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nz_elle's review
emotional
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism
cosmicamelia's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
Again the perfect relaxing read- hurt/comfort & spice; no lame “miscommunication” trope or any annoying tropes at all. Not that much of a plot when you get down to it, just character growth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
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
_isabel_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Well, excuse me while I go cry my eyes out.
Marina Vivancos does it again, my fellow book lovers: every single one of her books has been majestic and "Out of The Wild Night" is no exception.
This dream of a book, oh my god. It's emotional and moving and delicate and sexy and sweet and lovely. I loved it to absolute bits: Mason and Charlie's romance was precisely what I expected from Marina Vivancos' pen, but at the same time, it still surprised me, how subtly gut-wrenching and heart-stopping it was. I don't know how she does it, but seriously, there's no one who can do hurt/comfort quite like Marina does: every single one of her books has been an emotional ride like no other, and I feel like I need a week or two to recover.
"Oh, Sacred Dark" was slightly tougher to get through, because of the relentless trauma Roman went through, but "Out of The Wild Night" was still pretty heavy, especially the first few chapters. Even though Mason's traumatic experiences are less recent than Roman's were, they still come through, loud and clear, through his prickly and constant self-preservation. His heart is still pretty bruised, but seeing him slowly come back to life was wonderful: Mason, thanks to the Meliora coven, learns that he is as worthy of love and respect and joy as every single living being and I thought that, as usual, Marina handled this, and everything that came before his time in the coven, with astounding thoughtfulness.
Another thing I loved about this book (and I noticed this when reading book one too!) was the fact that although Mason's the only POV, his love interest, Charlie, is given room to be vulnerable and needy, despite him being a Dom. Marina challenges the usual, and unrealistic (if fun), D/s dynamics where the Dom is only there as the possessive protector. Instead, Charlie is an absolute joy of a man: he's cheerful and cheesy and flirtatious, but also so damn charming and soft and sweet. I loved him so damn much: I literally spent half of the book swooning.
Mason, on the other hand, comes across as a little prickly and judgemental, but like his co-workers and his soon-to-be-friends at the coven, the reader learns to love him: he has the right to be jaded and sharp and complicated. And oh god, his character arc! It's the thing of beauty.
Obviously, his relationship with Charlie literally gave me life: their dynamic is fun and loving and affectionate, and a whole lot of steamy. This second book is definitely more explicit than the previous book! *fans herself*
“I could eat you up,” Charlie whispered close to him, words round and thick, syllables slipping into each other.
Mason’s knees shook. There was nothing he’d like more than to disappear into Charlie’s mouth, bite by bite.
I also completely adored Mason's friendship with Roman (THE CUTEST BFFS EVER!!!) and, surprisingly, Cross. Now, that man is a complete mystery and he broke my heart: I can't wait to see what kind of book his will be, and what kind of sub will finally give him his so well-deserved happiness.
Anyway, read this book and this series.
Scratch that, read Marina's entire backlist. I still have a few more of her books to devour myself, so I'll probably do that while I wait for her next masterpiece.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
Marina Vivancos does it again, my fellow book lovers: every single one of her books has been majestic and "Out of The Wild Night" is no exception.
This dream of a book, oh my god. It's emotional and moving and delicate and sexy and sweet and lovely. I loved it to absolute bits: Mason and Charlie's romance was precisely what I expected from Marina Vivancos' pen, but at the same time, it still surprised me, how subtly gut-wrenching and heart-stopping it was. I don't know how she does it, but seriously, there's no one who can do hurt/comfort quite like Marina does: every single one of her books has been an emotional ride like no other, and I feel like I need a week or two to recover.
"Oh, Sacred Dark" was slightly tougher to get through, because of the relentless trauma Roman went through, but "Out of The Wild Night" was still pretty heavy, especially the first few chapters. Even though Mason's traumatic experiences are less recent than Roman's were, they still come through, loud and clear, through his prickly and constant self-preservation. His heart is still pretty bruised, but seeing him slowly come back to life was wonderful: Mason, thanks to the Meliora coven, learns that he is as worthy of love and respect and joy as every single living being and I thought that, as usual, Marina handled this, and everything that came before his time in the coven, with astounding thoughtfulness.
Another thing I loved about this book (and I noticed this when reading book one too!) was the fact that although Mason's the only POV, his love interest, Charlie, is given room to be vulnerable and needy, despite him being a Dom. Marina challenges the usual, and unrealistic (if fun), D/s dynamics where the Dom is only there as the possessive protector. Instead, Charlie is an absolute joy of a man: he's cheerful and cheesy and flirtatious, but also so damn charming and soft and sweet. I loved him so damn much: I literally spent half of the book swooning.
Mason, on the other hand, comes across as a little prickly and judgemental, but like his co-workers and his soon-to-be-friends at the coven, the reader learns to love him: he has the right to be jaded and sharp and complicated. And oh god, his character arc! It's the thing of beauty.
Obviously, his relationship with Charlie literally gave me life: their dynamic is fun and loving and affectionate, and a whole lot of steamy. This second book is definitely more explicit than the previous book! *fans herself*
“I could eat you up,” Charlie whispered close to him, words round and thick, syllables slipping into each other.
Mason’s knees shook. There was nothing he’d like more than to disappear into Charlie’s mouth, bite by bite.
I also completely adored Mason's friendship with Roman (THE CUTEST BFFS EVER!!!) and, surprisingly, Cross. Now, that man is a complete mystery and he broke my heart: I can't wait to see what kind of book his will be, and what kind of sub will finally give him his so well-deserved happiness.
Anyway, read this book and this series.
Scratch that, read Marina's entire backlist. I still have a few more of her books to devour myself, so I'll probably do that while I wait for her next masterpiece.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
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