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crispycritter's Reviews (516)
I feel like I’m shifting out of my indie KU romance phase - or at least getting much pickier - and it makes me a little sad. The writing is not for me.
The book starts off with a bang - literally the two main characters banging - then backtracks. I spent over 100 pages waiting for the enemies-AND-lovers part to start, but felt like the author was disingenuously adding as much page time as she could to get those additional KU page flips. LaViolette/Spencer needed a better explanation for inclusion of the cartoonishly evil fiancé - particuarly since it was tearing apart the family Zeus just found and clearly wanted to have a relationship with. Down with cheap plot devices to manufacture conflict.
DNF at 95% - wow. This took a turn.
A lot of this just didn’t work for me. I’m hoping most of it is just this book (aka Alec) as opposed to MacLean. What didn’t work:
A lot of this just didn’t work for me. I’m hoping most of it is just this book (aka Alec) as opposed to MacLean. What didn’t work:
- Incredibly repetitive conversations. The main characters had the same argument far too many times.
- The goalposts kept flip flopping on how to resolve the primary conflict in ways that felt very frustrating and a waste of time. I felt like Michael Scott describing his series of vasectomies and vasectomy reversals.
- Alec talking a big game to the bad guy ad nauseum. No follow through for 95% of the book.
- Alec’s secret past shame needed some sort of good faith foreshadowing earlier. We get zero explanation other than this dude is SO BIG and SO HOT women LUST FOR HIM but ONLY FOR ONE NIGHT and NEVER FOR FOREVER. Alec big sad. This may have been a problem in ye olde England but it doesn’t feel like a “real” problem to a modern reader. Also brotato is a MFin Duke.
- Maybe don’t make the other marriageable dude so much more likable, emotionally available, and kinder than our “hero”? Yeesh. Marry this dude, lady.
I didn’t think I would be rating this less than 3 stars but alas.
Alas, I could not make it to the spicy carriage scene.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.”
It’s nearly impossible to review this book without giving away spoilers. Just know that (1) you can read it in a day and (2) I thought it was devastating and wonderful.
It’s nearly impossible to review this book without giving away spoilers. Just know that (1) you can read it in a day and (2) I thought it was devastating and wonderful.
This book has incredibly mixed reviews, so I am delighted to finally be one of the people who loved it - as opposed to being one of the lone grumps who just didn’t get the hype, as is my usual state.
Are there a lot of valid criticisms of this book? Yeah. Totally. I think I just vibed with Harrow’s writing style so much that it allowed me to turn my brain off and not be as nitpicky as I can get when I’m not fully immersed and enjoying myself. I don’t mind slower-paced books. It’s only 300 pages! I love a short, stand-alone fantasy. I didn’t mind the POV changes from first (Opal) to third (Arthur). I love footnotes and fake bibliographies, even if they weren’t strictly necessary and the footnotes dropped off after a while. It’s just a fun book about a spooky house with some solid writing (IMO) and a satisfyingly predictable plot.
TL;DR This book isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was a really fun, short commercial fantasy - heavy on atmosphere and vibes.
Are there a lot of valid criticisms of this book? Yeah. Totally. I think I just vibed with Harrow’s writing style so much that it allowed me to turn my brain off and not be as nitpicky as I can get when I’m not fully immersed and enjoying myself. I don’t mind slower-paced books. It’s only 300 pages! I love a short, stand-alone fantasy. I didn’t mind the POV changes from first (Opal) to third (Arthur). I love footnotes and fake bibliographies, even if they weren’t strictly necessary and the footnotes dropped off after a while. It’s just a fun book about a spooky house with some solid writing (IMO) and a satisfyingly predictable plot.
TL;DR This book isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was a really fun, short commercial fantasy - heavy on atmosphere and vibes.
I just don’t think I have the patience and empathy to suffer through a 90s HR with a dude suffering from this level of emotional constipation.
I only sleep with Hooo-Ores because my parents didn’t love me! I didn’t know love or respect women until I met Yessica, who is so cool she is practically a man! Ok Loretta Chase. Calm down.
I only sleep with Hooo-Ores because my parents didn’t love me! I didn’t know love or respect women until I met Yessica, who is so cool she is practically a man! Ok Loretta Chase. Calm down.
Abigail Kelly: releases her longest novel to date in the Protectorate world. Probably spent a long ass time on this. Blood, sweat, tears.
Me: inhales this within a couple days of release. “Please, sir. May I have some more?”
All of the shtuff you love about the IAD series - but with monster men who are into consent, in touch with their e-mo-shuns, and can accurately define the word “grovel.”
I feel like I’ve been pretty unsuccessful in getting my friends to read these books because I can’t be normal about them, but like - the magic system and world building are really cool! The spice is wicked spicy! They’re republishing IAD, so why aren’t these books blowing up yet?
Me: inhales this within a couple days of release. “Please, sir. May I have some more?”
All of the shtuff you love about the IAD series - but with monster men who are into consent, in touch with their e-mo-shuns, and can accurately define the word “grovel.”
I feel like I’ve been pretty unsuccessful in getting my friends to read these books because I can’t be normal about them, but like - the magic system and world building are really cool! The spice is wicked spicy! They’re republishing IAD, so why aren’t these books blowing up yet?
Jessica Joyce’s romances are like the most gentle, loving lil squeeze on your heart. I read The Ex Vows first, which is on my desert island romance list. This book was also excellent, and was somehow not as cringey as I thought it would be- since a large part of the plot revolves around Noelle posting TickyTack videos (I am a bit too old for this, I fear).