emmascc's review
3.0
the first half was basically erotica but the second had more plot and relationship development and i enjoyed that a lot more
greylandreviews's review
2.0
2.5 stars
ARC provided for honest review from NetGalley
This one was better than previous one I read but this one was just okay. Nothing really special about this series. Expect for the diversity of characters and sexual orientation.
ARC provided for honest review from NetGalley
This one was better than previous one I read but this one was just okay. Nothing really special about this series. Expect for the diversity of characters and sexual orientation.
hhushaw's review
3.0
An honest review from NetGalley. The connection between the two characters was very well written. Though I wanted more to the story, it felt like it was entirely about sex. The non sex scenes felt forced and lost my interest. The premise of two athletes from different countries could go so far but I felt as if it was limited to just the bedroom, which had me quickly loose interest.
breadedbookpages's review
3.0
The more I think about this the more I dislike it I don't know I like my romances a certain way which is unfair because then nothing outside what I like will appeal to me but this lacked all the things I usually love.
karend's review
3.75
I think it's okay that I jumped in at book four of this series, though it also felt like jumping into the relationship between the two main characters, as they'd already met and had a bit of intimate history before this opens.
lbcecil's review
2.0
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I was really enjoying this novel for at least halfway through. Despite the fact that Maisy and Blaze didn't actually talk for like 30% of the novel as they only had sex, I felt that the characters were both unique individuals, with distinct voices and perspectives.
I really liked Maisy - I liked how reserved she was in every situation outside of the bedroom. There, she wasn't anxious or trying to be the person her parents wanted her to be. She could be herself.
I had a love/hate relationship with Blaze. I liked how confident she was in her sexuality, but I also didn't like how she refused to put herself into other people's shoes and understand their perspective. She was also incredibly selfish. After this scene, my appreciation for this novel decreased and I actively hated Blaze.
Another issue: So I guess you can say I really, really didn't like Blaze, and when you don't like one of the main characters in a novel, you're probably not going to like the rest of the novel, which is what happened here.
The plot was basically Blaze and Maisy hooking up over the course of the Games, and then realising they want a relationship together. But Blaze is poly, which is something Maisy struggles with, and they have to come to a compromise. I'm really appreciative of the fact that we are getting more and more sexual identities being discussed in romance novels.
All in all, I felt that Fire on the Ice was a disappointing novel. I didn't like one of the MCs, and the sex scenes - while great at the start - started to feel robotic and over the top as the first 10 chapters of the novel were dedicated solely to sex scenes and the characters barely talked. I feel that the book had great potential, but I just couldn't overlook these issues.
I was really enjoying this novel for at least halfway through. Despite the fact that Maisy and Blaze didn't actually talk for like 30% of the novel as they only had sex, I felt that the characters were both unique individuals, with distinct voices and perspectives.
I really liked Maisy - I liked how reserved she was in every situation outside of the bedroom. There, she wasn't anxious or trying to be the person her parents wanted her to be. She could be herself.
I had a love/hate relationship with Blaze. I liked how confident she was in her sexuality, but I also didn't like how she refused to put herself into other people's shoes and understand their perspective. She was also incredibly selfish.
Spoiler
There's a scene were she educates Maisy about the stereotypes surrounding bisexual people and really puts her in her place and I was like 'yeah girl!' and then a few pages later, it got really fetishising? Blaze was promising a gossip journalist a "lesbian lip-lock" or a "sex-tape ... with who, I'm not sure, but I'll figure something out." So despite the fact that she knows Maisy is not comfortable talking about her sexuality or sex in general in public, WHICH SHE ACKNOWLEDGES OVER LIKE 3 PAGES, she ignores Maisy's feelings because it will "be good for her image" to have a scandal, and then later kisses her in public, in front of cameras, so she can be the star of a magazine column. That's so gross. I also don't like how she just states that if Maisy wasn't into it - if she were to tell her - then Blaze would just cheat on her and find someone to sleep with and create a scandal. This ain't right.Another issue:
Spoiler
How Blaze doesn't apologise for what she did to Maisy, but rather claims she's "fighting the patriarchy." Like ... what?? Where did that come from? Blaze clearly acknowledges her decision to kiss Maisy in front of cameras was to create a scandal, and then she gaslights Maisy? She completely invalidates Maisy's feelings and turns this into a 'feminist' issue, when it was really Blaze trying to create a scandal because she knew she wasn't going to win at the Games. Not here for that.The plot was basically Blaze and Maisy hooking up over the course of the Games, and then realising they want a relationship together. But Blaze is poly, which is something Maisy struggles with, and they have to come to a compromise. I'm really appreciative of the fact that we are getting more and more sexual identities being discussed in romance novels.
All in all, I felt that Fire on the Ice was a disappointing novel. I didn't like one of the MCs, and the sex scenes - while great at the start - started to feel robotic and over the top as the first 10 chapters of the novel were dedicated solely to sex scenes and the characters barely talked. I feel that the book had great potential, but I just couldn't overlook these issues.
penandpages's review
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Biphobia
marysbookinit's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nikitanavalkar's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Meh. Blaze and Maisy have almost nothing in common except sexual chemistry (which did not really come through for me btw) which would be fine but they hardly even like each other for most of the book even while they fuck each other’s brains out. In fact they have a barely concealed disdain for each other’s pursuits, both athletic and sexual, and the only basis for their whole situationship is convenience and proximity. The sex scenes feel very transactional and even their final making up and HEA feels clinical and as depressing as a dental exam. I’m super sad that this one did not work for me because I typically like the author’s style.