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shaipanda's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.75
This plot was not good lol but the smut was fairly well done and I had a good time reading it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
itsgalactic's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book does what it wants to really well. There is plenty of alien smut, I can believe these three people would fall in love, and I appreciate that everyone in this polyamorous triad are equally in love and attracted to each other as advertised even with a mate bond to explain the whirlwind romance. If all you are looking for is some triad alien smut with likeable protagonists and plot isn’t your concern, this is a fun pick up.
To get to my lower score we have to delve into what I personally didn’t like. While it is believable that everyone falls in love, I found myself wanted some of the scenes we don’t see such a kink negotiation discussion or a day out on the town. It is implied that these were sex free activities and therefore not covered. By the time, I got to the end of the book the sex scenes started to blur together and the connective tissue was thin. While the concern about Toras’s career felt well established and came up appropriately, we have to get into the other driving plot so spoilers.
40% through the book we learn that the other performers falling sick was not an illness but a poisoning. This subplot does not kick into gear until nearly 80% of the book has passed when Stella’s friend is poisoned. Up until this point we haven’t met any other workers who work at the show let alone performers leaving Max and Andromeda as the only suspects. While both want to be performers, Max is really the one that gets a scene establishing motive and Stella assumes he is the suspect. While this felt super obvious, I would have honestly respected the author for just going for that and focusing on the trio more. However, it is revealed that Andromeda was the true culprit which is only surprising as this character is mentioned the most in the first chapter and 4 times in two more character (2 mentions per chapter). The twist really only works because Andromeda is so forgettable from her few appearances. While everything makes sense in hindsight, I really feel the book suffers from stuffing this poisoning subplot in that feel unnecessary for a more dramatic climax. I feel something that would have made more sense would have been Toras’s position being questioned and Zin and Stella having to publicly defend him by proclaiming their bond to him in front of the political leaders. While Zin and Toras go through this, it could have been fun to have Stella leave a show to go to them because she knows she wants them as she comes to terms with that means being bonded to them for life. Also would have loved Stella to meet Zin’s parents in this scenario.</spoilers>
To get to my lower score we have to delve into what I personally didn’t like. While it is believable that everyone falls in love, I found myself wanted some of the scenes we don’t see such a kink negotiation discussion or a day out on the town. It is implied that these were sex free activities and therefore not covered. By the time, I got to the end of the book the sex scenes started to blur together and the connective tissue was thin. While the concern about Toras’s career felt well established and came up appropriately, we have to get into the other driving plot so spoilers.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
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