redhairedashreads's review against another edition
5.0
Trigger Warnings: references to the death of a parent; unexplained illness; grief and depression;
Graphic: Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
trayslays's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
_isabel_'s review against another edition
3.5
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.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Xenophobia
alisoun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
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.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
pawtory's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, and Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, and Gaslighting
bimeariver's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
cluckieduck's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Gun violence, Death of parent, Cursing, Confinement, Classism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
greystory's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Drug use, and Homophobia
krisalexcole's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Racism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gun violence
junisreading's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia