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doodeedoda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
miagic_tome'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? Yes
3.75
The Sumic, Yu'adir, and Kathartist religions were interesting in their differing interpretations on the same topics, like the Demiurge. But the almost one to one comparisons of language and practices to real life religions was so off putting it took me out of immersion. Reading words like Bible and confession felt so out of place in this story that tries so hard to be fantastical. Not to mention the very blatant antisemitic conspiracy theories that occurred within the world. How many religious groups can be hated for secretly controlling all the banks? At least two apparently. Considering how important it was that the main characters were religious minorities, these uncanny mentions happen quite a few times and it really struck me as odd every time, I feel like there are new practices and forms of hatred that could've taken place.
Despite the above, I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters, good and bad. Margaret and Wes's inner monologues were immersive I loved both of them going from hate/indifference to begrudging companionship to.... more. Oh but it was like deja vu to see
As complainy as this review has been, I did enjoy this book and am open to reading more works from this author at some point.
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
farrahwho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
callistag1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
hue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
The book is overwritten to the point it disturbs the story. Example; Maggie is treated with ill in Wickdon because she is Yu'adir. This is already mentioned in the first chapter, if I'm not mistaken, and since then repeated endlessly over and over again. By page 150 I'm bored of it. Tell me something else about her.
Another example; the narration, whether Maggie's or Wes's, somehow constantly repeats what has been told mere moments ago, just worded differently, though often not. It's exhausting, and it diminishes the earthly feel to these people that they might be real somewhere. They become paper at once, two-dimensional, plain characters. As mentioned before, I'm bored!
The dialogue is, for the lack of a better word, cringe at times. probably falls into the overwritten category but I found myself rolling my eyes or feeling secondhand embarrassment a bit too often for enjoyment. Bantering is fun to read, but constantly? No. They did not talk like two people would actually talk with each other, and definitely not the two people they were. Maggie would've shot him down quicker, if the writing was accurate, and Wes would fluster with her because she was the "sole" girl that did not immediately swoon at his words. Make it make sense.
The chemistry between them—the romance so to say—is not there. Wes just suddenly decided he doesn't find Maggie all that repulsive anymore? And Maggie, though initially despising everything about Wes and what he stood for, finds herself jealous over his charming behaviour towards others. Though it is stated she is jealous of how others see him opposed to her, but it doesn't explain all those instances where she reacts poorly when he's being flirty to another girl/lady that isn't her. It feels a lot like "they fall in love because one is a boy and the other is a girl, and because they've spent five seconds looking at each other". No? That's now how it works? They've just met, Maggie is a rough gal and Wes is a damn flirty squid, he'd probably ask a phone book on a date if it were female! Point being, it just isn't there, the romance.
Out of Wes's four sisters, only one has a personality; Mad. The other three are like caricatures with no soul. It's depressing. Why is there's four of them if only one is truly alive? Every now and then one of them says something different or does something that is slightly personal, but it isn't enough. They're easily forgettable. At least his Mum was well written, and well, Mad.
The sudden change in Maggie's personality (around page 270 maybe?) just ticks me off. She starts sounding like Wes which doesn't make sense at all. Her harshness isn't harsh anymore, and all she seems to think of is Wes, and not the fact that the Hunt holds literally everything of what she loves in a chokehold. For a story about the Hunt, there's very little of the Hunt. It's mostly them getting fluffy with each other, which is kinda meh even for a romance book. The setting was wonderful; why didn't the author take use of it?
So, despite the harshness of my words, I still enjoyed some of it. I loved the grey scenery, I loved Mr Halanan and his big, lovely heart as well as his protectiveness of Maggie. I loved Trouble, and I loved how he and Wes became quick buddies. I loved Maggie for being a strong girl who despite desperately wishing for her Mother's love stood strong by herself, with her hound and her duties, and shot like a queen. I adored her roughness, her quick annoyance, her solitude, and the grief that came with it. I loved the dinner scene at the Winters' house where Maggie was uncomfortably joined. I loved how she survived despite being an outcast. If the writing would've been consistent, I would've loved her to bits.
However, the Author does get a point for writing queer people that exist the way "everyone else" does. They're there but it isn't such a big deal. They aren't stereotypes. They're people. I loved that.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
maresuju'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
_teoeo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Read if you like satisfying, emotional, character-based romance.
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Death of parent
ctara2123'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, and Death of parent