ebazilereads's review
3.0
A sweet retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a gay male couple, in which a prince is placed in a magical sleep by a witch in the 1700s and then inadvertently awoken by a young witch centuries later.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
marleen3843's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Loveeed this book. Did have a bit of difficulty though with the beginning. It felt like you were bombarded with information
themoodreader's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Violence
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
3.7 Stars
I really liked the mix of magic and technology. I also thought that how Larkin dealt with the time changes was handled really well. Overall it was a good story.
I really liked the mix of magic and technology. I also thought that how Larkin dealt with the time changes was handled really well. Overall it was a good story.
gealach's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
centavepub's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
emmascc's review against another edition
2.0
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This book was just okay. It had a great premise but the execution just felt off to me. There was far too much exposition at the start of the book for me to immediately become engaged, the dialogue felt clunky and the descriptions were subpar. The romantic relationship wasn't bad although some of the decisions of both mc's was frustrating at time.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This book was just okay. It had a great premise but the execution just felt off to me. There was far too much exposition at the start of the book for me to immediately become engaged, the dialogue felt clunky and the descriptions were subpar. The romantic relationship wasn't bad although some of the decisions of both mc's was frustrating at time.
unapologetic_romantic's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful, heart-warming and delightful. I truly enjoyed reading Lava Rad Feather Blue. I usually don’t like have magic and technology mixed but Molly Ringle mixed the two with expertise. I was hooked right from the start, and as the story unfolded and twisted I got more and more involved. I adore Larkin, what a wonderful character, and Merrick was so bright and passionate. They are amazing together. My heart aches for the tragedies this story held, and soared in the victories. I would highly recommend.
phngtrnreads's review against another edition
1.0
While I appreciate the author's effort to bring cultural diversity into this book as well as its interesting concept, I found the writing lacking flexibility and creativity. So as I was trying to dwell myself in this faerie-inspired island that she has created, it's hard to thoroughly enjoy it. I had been informed before reading that I might find some typing errors, but I doubt that even such an incident would be a sufficient explanation for the anti-climatic feeling I got from her conduction of penmanship.
The main couple itself and the whole cast overall didn't leave me any remarkable impressions either. As I have mentioned above, the author tried to fill this book with a wide range of characters from many ethnics (especially the Hawaiian cultural references) and sexualities being normalized of which I always want to see more in this particular genre, I can't help but find them tokenized and didn't receive much representation in this story. If Ms. Ringle had to dump down clarifications for that in the acknowledgment, I'd say, her effort was not satisfactory, and it could have been done so much better.
As for the concept of this book, it was really enticing to me, since we don't normally see the supernatural factorials being blended into daily life in urban fantasy, but usually seen as some secret society unknown to humans. But this idea was so poorly handled it lacks consistency. Many details went unexplained, many others were unnecessary, and some didn't make any sense.
Overalls, great concept, and well-intended. But with bad writing and terrible execution.
The main couple itself and the whole cast overall didn't leave me any remarkable impressions either. As I have mentioned above, the author tried to fill this book with a wide range of characters from many ethnics (especially the Hawaiian cultural references) and sexualities being normalized of which I always want to see more in this particular genre, I can't help but find them tokenized and didn't receive much representation in this story. If Ms. Ringle had to dump down clarifications for that in the acknowledgment, I'd say, her effort was not satisfactory, and it could have been done so much better.
As for the concept of this book, it was really enticing to me, since we don't normally see the supernatural factorials being blended into daily life in urban fantasy, but usually seen as some secret society unknown to humans. But this idea was so poorly handled it lacks consistency. Many details went unexplained, many others were unnecessary, and some didn't make any sense.
Overalls, great concept, and well-intended. But with bad writing and terrible execution.
gmzzn's review against another edition
4.0
(I received a free eARC on Netgalley!)
My biggest regret is not getting to this book sooner - I enjoyed it so much, despite reading it very slowly! Merrick is a wonderful character, and I loved his growth and romance with Larkin, who was also a very fun character, especially in his interactions with others and with the modern world, so different from his of two centuries before.
At first I wasn’t expecting much, but the more I read the more I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters. Molly Ringle created a very nice lore surrounding the fey and the country of Eidolonia, and the fey world was described with enough details to make me imagine I was walking there, with the characters, and each part of it felt very distinctive.
I really liked Merrick’s relationship with his family and the way his feelings for Larkin changed and developed; from when Merrick accidentally awakened Larkin from his magical sleep, to Larkin interacting with Merrick’s family and present-day people, until the very end, when they had to work together to find a way to beat Ula Kana. The way they grew to trust and love each other was lovely to read as well.
For the ending - the way the plot points came together and they dealt with the biggest threat to their lives was very well developed, I think, but then the solutions between characters did feel a bit rushed. At some points I also had a hard time connecting with the characters’ feelings, and understanding how they were reacting to the world, despite them expressing through words often.
Overall it was a very fun book, and I’m excited to read more of this author! I’m glad I got the opportunity to read it.
My biggest regret is not getting to this book sooner - I enjoyed it so much, despite reading it very slowly! Merrick is a wonderful character, and I loved his growth and romance with Larkin, who was also a very fun character, especially in his interactions with others and with the modern world, so different from his of two centuries before.
At first I wasn’t expecting much, but the more I read the more I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters. Molly Ringle created a very nice lore surrounding the fey and the country of Eidolonia, and the fey world was described with enough details to make me imagine I was walking there, with the characters, and each part of it felt very distinctive.
I really liked Merrick’s relationship with his family and the way his feelings for Larkin changed and developed; from when Merrick accidentally awakened Larkin from his magical sleep, to Larkin interacting with Merrick’s family and present-day people, until the very end, when they had to work together to find a way to beat Ula Kana. The way they grew to trust and love each other was lovely to read as well.
For the ending - the way the plot points came together and they dealt with the biggest threat to their lives was very well developed, I think, but then the solutions between characters did feel a bit rushed. At some points I also had a hard time connecting with the characters’ feelings, and understanding how they were reacting to the world, despite them expressing through words often.
Overall it was a very fun book, and I’m excited to read more of this author! I’m glad I got the opportunity to read it.