Scan barcode
purrson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Our two main characters, Raff and Penn, are each looking for escape from their current circumstances. When they stumble upon one another by chance one night at the start of the story, each logically decides to conceal a portion of his identity—his class & parentage—from the other. A large part of the story takes place as pair trek away from Penn’s home, growing closer amid the tension of traveling in rough weather, and secretively at that, trying to avoid notice as much as possible.
Throughout the journey there are complications and twists that keep the tension up, and stakes rise organically as Penn and Raff each slowly shift from trying to find a way forward independently, to hoping a future together might not be impossible. Their relationship is a very earnest, romantic one, and I enjoyed seeing Raff and Penn grow and change under each other’s influence—there is subtle but good character development here.
The world-building is grounded well enough in history and just expansive enough to feel real, just as the villains are truly cruel and entirely commonplace. Queerness is treated as normal though not without its dangers—but thankfully this takes place about 200 years before The Buggery Act of 1533, so things are not so dire. There are references to physical and emotional abuse of a character by their parent, which is heartbreaking and may be triggering to some. There are also depictions of loving, accepting family.
All in all I absolutely recommend this MM historical fantasy. Open door spice, lots of active consent.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
There is one animal death near the beginning:vaguelyredhead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and War
30something_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A runaway groom and the hunter sent to retrieve him.
Clandestine meeting in the forest.
Secret identities.
Mutual pining.
Huddling close while they camp outside. ("Only for warmth," they say! Not because they wanna hold each other tenderly.)
This was a delight. I would hazard to call this an accurate Historical- more historical adjacent. It was very A Knights Tale coded and I really loved that.
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, and Outing
haileeraye'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
sariereads'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
This is set up to have at least one sequel, though its particular story is self-contained. Rather than leave an obvious story hook open, it ends with the characters in new situations which grant the possibility of future events without demanding any particular follow up.
I love Penn and Raff, I like them as individual characters and I enjoy how well they work together. They each have very different relationships with their families. Penn seems to be close with two of his several siblings, despite neither showing up for very long. His father is terrible, rather unambiguously playing the villain. Raff has close and mostly loving relationships with his sister and brother, and, despite their differences, they seem to understand each other fairly well. Not much is shown of Raff's relationship with his father, but what is there seems to be filled with respect and care.
Other things I love, in no particular order: how much of the time is spent just traveling and sleeping in the woods and dealing with inns; the wound care towards the end of the book; the way Penn obviously grows as a person; the more subtle ways that Raff starts to trust in other peoples' competence.
This was great, I want more, and I'm eager for the sequel.
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
wildatheart1339's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Medical content
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Classism
ronan_lesh's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood