The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
chainsiren's review
adventurous
slow-paced
2.0
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, Grief, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
shcleveland's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I want to start by saying that I mostly enjoyed this book. I read it easily in two sittings. The plot was interesting and kept moving in a way that kept me reading. However. I feel like this book has some issues that perhaps should have been smoothed out prior to publication.
The most notable issue with the book for me was that it seems to have a little bit of an identity crisis. The cover says romantasy or possibly even dark fantasy romance. The blurb gives YA. The book itself reads like a watered-down bodice ripper that canāt decide if it wants to be historical fiction or not.
To the bookās credit, the opening author note does state that it is an alternate universe (AU) and that extreme liberty has been taken with historical fact regarding the British empire and its monarchy. That being said, I donāt think the book does a good job of establishing whatās alternative about the setting right from the start. We eventually learn that various gods from various mythologies are real and people are aware of that butā¦Ā
The world building honestly feels lazy, as if the author couldnāt be bothered to create their own world, but also couldnāt be bothered to research even the most basic facts about Georgian/Regency England. And Iām not just saying that because Iām annoyed about yet more corset slander in a Regency-ish book. Again, for those in the back, most corsets were made for their wearers and were well-fitted, supportive garments that did not restrict the movement of the wearer. The Victorians even had sports corsets! But I digressā¦
This is not to say that AUs, in general, are lazy. AU stories can be great, but they require a deft touch at building that alternate reality that I think this book was missing.
As for the story itself, I really wish the author had leaned further into that pseudo bodice ripper pirate romance vibe. There was some sexual tension on the page, but I think the book could have withstood just a little more heat. Plot-wise, I was really disappointed by the scene involving indigenous peoples on an island that was eye-rollingly stereotypy. And honestly, the book didnāt even need it. It was long enough as it was, and just having them stranded on a deserted island would have been enough. Thatās one part of the old-fashioned bodice ripper vibe I think we need to leave back in 1985.
I have mixed feelings about the twist at the end. It almost, almost had me fooled, which made it very good. But it was also what I was expecting to happen soā¦ I donāt know. Alls well that ends well, I suppose. The epilogue did pique my interest a bit about the next book.
The last thing I want to touch on is the writing. I didnāt really notice any glaring technical or grammatical issues, but it was rather bland in places. There's tight writing, and then there's overly simple writing. This often fell into the latter. Additionally, the decision to call the male lead āCaptain Stoneā at all times was super annoying. I really think the scenes that focused on him should have just said Stone if the author really wanted to avoid using his given name. Itās also inconsistent with how every other character is addressed in prose, so it just felt weird.
All things considered, I donāt think itās a bad book. If you just want some fun high-seas brain candy, itāll do just fine. I think Iāll definitely scratch that itch for a good olā fashioned pirate romance if you donāt mind the random fantasy elements.
The most notable issue with the book for me was that it seems to have a little bit of an identity crisis. The cover says romantasy or possibly even dark fantasy romance. The blurb gives YA. The book itself reads like a watered-down bodice ripper that canāt decide if it wants to be historical fiction or not.
To the bookās credit, the opening author note does state that it is an alternate universe (AU) and that extreme liberty has been taken with historical fact regarding the British empire and its monarchy. That being said, I donāt think the book does a good job of establishing whatās alternative about the setting right from the start. We eventually learn that various gods from various mythologies are real and people are aware of that butā¦Ā
The world building honestly feels lazy, as if the author couldnāt be bothered to create their own world, but also couldnāt be bothered to research even the most basic facts about Georgian/Regency England. And Iām not just saying that because Iām annoyed about yet more corset slander in a Regency-ish book. Again, for those in the back, most corsets were made for their wearers and were well-fitted, supportive garments that did not restrict the movement of the wearer. The Victorians even had sports corsets! But I digressā¦
This is not to say that AUs, in general, are lazy. AU stories can be great, but they require a deft touch at building that alternate reality that I think this book was missing.
As for the story itself, I really wish the author had leaned further into that pseudo bodice ripper pirate romance vibe. There was some sexual tension on the page, but I think the book could have withstood just a little more heat. Plot-wise, I was really disappointed by the scene involving indigenous peoples on an island that was eye-rollingly stereotypy. And honestly, the book didnāt even need it. It was long enough as it was, and just having them stranded on a deserted island would have been enough. Thatās one part of the old-fashioned bodice ripper vibe I think we need to leave back in 1985.
I have mixed feelings about the twist at the end. It almost, almost had me fooled, which made it very good. But it was also what I was expecting to happen soā¦ I donāt know. Alls well that ends well, I suppose. The epilogue did pique my interest a bit about the next book.
The last thing I want to touch on is the writing. I didnāt really notice any glaring technical or grammatical issues, but it was rather bland in places. There's tight writing, and then there's overly simple writing. This often fell into the latter. Additionally, the decision to call the male lead āCaptain Stoneā at all times was super annoying. I really think the scenes that focused on him should have just said Stone if the author really wanted to avoid using his given name. Itās also inconsistent with how every other character is addressed in prose, so it just felt weird.
All things considered, I donāt think itās a bad book. If you just want some fun high-seas brain candy, itāll do just fine. I think Iāll definitely scratch that itch for a good olā fashioned pirate romance if you donāt mind the random fantasy elements.
Moderate: Gore and Violence
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