Reviews

Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Fox

missawn's review

3.0

There are things that I really liked about this book and others that I found disappointing. What is excellent is without a doubt the writing! It is really beautifully written with some achingly lovely phrases and descriptions that make the time/place come vividly alive. That I loved ... a lot ...

However, the story dragged on a bit for me (middle to end) and would have benefited from tighter pace and a little less melodramatics. Also, much as I came to love the two MCs (Cai and Fen) ... there was something a little one dimensional about them. Cai "the saint" who is "loved by all" (literally!), and Fen his "infallibly adoring warrior". Fen in particular troubled me -- how quickly he was willing to give up his life, family, kingdom ... everything basically ... and only after a few short weeks. The sudden turn from murderous hatred to utter devotion was ... well ... sudden. And not wholly believable ... unless you considered Stockholm syndrome or some similar infatuation which then detracts from the story. Because I did not feel the same powerful connection between the two, I felt the story's tension suffered a bit because of it.

However, at the same time I also felt that the book contains an subtle but important message. I could not help but stand in awe at how masterfully the author handled the complex and imaginative weaving of the early christian church, homosexuality/love, knowledge/power, belonging/place, the concept of "the other", and what it means to be human into one powerfully beautiful book. I just wish the love story at its core was stronger and the pacing tighter ... and it is for this reason its hard to rate the book ... the writing is easily 5+ stars ... but due to the unfortunate shortfalls discussed above, I'd probably rate it a very reluctant 3.5 stars. It is definitely a worthy read just for the language and the lovely messaging that it contains ...

This is my first book by this author and I definitely plan on reading more of her books in the near future ...

fishyla's review

4.0

So I have never been able to pinpoint the feelings I have whenever I close a Harper Fox's book.


Some parts were so uncomfortable for me to read personally, I was tempted to just give up and forget the whole book.


Some parts were so beautiful and heartrending, I wanted to weep.



So yeah, highly recommended with a small p.s. to those having the same problem:

PERSEVERE BABES.

feelsnotbrains's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

sanukipityreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced

5.0

domtheknight's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is one of the most unusual romances I've read and I did love it. It's really for real enemies to lovers (when they meet, one of them stabs the other because they're on opposite sides of a battle!) and yet they do absolutely come together. I cried. There's some real heart breaking stuff in this book - it doesn't shy away from hard parts of life in early medieval times, or from struggles and arguments within the church. I've already recommended it to multiple people.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Suicide

meggiemine's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

lolatarantula's review

3.0

I'm putting this one at a 3.5 for various reasons. I still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre.

I had pretty high hopes for this after reading Seven Summer Nights and I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but it was a little lackluster in comparison. Still recommend it, but not as highly as the former. Don't get me wrong, characters were well developed, plot was engaging, but I think I just found the setting less interesting than the last. Again, I wish the magical elements were explained or built upon more.

Spoilers for this AND Seven Summer Nights ahead.

Spoiler

Finally, having only read two of Harper Fox's books I've noticed a consistency between the two. I don't know if this is a common thing or not but it sort of rubs me a little bit wrong if that's the case. Harper Fox gives her characters a HEA, which I love. Full stop. However, in both of these novels she straight up erases a disability or physical ailment, or some other intrinsic trait before doing so. It's odd and feels off. I love a happily ever after as much as the next person, but I can't help but feel as though there's a mental block here that's somehow equating disability or infirmity with unhappiness. In Seven Summer Nights especially I found the whole 'trans guy finds love but only after magically transforming into a dude' thing uncomfortable but I really couldn't figure out exactly what it was until now. That's a bad path to walk and I'd like to see one of these end with the characters' physical state not getting in the way of their happiness. I know Fox has the capacity to write flawed characters looking after one another, so I hope deus ex machining character's suffering away isn't her go to plot device for wrapping things up. Anyway, one shouldn't rely on miracles to write happy endings.

rknitss's review

not for me at this time.

slee907's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

flosneverendingbookshelf's review against another edition

reading too much at the same time, might pick up again later.