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coris 's review for:

To Hive and To Hold by Amy Crook
3.75

Pick this up if you want a solarpunk-with-magic world, where there's maximum detail around food, clothing and tea, and minimal plot / conflict.

Not quite spoilers, but critical opinions/ranting:
I liked the sexual relationship slow burn, but would have appreciated it more if they hadn't been all-in romantically from their first meeting ... there was no buildup and little development outside the physical.  Within a couple of days thy're entangling their finances and Jade is being introduced to the local community via Arthur's reputation.  It read like Fated Mates, but without any explanation.  The whole book takes place over just 6 weeks.

Also, I found the world-building peculiar.  We learn that pickpockets, hungry street children, disease, magical curses, biases and other bad stuff exist, but our MCs always make equitable trades, and give little serious thought to the world beyond their day to day.  Arthur sometimes worries about finances, but then they forget all that and lash out on weirdly scarce/expensive eggs and dairy.  Plus I have no idea how anyone has time to learn the extensive trade equivalencies required here -- phone charging, potions, crystals, food, other-worldly items, furniture, rent, water ... I don't think I've ever read a book that made me feel so grateful to live in a cash-based society!!


Ranting aside, this isn't a terrible book: there's plenty of room in this day and age for conflict-free fluff, and I would read from this author again ... but probably only if they were working with a tougher editor.