Scan barcode
A review by albyatross
Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
*For ref, I have the barnes and noble edition with author notes, and honestly I think that brings the score up since it was nice checking the notes verse the pages.
The writing is fine, the plot is fine, Evelyn and Bowen are good ... separately, not as a couple. Dia is cool, Lizzie was fun. Miles and nearly everyone else was very cardboard prop for plot purposes.
Lots of later plot points happen I think just because they need to happen, certain things seem overly convenient.
The world building had so much potential! And somehow fell so flat! Like the islands move! Your boat is full of people and species from across the multiverse! Where is ANY discussion on culture!? That could have been SO FUN?
Also, I think this book is slightly mismarked bc Bowen isn't a pirate ... he's more like something in the realm of a privateer, since he reports to a council / government, and does not seem to generally engage with the act of theft or plunder (unless we get into, uh, theft of people falling into Threshold maybe, but that seems like a topic beyond what this series could reasonably handle in a thoughtful way). So like if someone actually wanted pirates, plz pick a different book, there are NOT pirates here!!
+ on the spice;The sex scenes were very insta-attraction and shallow, tbh. Fine if you want sex for sexs sake as both charas have plenty of energy an experience, but overall feels more like horny one night stand energy than anything leading to long-term attachment.
I will probably not read the sequel unless I find it in a LFL for free or something.
The writing is fine, the plot is fine, Evelyn and Bowen are good ... separately, not as a couple. Dia is cool, Lizzie was fun. Miles and nearly everyone else was very cardboard prop for plot purposes.
Lots of later plot points happen I think just because they need to happen, certain things seem overly convenient.
The world building had so much potential! And somehow fell so flat! Like the islands move! Your boat is full of people and species from across the multiverse! Where is ANY discussion on culture!? That could have been SO FUN?
Also, I think this book is slightly mismarked bc Bowen isn't a pirate ... he's more like something in the realm of a privateer, since he reports to a council / government, and does not seem to generally engage with the act of theft or plunder (unless we get into, uh, theft of people falling into Threshold maybe, but that seems like a topic beyond what this series could reasonably handle in a thoughtful way). So like if someone actually wanted pirates, plz pick a different book, there are NOT pirates here!!
+ on the spice;
I will probably not read the sequel unless I find it in a LFL for free or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Trafficking and Murder