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oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.0
This book was unfortunately a bit of a letdown for me, and maybe that’s due to the fact that it’s hyped pretty aggressively on booktok and other social platforms.
This was a fine book but it is definitely what I’d consider a romance focus with a light dusting of fantasy/magic elements. The fantasy elements are not explored or explained in any sort of depth. Though this is YA, it doesn’t compare to series like Shadow & Bone that gives you a vivid fantasy world with a true magic system. The focus is nearly wholly on the two main characters - both young journalists living in the capital or a fictional country at war. While war rages through their lands, it has not yet come to the capital and many believe it won’t. Their lives and interactions are the focus of this book, with a side quest/plot of the magical war that is apparently tearing society apart at the seams.
My issues with this book is that there are so many things that are really skipped over in service of the romance and to great detriment to the rest of the plot. While I commend the author for her creative way of introducing information (and doing it slowly) via letters, there simply is not enough to understand why the war is raging and what the rest of society is up to (we get a limited handful of side characters, most of which don’t drive the plot forward much).
There are more than a few plot holes - and it’s frustrating to get intrigued by a topic being introduced only to jump immediately to something else happening.
I will give props where deserved - I think the author does a nice job of conveying the brutality of war to a YA audience and setting up a compelling concept - who wouldn’t be intrigued by the concept of a world where the gods were at war and humans were being recruited to fight on their behalf?
I’m intrigued enough by the last ¼ of the book and the cliffhanger ending (which I’m mad about for other reasons but we don’t have time to get into that) that I will likely pick up the second book and hope that Ross treats us to a more developed fantasy world where her characters can truly shine.
This was a fine book but it is definitely what I’d consider a romance focus with a light dusting of fantasy/magic elements. The fantasy elements are not explored or explained in any sort of depth. Though this is YA, it doesn’t compare to series like Shadow & Bone that gives you a vivid fantasy world with a true magic system. The focus is nearly wholly on the two main characters - both young journalists living in the capital or a fictional country at war. While war rages through their lands, it has not yet come to the capital and many believe it won’t. Their lives and interactions are the focus of this book, with a side quest/plot of the magical war that is apparently tearing society apart at the seams.
My issues with this book is that there are so many things that are really skipped over in service of the romance and to great detriment to the rest of the plot. While I commend the author for her creative way of introducing information (and doing it slowly) via letters, there simply is not enough to understand why the war is raging and what the rest of society is up to (we get a limited handful of side characters, most of which don’t drive the plot forward much).
There are more than a few plot holes - and it’s frustrating to get intrigued by a topic being introduced only to jump immediately to something else happening.
I will give props where deserved - I think the author does a nice job of conveying the brutality of war to a YA audience and setting up a compelling concept - who wouldn’t be intrigued by the concept of a world where the gods were at war and humans were being recruited to fight on their behalf?
I’m intrigued enough by the last ¼ of the book and the cliffhanger ending (which I’m mad about for other reasons but we don’t have time to get into that) that I will likely pick up the second book and hope that Ross treats us to a more developed fantasy world where her characters can truly shine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Sexism
reading__redhead's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
(Potential) Highlight of the year! The first book where I really wanted to annotate, but I’d love to read to English version and annotate that one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Classism
abicaro17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Holy shit..... Well Rebecca Ross it's on sight girl! Iris is a reporter competing for a columnist spot against fellow reporter, Roman. As Iris writes letter to her brother who's away at war, she tucks them away inside her closet. These letter end up in the hands of her rival, Roman, who begins to write her back. As war tears across the country and propaganda and misinformation reigns supreme, Iris and Roman create a magical friendship through letters. I adore this story! It's just magical enough to be not realistic but not too crazy as to be hard to understand and follow. Iris is a strong and yet logical and likable character. She makes normal choices and thinks through her issues before jumping into action. Roman is adorable and this conclusion makes me mad af. Like gotta go read Ruthless Vows brb. My only issue with this book is that the start is slow and the world building isn't explained very well until later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
readyforit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
2⭐️0.25🌶️(nearly fade to black, nondescript)
If you are a person who never asks questions and can just accept the information you’re given, you may enjoy this book. The author does a pretty terrible job of world-building and explaining the magic system. We assume the story takes place on our earth, but the country isn’t named. Idk if it was meant to be England or a completely fictional land altogether. They have different names for months and days of the week, but the order of them isn’t explained. The magic of the typewriters is never explained (why is the wardrobe necessary?), nor the magical buildings (until book 2, and even then it’s not really that important). I think they could’ve cut half of the more mundane stuff and used that to either combine it with the sequel, or do a lot more world-building.
