pvbobrien's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual violence, Ableism, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Pregnancy
20sidedbi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
LOOK AT CONTENT WARNINGS. This is intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Police brutality, Homophobia, Hate crime, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Child abuse and Murder
carolined314's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was by far the messiest, most negative, almost rapey in one place of KJ Charles that I have read. A viscerally negative book in many ways, but if you hang on for it, there's quite a few happy endings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Classism, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Confinement, and Abandonment
purplepenning's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Confinement and Child abuse
millah's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
First of all: It's hard for me to rate this book, because the writing, the love reunion story and the magic deserve all the stars, at the same time that a scene or two made it really hard to read (spoiler below). Another note: It's been a long while since I read the Magpies series, so that might have influenced how I reacted to this book. I suspect that time made it a lot easier for me to accept Jonah's redemption storyline, for instance. Then again, I've never been a fan of righteous rage and revenge between love interests. Annnd this brings me to the dub-con scene that was a bit too much for my taste, I'm afraid,
especially when Ben's main drive was to hurt and humiliate Jonah. That's rape. Jonah's self-hate during other intimate scenes also troubled me, mainly because it's a squick of mine, and others might love it. These scenes made it hard for me to accept Ben's redemption arc, to be honest. Still, I was invested in this story, and I couldn't help feeling that the author knew what they were doing, and that the troubling scenes were meant to be uncomfortable. To make us think. So. My mind decided to go with the flow and read the whole book, and I'm glad to say that it was worth it. The resolve wasn't too bad, and the climax of the story was very satisfying. So. All in all, I enjoyed this story, fell hard for the characters and it was refreshing to get a new point of view in this universe. I have no idea how to rate the book, though.
Spoiler
especially when Ben's main drive was to hurt and humiliate Jonah. That's rape. Jonah's self-hate during other intimate scenes also troubled me, mainly because it's a squick of mine, and others might love it. These scenes made it hard for me to accept Ben's redemption arc, to be honest. Still, I was invested in this story, and I couldn't help feeling that the author knew what they were doing, and that the troubling scenes were meant to be uncomfortable. To make us think. So. My mind decided to go with the flow and read the whole book, and I'm glad to say that it was worth it. The resolve wasn't too bad, and the climax of the story was very satisfying. So. All in all, I enjoyed this story, fell hard for the characters and it was refreshing to get a new point of view in this universe. I have no idea how to rate the book, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
stinkyfemme's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Honestly, I didn’t expect to be as emotionally impacted by this story as I was. I was anticipating something short and sweet, and instead ended up with a book that addressed one’s power to change their fate and grow beyond the parts of them that were presumed fundamental. I truly loved the way that friendship and tenderness allowed a presumed ‘villain’ to be redeemed, and Jonah’s growth sincerely touched me. Additionally, the bittersweet way that Jonah and Ben’s love regrew from past pain into something beautiful put me in a deeply bittersweet mood; It’s a feeling that’s making me wanted to linger on the book, instead of speeding ahead to my next book like I usually do.
My one real qualm with this book is the moment where
Overall, I have a feeling that I’ll be revisiting this read again in the future. 4.5
My one real qualm with this book is the moment where
Spoiler
Ben (very briefly) considers sexually assaulting Jonah. It left a sick feeling to my stomach, and I don’t know that the brushing off with “Jonah had enough power to end the situation if he wanted to” was enough for me. I understand that it was intended to show the depth of Ben’s pain and destruction as a person, but I just don’t feel comfortable with its inclusion in the novel.Overall, I have a feeling that I’ll be revisiting this read again in the future. 4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
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