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cozysquib 's review for:
A City of Whispers
by Jane Washington
A City of Whispers by Jane Washington
Despite my reservations about the FMC’s age in A Tempest of Shadows, I decided to continue the series and I’m actually pretty glad I did.
She turns 18 fairly early in this book, but the real win is that, while there are still plenty of charged interactions, nothing actually happens. Despite the looming “countdown to legality” that felt like an issue in the first book, there are no real intimate encounters here. Instead, the focus stays on the story, the world-building, and the unraveling relationships rather than rushing into the romance, which is honestly my favorite since I am #TeamSlowBurn.
I really love the direction the plot is taking. It’s layered, messy, and full of intrigue in a way that keeps me fully engaged. At first, I assumed this would be a “three-day book” the kind that’s fun while you’re reading but quickly forgettable, but I think some parts of this one will stick with me longer than I originally expected. There are some fascinating concepts at play, and the stakes feel high in a way that keeps me invested.
The pacing is still a little too fast for my taste. Because everything moves so quickly, some of the relationships and friendships feel rushed in a way that doesn’t fully track. I wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker, but there are definitely moments where I had to just roll with it. From a macro view, the story is extremely compelling. From a micro view, though, there are times when I genuinely have no idea what’s happening and am just trusting the process.
One thing I really love is that 90% of the characters have deeply questionable motives, so you can’t really trust anyone. That kind of constant tension keeps things interesting, especially knowing this is supposed to be a romance. I have no idea how we’re supposed to transition from the absolute enemies they are now into the lovers they’re supposed to become, but I’m curious to see how it plays out.
Fingers crossed that this one sticks the landing. Holding on tight, it feels like it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Despite my reservations about the FMC’s age in A Tempest of Shadows, I decided to continue the series and I’m actually pretty glad I did.
She turns 18 fairly early in this book, but the real win is that, while there are still plenty of charged interactions, nothing actually happens. Despite the looming “countdown to legality” that felt like an issue in the first book, there are no real intimate encounters here. Instead, the focus stays on the story, the world-building, and the unraveling relationships rather than rushing into the romance, which is honestly my favorite since I am #TeamSlowBurn.
I really love the direction the plot is taking. It’s layered, messy, and full of intrigue in a way that keeps me fully engaged. At first, I assumed this would be a “three-day book” the kind that’s fun while you’re reading but quickly forgettable, but I think some parts of this one will stick with me longer than I originally expected. There are some fascinating concepts at play, and the stakes feel high in a way that keeps me invested.
The pacing is still a little too fast for my taste. Because everything moves so quickly, some of the relationships and friendships feel rushed in a way that doesn’t fully track. I wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker, but there are definitely moments where I had to just roll with it. From a macro view, the story is extremely compelling. From a micro view, though, there are times when I genuinely have no idea what’s happening and am just trusting the process.
One thing I really love is that 90% of the characters have deeply questionable motives, so you can’t really trust anyone. That kind of constant tension keeps things interesting, especially knowing this is supposed to be a romance. I have no idea how we’re supposed to transition from the absolute enemies they are now into the lovers they’re supposed to become, but I’m curious to see how it plays out.
Fingers crossed that this one sticks the landing. Holding on tight, it feels like it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.