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frantically's review
- 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? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Cursing
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
lady_moon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really wanted to give this book the full writing but there were a few little things that bothered me. The biggest one: the pace was a little bit off at times. There were some times were literal hours has passed in the time of one paragraph. I really appreciated it fast-paceness but it could have been done more smoothly when a scene passed into another. Also, I could leave without Pip's POV tbh but this let us know my aromantic queen Temi better so I'm not complaining.
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8/5/2022: I HAVE BEEN WAITING AGES FOR A BOOK INSPIRED BY APOLLO AND HYACINTH'S MYTH, I'M SO HAPPY I FOUND THIS
Graphic: Cursing and Misogyny
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming and War
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey is book one in the Apollo Ascending series. This is a NA romance reimagining of the Apollo and Hyacinth myth. I have been loving retellings lately, and this one gave me The Song of Achilles vibes minus all the tragedy.
We get POVs from Apollo, Hyacinth, and Epiphany (Hyacinth's sister). Each character, including Temi, Apollo's sister, struggles with their lot in life vs. what they actually want. For Apollo, he is destined to ascend as the sun god, but wants nothing more than to stay on earth with his sister. Hyacinth is destined to become king after his father, and struggles with the pressure of duty and trying to be with the one he loves. Epiphany is constrained by the patriarchal laws that make it so she must marry or have male patronage, when all she wants is freedom.
The enemies to lovers between Apollo and Hyacinth is so wonderful! I love all the witty repartee and the "gods I hate him, but can't stop fantasizing about him." I had very "just kiss already!" Vibes the whole time lol. I loved the friendship between Temi and Pip! Temi is aroace and is not here for all the patriarchal bullshit and encourages Pip to do what she wants despite what is proper. Temi is absolutely my favorite character. She's me, except I'm allosexual lol. As Nicole said, definitely a Sagittarius 😆.
I'm not usually a huge fan of NA romance, mostly because a lot of enemies to lovers in this genre read as abusive, but Nicole doesn't do that! This was a sweet relationship with plenty of steamy moments that were not gratuitous, but loving. I'm impatiently waiting for June to come so I can have the next book to see more of Temi's story.
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
moncuries'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? Yes
3.5
I also think this book would have benefitted from establishing their characters a little more before bringing them together. The beginning (Seeing Zeus, travelling etc) felt a little rushed. I wanted to settle into the quiet life a little more. It felt as though, in an effort to demonstrate Apollo’s place in his village, we had to see him interact with as many people as possible. If just one of those scenes had been longer and more introspective, I think it would have been much more effective.
I like how much description we get, particularly from Apollo’s perspective. The metaphors and comparisons are mostly rooted in the character’s world, which is good. I only wish the descriptions spent less time talking about how beautiful it all was and a little more on establishing mood. I want to know about the dirt of the city and the heavy smells. Apollo is a poet, so maybe it makes sense that his POV is mostly surface level pretty worded description. I also think good description needs character interaction/context so maybe thats why it wasnt clicking.
I think the dialogue in this book struggles with hitting in between the modern lexicon and some more antiquated expressions and sensibilities. It’s a purposeful choice and one thats not uncommon in the genre, but I don’t love it.
I’m about halfway through, so maybe things will turn out! I do like the story, I’m just not as impressed as i wanted to be haha.
update:
another pet peeve is when the characters cite “The Laws!!” as explanation for an injustice. Its used as the explanation for injustices faced by begging orphans, misogyny, etc. It just feels like a childish thing to say. even just “By law, the women may not seek employment.” is better than “The laws,” LMAO they do explain what the law is but it feels childish
also the physical descriptions get a little repetitive. it feels like it was missing an editor. lots of ebony hair shining and gleaming and dark curls. which, yeah, a lot of characters may share a hair colour or texture, but surely we can talk about more than their hair colour. i have heard about hyacinth and apollo’s jawlines like 6 times. some of the environment description gets reused too. flaxen light for instance. its a good one, but i just feel like... why didnt an editor see this?
STOP USING THE WORLD AMBLED LOL U CAN SAY WALK! why is everyone and their mother ambling. it might be appropriate for one character to amble but a whole royal family and all of their court? nobody learned to walk properly?? lol
at the beginning, apollo and his sister have a small discussion about a previous hookup. its implied that non binary people exist in this universe or at the very least, there are people who use they/them. Unless I missed something, we never actually see a non binary person. Why even mention it? Also how do these non binary people fit into the systematic oppression of women in the story? for it to be Normal enough that Apollo discusses it readily, its odd that it never comes up again. Its weird to throw it in at the beginning, when things are being established, and then just let nothing come of it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
irlchaosdemon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A Veil of Gods and Kings is a reimagining of Apollo and Hyacinth set in a fantasy world inspired by Greek mythology.
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
pagesofnay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, and Blood