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madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
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
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was such a fun stand alone fantasy book. I really enjoyed how the writer built this world so quickly but effectively.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Minor: Death
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic friendship
midnightmoon_dreamer's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
pitoufas_bookish_corner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? No
5.0
I've heard friends share praise about this book since I first joined bookstagram, and for so long, I've been waiting to read it. Luckily, I found out the library had the whole series in audiobook format, made by GraphicAudio and let me tell you...it truly felt like watching a movie eyes closed 😍❤ needless to say I enjoyed it all from start to finish ❤❤❤ Elise Kova is another new author to me, but I was sure I'd end up loving the book based on all the good feedback I came across, and marriage of convenience being the LEADING trope on my favorite tropes' list!
The author's writing style really had me immersed in from the very beginning. I loved Luella's will and determination to repay the town's people for all the help they were able to provide her. Her character was extremely caring and empathetic, and she used her knowledge in herbology to help treat her the ill. But Luella was not only kind, she was also brave and unafraid to dirty her hands for the sake of her loved ones if deemed necessary.
I loved the way the relationship blossomed between her and Eldas, the Elf king feared by all and believed to be the embodiment of cruelty and omen of dark hours. Of course, he was more than what meets the eye, but it took several heated arguments and quarrels to have a glimpse past his icy exterior. The man was not the greatest at expressing his feelings and emotions, but just like Luella, he cared — deeply — about the faith of the world as they knew it.
It was absolutely fascinating to learn about all of the intricacies, the beautifully detailed history, all the different characters, creatures and locations which gave shape to an elaborate universe ❤ I do not read fantasy books as often as I'd wish for, but I become beyond enthralled whenever I pick up a similar story that consumes me until the very last page.
The author's writing style really had me immersed in from the very beginning. I loved Luella's will and determination to repay the town's people for all the help they were able to provide her. Her character was extremely caring and empathetic, and she used her knowledge in herbology to help treat her the ill. But Luella was not only kind, she was also brave and unafraid to dirty her hands for the sake of her loved ones if deemed necessary.
I loved the way the relationship blossomed between her and Eldas, the Elf king feared by all and believed to be the embodiment of cruelty and omen of dark hours. Of course, he was more than what meets the eye, but it took several heated arguments and quarrels to have a glimpse past his icy exterior. The man was not the greatest at expressing his feelings and emotions, but just like Luella, he cared — deeply — about the faith of the world as they knew it.
It was absolutely fascinating to learn about all of the intricacies, the beautifully detailed history, all the different characters, creatures and locations which gave shape to an elaborate universe ❤ I do not read fantasy books as often as I'd wish for, but I become beyond enthralled whenever I pick up a similar story that consumes me until the very last page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Everything--worldbuilding, plot, characters, relationships, you name it--was really underdeveloped, the pace dragged, and the writing was mediocre at best. I liked the herbalism and the wolf, but not much else.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content
tguccione's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
kasena's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Moderate: Violence
itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
I'm surprised I ended up liking this as much as I did considering I'm not normally one to reach for romantic fantasy books. It's by no means anything groundbreaking but if you're looking to get into the genre it's a solid pick. Now, as usual, here's a list of things that made me rate it so lowly if I supposedly liked it:
- 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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement