Scan barcode
rknitss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Read this for a buddy read with some friends. We trusted Storygraph's recommendation with almost no research on our parts, so a lot of my problems with the book are 100% my fault for not knowing what I was getting into.
I really like the fact that this was #OwnVoices and that it touched on the actual history of people of color in ye old United Kingdom. I thought the animosity that Ailsa faced was well described. I could really feel the distrust. Kallum was an interesting character and I thought his motivations were well developed despite him being a typical historical romance hero who has only felt rage until he meets his heroine (at which point he feels rage and confused love/lust). So why only 3 stars?
I don't like the Medieval setting in romances. I don't even like when Julie Garwood does it. I thought, from the admittedly lacking description on Storygraph and my general expectations based on my usual reading, that this book would take place in the Georgian/Regency. These are the times of Netflix's Bridgertons after all. So I was supremely disappointed when I found out that was not the case. Again, this one is a me problem.
And a lot of my other complaints are just off-shoots of that. In my experience, regardless of how spunky and contrary a heroine is in a Medieval Romance, she's going to get SA'd and she's going to need to be rescued. This book plays into that trope, I'm afraid. Another frequent occurrence in the subgenre is the lack of immediate chemistry - Ailsa and Kallum butt heads and have loads of banter but we're told that they are getting closer emotionally rather than shown. We also have an enemies to lovers plot that doesn't seem like it means much of anything for a reeeeeaaaaaly long time.
The pacing felt slow. There was a lot of pontificating. The race of our main characters was extremely important to the actual plot, which was good, but the frequent asides to explain and re-explain the history wore on me. I was hoping for more black joy and black pleasure and less black trauma.
The last 30-50 pages were incredible. Truly bonkers. Full banana, as they say on the Fated Mates Podcast. I loved it and that saved this from a lower rating.
I wouldn't not recommend this book to people who like Medieval/Highlander romances, but I would caution them that the pacing isn't really steady and that the tropes are definitely there. I would also recommend this without reservation to people who want more black historical romance that doesn't gloss over the icky history.
I really like the fact that this was #OwnVoices and that it touched on the actual history of people of color in ye old United Kingdom. I thought the animosity that Ailsa faced was well described. I could really feel the distrust. Kallum was an interesting character and I thought his motivations were well developed despite him being a typical historical romance hero who has only felt rage until he meets his heroine (at which point he feels rage and confused love/lust). So why only 3 stars?
I don't like the Medieval setting in romances. I don't even like when Julie Garwood does it. I thought, from the admittedly lacking description on Storygraph and my general expectations based on my usual reading, that this book would take place in the Georgian/Regency. These are the times of Netflix's Bridgertons after all. So I was supremely disappointed when I found out that was not the case. Again, this one is a me problem.
And a lot of my other complaints are just off-shoots of that. In my experience, regardless of how spunky and contrary a heroine is in a Medieval Romance, she's going to get SA'd and she's going to need to be rescued. This book plays into that trope, I'm afraid. Another frequent occurrence in the subgenre is the lack of immediate chemistry - Ailsa and Kallum butt heads and have loads of banter but we're told that they are getting closer emotionally rather than shown. We also have an enemies to lovers plot that doesn't seem like it means much of anything for a reeeeeaaaaaly long time.
The pacing felt slow. There was a lot of pontificating. The race of our main characters was extremely important to the actual plot, which was good, but the frequent asides to explain and re-explain the history wore on me. I was hoping for more black joy and black pleasure and less black trauma.
The last 30-50 pages were incredible. Truly bonkers. Full banana, as they say on the Fated Mates Podcast. I loved it and that saved this from a lower rating.
I wouldn't not recommend this book to people who like Medieval/Highlander romances, but I would caution them that the pacing isn't really steady and that the tropes are definitely there. I would also recommend this without reservation to people who want more black historical romance that doesn't gloss over the icky history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
theboricuabookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
Black Scots taking down racist and misogynists one smoking hot love story at a time? Oohwee yall get your hands on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Violence
spicyspookypotato's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I enjoyed this historical romance featuring Ailsa Connery, a Black highland lass who has been held captive for three years after being mistaken for an escaped enslaved woman. Now enslaved by none other than King James, she has waited three years for her opportunity to escape and rejoin her clan. Her plans are scuttled by Kallum MacNeill, the chief warrior of a rival clan. And hijinks ensue…
There are a few twists and turns along the way that make this an enjoyable read. Some were formulaic for the genre and others were a surprise. It did take me a while to get past the author’s use of anachronistic language. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I am not new to the genre either and something about the way she wrote the characters’ speech and thoughts was difficult for me to parse. But about 25% in, it either smoothed out or I became accustomed to it and it became less intrusive.
The secondary characters, especially Inan and Caitrin are well-written though they remain fairly surface-level.
Ailsa and Kallum are both Black and there is a character that liberates enslaved persons. Ailsa occasionally speaks Yoruba though we are told this rather than shown it, which is a missed opportunity, especially given that the author does include Gaelic phrases from time to time. But there is quite a bit of diverse representation in this read.
