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A review by groovygirl858
Embers by Claire Kent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I love this installment of this series, which I was not expecting. It features a troupe I typically don't like and usually pretend isn't so when reading a story that utilizes it, which is age gap romances. There usually has to be something special about a story using this troupe for me to overlook an age gap, if I'm not able to just pretend it doesn't exist. This story is something special.
The age gap in this story doesn't bother me for several reasons but the biggest reason is the setting. In a post-apocalyptical world, being at different stages in one's life isn't really a concern. Everyone is concerned with one thing: survival. The setting makes the usual concerns I have about age gap romances null and void. Power dynamics can be a factor in ANY relationship, but the increased concern about power dynamics in an age gap romance isn't really present in a post-apocalyptical world. Everyone is very aware of their circumstances and has to be strong to survive. It takes a bit for the MMC to come to that realization in this story. He has an issue with the age gap throughout the story and his emotional journey to acceptance is compelling.
This story develops in such a compelling way, I couldn't put it down. The FMC is strong and knows what she wants. No one can ever say she's being taken advantage of. The MMC is stoic at first, but his emotions run deep.
The love story develops slowly and puts the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions. Happiness. Fear. Sorrow. Anger. Hope. I smiled like an idiot through certain scenes. I wanted to choke the MMC during certain scenes. I was fearful for the characters at certain parts. I had to hold back tears during several emotional scenes. This is just a wonderful story about an unlikely couple that, somehow, just makes sense.
The sex scenes are hot, but the conversations these characters have about their relationship are some of the most touching, gripping scenes I've read in awhile in a romance. The tension. The emotion. The stakes. Just read this book. It's phenomenal.
The age gap in this story doesn't bother me for several reasons but the biggest reason is the setting. In a post-apocalyptical world, being at different stages in one's life isn't really a concern. Everyone is concerned with one thing: survival. The setting makes the usual concerns I have about age gap romances null and void. Power dynamics can be a factor in ANY relationship, but the increased concern about power dynamics in an age gap romance isn't really present in a post-apocalyptical world. Everyone is very aware of their circumstances and has to be strong to survive. It takes a bit for the MMC to come to that realization in this story. He has an issue with the age gap throughout the story and his emotional journey to acceptance is compelling.
This story develops in such a compelling way, I couldn't put it down. The FMC is strong and knows what she wants. No one can ever say she's being taken advantage of. The MMC is stoic at first, but his emotions run deep.
The love story develops slowly and puts the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions. Happiness. Fear. Sorrow. Anger. Hope. I smiled like an idiot through certain scenes. I wanted to choke the MMC during certain scenes. I was fearful for the characters at certain parts. I had to hold back tears during several emotional scenes. This is just a wonderful story about an unlikely couple that, somehow, just makes sense.
The sex scenes are hot, but the conversations these characters have about their relationship are some of the most touching, gripping scenes I've read in awhile in a romance. The tension. The emotion. The stakes. Just read this book. It's phenomenal.