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nefariousbee's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.75
second time I read this. not quite 5 stars this time, but only because I got less swept up and paid more attention to where I wished the author would do a thing differently.
I still absolutely adore her writing tho. her character work is beautiful, they just come alive under her fingers, they change and grow, and the yearning is like no other.
again I feel like I have to point out, it is light on the plot. I prefer this. I don't care about plot. I want to spend time with the characters, and the author seems to agree that plot should only be there to move the characters. not everyone likes that tho, and if you're big on plot, I would encourage you to pick a different book. for us romance & character depth enthusiast bitches, it's just right.
also as someone who's had crippling anxiety for longer than they could remember. the best portrayal I saw.
also çe/çem pronouns rule
I still absolutely adore her writing tho. her character work is beautiful, they just come alive under her fingers, they change and grow, and the yearning is like no other.
again I feel like I have to point out, it is light on the plot. I prefer this. I don't care about plot. I want to spend time with the characters, and the author seems to agree that plot should only be there to move the characters. not everyone likes that tho, and if you're big on plot, I would encourage you to pick a different book. for us romance & character depth enthusiast bitches, it's just right.
also as someone who's had crippling anxiety for longer than they could remember. the best portrayal I saw.
also çe/çem pronouns rule
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
leighrobinson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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
This is one of the best fantasy books I think I’ve ever read! Everything about this book was absolutely incredible. From the anxiety rep to the queer rep to the political intrigue, everything was so well done. And I just wanted to live between the pages of this book and never have it end! I loved Kadou and Evermer, the level of chemistry and character development between them was fantastic! Even the side characters were amazing and had me giggling at every turn. I loved all of them and I honestly can’t wait to dig into the other books set in this world. A Taste Of Gold And Iron is getting five stars! And if you haven’t read it yet, I would highly recommend it. 😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Eating disorder
dreamerfreak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Grief
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Grief and Pregnancy
kurumipanda's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
cheye13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was an excellent read in that it delivered exactly as I expected it to, with a little extra flavor thrown in. The world-building and background character development was impressively thorough, given the main crux (romance) of the story. I particularly loved how this specific story managed the "why don't they simply get together" hurdle by essentially making the characters simply too busy – felt oddly true to life despite the kidnapping/assassination attempts. This story also expertly lays the ground for a romance series, subtly and perfectly setting up the next main character.
While I found no faults in this book for my own reading tastes, I can see where it may fall short for others. This is not a surprising book in the slightest – though the political/criminal investigation is paced to persist through the full novel, it is set up pretty straightforwardly from the start. The romance progression is also fully predictable, and while it didn't deliver any gut-punch style emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed being swept through the journey. Finally, while the slow burn tension is off the charts, some may find the release/resolution of that tension unequal to the anticipation (i.e. it's pretty low on the spice).
But I don't look for any of these elements in my fantasy romance. I enjoy predictability and the satisfaction of the characters finally catching up to my detached perspective; I was awash in the natural flow and growth of the leads' relationship; and I love me a closed-door or mild heat level. In fact, given the building tension throughout the book, I would've felt like there was no closure if there weren't at least a vague on-page Scene™, so this book skipped past that pitfall as well. A complete joy to read. Hope there's more to this series in the future!
While I found no faults in this book for my own reading tastes, I can see where it may fall short for others. This is not a surprising book in the slightest – though the political/criminal investigation is paced to persist through the full novel, it is set up pretty straightforwardly from the start. The romance progression is also fully predictable, and while it didn't deliver any gut-punch style emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed being swept through the journey. Finally, while the slow burn tension is off the charts, some may find the release/resolution of that tension unequal to the anticipation (i.e. it's pretty low on the spice).
But I don't look for any of these elements in my fantasy romance. I enjoy predictability and the satisfaction of the characters finally catching up to my detached perspective; I was awash in the natural flow and growth of the leads' relationship; and I love me a closed-door or mild heat level. In fact, given the building tension throughout the book, I would've felt like there was no closure if there weren't at least a vague on-page Scene™, so this book skipped past that pitfall as well. A complete joy to read. Hope there's more to this series in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Torture and Alcohol
mirandyli's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a super queer book that has so much queer representation, including characters that are asexual, pansexual, demisexual, trans, using neopronouns... I have truly never read a book with this much queer representation. The fantasy elements have capitalistic imperial undertones, but if you ignore that it's overall a decent read. Very slow at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
amy_in_the_city's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
I'll admit I struggled a bit to get into this book for the first 100 pages or so, but once I was in, I was IN. The main couple had me kicking my feet rooting for them. I loved all the characters in this book and thought they were wonderfully developed. They could have made Tadek a villain or dreadfully boring, as the romance genre tends to do with exes, but they made him so fun while still giving him depth and complexity. I like his friendship with Kadou, and I can't wait to read his book! I want to be Commander Eozena when I grow up, and Zeliha was an awesome badass ruler.
The romance in this was such a delicious, angsty, slow burn. Evemer was so stoic and reserved, which made it all the more fun to see him fall so hard for Kadou. I appreciated the anxiety representation with Kadou and that it didn't make him any less of a badass. He still defended Evemer whenever needed, and I loved seeing a prince also defend his bodyguard. A big theme in their relationship is reciprocity, and I love when couples feel like a real partnership.
There was enough action to keep the plot fun and exciting, but I do wish the villain wasn't so obvious from the start. Also, while this was a fantasy, the fantasy elements are used very sparingly. The ending felt a little bit rushed, and I do wish we got to see a bit more of Kadou and Evemer together as a happy couple. My overwhelming love for the romance and the characters overrides any of these quibbles though, and I know this is a book I'll come back to for rereads.
The romance in this was such a delicious, angsty, slow burn. Evemer was so stoic and reserved, which made it all the more fun to see him fall so hard for Kadou. I appreciated the anxiety representation with Kadou and that it didn't make him any less of a badass. He still defended Evemer whenever needed, and I loved seeing a prince also defend his bodyguard. A big theme in their relationship is reciprocity, and I love when couples feel like a real partnership.
There was enough action to keep the plot fun and exciting, but I do wish the villain wasn't so obvious from the start. Also, while this was a fantasy, the fantasy elements are used very sparingly. The ending felt a little bit rushed, and I do wish we got to see a bit more of Kadou and Evemer together as a happy couple. My overwhelming love for the romance and the characters overrides any of these quibbles though, and I know this is a book I'll come back to for rereads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
cinnamonandpancakes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
3.75
I am unsure if this book would rate higher if I'd read it as a physical book. I kept picking it up and putting it down, which I don't think helped. This book needs to be read all in one go.
I loved Kadou and Evemer, especially Evemer, and their romance. It was very sexy and compelling. And Tadek was a lot of fun. But I found a lot of the other characters less interesting. Siranos, in particular, seemed to change personality depending on what the narrative needed him to be and that made his plotline quite unsatisfying in my opinion.
The world building was amazing, however, and I loved the focus on material culture. It felt very much like a world that people lived in.
I loved Kadou and Evemer, especially Evemer, and their romance. It was very sexy and compelling. And Tadek was a lot of fun. But I found a lot of the other characters less interesting. Siranos, in particular, seemed to change personality depending on what the narrative needed him to be and that made his plotline quite unsatisfying in my opinion.
The world building was amazing, however, and I loved the focus on material culture. It felt very much like a world that people lived in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail