This is (I think) the first book I've read by the author. Not sure if the super slow start is typical for her, but I almost DNFd it because it felt like nothing was happening.

Outside of the pacing, it's 2020, and while I love morally gray characters and straight up villains, I don't think one of their biggest personality traits needs to be that they are emotionally abusive. And that's the love interest. He's controlling, manipulative, and abusive.

And the MC, Poppy, eats it up. Of course, she's 18 and sheltered, and doesn't know that this isn't how healthy love/lust should look.

Maybe Hawke isn't the true LI, and there will be a better one in the next book, but I'll have to decide if I want to continue with this story to find out. And I'm leaning heavily towards a no.