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wardenred's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
4.25
I can’t believe I just made out with a king.
I love how different this book is from the rest of the series. It’s proper dual POV! It takes place in the monster world! It is, in big part, a prequel! Such a breath of fresh air, and yet still without a doubt part of the big overarching story. I really enjoyed looking at the whole “portals opening, worlds colliding“ situation from the other side, as well as generally getting a better sense of what’s life like among the monsters. It was fun to have it sort of tied to the events from that one novella earlier in the series , in a way that completely recontextualizes some of the things stated there. It often makes fictional worlds feel more real to me when the same events/situations/objects get interpreted differently by different characters.
The romance here isn’t perhaps my favorite in the series, but I’ve definitely enjoyed it. I loved how the language barrier between Lor and Jugs was handled, this was my favorite part. Lily Mayne has a real knack, I feel, for putting her characters in situations where they literally can’t communicate and then having them get through it and start talking anyway. The note exchanges between Gloam and Rig, the whole deal with Seraph and Lilac, now this—and because the situations and the solutions are so varied, it never feels repetitive. I also really liked how, in a book written in English, the author made English sound foreign in certain scenes. My other favorite parts include Jug's’s scenes in the human world with all the 1980s vibes and family troubles and some pretty awesome people he found there—I hope they made it through the apocalypse. And also, that semi-subtle retelling element in the second half? Loved it and how it broke my heart.
The plotting could be a bit tighter—this is a big story, but 600+ pages seem excessive. There were entire plot threads that showed up and disappeared for ages only to spring up again seemingly out of the blue. I do think most of them came together neatly enough by the end. At least the ones that focused on Lor. With the ones that focused on Jugs, I have questions. I also have hope that maybe, just maybe the answers lay in the next book, and I think I’ll be stalking the author’s website obsessively waiting for news about it. I loved Lyri so much here, I want to know his story! And I want to get to know Cat at last! Between this book and Moth, there’s so much teasing about the two of them and how that overarching plot resolves, I just can’t handle it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol
goldensisyphus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
_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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
pawtory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I adored these 2 cinnamon roll characters and their story, as I have all of the Monstrous series. It definitely had me giggling as well as bawling. And didn't feel as long as it was bc I could barely put it down. By the end, this one more than any of the others has made me NEED the next book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
aromarrie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
to be written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
cluckieduck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another amazing read from Lily Mayne - queen of the monsters.
How, Lily? How?? How do you keep coming up with new and inventive ways to rip our hearts out and piece them together so amazingly?
The fact that this was supposed to be a cute little novella and turned into this behemoth of a story, yet none of it felt drawn out without purpose - bravo.
RTC
How, Lily? How?? How do you keep coming up with new and inventive ways to rip our hearts out and piece them together so amazingly?
The fact that this was supposed to be a cute little novella and turned into this behemoth of a story, yet none of it felt drawn out without purpose - bravo.
RTC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and War
krisalexcole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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