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siriface's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
anelya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Look. This is 100% someone's jam. That person is not me.
My back arched as the first orgasm ripped through me like a mobster collecting a debt.
Just... what? Like... what? And that's not the only one, there are many more like it.
I dunno, this novel also like... talks about oppression and racism and doing the right thing, but sometimes the approach to all that is just the weirdest shit. Because the overall vibe of the novel is silly and sexy, and then at the same time you have this kinda... wild approach to equality and issues of discrimination and I just... I honestly cannot explain how wild it is. And also, how surprisingly like... bloody it was? Or maybe violent is the word I'm looking for. I dunno, man, just... yeah.
And the plot was just... weird? And the inciting incident for the plot, the whole scene at the very first altar... Gods, they made zero sense. I have no idea what the author was going for, but so much logic was missing for me. I dunno, I guess I also really struggled to suspend my disbelief with this one, because of the writing style and just the... lack of logic for enough things.
Gods, again, like... if you go in knowing that this book is just wildin', then you might like it. I just had different expectations. More character development, more followable plot, more... cozy fantasy. Less kinda nonsensical "we just destroyed an entire city and killed thousands of people and we're on the run, this is the perfect time to bang and then take a nap." - Like, what was that?
Long story short, it was funny for sure, wild, and just not quite my taste, some of the stuff made me uncomfortable. I was super excited for the full series, and now... Well, let's just say book 1 was enough for me.
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Racism
tetrootz's review against another edition
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
maxthedinosaur's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry
cozyscones's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
citymouse's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Racism and Slavery
Minor: Sexual harassment
booksalacarte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Fantasy
Unwilling-hero FMC
POC
Allies to lovers
Mystical creatures
Secret history
He falls first
I was so excited to get the ARC for this book. One that I had seen rave reviews for all over tiktok. Unfortunately the story didn’t quite live up to the hype. The idea of following a strong, black, anti-hero, who winds up being roped into a quest to save the day is a fun one, I just didn’t know if I was supposed to read it as a satire or not. The medieval vibes with modern duologue and slang didn’t fit as nicely as I had hoped. I cringed at the literal Hamilton lyrics quote.
I found so much of the sincere moments were cut by random jokes or the FMC almost breaking the 4th wall with breaking down Fantasy or romance novels and comparing her quest to them. I wanted to take it as tongue in cheek, but it happened so often that it wasn’t silly. It was annoying.
I really loved the realistic moments, like a mom calling her kids by the wrong names, the changing of minds about captivity and slavery… But the pacing inconsistencies took away from the potency of the statements. While I liked the sentiments of having the heavy topics present, they seemed so out of place in this rom-com fantasy
The world building was barely there and what was there was so slap-dash that much of it was sidelined bad dialogue and rushed plot.
The open door spice scenes were meh. I just didn’t enjoy the two main characters because they were inconsistent. Things were cheesy and surface level.
I wanted to like this. But I just didn’t.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an Advanced eRrader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The whole story unfolds like a fan-fiction style rendering of someone's role-playing campaign. I feel like scribbled in the corner of the character notes for the protagonist reads: Cinnamon likes to get drunk, and when inebriated will get cravings for cheese.
It's an entertaining book about a girl who just wants a quiet life, who quests to destroy 4 artefacts of power to bring down an evil nasty, while collecting about her a team of hot and capable companions.. one of whom wants to seduce her into a life-bond, so they can boff happily ever after.
Entertaining.. but not world moving.
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
amanda_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
shuttersham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Rape