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A review by dmoony
Jack of Thorns by A.K. Faulkner
4.0
(Writing this review after I've already read the rest of the series.)
So my first impression of this was, wtf am I reading, why is he speaking like that, and is this p*rn?? Since the plot goes something like: guy has to have endless s*x with everyone to quench the thirst of a scary fertility god, while courting a hilariously bad exaggeration of a British royalty... Anyway, this just goes to show that the execution of a story makes all the difference, because this somehow worked.
After getting used to the weirdness and the way Quentin speaks (the author is British so it's allowed I guess lol), I binged it in one sitting. Contrary to what the plot implies, this is a very slow burn romance with no smut and an incredibly entertaining and tense dynamic between the main characters. I loved the well-informed portrayal of addiction and toxic relationships, and the inclusion of the subtler signs of cPTSD, though it was still mostly carried by the romance for me. Also, it's urban fantasy, the cover's kinda misleading.
Review for the rest of the series:
I love Quentin. That's all thanks.
Jk, but for real. Quentin is amazing, adorable, the best.
Anyway, the series gets even better after the first book imo. If there were any plot holes in the first book, the next ones are much more solid plot-wise. This might also be one of the best-researched series I've read. I can tell the author really made sure to get everything right, from trauma and psychology to raising baby ravens. Though the first book didn't have smut, the next ones do. I'm asexual and still enjoyed it, which is pretty telling I think. Cause it's all plot-relevant.
The world-building is great, the inclusion of different mythologies and all. The characters are all great (dying to know more about Rufus rn), but I adore Quentin.I did not expect how dark his story would go, and the fact he's still so kind aghh. Also that he did poorly in school and the hidden alcoholism and everything... Probably one of my favorite characters of all time, his character development is insane, which showcases the pros of a longer series and having more time to flesh things out.
The romance gets less suspenseful as they settle into their relationship, and more nuanced issues start to take the foreground. Still, I love these two together, and did I mention I love Quentin?
To compensate, the plots get more intense and I'm always awed by the author's ability to stretch this series out and find new plots (with foreshadowing) without making it feel forced or irrelevant. I'm stuck at book 8 rn since the series got removed from Scribd, rip :'/
So my first impression of this was, wtf am I reading, why is he speaking like that, and is this p*rn?? Since the plot goes something like: guy has to have endless s*x with everyone to quench the thirst of a scary fertility god, while courting a hilariously bad exaggeration of a British royalty... Anyway, this just goes to show that the execution of a story makes all the difference, because this somehow worked.
After getting used to the weirdness and the way Quentin speaks (the author is British so it's allowed I guess lol), I binged it in one sitting. Contrary to what the plot implies, this is a very slow burn romance with no smut and an incredibly entertaining and tense dynamic between the main characters. I loved the well-informed portrayal of addiction and toxic relationships, and the inclusion of the subtler signs of cPTSD, though it was still mostly carried by the romance for me. Also, it's urban fantasy, the cover's kinda misleading.
Review for the rest of the series:
I love Quentin. That's all thanks.
Jk, but for real. Quentin is amazing, adorable, the best.
Anyway, the series gets even better after the first book imo. If there were any plot holes in the first book, the next ones are much more solid plot-wise. This might also be one of the best-researched series I've read. I can tell the author really made sure to get everything right, from trauma and psychology to raising baby ravens. Though the first book didn't have smut, the next ones do. I'm asexual and still enjoyed it, which is pretty telling I think. Cause it's all plot-relevant.
The world-building is great, the inclusion of different mythologies and all. The characters are all great (dying to know more about Rufus rn), but I adore Quentin.
The romance gets less suspenseful as they settle into their relationship, and more nuanced issues start to take the foreground. Still, I love these two together, and did I mention I love Quentin?
To compensate, the plots get more intense and I'm always awed by the author's ability to stretch this series out and find new plots (with foreshadowing) without making it feel forced or irrelevant. I'm stuck at book 8 rn since the series got removed from Scribd, rip :'/