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smuttymcbookface's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Although this has been my least favourite of the books so far (and not because of who the characters are), Claire Kent has, as always, done an amazing job of developing a romance so real that you can almost feel it as you read it.
With the taboo of their connection to each other, Cal being the father of Rachel's (now dead) boyfriend, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to root for these two. But, as always, I do.
The relationship is developed slowly, over so many years that it's easy to picture why these two would gravitate together. They provide safety, security and happiness for each other in an awful world. It's frustrating reading about the sexually frustrated and well-communicating Rachel get turned down and stone-walled. It was even harder to read about how she felt like she had to walk around eggshells just so she wouldn't be emotionally cut off. And although you can, in a sense, understand why Cal is doing this, it works wonderfully in to normalise their relationship in your head.
Third act breakups are something I typically struggle with. It's hard to believe that a main character able to walk out on their love interest can really provide a happy ever after. And it was even harder in this scenario where Rachel communicated her feelings perfectly, opening up, and Cal still chose to leave her the night after admitting her was considering it. And although I still didn't like it here, I felt I could understand the reasonings behind it.
My biggest hang up with Embers is that some of their dialogue didn't feel genuine to me. I appreciated the openness of Rachel, and that it needed to be this way for us to be comfortable that she's just as in control of the relationship as Cal is, but that meant that their conversations felt like plot points at time.
With the taboo of their connection to each other, Cal being the father of Rachel's (now dead) boyfriend, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to root for these two. But, as always, I do.
The relationship is developed slowly, over so many years that it's easy to picture why these two would gravitate together. They provide safety, security and happiness for each other in an awful world. It's frustrating reading about the sexually frustrated and well-communicating Rachel get turned down and stone-walled. It was even harder to read about how she felt like she had to walk around eggshells just so she wouldn't be emotionally cut off. And although you can, in a sense, understand why Cal is doing this, it works wonderfully in to normalise their relationship in your head.
Third act breakups are something I typically struggle with. It's hard to believe that a main character able to walk out on their love interest can really provide a happy ever after. And it was even harder in this scenario where Rachel communicated her feelings perfectly, opening up, and Cal still chose to leave her the night after admitting her was considering it. And although I still didn't like it here, I felt I could understand the reasonings behind it.
My biggest hang up with Embers is that some of their dialogue didn't feel genuine to me. I appreciated the openness of Rachel, and that it needed to be this way for us to be comfortable that she's just as in control of the relationship as Cal is, but that meant that their conversations felt like plot points at time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
lotte5322's review
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
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