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little_red_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Every time I read these books I fall in love with them again. It's such a simple idea: an endless war, a princess and prince trying for peace with two peoples as different, and yet as similar as can be.... yet Atwater-Rhodes makes it new with vivid imagery, a sweet, slow burn love story, and a richly imagined world of shifters. Love this whole series.
audreylovesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My comfort book💜 will never get tired of it
demilee1369's review against another edition
3.0
this book was a rather pleasant read, it did have some aspects that seemed a bit rushed into but otherwise was okay. I did have an expectation when I decided to read this book cause a friend told me about it but the book was nothing like what they had told me it was really good.
carebear126's review against another edition
2.0
I can see myself getting invested in the love story if the book wasn't so damned rushed and short! By chapter three things have crazy progressed when we should still be doing set up and world building. Just way too quick
lockea194's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
lunarlibra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
I was recommended this series by a friend who read it as a kid, so I went into it imagining how I would have liked it when I was younger. (Middle school me would have LOVED this.)
Many of the world-building aspects of the book were exciting and interesting to me, although I do think there are some parts that fall into typical fantasy orientalism (specifically with the Mistari, who only feature briefly on the book).
One thing that impressed me was the substantive cultural differences between the avians and the serpiente, which make sense for societies that have lived so separate and hostile to each other for so long.
I think there were aspects of the romance that felt very typical in a way that would put me off from it, but I also was able to recognize ways that the author tried to subvert that in places,particularly around sex and consent-- although that feels kind of undermined by the lack of consent involved in him visiting her bedroom while she sleeps without her knowledge. It really bugged me how that was addressed (or not).
Ultimately, whenever the book started to lose me I would remember that I had read that the author wrote this as a teenager, and honestly, that makes it a lot more impressive to me. It's a quick read with interesting world building (shape-shifters! magic! politics, kinda!). I feel like most of the character development happens off the page or in chunks of time that are glossed over, so the romance at the end felt slightly rushed, but not unbelievably so.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and immediately went to read the next book in the series.
Many of the world-building aspects of the book were exciting and interesting to me, although I do think there are some parts that fall into typical fantasy orientalism (specifically with the Mistari, who only feature briefly on the book).
One thing that impressed me was the substantive cultural differences between the avians and the serpiente, which make sense for societies that have lived so separate and hostile to each other for so long.
I think there were aspects of the romance that felt very typical in a way that would put me off from it, but I also was able to recognize ways that the author tried to subvert that in places,
Ultimately, whenever the book started to lose me I would remember that I had read that the author wrote this as a teenager, and honestly, that makes it a lot more impressive to me. It's a quick read with interesting world building (shape-shifters! magic! politics, kinda!). I feel like most of the character development happens off the page or in chunks of time that are glossed over, so the romance at the end felt slightly rushed, but not unbelievably so.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and immediately went to read the next book in the series.
shdnx's review against another edition
I had high hopes for this book: there is so much potential in the world and story outlined by the summary. Instead, all I got was the typical story of "forbidden love". *yawn*
The world imagined by the author is definitely colorful, but I feel it's unreasonable (unrealistic). For example, if the leaders of both parties in the war feel that they don't want the war, then how the earth did they manage to drag it out for hundreds of years? Also, no leaders in any war ever believe their own propaganda of "hate the enemy". That would be just silly.
Or consider the opposing forces: hawk shapeshifters, who can fly, versus snake shapeshifters with superior ground combat abilities. I can't see how the hawks could not win this war. The hawks' mobility is far superior to that of the snakes, which is a very major factor in winning a war. The snakes may be superior in a one-to-one combat, but they can't be everywhere at once. That means that they are forced to only defend, which is a losing position.
I could list all the other things that just don't make sense, but there's no point. The basic idea behind the book is okay, but in no way original. The implementation is also far from outstanding - at least, as far as I can tell. I have not finished the book, but I doubt the rest would be significantly different.
Such a disappointment. I really should have known better than to get my hopes up.
The world imagined by the author is definitely colorful, but I feel it's unreasonable (unrealistic). For example, if the leaders of both parties in the war feel that they don't want the war, then how the earth did they manage to drag it out for hundreds of years? Also, no leaders in any war ever believe their own propaganda of "hate the enemy". That would be just silly.
Or consider the opposing forces: hawk shapeshifters, who can fly, versus snake shapeshifters with superior ground combat abilities. I can't see how the hawks could not win this war. The hawks' mobility is far superior to that of the snakes, which is a very major factor in winning a war. The snakes may be superior in a one-to-one combat, but they can't be everywhere at once. That means that they are forced to only defend, which is a losing position.
I could list all the other things that just don't make sense, but there's no point. The basic idea behind the book is okay, but in no way original. The implementation is also far from outstanding - at least, as far as I can tell. I have not finished the book, but I doubt the rest would be significantly different.
Such a disappointment. I really should have known better than to get my hopes up.