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moncuries's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book touches on a lot of topics that might have made for a more compelling plot; misogyny, classism, privilege. The characters themselves are aware of these injustices, “Down with the patriarchy,” Apollo mocks his sister’s short rant about Hera. The two leads embark on a sort of one upmanship on who knows the plight of the city best. Both of them still see it through ultimately privileged eyes. Apollo is nice to some orphans once. Its weird
I also think this book would have benefitted from establishing their characters a little more before bringing them together. The beginning (Seeing Zeus, travelling etc) felt a little rushed. I wanted to settle into the quiet life a little more. It felt as though, in an effort to demonstrate Apollo’s place in his village, we had to see him interact with as many people as possible. If just one of those scenes had been longer and more introspective, I think it would have been much more effective.
I like how much description we get, particularly from Apollo’s perspective. The metaphors and comparisons are mostly rooted in the character’s world, which is good. I only wish the descriptions spent less time talking about how beautiful it all was and a little more on establishing mood. I want to know about the dirt of the city and the heavy smells. Apollo is a poet, so maybe it makes sense that his POV is mostly surface level pretty worded description. I also think good description needs character interaction/context so maybe thats why it wasnt clicking.
I think the dialogue in this book struggles with hitting in between the modern lexicon and some more antiquated expressions and sensibilities. It’s a purposeful choice and one thats not uncommon in the genre, but I don’t love it.
I’m about halfway through, so maybe things will turn out! I do like the story, I’m just not as impressed as i wanted to be haha.
update:
another pet peeve is when the characters cite “The Laws!!” as explanation for an injustice. Its used as the explanation for injustices faced by begging orphans, misogyny, etc. It just feels like a childish thing to say. even just “By law, the women may not seek employment.” is better than “The laws,” LMAO they do explain what the law is but it feels childish
also the physical descriptions get a little repetitive. it feels like it was missing an editor. lots of ebony hair shining and gleaming and dark curls. which, yeah, a lot of characters may share a hair colour or texture, but surely we can talk about more than their hair colour. i have heard about hyacinth and apollo’s jawlines like 6 times. some of the environment description gets reused too. flaxen light for instance. its a good one, but i just feel like... why didnt an editor see this?
STOP USING THE WORLD AMBLED LOL U CAN SAY WALK! why is everyone and their mother ambling. it might be appropriate for one character to amble but a whole royal family and all of their court? nobody learned to walk properly?? lol
at the beginning, apollo and his sister have a small discussion about a previous hookup. its implied that non binary people exist in this universe or at the very least, there are people who use they/them. Unless I missed something, we never actually see a non binary person. Why even mention it? Also how do these non binary people fit into the systematic oppression of women in the story? for it to be Normal enough that Apollo discusses it readily, its odd that it never comes up again. Its weird to throw it in at the beginning, when things are being established, and then just let nothing come of it.
I also think this book would have benefitted from establishing their characters a little more before bringing them together. The beginning (Seeing Zeus, travelling etc) felt a little rushed. I wanted to settle into the quiet life a little more. It felt as though, in an effort to demonstrate Apollo’s place in his village, we had to see him interact with as many people as possible. If just one of those scenes had been longer and more introspective, I think it would have been much more effective.
I like how much description we get, particularly from Apollo’s perspective. The metaphors and comparisons are mostly rooted in the character’s world, which is good. I only wish the descriptions spent less time talking about how beautiful it all was and a little more on establishing mood. I want to know about the dirt of the city and the heavy smells. Apollo is a poet, so maybe it makes sense that his POV is mostly surface level pretty worded description. I also think good description needs character interaction/context so maybe thats why it wasnt clicking.
I think the dialogue in this book struggles with hitting in between the modern lexicon and some more antiquated expressions and sensibilities. It’s a purposeful choice and one thats not uncommon in the genre, but I don’t love it.
I’m about halfway through, so maybe things will turn out! I do like the story, I’m just not as impressed as i wanted to be haha.
update:
another pet peeve is when the characters cite “The Laws!!” as explanation for an injustice. Its used as the explanation for injustices faced by begging orphans, misogyny, etc. It just feels like a childish thing to say. even just “By law, the women may not seek employment.” is better than “The laws,” LMAO they do explain what the law is but it feels childish
also the physical descriptions get a little repetitive. it feels like it was missing an editor. lots of ebony hair shining and gleaming and dark curls. which, yeah, a lot of characters may share a hair colour or texture, but surely we can talk about more than their hair colour. i have heard about hyacinth and apollo’s jawlines like 6 times. some of the environment description gets reused too. flaxen light for instance. its a good one, but i just feel like... why didnt an editor see this?
STOP USING THE WORLD AMBLED LOL U CAN SAY WALK! why is everyone and their mother ambling. it might be appropriate for one character to amble but a whole royal family and all of their court? nobody learned to walk properly?? lol
at the beginning, apollo and his sister have a small discussion about a previous hookup. its implied that non binary people exist in this universe or at the very least, there are people who use they/them. Unless I missed something, we never actually see a non binary person. Why even mention it? Also how do these non binary people fit into the systematic oppression of women in the story? for it to be Normal enough that Apollo discusses it readily, its odd that it never comes up again. Its weird to throw it in at the beginning, when things are being established, and then just let nothing come of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
anntharai's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
With thanks to NetGally, Victory Editing, and the Author Nicole Bailey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 overall
When you take two gorgeous and powerful men with secrets, each repressed in their own way, and force them together for a year … you get sparks.
This is a fun story and the writing is easy to read, additionally the plot is an interesting take and you really do start caring about the characters quickly.
The relationship between Cyn and Apollo is remarkable, Bailey has managed to fold doomed romance/real love/destinies aligned tropes into a multifaceted relationship that genuinely pulls at your heart strings.
I’d have loved to spend more time with Temi. I adore her. And I want to be her. And the whole *spoiler* thing? Yes. Love it. I am hoping that she is the primary focus of forthcoming books.
Great and accurate inclusion of content warnings by Nicole Bailey, major respect for them there. Low level spicy scenes, they’re on page but I wouldn’t call them graphic.
Overall A Veil of Gods and Kings is a great New Adult read, I will be excited to read the series as it unfolds.
My only two issues:
The authors note references the fact that while this is a Greek myth retelling the world building is new, and to expect unrealistic and unhistorical aspects like ancient Greeks saddling up their horses. Which is fine. I like that they gave you a heads up, but it wasn’t the saddles that got me it was the acutely modern turns of phrase like “grab a shower” and the king wearing ‘shorts’. I don’t expect accuracy from mythological retellings but I would like consistency within the confines of itself. The things that broke my immersion were subtle, and I genuinely believe would be easy to change (‘grab a shower’ to ‘bathe quickly’ for example), wouldn’t change the story, and would elevate the reading experience.
I did find the time bleeding a little, and the character chapters were sometimes difficult to tell apart especially at the beginnings of chapters. Eg, occasionally “few months’ would be used to reference the time left together, then reference spending a year there. Or when swapping from Apollo to Cyn, I’d have to check the chapter title to make sure I was attributing the actions to the right character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol