agnesbebon's review
3.75
3.75
The things I loved about this book, I really loved. The things I disliked about this book, I strongly disliked.
Kennedy Ryan write romances beautifully. Nobody is doing it like her. However, I did find my attention drifting sometimes more than others. One of the things I strongly disliked was the ending. I wanted more. There was also definitely A Lot going on in this, but I found it engaging, entertaining, and well written.
The things I loved about this book, I really loved. The things I disliked about this book, I strongly disliked.
Kennedy Ryan write romances beautifully. Nobody is doing it like her. However, I did find my attention drifting sometimes more than others. One of the things I strongly disliked was the ending. I wanted more. There was also definitely A Lot going on in this, but I found it engaging, entertaining, and well written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Death, and Genocide
emfass's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
3.25
This picks up immediately at the cliffhanger that left us hanging at the end of The Kingmaker. I think that maybe I just am not a huge fan of romantic suspense. Small spoilers here: I don't like characters' lives being in danger, I don't like solving things with guns, I don't like characters being under threat of violence as a source of conflict throughout the book. I'm learning it's just NOT my thing. I also didn't think the motivation/characterization of the bad guy was especially compelling, which made it feel like it was a plot line solely to raise stakes and make our main characters squirm, instead of adding to the story. It wasn't what I wanted for Lennix and Maxim: I loved the first book, and this one felt really different in tone and scope.
While I appreciated many of the political, awareness-raising things this book had to say, there were multiple moments where the way it was included felt preachy/hit you over the head with it, and it irritated me and took me out of the story. NOT to say these things shouldn't be included in a story, but it was the way they were included: there were so many of them that didn't really have to do with the scene or the moment, and felt dropped in as an educational soundbite .
I did grow to love the way this couple dealt with obstacles. They fought and reconciled like mature adults, they came up against difficult things but always supported one another and found their way through together. They love each other so damn much and Ryan made that anchor rock-solid throughout their story. Lennix and Maxim were so clear in their characterization and I grew really attached to them. Kennedy Ryan is an incredible writer, especially around the emotional lives of her two main characters.
Spoiler
And the turn of events halfway through the book that changes the course of the story didn't sit well with me, either.While I appreciated many of the political, awareness-raising things this book had to say, there were multiple moments where the way it was included felt preachy/hit you over the head with it, and it irritated me and took me out of the story. NOT to say these things shouldn't be included in a story, but it was the way they were included: there were so many of them that didn't really have to do with the scene or the moment, and felt dropped in as an educational soundbite .
I did grow to love the way this couple dealt with obstacles. They fought and reconciled like mature adults, they came up against difficult things but always supported one another and found their way through together. They love each other so damn much and Ryan made that anchor rock-solid throughout their story. Lennix and Maxim were so clear in their characterization and I grew really attached to them. Kennedy Ryan is an incredible writer, especially around the emotional lives of her two main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
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