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603 reviews by:
dame_samara
I finished this book days ago, but I am still struggling to fully comprehend my ongoing feelings about this book,
I finished this book having enjoyed it, only to in the end wake up in the middle of the night afterwards realizing all of the gaping plot holes that had been left that I had so desperately wanted to be fulfilled. Many of them being wiped away under the guise of Kallia just not needing to know those answers about her past.
The first 2/3 of this book were wonderful, and where it falls short is in the execution of wrapping it up (So much so that I almost feel that this series could have done better as a trilogy). Because it feels like when a show get's canceled unexpectedly and suddenly it's a rush to tie things off as neatly as possible.
I finished this book having enjoyed it, only to in the end wake up in the middle of the night afterwards realizing all of the gaping plot holes that had been left that I had so desperately wanted to be fulfilled. Many of them being wiped away under the guise of Kallia just not needing to know those answers about her past.
The first 2/3 of this book were wonderful, and where it falls short is in the execution of wrapping it up (So much so that I almost feel that this series could have done better as a trilogy). Because it feels like when a show get's canceled unexpectedly and suddenly it's a rush to tie things off as neatly as possible.
Had I avoided picking up this book because I was worried my expectations were entirely too high and that it would devastate me if it didn't even close? Yes.
Did this book still devastate me? Yes.
So let's start where I always do, PROPS for including Content Warnings at the beginning of this book.
I have tried my best to express my feelings regarding this book without including direct spoilers.
But it was also everything my Queer heart has ever wanted as the person whose response has always been "WHY NOT BOTH?"
I loved seeing the relationships between the characters developing and honestly truly enjoyed not dealing with a constant bout of Will They, Won't They?
While I enjoyed Zeiten and Yizhi's conversation about him being okay with her pursuing a relationship with Shimin, I feel like I wanted more covered than we saw on-page.
I had the most mixed feelings about the "cause" shown behind Shimin's addiction. As someone who works in the field, this left a sour taste in my mouth, which I hadn't had until that scene. Addiction at its core is a disease, and while this is shown quite well in some parts. I feel like thrusting the blame onto one particular person altogether avoided the fact that there are a lot of factors that lead to addiction. And it wouldn't have made Shimin less of a person to have just been using alcohol to try to cope with what he had and was going through.
(I have strong feelings on this as someone who works in Mental Health & Addiction Services)
Overall I enjoyed this book, though, and will be picking the next one.
Did this book still devastate me? Yes.
So let's start where I always do, PROPS for including Content Warnings at the beginning of this book.
I have tried my best to express my feelings regarding this book without including direct spoilers.
But it was also everything my Queer heart has ever wanted as the person whose response has always been "WHY NOT BOTH?"
I loved seeing the relationships between the characters developing and honestly truly enjoyed not dealing with a constant bout of Will They, Won't They?
While I enjoyed Zeiten and Yizhi's conversation about him being okay with her pursuing a relationship with Shimin, I feel like I wanted more covered than we saw on-page.
I had the most mixed feelings about the "cause" shown behind Shimin's addiction. As someone who works in the field, this left a sour taste in my mouth, which I hadn't had until that scene. Addiction at its core is a disease, and while this is shown quite well in some parts. I feel like thrusting the blame onto one particular person altogether avoided the fact that there are a lot of factors that lead to addiction. And it wouldn't have made Shimin less of a person to have just been using alcohol to try to cope with what he had and was going through.
(I have strong feelings on this as someone who works in Mental Health & Addiction Services)
Overall I enjoyed this book, though, and will be picking the next one.
"I don't know what the future holds, but for the first time I'm not Scared of it. I'm not even scared of failing which is weird. Maybe because I was never failing, right? I was just becoming me."
It's Wholesome, It's Gay and It Slaps.
It's Wholesome, It's Gay and It Slaps.
This was incredibly wholesome for something thats just here for the spice.
But I do wish we'd seen them work through the trauma that both of them definitely have. Love and smut doesn't solve everything
This book was an intriguing experience where it felt like I was stepping into a book I've read a million times. Not in a bad way, but in a good way.
It was like coming home. If I didn't know better, I would say I had read/listened to it before, enough so I went back and checked the release date twice during the first half to reaffirm there wasn't a chance that I had somehow read the sequel and completely forgotten about it. (Unless I'm sleep reading this is not the case)
I honestly adored this book, beginning to end and look forward to reading more works from Chloe Gong, especially in this world.
It was like coming home. If I didn't know better, I would say I had read/listened to it before, enough so I went back and checked the release date twice during the first half to reaffirm there wasn't a chance that I had somehow read the sequel and completely forgotten about it. (Unless I'm sleep reading this is not the case)
I honestly adored this book, beginning to end and look forward to reading more works from Chloe Gong, especially in this world.