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chocokinoko's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming
hapalyn's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
The banter between characters is so fun and good, and I think the author clearly highlights things that are so appreciated in literature. Her writing clearly showcases consent and nuance, and I think it's really refreshing when it comes to communication in that way. There's some other miscommunication and other minorly irritating things, but it is a trilogy and I expect to see it cleared up in the future.
I think the magic hasn't been fleshed out much, but I think we'll see more of that in the rest of the trilogy.
I think the magic hasn't been fleshed out much, but I think we'll see more of that in the rest of the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War
pineapplerain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Sexual harassment
boydgirl's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit
xapoptosisx's review against another edition
dark
tense
- 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
I sorely underestimated this book going into it. I am feeling alot of emotions rn but the female rage in this book was delicious and the mmc was beautiful. The characters are amazing the world building is great. I had no idea this was part if an entire verse but once I've finished this trilogy I'm going back and reading everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Rape, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
leasasaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a great book. It dealt with a lot of very heavy topics and dark themes. It explored and showed so much typical fantasy romance novels don't really venture into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming and Alcohol
zias'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? It's complicated
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and often found myself telling myself “one more chapter” for several chapters at a time - such a page turner. I loved Kat’s development throughout this book and the building of female rage that I hope to see more of in the following books. I loved the characters, the plot, and the twists and turns of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming
koistyfishy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 Orrery Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5
This book is the literal definition of why I love fantasy romance and prefer fantasy romance to contemporary. It had everything that your girl wants and needs in a book. There was tension. There was magic, there was angst...It was just so good!
The tropes in this are not too bad either 😏
▶ <s>Enemies</s> Hate to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Fake Relationship
▶ One Bed
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Who Did This To You...
▶ Morally Gray MMC
▶ Human X Fae Relationship
▶ HE'S A FUCKING SHADOW DADDY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
I adored this. It just played into that romantic catnip that gets me excited. This first-person POV book follows Kat, a noblewoman estranged from her husband, trying to keep her (husband's) estate afloat. She has been forced into a life of thievery to make sure that she can pay for things around the estate and one day she makes the mistake of stealing something from a Fae. Fortuitously for her, she is summoned to court to play...a SPY on dear Bastian the Night Queen's Shadow. Naturally, things get exciting from there...
Claire Sager has built such unique characters with unique worldbuilding, and I honestly couldn't put this down. I fell behind in the buddy-read and I devoured this when I had the chance to catch up! Basically, I absolutely adored almost everything about this. And let me tell you how LOUD I squealed when I found out that Vice had her own story.
To explain why I didn't give this a full 5 stars I need to delve into "Spoiler Territory" so if you haven't read this, the above should be enough to help you decide to proceed or not (but my recommendation is if you like me LOVE Fantasy Romance) this book will be like catnip to you too! I cannot believe that I have sat this long on not reading a Claire Sager book because it's LITERALLY EXACTLY what I enjoy! I also appreciated the English spelling of everything. I'm tired of reading things without U. Overall, I cannot wait to read book two. I am salivating at what is going to happen with these characters and where they're going to go.
I struggled a little bit with Katherine's character and that was one of the things that brought my rating down. I think what would have made the difference is I would have appreciated if the author's note was actually at the beginning of the book explaining certain choices and why Kat would make those choices. Yes, I understand that it dealt with abuse and the trauma related to the abuse. I just didn't like that she internalised a lot and did not seek help and assistance. I was highly frustrated that she didn't reach out to those within her circle that could have helped her get out of the situation really easily. I do understand that people who are in a situation of domestic abuse or just abuse often do feel like they cannot ask for help and they cannot reach out to someone. But given how she was described at the start as being this "confident" Wicked Lady who could commit highway robbery, the shift to the "lack of confidence" and fear to ask for help didn't make sense. It just almost went against how she was described at the start. I also wanted her to be different, to be an influence to speaking out...
Another aspect that annoyed me is I felt the point of Bastian, not knowing that she was married was quite frustrating. If I had a "mark" at court, the first thing that I would do would be to find out everything and anything I know about that person. It's standard practice to listen to the "rumour mill". Kat did that with Bastian... And given that he knew that she was spying on him, he should have known that her husband wasn't dead. She (and the court) did not HIDE the fact that he was still alive. Kat might not have confirmed he is dead but it felt very disappointing that he didn't know... Also when he did find out I wanted more tension between the two of them (and maybe having Bastion's POV here would have helped add this)...
I also wanted to see Shadow Daddy Penis!!! I felt TEASED AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT! 😭😭😭😭😭
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5
This book is the literal definition of why I love fantasy romance and prefer fantasy romance to contemporary. It had everything that your girl wants and needs in a book. There was tension. There was magic, there was angst...It was just so good!
The tropes in this are not too bad either 😏
▶ <s>Enemies</s> Hate to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Fake Relationship
▶ One Bed
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Who Did This To You...
▶ Morally Gray MMC
▶ Human X Fae Relationship
▶ HE'S A FUCKING SHADOW DADDY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
I adored this. It just played into that romantic catnip that gets me excited. This first-person POV book follows Kat, a noblewoman estranged from her husband, trying to keep her (husband's) estate afloat. She has been forced into a life of thievery to make sure that she can pay for things around the estate and one day she makes the mistake of stealing something from a Fae. Fortuitously for her, she is summoned to court to play...a SPY on dear Bastian the Night Queen's Shadow. Naturally, things get exciting from there...
Claire Sager has built such unique characters with unique worldbuilding, and I honestly couldn't put this down. I fell behind in the buddy-read and I devoured this when I had the chance to catch up! Basically, I absolutely adored almost everything about this. And let me tell you how LOUD I squealed when I found out that Vice had her own story.
To explain why I didn't give this a full 5 stars I need to delve into "Spoiler Territory" so if you haven't read this, the above should be enough to help you decide to proceed or not (but my recommendation is if you like me LOVE Fantasy Romance) this book will be like catnip to you too! I cannot believe that I have sat this long on not reading a Claire Sager book because it's LITERALLY EXACTLY what I enjoy! I also appreciated the English spelling of everything. I'm tired of reading things without U. Overall, I cannot wait to read book two. I am salivating at what is going to happen with these characters and where they're going to go.
Another aspect that annoyed me is I felt the point of Bastian, not knowing that she was married was quite frustrating. If I had a "mark" at court, the first thing that I would do would be to find out everything and anything I know about that person. It's standard practice to listen to the "rumour mill". Kat did that with Bastian... And given that he knew that she was spying on him, he should have known that her husband wasn't dead. She (and the court) did not HIDE the fact that he was still alive. Kat might not have confirmed he is dead but it felt very disappointing that he didn't know... Also when he did find out I wanted more tension between the two of them (and maybe having Bastion's POV here would have helped add this)...
I also wanted to see Shadow Daddy Penis!!! I felt TEASED AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT! 😭😭😭😭😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
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