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machenn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Blood
laura_hart15's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
it took me a while to warm up to the story. Now that it is over, my heart aches for Jack and Adaira. Will read the 2nd book to see where the story leads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
dunecello's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Beautifully written, and lovely use of the Squishy Wizard trope, with an in-canon reason for it!
The Scottish fantasy setting is so cozy and the stories within the story felt like fairy tales.
It is rare that I enjoy romance in fiction, but the dynamics between the main couple in this book seemed appealing when I heard about it, and they did not let me down. Absolutely loved Jack and Adaira as a pair. On the other hand, I found the more traditional (in terms of romance literature) secondary couple uninteresting and my attention wavered during their scenes. It got to the point where I groaned whenever it was Sidra's POV. Really did not enjoy her characterization. Though I will say, the quote"I've built my life upon something that can be taken from me" hit hard. I needed to read that.
The reason for the girls' disappearances ended up being a little ridiculous. But as someone whoseancestors were involved in a blood feud that stupidly still exist today , it's not that farfetched.
The ending broke my heart as it was supposed to so I will be reading the next book at some point. Hope we get a lot more Jack ♥ Adaira in the next one.
The Scottish fantasy setting is so cozy and the stories within the story felt like fairy tales.
It is rare that I enjoy romance in fiction, but the dynamics between the main couple in this book seemed appealing when I heard about it, and they did not let me down. Absolutely loved Jack and Adaira as a pair. On the other hand, I found the more traditional (in terms of romance literature) secondary couple uninteresting and my attention wavered during their scenes. It got to the point where I groaned whenever it was Sidra's POV. Really did not enjoy her characterization. Though I will say, the quote
The reason for the girls' disappearances ended up being a little ridiculous. But as someone whose
The ending broke my heart as it was supposed to so I will be reading the next book at some point. Hope we get a lot more Jack ♥ Adaira in the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
styxx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ciwanski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Multiple times throughout this reading experience I had to stop and wonder if I liked what I was reading or not. In the end, I guess yes? I mean, the set up for the second book was well done enough that I’m immediately going to my library to pick it up, so yeah, I liked it I guess.
However, I thought the prose was a little wonky at times, and the dialogue seemed very stilted which took me out of the reading experience quite often.
I didn’t really believe in the relationship between the two leads — I felt like it came out of nowhere, though the devotion they showed each other was cute.
The conflicts in the story also seemed a bit contrived and/or extreme??? Idk but the stakes kept rapidly changing in my eyes. There was the seriousness of the kidnappings interwoven with an Instagram therapist-esque conflict of self love that almost held the same weight?? Things felt a bit off.
The book definitely got better the further into it you got, and I was completely taken by the magic system Ross has come up with. I’m also so enamored by the quote, “I am but a verse inspired by your chorus.” Fleeting moments of beautiful language and imagery interspersed in otherwise unremarkable (eek sorry!) writing.
Very obvious Scottish backdrop as well, but I’m not sure that’s unintentional, so can’t really fault it lol
However, I thought the prose was a little wonky at times, and the dialogue seemed very stilted which took me out of the reading experience quite often.
I didn’t really believe in the relationship between the two leads — I felt like it came out of nowhere, though the devotion they showed each other was cute.
The conflicts in the story also seemed a bit contrived and/or extreme??? Idk but the stakes kept rapidly changing in my eyes. There was the seriousness of the kidnappings interwoven with an Instagram therapist-esque conflict of self love that almost held the same weight?? Things felt a bit off.
The book definitely got better the further into it you got, and I was completely taken by the magic system Ross has come up with. I’m also so enamored by the quote, “I am but a verse inspired by your chorus.” Fleeting moments of beautiful language and imagery interspersed in otherwise unremarkable (eek sorry!) writing.
Very obvious Scottish backdrop as well, but I’m not sure that’s unintentional, so can’t really fault it lol
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
bookjudy42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Exceptionally written, deep and satisfying lore, characters that make your heart ache. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, and Medical content
minnow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This novel has many of the tropes I love: enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, lots of longing, gorgeous descriptions of food and clothing; additionally, the setting is lush and beautiful, with a rich lore. The plot is interesting and hints at mystery, and there are several love-based subplots. I should have loved this book. But I didn't.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
reallyrosalie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
tania_mybookishsecret's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: War
kendal_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual content