_isabel_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5
I really don't know how to rate this. So yeah. I loved most of it, but I despised a good chunk of it too.
Maybe "despised" is the wrong word, but Lily Mayne chose a few tropes that, in my world, have no place in a romance novel.
But yeah.
First of all, the good:
The first 60% of "Lor" was absolutely lovely. A bit slow maybe, but I still loved it.
I adored the monster world setting: it was so fascinating and so clever.
I also loved the whole cast of main and side characters. I admit, Jugs remained a bit underdeveloped as a MC because most of the story is told through Lor's POV and because of *insert spoilery, despicable trope here* reasons.
Lor was a wonderful protagonist though and I LOVED him: he's so sweet and insecure and shy and endearing and lovely. I loved being in his head.
And all the side characters? Absolutely iconic. Lyri already owns my soul and I cannot wait to read his book and discover his adventures and how, precisely, he ends up meeting Cat. All the other characters were equally precious! We meet a lot of new monster species too, and I wonder about a certain sneaky, giant, warmongering bastard.
I also loved seeing the monster apocalypse from the monster's world point of view and I'm so excited to see what will happen after that last chapter.
Why 3.5 stars then?
If there's one thing I despise in my romances is
I hate it so, so much. It makes me angry, frustrated and unspeakably sad.
Lor spends THIRTY YEARS without Jugs, because he's in a stasis, TEN YEARS without Lyri and I hated every moment. It was so, so unfair and so cruel.
I understand that, from a series-wide plot point of view, it makes sense. This way, Lor and Jugs' story joins up with the rest of the monstrous couples' stories and especially, Lyri and Cat's. But I still hated it. I skimmed a good 30% of the book: I couldn't wait to be finished. So yeah, that was disappointing.
I still loved good chunks of "Lor", and of course, the last few chapters where we finally get to witness their much-awaited HEA.
I'm still BEYOND excited to read Lyri's book: I honestly can't wait, especially considering what happens in that last chapter.
Maybe "despised" is the wrong word, but Lily Mayne chose a few tropes that, in my world, have no place in a romance novel.
But yeah.
First of all, the good:
The first 60% of "Lor" was absolutely lovely. A bit slow maybe, but I still loved it.
I adored the monster world setting: it was so fascinating and so clever.
I also loved the whole cast of main and side characters. I admit, Jugs remained a bit underdeveloped as a MC because most of the story is told through Lor's POV and because of *insert spoilery, despicable trope here* reasons.
Lor was a wonderful protagonist though and I LOVED him: he's so sweet and insecure and shy and endearing and lovely. I loved being in his head.
And all the side characters? Absolutely iconic. Lyri already owns my soul and I cannot wait to read his book and discover his adventures and how, precisely, he ends up meeting Cat. All the other characters were equally precious! We meet a lot of new monster species too, and I wonder about a certain sneaky, giant, warmongering bastard.
I also loved seeing the monster apocalypse from the monster's world point of view and I'm so excited to see what will happen after that last chapter.
Why 3.5 stars then?
If there's one thing I despise in my romances is
Spoiler
time jumps and the agonizingly horrific "seperated for years and years because of *reasons*" trope.I hate it so, so much. It makes me angry, frustrated and unspeakably sad.
Lor spends THIRTY YEARS without Jugs, because he's in a stasis, TEN YEARS without Lyri and I hated every moment. It was so, so unfair and so cruel.
I understand that, from a series-wide plot point of view, it makes sense. This way, Lor and Jugs' story joins up with the rest of the monstrous couples' stories and especially, Lyri and Cat's. But I still hated it. I skimmed a good 30% of the book: I couldn't wait to be finished. So yeah, that was disappointing.
I still loved good chunks of "Lor", and of course, the last few chapters where we finally get to witness their much-awaited HEA.
I'm still BEYOND excited to read Lyri's book: I honestly can't wait, especially considering what happens in that last chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Xenophobia
alisoun's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Ok so there will be so many spoilers in my review. Please don't spoil yourself this story - it's a good, tense, emotional journey that I really enjoyed going into blind. Remember Lily always gives a HEA!
I will say this wasn't quite what I expected. I thought Lor was going to be my favourite book, especially at the start! But I felt like Lor and Jugs' relationship never actually got to the good deep solid place I wanted them to get to.
This book definitely felt more like a set up for the rest of the series than a solid story of Lor and Jugs' relationship that I was seeking. I loved that it was set in the monster world however. It was refreshing to have a dual POV in this series (obvs loved it in Moth too). I am VERY excited for the next on the series (Lyri's!!!!).
Overall i was just seeking something more in this book. Obvs it's soooo long but I felt like the early days of Lor and Jugs was overly featured and I didn't actually see them develop a proper relationship beyond sex, and new sex for both of them, which I felt the previous books did better.
I adored that Lor, the monster, was the smol one!!
I very much enjoyed the world building of Linir, the port city Lor rules, and seeing different species. It had fairly good political intrigue as well.
I will say this wasn't quite what I expected. I thought Lor was going to be my favourite book, especially at the start! But I felt like Lor and Jugs' relationship never actually got to the good deep solid place I wanted them to get to.
Spoiler
Especially before Jugs went into a coma for THIRTY YEARS. like idk how Lor or Jugs are going to deal with that trauma that I don't feel was properly dealt with. Like yes Jugs cried for a day but holy hell. What a different world to wake up to.This book definitely felt more like a set up for the rest of the series than a solid story of Lor and Jugs' relationship that I was seeking. I loved that it was set in the monster world however. It was refreshing to have a dual POV in this series (obvs loved it in Moth too). I am VERY excited for the next on the series (Lyri's!!!!).
Overall i was just seeking something more in this book. Obvs it's soooo long but I felt like the early days of Lor and Jugs was overly featured and I didn't actually see them develop a proper relationship beyond sex, and new sex for both of them, which I felt the previous books did better.
I adored that Lor, the monster, was the smol one!!
I very much enjoyed the world building of Linir, the port city Lor rules, and seeing different species. It had fairly good political intrigue as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
greystory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Since reading it, the Monstrous series has been the golden standard by which all other series, fantasy, and monster romances are compared. "Sure I enjoyed this book, but was it as good as the Monstrous series?" That might be unfair, given how masterful Lily Mayne's writing is and how well she does... everything. Any faults that could be argued for are minor and I love that she considers reader feedback. If I ever write anything, if it's even half as good as this series, I'd be pleased and proud and happy with that. I cannot express how much I love this series and this world and these characters. It feels so, so real like Lily Mayne isn't making up a story but rather documenting and sharing these incredible stories she has access to from some privileged peek into their world.
This isn't a review of Lor. I can't. It's too much. I haven't reviewed any of them in the series but I plan to reread the series before Lyri and maybe do a proper review then. Said reviews are probably going to be a wall of me gushing about how much I love everything.
This isn't a review of Lor. I can't. It's too much. I haven't reviewed any of them in the series but I plan to reread the series before Lyri and maybe do a proper review then. Said reviews are probably going to be a wall of me gushing about how much I love everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Drug use, and Homophobia
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