This book would’ve done better as a historical fiction book, without marketing it as fantasy or romance, since it has very little of either. The war was obviously based off of WWI, so the author should’ve just set it up as that, and added the magical typewriter element for fun. Also, this book was marketed as an enemies/rivals to lovers story and we never got that. It’s more like acquaintances to lovers, or a workplace romance. Tbh I didn’t think that the MCs had very good chemistry and I didn’t understand why they made some of their choices. I did think some of their letters were sweet but the whole storyline of Romanwaiting to tell iris that he was the anonymous person she was sending letters to until she had developed feelings for him, both as her coworker and her penpal, rubbed me the wrong way. Like the author was trying to force a love triangle or miscommunication trope. Then they got married all of the sudden, just so they could spend the night together, which made sense after I found out the author is religious.
I wanted to DNF at 20% and 50% but this book came so highly recommended, with many people saying it is their new favorite book. I was so bored the whole time. Don’t feel guilty for DNFing, you won’t miss much. I’m sorry to say that even the audiobook narrators sounded bored, and who could blame them?
If you are a person who never asks questions and can just accept the information you’re given, you may enjoy this book. The author does a pretty terrible job of world-building and explaining the magic system. We assume the story takes place on our earth, but the country isn’t named. Idk if it was meant to be England or a completely fictional land altogether. They have different names for months and days of the week, but the order of them isn’t explained. The magic of the typewriters is never explained (why is the wardrobe necessary?), nor the magical buildings (until book 2, and even then it’s not really that important). I think they could’ve cut half of the more mundane stuff and used that to either combine it with the sequel, or do a lot more world-building.
This book would’ve done better as a historical fiction book, without marketing it as fantasy or romance, since it has very little of either. The war was obviously based off of WWI, so the author should’ve just set it up as that, and added the magical typewriter element for fun. Also, this book was marketed as an enemies/rivals to lovers story and we never got that. It’s more like acquaintances to lovers, or a workplace romance. Tbh I didn’t think that the MCs had very good chemistry and I didn’t understand why they made some of their choices. I did think some of their letters were sweet but the whole storyline of Roman
I wanted to DNF at 20% and 50% but this book came so highly recommended, with many people saying it is their new favorite book. I was so bored the whole time. Don’t feel guilty for DNFing, you won’t miss much. I’m sorry to say that even the audiobook narrators sounded bored, and who could blame them?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
I think this book is loosely based on WWI war tactics so if that’s triggering for you, skip itju_harue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Uma escrita envolvendo combinada com uma história maravilhosa. Agora entendi (e endosso) o hype. Foi tudinho. Em certos momentos me lembrou um pouco a história de O Estranho Sonhador, então li empolgada.
A forma como a magia se mistura com o cotidiano dos personagens é muito interessante. E eu amei que a ideia norteadora da autora - descrita nos agradecimentos - foi pra frente de forma magistral. Fiquei completamente rendida aos protagonista e demais personagens. E já estou empolgada pra ler o segundo volume.
A forma como a magia se mistura com o cotidiano dos personagens é muito interessante. E eu amei que a ideia norteadora da autora - descrita nos agradecimentos - foi pra frente de forma magistral. Fiquei completamente rendida aos protagonista e demais personagens. E já estou empolgada pra ler o segundo volume.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Roman Kitt my beloved, you hold my heart in your hands <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
katelynndzindzio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Roman C. Kitt and Iris Winnow are rivals, competing for the columnist position at the Gazette only to have their worlds completely changed. Iris's brother goes to war, her mom died, and Roman gets engaged. Roman wins the columnist position and Iris quits, determined to find her brother she heads to the war zone. All the while, Iris has been sending letters from her magical typewriter... Unknowingly, not to her brother.
Kitt and winnow's journey is magical to say the least. Through a series of unfortunate events they fall in love. Can true love save them?
Kitt and winnow's journey is magical to say the least. Through a series of unfortunate events they fall in love. Can true love save them?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thought this was a good book! I will definitely be reading the second one and I’m excited to see the world building and character development changes in the second as well. I only rated 4 stars because I feel like the “hidden identity enemies to lovers” trope is overused at this point but it was still a good book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
teabrewer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Everything in this book is written so vividly. The universe is imersive, extremely. Every scent, texture and visual is so real that it is impossible not to feel that you in every scene. Every emotion the author wanted you to feel, you would. To the point where I had to put the book dawn a few times closer to the end because I'm simply to equiped to process all these feelings. The romance is beautiful, moving and made me sight and (scream with the book) several times. The story does not hesitate to show war like it is but it doesn't make everything depressing and hopeless either. I loved this book with all my heart and I hope so, so much that the sequel is just as good. I can't wait for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content