shaipanda's review
- 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
I loved Luz Alana and Evan together and just generally everything abt this book was amazinggg - ugh the chemistry holy shit so good
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Sexual violence
chailady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content
kshertz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Colonisation, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
juliana_reads'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
100_pages_hr'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
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, and Sexual content
booktechnerd's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content
carbs666's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
My main issue with this book is that it does a lot of telling instead of showing. The first few chapters felt a bit like a lore dump, and there are lots of moments in the book where the narrative is like "btw this happened and here's how the characters felt about it." I understand why this choice was made on a logistical level, because this book covers a lot of ground geographically and in terms of plot, but it did take me out of the narrative and leave me wanting a bit.
That said, I really enjoyed all the characters, and it was clear that even the sidekicks of this book have hidden depths that I am looking forward to exploring in the upcoming additions to the series! The setting could have been a bit richer in general, but there are some moments where locations or dress are described that are beautifully evocative. The sex was excellent and I really enjoyed the way the marriage of convenience trope is handled here - I'm a sucker for all parties being in love with each other but afraid to say it. I also appreciated that when Evan needed to come clean to Luz he did, and instead of it devolving into a black moment he and Luz were able to join forces to confront the problem without sweeping the impact of Evan's previous lies under the rug.
Absolutely worth mentioning is the expert way that Herrera forces all her characters to confront the realities of a white supremacists, patriarchal society without making them dim their shine or compromise on their values. I loved how Herrera brought to life on the page the historical reality of a diverse and innovative European culture in the late 1800s.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse
astropova'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
3.75
Spoiler
I feel like the fact that they were already attracted to each other and making out and stuff kind of undercuts the marriage of convenience idea. Like "we're attracted to each other but no we're definitely not in love, what are you talking about, this is purely a business arrangement" was a bit odd.Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
Minor: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury
Abandonment - references to character's past. Fire - off-screen arson/fires set on buildingsSpoiler
but no people are harmed.zozierose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Racism
kbairbooks's review
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Mental illness