Scan barcode
ladybug12793's review
emotional
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
3.75
pretty writing
Decent read with good plot and pretty writing. Some grammatical errors, though. Hated the ending. Made no logical sense. IYKYKForrest had PLENTY of time to save Kitt. It probably would’ve actually been quicker to do so because Iris kept stopping.
0-0.25 🌶️ closed door
Decent read with good plot and pretty writing. Some grammatical errors, though. Hated the ending. Made no logical sense. IYKYK
0-0.25 🌶️ closed door
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
crescentduchess's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and War
brimclala's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and War
lauramparis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
emerentina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Kidnapping
melarareading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5 stars even though the ending has broken my heart and I now have to rush to read the next one. I have to say, this book is not an easy read, because it describes very heavy topics such as alcoholism and war in a very realistic way. The writing is impeccable and compelling. I never understood what people meant when they said that a book was atmospheric, but I get it now. I felt like I was there in the trenches with them, I felt the anxiety and fear of the war and the happiness and excitement of the romance.
The only thing I would change is the book description and name, I think they don't match the theme of the book at all.
All in all, a great book, even if it made me feel anxious and like I had a weight on my chest from time to time.
The only thing I would change is the book description and name, I think they don't match the theme of the book at all.
All in all, a great book, even if it made me feel anxious and like I had a weight on my chest from time to time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
scvqa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kokoa_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
downtown_kb'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Iris is an aspiring newspaper journalist with a very unique typewriter and a maddening rival at the newspaper where she wants to land a permanent job.
3.5 stars rounded up.
While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.
I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.
I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology. It sounds like we go back and repeat plot due to amnesia and just, no thanks.
On audio this is decent but not outstanding.
3.5 stars rounded up.
While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.
I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.
I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology.
On audio this is decent but not outstanding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
bookfilledcottage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I was bewitched by this story, this world and these characters.
This is my first Rebecca Ross book and I don’t think I can go back from here. I think I’m just completely sold and will now have to read everything she writes.
The world came to life so clearly in my mind. It was vivid and dark and gothically magical. The worldbuilding in terms of its history and the gods’ tales were so fascinating to read about that I cannot wait to continue uncovering their story in the second instalment.
The love story was tear-jerking, beautiful and frustrating. Everything that makes you think “this is truly the kind of love worthy of poetry”. I am absolutely obsessed with these divine rivals and am currently anxious to know more about how they go from where this book ends.
This is my first Rebecca Ross book and I don’t think I can go back from here. I think I’m just completely sold and will now have to read everything she writes.
The world came to life so clearly in my mind. It was vivid and dark and gothically magical. The worldbuilding in terms of its history and the gods’ tales were so fascinating to read about that I cannot wait to continue uncovering their story in the second instalment.
The love story was tear-jerking, beautiful and frustrating. Everything that makes you think “this is truly the kind of love worthy of poetry”. I am absolutely obsessed with these divine rivals and am currently anxious to know more about how they go from where this book ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and War