The spice is a slow burn. When it hits, it is fairly euphemistic. I give it 🌶️🌶️.
As I look back in my highlights I am noting that the book lacks any passages where there are lyrical thoughts of yearning or poetic declarations. Nothing I can really add to my reviews as a quote that I loved. Aside from strong character development, words and language have probably the biggest impact on my reading experience. So that undoubtedly contributes to me rating it in the 3-star range rather than 4.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I read it as a buddy read with a friend. We are going to SteamyLit Con and Rayne is one of the attending authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️
There are a few twists and turns along the way that make this an enjoyable read. Some were formulaic for the genre and others were a surprise. It did take me a while to get past the author’s use of anachronistic language. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction but I am not new to the genre either and something about the way she wrote the characters’ speech and thoughts was difficult for me to parse. But about 25% in, it either smoothed out or I became accustomed to it and it became less intrusive.
The secondary characters, especially Inan and Caitrin are well-written though they remain fairly surface-level.
Ailsa and Kallum are both Black and there is a character that liberates enslaved persons. Ailsa occasionally speaks Yoruba though we are told this rather than shown it, which is a missed opportunity, especially given that the author does include Gaelic phrases from time to time. But there is quite a bit of diverse representation in this read.
The spice is a slow burn. When it hits, it is fairly euphemistic. I give it 🌶️🌶️.
As I look back in my highlights I am noting that the book lacks any passages where there are lyrical thoughts of yearning or poetic declarations. Nothing I can really add to my reviews as a quote that I loved. Aside from strong character development, words and language have probably the biggest impact on my reading experience. So that undoubtedly contributes to me rating it in the 3-star range rather than 4.
Overall, it was enjoyable. I read it as a buddy read with a friend. We are going to SteamyLit Con and Rayne is one of the attending authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
SA is attempted off page during the narrative and implied as having happened in the past.deidrelj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.5
The use of old Scottish/English made for a rough start to get into the rhythm of the speakers. But once acclimated, the clumsy phrasing melts away and the romance blossoms as expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs
kim03's review
This is my review:
I am in love with the dedication of this book.
I noticed pretty much in the first chapter that I may not be the target audience for this book (as I’m white and this centers around black characters). Lisa Rayne is a skilled and sensitive writer who effortlessly adjusts her language to that of the time (and place), but I recommend looking up the content warnings for the book, listed below, before reading it.
The book starts out slow as the characters are introduced to the audience and then picks up pace after their first encounter.
I liked the representation a lot, and I felt like Lisa Rayne put a lot of care into the backgrounds of the characters. On that note I wondered how much of this had actually happened in real history like that and how much was added for plot purposes, but the author made me believe this could’ve happened like that for real (and who am I to know).
I enjoyed Ailsa as the main character a lot. Kallum… not so much; he represent that group of men I do not like to read about: F-boys. The interactions between our two main characters, who both have their own POV, were often spent bickering in true “enemies” to lovers, but didn’t quite work for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: i did not manage to finish the book due to the misogynist undertones that represent the way of thinking during the time the book takes place. DNF at 35%.
Many statements in the book (in both POVs) were very impactful for me, but on several occasions during Kallums POV he contradicts himself, indirectly saying that Ailsa is not like other girls; he seems to respect women one page then later indicating he finds them beneath himself.
—
Trope: enemies/ rivals to lovers
CWs: racism, slavery, kidnapping, violence, misogyny, sexual assault (off page/ memory) and sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
noellelovesbooks's review
4.25
Content Warnings: Sexual content, slavery, sexual harassment, racism, racial slurs, kidnapping, sexual assault, attempted rape, blood/gore, violence, and death of parent(s).
I received an ARC, through Netgalley, ahead of release. All thoughts are my own.
Ailsa and Kallum... *swoons*...he's used to dealing with women who never think to question him and she's used to dealing with men that are the scum of the earth. So when he goes to "rescue" her when she was already in the process of rescuing herself, let's say shenanigans ensue.
I adored this book and getting to know both Ailsa and Kallum. Both characters are so strong-willed and stubborn. Kallum is used to things mostly going according to his plan and schedule whereas Ailsa is used to having to fight tooth and nail for her very survival.
Watching these two stubborn people learn to open up, trust, and care for the other and start to change the futures they saw for themselves... *chefs kiss* I cannot wait to read more Lisa Rayne!
I received an ARC, through Netgalley, ahead of release. All thoughts are my own.
Ailsa and Kallum... *swoons*...he's used to dealing with women who never think to question him and she's used to dealing with men that are the scum of the earth. So when he goes to "rescue" her when she was already in the process of rescuing herself, let's say shenanigans ensue.
I adored this book and getting to know both Ailsa and Kallum. Both characters are so strong-willed and stubborn. Kallum is used to things mostly going according to his plan and schedule whereas Ailsa is used to having to fight tooth and nail for her very survival.
Watching these two stubborn people learn to open up, trust, and care for the other and start to change the futures they saw for themselves... *chefs kiss* I cannot wait to read more Lisa Rayne!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
More...