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zabeishumanish's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
This is graphic, there are very very graphic depictions of abuse. There are copious trigger warnings at the start of the book, please take them seriously. Less violent than the first book of the series, but more graphic.
That said, this is a book of healing. Specifically, healing through both inner peace and a sense of community. This healing process is pretty linear so you have to move through all of the abuse before any of the good feels get started.
Loving the trend in the series so far of the epilogue being told from the POV of the opposite partner to the rest of the book!
That said, this is a book of healing. Specifically, healing through both inner peace and a sense of community. This healing process is pretty linear so you have to move through all of the abuse before any of the good feels get started.
Loving the trend in the series so far of the epilogue being told from the POV of the opposite partner to the rest of the book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
endemictoearth's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This one starts off with a lot of trauma for the young Mason. I could appreciate how one type of abuse could lead you into another form, thinking it can’t be abuse bc it’s not X or it’s not as bad as being physically hurt. It made me think about this world and how important it is to have frank discussions about the difference between sexual and non-sexual scenes and consent. It threw me again with real world media references, but this time I chuckled when they all agree The Big Lebowski is a five star film as a former attendee of Lebowski Fest (but still, I think there would be different stories being told).
I was grateful for the time jump to twelve years later when Mason is 28 and using his Animal Magic to work with horses and other animals. He comes to the coven/farm we know from the first book and meets Charlie, who is a Dom with very weak magic. They start as friends and eventually start to scene together, with Mason trying to keep Charlie at arm’s length. What I loved about this book was Mason’s journey to really become part of the coven and its community, even more than he realizes at first. The romance is there, and it is very sweet (no 3rd act break, but rather a wake-up call when Mason tries to scene with a former lover and finds he can’t go through with it), but even more than than seeing Mason get a best friend (Roman) and help out Cross (who I am very intrigued to see his story; he’s got a lot to work through) and just integrate himself in a way he’s never let himself before.
I really liked that this book had a different emotional arc/flow from the previous one; it is much more Mason's story than a back and forth between him and Charlie. But I did appreciate the epilogue from Charlie's POV.
I also loved seeing Roman and Tyler feature somewhat prominently (though not overshadowing Mason and Charlie), because it was wonderful to see how far Roman has come.
I don't know that I'd say the worldbuilding is substantially expanded upon (which is fine for me bc too much worldbuilding and lore overwhelms me), but we do learn more about the types of magic and how the covens are organized, which I appreciated. If there was too much of that exposition, it wouldn't feel like a Vivancos book, if that makes sense. The feels are always at the core, and this story is no exception. If pressed, I think I prefer book 1 just a hair more than this one, but they are both books I am happy to round up to five stars.
I was grateful for the time jump to twelve years later when Mason is 28 and using his Animal Magic to work with horses and other animals. He comes to the coven/farm we know from the first book and meets Charlie, who is a Dom with very weak magic. They start as friends and eventually start to scene together, with Mason trying to keep Charlie at arm’s length. What I loved about this book was Mason’s journey to really become part of the coven and its community, even more than he realizes at first. The romance is there, and it is very sweet (no 3rd act break, but rather a wake-up call when Mason tries to scene with a former lover and finds he can’t go through with it), but even more than than seeing Mason get a best friend (Roman) and help out Cross (who I am very intrigued to see his story; he’s got a lot to work through) and just integrate himself in a way he’s never let himself before.
I really liked that this book had a different emotional arc/flow from the previous one; it is much more Mason's story than a back and forth between him and Charlie. But I did appreciate the epilogue from Charlie's POV.
I also loved seeing Roman and Tyler feature somewhat prominently (though not overshadowing Mason and Charlie), because it was wonderful to see how far Roman has come.
I don't know that I'd say the worldbuilding is substantially expanded upon (which is fine for me bc too much worldbuilding and lore overwhelms me), but we do learn more about the types of magic and how the covens are organized, which I appreciated. If there was too much of that exposition, it wouldn't feel like a Vivancos book, if that makes sense. The feels are always at the core, and this story is no exception. If pressed, I think I prefer book 1 just a hair more than this one, but they are both books I am happy to round up to five stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
mousie's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
mjulis's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
“He wanted Charlie in a way he’d never wanted anybody. To touch him, yes, to sink their bodies together, to submit to him. But also just to be with him. To crack himself open and show Charlie the mess inside so Mason wouldn’t be alone with it anymore.”
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC, I’ve never felt more honoured in my lifetime!
Obviously I CANNOT be normal about this book because it feels like MV just entered my brain and wrote this just to hurt my feelings and rip my heart out and then cradle me in a soft, magical cloud of cotton wool. Pick one Marina!!! (I’m just kidding please never change)
As the author notes, there’s on-page depictions of abuse, grooming and trauma so please go into this prepared. It’s hard to explain what made this so exquisite for me but it’s really up there with Rat Park & I will now go stare at a wall indefinitely <3
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC, I’ve never felt more honoured in my lifetime!
Obviously I CANNOT be normal about this book because it feels like MV just entered my brain and wrote this just to hurt my feelings and rip my heart out and then cradle me in a soft, magical cloud of cotton wool. Pick one Marina!!! (I’m just kidding please never change)
As the author notes, there’s on-page depictions of abuse, grooming and trauma so please go into this prepared. It’s hard to explain what made this so exquisite for me but it’s really up there with Rat Park & I will now go stare at a wall indefinitely <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Gaslighting
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