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trina_k's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Too fast paced. I’m a sucker for a slow burner especially with smut. However this book was confusing due to sexual assault and overall made it an uncomfortable read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
squinn's review
Not happening. I have no issue with pretty much anything in books between consenting adults. This book's first 18+ scene wasn't consensual, AT ALL. Trying to make sexual assault acceptable and "sexy"? No bloody thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
saramackenzi's review
dark
fast-paced
2.0
Okay, so it is very important that you know this is an Adult Erotica book. I read some other reviews and some people didn’t seem to know what they were getting into. Even though I think after reading the description you can start to get an idea, let me just repeat what this story is. Novalee was just 12 years old when her parents died and her uncle made this deal. At 18 she goes to the island as the brotherhoods virgin queen and must stay with each of the 12 brothers for one month. After 12 months her uncle will AUCTION her off to the brothers. While she must remain a virgin until after the auction, that doesn’t mean the brothers won’t have their way with her until then. Within the first 3 chapters, there is a scene that has dubious consent. While Novalee eventually consents and enjoys the scene, many reviewers would consider this rape (oral). This was the first book and while the book has a lot of dark themes, I don’t think it was too dark.
Now the characters. . . I was a bit shocked at how quickly Novalee was at saying she was falling for one of the characters. . . I’m pretty sure it was still the first day of her being on the island. I feel like this is a bit of Stockholm syndrome and that it will continue as the months go on. The first brother that gets Novalee is Liam Castle and he reminds me a bit like Christian Grey. The way James wrote his lines has a lot of similarities to how Christians were written.
One of my big issues was the length of the “book.” It was only 84 pages long and feels as if it was just a section of a book. Because of how short this book was the character-building and world-building were a bit overlooked or rushed. On Amazon, there is a Season 1 version of the Zodiac Queen series that includes Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. I feel like it wouldn’t be worth it to buy each individual book because of how short each of them is but would possibly be worth it to buy the 3 together in 1.
Now onto the worldbuilding. There was practically none and what there was just made me confused. At first, I thought this was taking place hundreds of years ago because Novalee is the queen of a kingdom but then her parents were killed in a plane accident. After I realized her parents were killed in a plane crash I thought maybe it was a different world but with the same technology but then Amelia Earhart’s name was mentioned and I was just confused. As I stated previously the little worldbuilding could just be due to how short the first book is and perhaps we will get more worldbuilding.
I really like the concept of this book and I’ll at least continue until the next book. I just wish they were a bit longer since I would prefer not to buy each one separately. The next book, Virgo, comes out in December which will make 6 books so perhaps there will be a “Season 2” and books 4-6 will be combined. I debated between rating this book a 2 or 3 but because I’m not a big fan of the main character or the world yet I’m intrigued by the story concept I decided on a 2.5. This book just really reminds me of a story I could read on Wattpad.
Now the characters. . . I was a bit shocked at how quickly Novalee was at saying she was falling for one of the characters. . . I’m pretty sure it was still the first day of her being on the island. I feel like this is a bit of Stockholm syndrome and that it will continue as the months go on. The first brother that gets Novalee is Liam Castle and he reminds me a bit like Christian Grey. The way James wrote his lines has a lot of similarities to how Christians were written.
One of my big issues was the length of the “book.” It was only 84 pages long and feels as if it was just a section of a book. Because of how short this book was the character-building and world-building were a bit overlooked or rushed. On Amazon, there is a Season 1 version of the Zodiac Queen series that includes Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. I feel like it wouldn’t be worth it to buy each individual book because of how short each of them is but would possibly be worth it to buy the 3 together in 1.
Now onto the worldbuilding. There was practically none and what there was just made me confused. At first, I thought this was taking place hundreds of years ago because Novalee is the queen of a kingdom but then her parents were killed in a plane accident. After I realized her parents were killed in a plane crash I thought maybe it was a different world but with the same technology but then Amelia Earhart’s name was mentioned and I was just confused. As I stated previously the little worldbuilding could just be due to how short the first book is and perhaps we will get more worldbuilding.
I really like the concept of this book and I’ll at least continue until the next book. I just wish they were a bit longer since I would prefer not to buy each one separately. The next book, Virgo, comes out in December which will make 6 books so perhaps there will be a “Season 2” and books 4-6 will be combined. I debated between rating this book a 2 or 3 but because I’m not a big fan of the main character or the world yet I’m intrigued by the story concept I decided on a 2.5. This book just really reminds me of a story I could read on Wattpad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
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