
As a slow burn fan this passionate love after only two days seems fast. The vampire obsession Julian had I get. It's the smell ... But Thea she seems to have fallen so easily. I would like to have seen the shift from finding him a hot vampire to lover to "oh damn he is my mate'" gone one for a little longer.
But let's be honest I too would instantly be in love with Julian.
Also, I have an imaginative imagination and Julian is like one of the hottest male characters I have imagined. I can't wait on the struggle it will be to draw him later
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Cancer, Medical content, and Classism
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
DUDE. Dude. This was so much fun!! All I can say is that if you like grumpy sunshine, mates, vampires, or fake dating this is for you. I don’t have time to say anything else because I already own book two and I need to read it right now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
daisdu's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was frustrating for me. The focus on virginity was weird and uncomfy but largely ignorable. My main issue is that it ended with an unhappy cliffhanger. This honestly felt like a cheap trick to make me read the next book. It's working on me, but I don't appreciate it. This is more irritating for me because ending it just about a chapter earlier would give it, if not a happy ending, at least a hopeful one, and the last chapter could have been at the start of book 2. The writing comes off as a bit fanfic-y for me. It feels like it was written in order, coming up with the plot as it goes along, with minimal revisions to the earlier sections, leaving it without any strong throughline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Classism
kaadee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m so upset for Thea. She deserves everything in the world and this dusty crusty MAN can’t give it to her. She’s literally working 2 jobs, going to school AND taking care of her mom who has cancer. That man just waltzed in and ruined everything.
I hate men.
I hate men.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer
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