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aislinghelen's Reviews (1.01k)
I can’t finish this. This book has so much misogyny in it that I am worried for the author. Her opinions on sex work, the not so subtle slut shaming and “dominant man in bed” at the start are just some of it. I love some degradation and dominance in books but this isn’t giving that.The first sex scene feels like its going to end in abuse, he’s being ‘dominant’ but in a way that makes me think this author has never read about or experience safe BDSM practices. Everyone, including Rune, also slut shame Layla for sleeping with Rune prior to them meeting each other, when she’s the queen rather than the night before when she’s disguised. But no one has any issue with him sleeping with her the day before they meet.
I want to go slightly more in depth on my issues with the way sex work and sex workers are described and discussed in this book. I have studied this heavily as part of my criminology degree. She talks about the women “selling their bodies” due to addiction and trying to eradicate the profession through social welfare programmes (painting her as some kind of saint or something, a common theme in this book). Both these ideas are very wrong. Sex work may sometimes be a result of trafficking but not generally. It is a real and chosen profession done by many, not just women. While there are issues with sex work and treatment of sex workers many of these are actually due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of it! This view of sex work is incredibly misogynistic, basically saying that all sex workers are brainwashed and not listening to the people doing sex work who almost entirely disagree. If you have heard of TERFs there are also SWERFs, none of which are actually feminists but this gives you an idea of how gross this view is.
I also have a problem with the inconsistency in the characters. Layla, the blood queen, and Rune are both so different from page to page and when you compare their actions to their words. This is trying so hard to paint the queen as a gracious and kind leader, like moving the servants to guest quarters that are fancy rather than the cold servant ones. But it’s so inconsistent with how she talks about everything else that it just feels false. She’s also meant to be 28 but reads as early 20s at most.
There was very little about this book that is good, maybe there is more later on but I will not be finding out.
I want to go slightly more in depth on my issues with the way sex work and sex workers are described and discussed in this book. I have studied this heavily as part of my criminology degree. She talks about the women “selling their bodies” due to addiction and trying to eradicate the profession through social welfare programmes (painting her as some kind of saint or something, a common theme in this book). Both these ideas are very wrong. Sex work may sometimes be a result of trafficking but not generally. It is a real and chosen profession done by many, not just women. While there are issues with sex work and treatment of sex workers many of these are actually due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of it! This view of sex work is incredibly misogynistic, basically saying that all sex workers are brainwashed and not listening to the people doing sex work who almost entirely disagree. If you have heard of TERFs there are also SWERFs, none of which are actually feminists but this gives you an idea of how gross this view is.
I also have a problem with the inconsistency in the characters. Layla, the blood queen, and Rune are both so different from page to page and when you compare their actions to their words. This is trying so hard to paint the queen as a gracious and kind leader, like moving the servants to guest quarters that are fancy rather than the cold servant ones. But it’s so inconsistent with how she talks about everything else that it just feels false. She’s also meant to be 28 but reads as early 20s at most.
There was very little about this book that is good, maybe there is more later on but I will not be finding out.
I don’t enjoy books where the woman is the dominant one and this is that. Love the premise but just not for me. Will continue the series
couldn’t get into it enough to commit to reading that many books
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was incredibly well written, it’s understandable to a general audience, helpful and at points very relatable. I love that it was told with anecdotes as well as science and wasn’t just all about sex but general things to help.
I think this is a must read for everyone but especially women. It deals with myths about sexuality, gender, how deal with stress, stress in general, relationships (romantic, sexual, friendships and with your self and your body).
I think this is a must read for everyone but especially women. It deals with myths about sexuality, gender, how deal with stress, stress in general, relationships (romantic, sexual, friendships and with your self and your body).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Just a bit too slow for me. It felt like nothing was happening and I didn’t feel any connection to the characters
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely love Wes. These two had me squealing while reading, it was so cute.
The only thing that dragged it down was a personal preference thing. I don’t love when one person is still healing from a past relationship while in the next one. I love that Wes is majorly supportive and patient and incredible. And I love that Ada is growing and caring about herself and is also amazing. But that is just something that I don’t love because of my own constant need to help others that I am trying to overcome. I am definitely Wes if he was a she and less perfect, and also not able to drive.
Favourite thingHe was teaching her how to drive a manual so she would never be trapped again!!! also the baby cow (yes I know it’s a calf but baby cow is cuter)
The only thing that dragged it down was a personal preference thing. I don’t love when one person is still healing from a past relationship while in the next one. I love that Wes is majorly supportive and patient and incredible. And I love that Ada is growing and caring about herself and is also amazing. But that is just something that I don’t love because of my own constant need to help others that I am trying to overcome. I am definitely Wes if he was a she and less perfect, and also not able to drive.
Favourite thing
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Ada’s ex was controlling and emotionally (and financially) abusive, there is also discussion of depression and medication for depression
dark
I really enjoyed the start. I both did and didn’t see the twist coming, but I felt like ending was a bit of a let down, mostly because it wasn’t what I wanted the book to be. I wouldn’t personally class it as a romance, there is sex and it is reasonably spicy but I need slightly more for it to be a romance. The spicy scenes and murder scenes were well written and had a lot of overlap.
I enjoyed this but it does have very ‘not like other girls’ vibes. She is selected to be a part of the omega trials to chose the next queen, but it must be a mistake because she is poor and a scholarship kid. Her essay that got her chosen was a sarcastic piece about the merits of the omega system. It does get better though. When she becomes friends with some other omegas it gets a lot better but it does take about 40% of the book to get there.
It’s a cute, fun omegaverse with a royal bachelor style trial going on. There is drama with other omegas and the queen
It’s a cute, fun omegaverse with a royal bachelor style trial going on. There is drama with other omegas and the queen
I enjoyed this, but I will say the ending saved it for me. I can’t decide if it was closer to 3 or four stars. It is definitely more of a fun read, so be aware of that. Also if you love gossip girl this is for you but if you didn’t it's almost definitely not. Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC.
This is a review mostly of what I didn’t like, as I said it is a fun read
It was sitting at around 3 stars or lower for a lot of the book. This was because of the constant sabotaging between the two of them. It was very gossip girl-esque which wasn’t that bad but did get to be a bit much. I also found it very unrealistic at points, which is always the case in the billionaire kind of romances but there was a few too many points where I couldn’t suspend my belief. Also a couple points where their sabotage was just badly donelike when she tries to get back at him for putting itching powder in her dry shampoo samples by sucking his dick wearing a crazy intense lip plumper. His dick swells up yet she is unaffected?? Its just kind of stupid.
I did enjoy some of the sabotage and I liked their relationship, especially by the end but I think there was a lot that could be cut and some stuff that should be added, like how she is actually capable of being CEO. It’s kind of said and shown why she could be CEO. She is definitely good at her job and an asset to the company but not necessarily as CEO, she is painted slightly too young and inexperienced for that.
edit 3 October: It was 3 stars
This is a review mostly of what I didn’t like, as I said it is a fun read
It was sitting at around 3 stars or lower for a lot of the book. This was because of the constant sabotaging between the two of them. It was very gossip girl-esque which wasn’t that bad but did get to be a bit much. I also found it very unrealistic at points, which is always the case in the billionaire kind of romances but there was a few too many points where I couldn’t suspend my belief. Also a couple points where their sabotage was just badly done
I did enjoy some of the sabotage and I liked their relationship, especially by the end but I think there was a lot that could be cut and some stuff that should be added, like how she is actually capable of being CEO. It’s kind of said and shown why she could be CEO. She is definitely good at her job and an asset to the company but not necessarily as CEO, she is painted slightly too young and inexperienced for that.
edit 3 October: It was 3 stars