starheart's review
3.0
Some parts were strangely sex-negative, including the frequent use of the word "whore", and there were WAY too many characters to keep track of, but otherwise, I enjoyed this book. Phedre is a very interesting heroine, and the book, although WAY too long, has a very interesting and intriguing plot.
Also, the book indulges in Bury Your Gays, but almost everyone in Terre D'Ange seems to be bisexual-including Phedre-so I'm not sure how to feel about that.
Also, the book indulges in Bury Your Gays, but almost everyone in Terre D'Ange seems to be bisexual-including Phedre-so I'm not sure how to feel about that.
atarbett's review
2.0
- Carey takes for-fucking-ever to get to the point. I almost put the book down 3-4 times out of sheer boredom before things picked up about 1/3 of the way through the story.
- Credibility. Look, I get it. She's a really really good whore and masochists. But I find it very hard to swallow that everyone she meets is just falling all over themselves to get at her magic snatch. She's not the only whore and not the only masochist in the book!
- Sex. I feel I was misled. If you're reading it for the sex, you're going to be disappointed. I don't have an issue with the quality of the sex scenes or their kinkiness, but they were far fewer that I was told.
- "Somewhat" =/= "Something." OMFG this got on my last nerve. I think Carey was going for an old-timey feel to the language, but this is not the way to go! Every time she used the word "somewhat" when she clearly meant "something" I wanted to throw the book across the room.
- I cared nothing about any of the characters. They just didn't seem real or relate-able to me. If most cases, they just annoyed me. Joscelin is the worst offender. I abhor whiny characters and he spends half the book going "Oh, no! My vows! I'm worthless now!" None of the deaths moved me in the slightest. My favorite character was probably Hyacinthe, but that was before he got all moody and depressed because he has to stay on an island. He's Master of the Straits, not dead! You want to visit, then just take a boat out a little too far.
- The ending. I hate when things wrap up too easily. But she does leave a tiny little tidbit to show that she has another story up her sleeve.
Well, you are welcome to that story. I don't think I can stomach any more books like this one.
- Credibility. Look, I get it. She's a really really good whore and masochists. But I find it very hard to swallow that everyone she meets is just falling all over themselves to get at her magic snatch. She's not the only whore and not the only masochist in the book!
- Sex. I feel I was misled. If you're reading it for the sex, you're going to be disappointed. I don't have an issue with the quality of the sex scenes or their kinkiness, but they were far fewer that I was told.
- "Somewhat" =/= "Something." OMFG this got on my last nerve. I think Carey was going for an old-timey feel to the language, but this is not the way to go! Every time she used the word "somewhat" when she clearly meant "something" I wanted to throw the book across the room.
- I cared nothing about any of the characters. They just didn't seem real or relate-able to me. If most cases, they just annoyed me. Joscelin is the worst offender. I abhor whiny characters and he spends half the book going "Oh, no! My vows! I'm worthless now!" None of the deaths moved me in the slightest. My favorite character was probably Hyacinthe, but that was before he got all moody and depressed because he has to stay on an island. He's Master of the Straits, not dead! You want to visit, then just take a boat out a little too far.
- The ending. I hate when things wrap up too easily. But she does leave a tiny little tidbit to show that she has another story up her sleeve.
Well, you are welcome to that story. I don't think I can stomach any more books like this one.
altanad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.5
kellysavagebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
higgbemine's review
2.0
i couldn't finish it. made it about 800 pages into the 1000 and just didn't give a shit. i think the problem was that this book was sold to me as a super sexy fantasy. well, it's more of a political scheming, long drawn out story of a woman that does sexy things that aren't described in enough detail to enjoy. too much hype, too much political scheming, too much text in between almost interesting sex.
pdj's review
I love solid and deep worldbuilding, but it never jumped off the page for me—and the fell through on the erotica aspect. Maybe will return at some point, but I was hoping for something of this length to feel immersive and it never did.
ancillary_reader's review
4.0
My first reread of the novel, almost 10 years since I originally read it. It's a great book to reread, because while I found all the politicking in the first half of the book soooo boring the first time I read it, now that I know the overall context of the politicking, it's much more interesting. Plus, Joscelin.
rynegayde's review
3.0
I was expecting to enjoy this more; alittle bummed, especially after Starless. I still plan on finishing the series, I think.
laurenelisewrites's review
Will pick back up at another time! Just not finding myself excited to engage with it. Writing is beautiful and I look forward to trying it again.
fio31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0