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odunayo_y's Reviews (275)
dark
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Xenophobia, Murder
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide
medium-paced
dark
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
The prose was beautiful and the bits of worldbuilding were compelling. So much so that I was way more interested in the setting than the actual romance.
As for the romance it was honestly not to my taste, quite frankly I despise the age gap trope, and thankfully this was the bare minimum in that both parties were adults (Valerin is like 20/21). But it was eh. Even minus the age gap I didn't feel the connection at all. Like the sorceress burns down your home fvks up your family and kidnapps you and you go from wanting to decapitate her to mashing genitals and being the love of your life in less than 10 hours?????
The insta-love/lust is another one of my mehs in romance. Yes it's a novella so there couldn't be too much content,but there could have at least been a significant time skip to make the relationship development feel more realistic.
That being said the sex scene was elite very nicely done. Even if the "bigger butch top/smaller femme bottom" dynamic is more than a little overplayed, but the way it was done didn't annoy me too much. Bonus points that because it was written in the same flowery prose as the rest of the novella, there wasn't any anachronistic switch to more "modern/vulgar" wording.
And it was queer as hell so I can't complain too
much. Despite this is a fantasy romance series the the non romance aspects of the story/World really got me going.
Finally verdict; pretty damn good despite my whinging. Beware reader there be fvking in this lol, like very explicitly, great if you're looking for that but if you prefer your romances more fade to black with empathise on the emotional side, this might not be the book for you.
The prose was beautiful and the bits of worldbuilding were compelling. So much so that I was way more interested in the setting than the actual romance.
As for the romance it was honestly not to my taste, quite frankly I despise the age gap trope, and thankfully this was the bare minimum in that both parties were adults (Valerin is like 20/21). But it was eh. Even minus the age gap I didn't feel the connection at all. Like the sorceress burns down your home fvks up your family and kidnapps you and you go from wanting to decapitate her to mashing genitals and being the love of your life in less than 10 hours?????
The insta-love/lust is another one of my mehs in romance. Yes it's a novella so there couldn't be too much content,but there could have at least been a significant time skip to make the relationship development feel more realistic.
That being said the sex scene was elite very nicely done. Even if the "bigger butch top/smaller femme bottom" dynamic is more than a little overplayed, but the way it was done didn't annoy me too much. Bonus points that because it was written in the same flowery prose as the rest of the novella, there wasn't any anachronistic switch to more "modern/vulgar" wording.
And it was queer as hell so I can't complain too
much. Despite this is a fantasy romance series the the non romance aspects of the story/World really got me going.
Finally verdict; pretty damn good despite my whinging. Beware reader there be fvking in this lol, like very explicitly, great if you're looking for that but if you prefer your romances more fade to black with empathise on the emotional side, this might not be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank You to Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC
A very strong sci-fi debut, the prose and overall writing was tight. Despite being an ARC I didn’t notice any typographical errors. The characters were all interesting amd compelling in their own ways. But it seems I’m a black sheep in reviews as i HATED Esek, i get that she’s meant to be awful but gyatt dam she was grating. Lol and i was kicking my feet when Esek starts having a Bad Time.
I will say that the characters being ultra talented Badasses as teenagers was giving a bit YA lol. Like no a 16 year old is not going to be a galactic level mastermind. But other than that it was great!
I did enjoy that Esek & Chono’s relationship was purely platonic.
Another aspect I appreciated was how religion and religious people were treated. It was good to see Chono not be denigrated by the narrative for her beliefs. While still being realistic that there are people and institutions who cynically use the veneer of religion to justify their actions or hold onto power.
A very strong sci-fi debut, the prose and overall writing was tight. Despite being an ARC I didn’t notice any typographical errors. The characters were all interesting amd compelling in their own ways. But it seems I’m a black sheep in reviews as i HATED Esek, i get that she’s meant to be awful but gyatt dam she was grating. Lol and i was kicking my feet when Esek starts having a Bad Time.
I will say that the characters being ultra talented Badasses as teenagers was giving a bit YA lol. Like no a 16 year old is not going to be a galactic level mastermind. But other than that it was great!
I did enjoy that Esek & Chono’s relationship was purely platonic.
Another aspect I appreciated was how religion and religious people were treated. It was good to see Chono not be denigrated by the narrative for her beliefs. While still being realistic that there are people and institutions who cynically use the veneer of religion to justify their actions or hold onto power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gaslighting
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment