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anna_brookover's Reviews (244)
tw: blood, kidnappings, death
this book is certainly interesting. the bi representation was refreshing as always and having wlw and mlm couples without their sole story being their struggles with homophobia. it also did a good job showing that lgbtq+ relationships can be toxic. a lot of times, it feels like wlw and mlm relationships are glorified, almost as if they can’t be unhealthy and the author did a really good job in showing that that isn’t always the case.
this book is a prequel to of fire and stars, but it definitely could be a stand alone. i haven’t red of fire and stars because it’s next, but from what i can tell this story is set a pretty good while before of fire and stars, which is fine. it also means this book could be a stand alone, as it ends in a resolution pretty much tied in a near little bow.
i think my biggest issue with this book is that it just didn’t draw me in all that much and that’s why i just gave it 3 stars. it was just alright. it wasn’t bad by any means, and it was definitely entertaining, but it wasn’t one of those books that you cant stop reading.
i did enjoy the love story that was a big part of the story. the development of it was really good. they started as strangers and you really got to see them grow together.
all around, it was just alright. some of it felt rushed and it seemed like a lot could’ve been expanded a lot more. the ending especially felt very rushed. but all that being said, overall it was a good read and i enjoyed it.
this book is certainly interesting. the bi representation was refreshing as always and having wlw and mlm couples without their sole story being their struggles with homophobia. it also did a good job showing that lgbtq+ relationships can be toxic. a lot of times, it feels like wlw and mlm relationships are glorified, almost as if they can’t be unhealthy and the author did a really good job in showing that that isn’t always the case.
this book is a prequel to of fire and stars, but it definitely could be a stand alone. i haven’t red of fire and stars because it’s next, but from what i can tell this story is set a pretty good while before of fire and stars, which is fine. it also means this book could be a stand alone, as it ends in a resolution pretty much tied in a near little bow.
i think my biggest issue with this book is that it just didn’t draw me in all that much and that’s why i just gave it 3 stars. it was just alright. it wasn’t bad by any means, and it was definitely entertaining, but it wasn’t one of those books that you cant stop reading.
i did enjoy the love story that was a big part of the story. the development of it was really good. they started as strangers and you really got to see them grow together.
all around, it was just alright. some of it felt rushed and it seemed like a lot could’ve been expanded a lot more. the ending especially felt very rushed. but all that being said, overall it was a good read and i enjoyed it.
tw // death, kidnapping, abuse
this book was SO GOOD. anything about inkmistress i didn’t like did NOT exist in this book. OH MY GOD. i could rave for days, honestly.
first of all, i will take a good wlw relationship any day. *and* enemies to lovers ?? sign me up. once again, SO NICE to read a wlw story where the main conflict is not homophobia. just everything about our two female main characters was just wonderful.
i had very few issues, but the one i did have was the fact that it was first person pov, which is just a me thing. i just personally prefer 3rd person, but it is something to consider if you want to read this series.
i was constantly pulled in and excited reading this. i finished it in THREE DAYS. i’ve seen this series recommended so many times and i can wholeheartedly add to that.
having reading diversity in your shelf is SO IMPORTANT and that doesn’t just mean one or two mlm books you see on tik tok. having wlw in your reading is just as important and this one is such a good read.
the other thing i loved was the storyline. their was a mystery aspect and a fantasy aspect, both of which i love. it was such an interesting read and the character development of it was so good. definitely going on my rereads list.
overall, such a sweet book and i’m so excited for the sequel. bi and wlw representation and it was such an interesting storyline. i would recommend one thousand percent.
this book was SO GOOD. anything about inkmistress i didn’t like did NOT exist in this book. OH MY GOD. i could rave for days, honestly.
first of all, i will take a good wlw relationship any day. *and* enemies to lovers ?? sign me up. once again, SO NICE to read a wlw story where the main conflict is not homophobia. just everything about our two female main characters was just wonderful.
i had very few issues, but the one i did have was the fact that it was first person pov, which is just a me thing. i just personally prefer 3rd person, but it is something to consider if you want to read this series.
i was constantly pulled in and excited reading this. i finished it in THREE DAYS. i’ve seen this series recommended so many times and i can wholeheartedly add to that.
having reading diversity in your shelf is SO IMPORTANT and that doesn’t just mean one or two mlm books you see on tik tok. having wlw in your reading is just as important and this one is such a good read.
the other thing i loved was the storyline. their was a mystery aspect and a fantasy aspect, both of which i love. it was such an interesting read and the character development of it was so good. definitely going on my rereads list.
overall, such a sweet book and i’m so excited for the sequel. bi and wlw representation and it was such an interesting storyline. i would recommend one thousand percent.
