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madamenovelist's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia and Alcohol
Minor: Torture and War
aryc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Although I had a hard time getting caught up in the story at first because I felt like the events happened too fast and I couldn't identify with the main character, in the chapters after her arrival in Midscape and her relationship with Eldas improved the story a lot. Even though the ending was almost predictable, I liked how it unfolded. Also, I loved the secondary characters (Harrow, Willow, Rinni, and much more Hook 💜🤭).
Easy to read with average character diversity, and ideal to start with the fantasy genre 📚🧝♂️👸🌺💓
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Animal death
itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
- I felt the book itself could have been a bit longer to develop the romance slightly more. It feels a bit rushed to the point I managed to predict when the main couple would kiss 3 pages before it actually happened.
- The magic system is very vague and apart from "oh x species can do y magic" I don't really know how it works. Also this is a personal gripe but I feel like the fae and elf magic types should have been swapped around seeing how
rituamancy is the magic that ends up saving the day . - The use of modern day idioms and such took me out. Specifically Willow and some of the other characters calling Hook "the goodest boy".
- Everyone needs to stop chuckling and smirking so much in response to anything mildly amusing!
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping
acogna's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Drug abuse
lycaenide's review against another edition
- 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
See full rating breakdown below:
Characters: 8/10
I did really like both lead characters, and liked the side characters for the most part too. I would have loved to see stronger differences in character voices, as some did seem to blend together into a few archetypes. Higher score because of Hook, for sure.
Atmosphere: 9/10
Really enjoyed the setting of a grand castle, greenhouse, and the occasional atmospheric jaunts around the non human realm. Lovely mentions of plants too.
Writing style: 7/10
Very easy to read and not put down. But I found the pacing fluctuated, with some events being described in a sentence where it felt like it could have benefited from more.
Plot: 8/10
Strong "find a solution before the time runs out" combined with arranged marriage/close proximity trope. The addition of herbalism/gardening was a nice touch.
Intrigue: 8/10
I was definitely invested and needed to find out what happened, even if it was a little confusing and convoluted.
Logic: 6/10
Logic and continuity let this book down a little. Also the plot would lead us to a revelation, dangle a tid bit then not reach a conclusion. Revelations were delivered in a confusing way, making them feel anticlimactic.
Enjoyment: 8/10
Altogether I did really enjoy this. Would have rated it higher in enjoyment but the sex scenes were all in veiled language and cutaways, which aren't my preference.
Overall rating: 7.71/10
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Toxic friendship
kiwifay's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body horror and Bullying
januaryt123's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
bookhoarderbea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Kidnapping
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Sexism, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, and Pregnancy