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meeklovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My gosh! I'm honestly so happy I ended really loving this book. I was seeing it all over bookstagram and booktube and it was just always in my face that I figured I'd give in and see what people were talking about. And again, I'm so happy that I did. I loved almost everything about this book. The writing was exquisite and the love story between Iris and Kitt (Roman) is literally chef's kiss and the fact that the author was also able to showcase their individual personalities and how they contrast yet complement each other was executed very well. And THE LETTERS! Dare, I say more. They were phenomenal, I love every single one! Honestly, this book would've been 5 stars for me, but I'm not sure if it was just me but I found some of the plotics of their world to be confusing. Because of that, I found myself caring way more about the love story rather than the plot (which is still interesting, but I wish the author was more clear on how the world worked). Also, I'm confused about what time period this story is set in because there are times when it reads as an urban fantasy where everyone has jobs, electricity, there's baseball, etc, but then other times it seems like it's set in a much older time period. Like there was one time where it states that Forest was born in 1892, and I'm like, what?! So, that part was unclear to me, but other than that I loved this book! Can't wait for book two! Oh also I feel like we should've gotten a scene where Kitt defies his father and breaks off the engagement because it seemed like such a major plot point but then gets explained away in a few sentences. I hope the author dives into the consequences of Kitt's actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was beautiful and poetic. Time flew by while listening to it and I truly escaped into the story. The first 25% set up the world and the characters, but after they got to the war I was captivated. The letter melted me heart and I saw how the characters fell for each other as they shed small pieces of armor to grow closer to each other. I loved the magic system from the nebulous gods, and it felt like we got to hear about ordinary people living their lives in a world with a pantheon of gods and the subsequent magical overflow, rather than mortal characters being made important in a story about the gods (like a lot of Greek myths are). And I loved that perspective! The ending was tense and stressful and I’m in a mega book hangover and can’t wait to read the next book as soon as it comes out!! The writing was so lyrical and beautiful, with lots of descriptions on how things felt so I really felt immersed in the world. The blend of a pseudo WW1 world and the magical pantheon of gods was really interesting too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical content
Minor: Slavery
lizzye33's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Car accident, and Abandonment
guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
hdabru's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
I am so thankful to have been selected as an advance reader. I don’t think I’ll be able to shut up about this one for a long time to come. Rebecca Ross blew me away in the Elements of Cadence so I was ravenous for this one, and it did not disappoint. I could not put it down and got no laundry folded, as the baskets piled up. I think I spent 70% of the book in a dead swoon.
In summary, this was one of the sweetest, most romantic, and most gripping books I’ve read in years. It was just about perfect, from the slow, steady build, to the sweetness and delight, to the agonizing emotion of holding your breath to see if fate would bring them together after all. The side characters were wonderful as well. Nuanced, interesting, distinct, multi faceted. The descriptions of grief, addiction, war, ptsd, and fear were so visceral, and juxtaposed with unbearable clarity against the sweetness of the power of love and of choosing someone despite your fear. Ross is excellent at character development, subtlety, and descriptiveness. Each book of hers that I’ve read seriously sinks you into a sense of place that is so magical and enchanted it feels like you’re standing in a spring rain, in the lush, misty mountains of some magical land. Take me there, please.
Dying for the second book.
In summary, this was one of the sweetest, most romantic, and most gripping books I’ve read in years. It was just about perfect, from the slow, steady build, to the sweetness and delight, to the agonizing emotion of holding your breath to see if fate would bring them together after all. The side characters were wonderful as well. Nuanced, interesting, distinct, multi faceted. The descriptions of grief, addiction, war, ptsd, and fear were so visceral, and juxtaposed with unbearable clarity against the sweetness of the power of love and of choosing someone despite your fear. Ross is excellent at character development, subtlety, and descriptiveness. Each book of hers that I’ve read seriously sinks you into a sense of place that is so magical and enchanted it feels like you’re standing in a spring rain, in the lush, misty mountains of some magical land. Take me there, please.
Dying for the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death