this book. i feel like i have very mixed opinions. obviously denna and mare, so cute i love. it just didn’t have the same energy of fire and stars did. good representation, having casual gay relationships in side characters is also good. i don’t know. i liked it, just not as much as the other one.
the one thing that was good is obviously aspects of the prequel were in this one. i would definitely recommend reading in release date order as i forgot some of the things in inkmistress if im honest with you.
the plot as a whole was definitely super interesting. exploring magic and zumorda more was really cool and learning more about denna and her family and where she came from was also really interesting. i won’t say much cause i don’t want to spoil, but it was definitely good in that sense.
i think the big issue was just how rushed the ending was. everything came out of nowhere and in a two page chapter it was over ? a lot of unanswered questions and loose ends. it seems like it’s set up for another book but at the same time it could also end there and be fine. i just feel like this had the same sort of thing inkmistress did; the ending was rushed, almost like the author had a deadline and didn’t have time to properly end her story.
overall though, a super good sequel to a super good book. the series as a whole was so super entertaining and it’s a definite recommendation to anyone who likes ya fantasy and/or queer romance. two strong female characters who don’t need a man to make their character development ? it’s almost always gonna be a yes from me.
denna and mare, i love you.
the one thing that was good is obviously aspects of the prequel were in this one. i would definitely recommend reading in release date order as i forgot some of the things in inkmistress if im honest with you.
the plot as a whole was definitely super interesting. exploring magic and zumorda more was really cool and learning more about denna and her family and where she came from was also really interesting. i won’t say much cause i don’t want to spoil, but it was definitely good in that sense.
i think the big issue was just how rushed the ending was. everything came out of nowhere and in a two page chapter it was over ? a lot of unanswered questions and loose ends. it seems like it’s set up for another book but at the same time it could also end there and be fine. i just feel like this had the same sort of thing inkmistress did; the ending was rushed, almost like the author had a deadline and didn’t have time to properly end her story.
overall though, a super good sequel to a super good book. the series as a whole was so super entertaining and it’s a definite recommendation to anyone who likes ya fantasy and/or queer romance. two strong female characters who don’t need a man to make their character development ? it’s almost always gonna be a yes from me.
denna and mare, i love you.
tw: period typical homophobia, brief mentions of suicide, violence
genuinely one of the best and most heart breaking books i have ever read. so so
good. would recommend a thousand times over. especially if you’re a fan of harry styles or just plan on seeing the movie adaptation coming out soon on amazon prime.
i truly think anything that shows insight into how insane and outrageous the lives of so many people were for so long is so incredibly important. hearing stories about patrick’s friends and those he’d known in queer spaces and what happened to them was honestly just shocking. you know things weren’t good by any means for people, as they still aren’t great now, but reading it firsthand just puts so much in perspective.
and on top of that, the story is based on an actual man and his experiences in 1950s brighton. for so many people it was even worse than what was told in the book. educating ourselves, even now, about how life truly was for people not even 70 years ago is vital to the fight for actual equality and equity for so many minority groups.
bethan roberts did a wonderful job in the split perspective between patrick and marion, and also the two time periods, 1950s and 1999. seeing the progression of the characters in multiple perspectives showed character development in a way it couldn’t have if it was just one persons pov.
obviously reading happy lgbtq+ books is also good, reading educational books about how people still living today experienced life for so long is just as important. so many people in so many different countries are still persecuted for who they love. the fight is ever going.
genuinely one of the best and most heart breaking books i have ever read. so so
good. would recommend a thousand times over. especially if you’re a fan of harry styles or just plan on seeing the movie adaptation coming out soon on amazon prime.
i truly think anything that shows insight into how insane and outrageous the lives of so many people were for so long is so incredibly important. hearing stories about patrick’s friends and those he’d known in queer spaces and what happened to them was honestly just shocking. you know things weren’t good by any means for people, as they still aren’t great now, but reading it firsthand just puts so much in perspective.
and on top of that, the story is based on an actual man and his experiences in 1950s brighton. for so many people it was even worse than what was told in the book. educating ourselves, even now, about how life truly was for people not even 70 years ago is vital to the fight for actual equality and equity for so many minority groups.
bethan roberts did a wonderful job in the split perspective between patrick and marion, and also the two time periods, 1950s and 1999. seeing the progression of the characters in multiple perspectives showed character development in a way it couldn’t have if it was just one persons pov.
obviously reading happy lgbtq+ books is also good, reading educational books about how people still living today experienced life for so long is just as important. so many people in so many different countries are still persecuted for who they love. the fight is ever going.