A review by kim03
Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne

Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
This is my review:
I am in love with the dedication of this book. 
I noticed pretty much in the first chapter that I may not be the target audience for this book (as I’m white and this centers around black characters). Lisa Rayne is a skilled and sensitive writer who effortlessly adjusts her language to that of the time (and place), but I recommend looking up the content warnings for the book, listed below, before reading it. 
The book starts out slow as the characters are introduced to the audience and then picks up pace after their first encounter. 
I liked the representation a lot, and I felt like Lisa Rayne put a lot of care into the backgrounds of the characters. On that note I wondered how much of this had actually happened in real history like that and how much was added for plot purposes, but the author made me believe this could’ve happened like that for real (and who am I to know). 
I enjoyed Ailsa as the main character a lot. Kallum… not so much; he represent that group of men I do not like to read about: F-boys. The interactions between our two main characters, who both have their own POV, were often spent bickering in true “enemies” to lovers, but didn’t quite work for me. 
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Note: i did not manage to finish the book due to the misogynist undertones that represent the way of thinking during the time the book takes place. DNF at 35%. 

Many statements in the book (in both POVs) were very impactful for me, but on several occasions during Kallums POV he contradicts himself, indirectly saying that Ailsa is not like other girls; he seems to respect women one page then later indicating he finds them beneath himself.
— 
Trope: enemies/ rivals to lovers 
CWs: racism, slavery, kidnapping, violence, misogyny, sexual assault (off page/ memory) and sexual harassment 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings