A review by quiet_chaos
A Curse of Shadows and Ice by Catharina Maura, C.A. Maura
Did not finish book.
ETA: I was able to delete the stars at least.
So I guess I have to give stars to make a review, which I wouldn't do for a dnf but I need to write my frustration.
If you are looking for an excellent, sometimes spicy version of Beauty and the Beast, Entreat Me by Grace Draven is the one. This is not it.
Dnf around 25%.
I get that Beauty and the Beast is traditionally stockholm syndrome, but the best retellings of it aren't. They may be forced proximity but this was just ick. The writing wasn't great but I've read poor writing with a great story. I was planning to read it anyway. I figured based on "forced marriage" it was going to be stockholmy, but Felix even says in the beginning that he wants/ needs Arabella to come with him willingly. Then proceeds to force her into marriage anyway.
I think maybe the author was trying to do the whole "villain who's actually super sweet," but was trying to fit it into under 300 pages. So we've got a guy who by turns is upset by the girl in pain then beats her father for it, which I guess was to show he'd protect her but was still questionable.
Then it just turns r@pey but don't worry because she seems to enjoy it, like what in the actual f is this nonsense.
I am not here for a r@pey stockholm syndrome version of this story. Life is too short for that.
So I guess I have to give stars to make a review, which I wouldn't do for a dnf but I need to write my frustration.
If you are looking for an excellent, sometimes spicy version of Beauty and the Beast, Entreat Me by Grace Draven is the one. This is not it.
Dnf around 25%.
I get that Beauty and the Beast is traditionally stockholm syndrome, but the best retellings of it aren't. They may be forced proximity but this was just ick. The writing wasn't great but I've read poor writing with a great story. I was planning to read it anyway. I figured based on "forced marriage" it was going to be stockholmy, but Felix even says in the beginning that he wants/ needs Arabella to come with him willingly. Then proceeds to force her into marriage anyway.
I think maybe the author was trying to do the whole "villain who's actually super sweet," but was trying to fit it into under 300 pages. So we've got a guy who by turns is upset by the girl in pain then beats her father for it, which I guess was to show he'd protect her but was still questionable.
Then it just turns r@pey but don't worry because she seems to enjoy it, like what in the actual f is this nonsense.
I am not here for a r@pey stockholm syndrome version of this story. Life is too short for that.