The last two books in this series really went hard on the character-driven writing. I thought overall this one was slightly better than book 2, but ultimately still a bit of a let down in the way the story was told. Basically there was too much telling and not enough showing. Example

we're just told at the end that a truce/agreement whatever between Kandala and Ostriary is reached... but wasn't that kinda the a big thing in this book? so why is it just one line like "oh yeah that happened, s'all good"

Plot pacing, because it was so character driven, was also an issue. I felt like the beginning really dragged, and the ending felt a bit rushed to get to our final conclusion. 

Which is a shame because I think the overall analogy of Kandala, the sickness etc is fitting at least in the US where our healthcare system is a nightmare. I thought the political parts of this series were the strongest points and I guess I just wish that was a bit more of the focus. Not that I dislike reading about these character's interactions (because the main characters are great!), I just wanted more political tension I guess?

Harristan is my favorite character and this is really his book imo. Will forever be screaming about certain chapters in this book!

Also I just wanna say, I KNEW it!

I finished this a few days ago and haven't stopped thinking about it.

This series is so hard to form coherent thoughts around because it really is so unique and unlike anything else I've read. To quote Ms Olivie Blake herself: "The relationships will be the plot, because relationships are all that matter. They're all we can ever take with us. They're the only real things we leave behind."

I've seen some mixed reviews of this book and I truly don't know what people were expecting having read the first two books? The characters are the focus. Their relationship dynamics are what makes this series interesting. The point of this book is to make you think about our existence. It's a rumination on the meaning of life. Do our choices matter? Is it all worth it?

Does that mean that this series it not for everyone? Absolutely! But I for one actually look forward to rereading this series for the rest of my life!

Unfortunately I didn't realize going into this that it's a 600 page romance, or I would probably not have read it. No romance needs to be that long imo. MZ writes slow burn, but there's slow burn and then there's... whatever this is. The two main characters barely interacted or talked for like the first 30% of this book (which is like 200 pages). The first HALF of this book could have been severely edited down in terms of content because I was just reading too many mundane details that my brain was shutting down.

Which honestly sucks because the last 20% of this book is really good! Once you *actually* start to see the tiniest spark (aka they have conversations) between the main characters I enjoyed it. I really liked the development of the relationship between Aurora and Tobias' son Amos (tbh she has more interactions in the first half of the book with Amos than Tobias). There's a hard hitting part at the end regarding Aurora's grief over her mom that got me a bit misty.

I'm not sure that I needed her ex to come back begging for her, I felt that was extraneous.

Overall I'm not sure I really vibed with Aurora as a main character and she made some really dumb ass decisions in this book that irked me (hello hiking on your own when you are clearly not an experienced hiker and your mom disappeared while hiking??? please make it make sense). Also this is a self published book moving to traditional publication and the arc I read had some super repetitive parts and several typos that I hope are fixed before it's published...

I have some other books by this author on my list that I will read, but I'll be checking the page count before I do.

🌶️3/5 

This is like the movie Set It Up only their bosses actually should be together.

This book has one of my favorite tropes: the reluctant hero. I just love a hero who gripes their way through saving the world!

I know a lot of people love this book but it just wasn't for me. Way too much vibes and not enough plot, it really struggled to keep my attention. Honestly it was like 80% descriptions of the Circus, so if you're into that this is the book for you.

This book felt like it was stretched a bit too thin without quite enough happening. It's hard to say without the third book being out yet where the story is going (I am anticipating the release and will be reading right away!) - but it felt like a series being stretched into a trilogy that could've been edited down into a duology. The first book Defy the Night is probably the best YA political fantasy I've read, and this one focused a bit too much on a character driven plot without a lot of other plot happening. Basically they were on this ship for a long ass time and nothing really happened? I love these characters so that's what was keeping me reading, but I did get a bit bored at parts. Protect Corrick and Harrison at all costs.
I am glad I waited to read this until right before the third book comes out...

I appreciated the premise, the found family, foster families, difficult past with parents etc. I don’t know a ton about child services, but the premise of two random people being paired together seemed a tad far fetched. And unfortunately the romance was lacking to me. I didn’t think there was quite enough build up or tension - yeah it’s forced proximity, but I felt the romance came out of nowhere. I actually think this book could’ve been longer (since I listened to this in basically one sitting). All of a sudden they were saying I love you without even having gone on a date or slept together? 

First and foremost I want to say that if you (like me) did not care for A Dowry of Blood - you might give this one a shot anyway!

I absolutely devoured this book. Almost read it in a day but ended up taking a little more time with it intentionally. Some beautiful writing and lush descriptions:

I am obsessed with Laura’s character and I really identified with aspects of her personality. There were some just real good quotes about female rage, feeling othered, and life. The academic rivals to lovers I thought was well done with the appropriate amount of angst. 

Slight pacing issues that dragged about 70-80% of the way through. The ending was both expected and unexpected in different ways.

I didn’t trust Ms. D but then I was also unsurprised when she did not sacrifice Carmilla. However, I am still forming thoughts on the “villainess” of her character arc. She showed growth, but I guess I was expecting a bit more devastating  ending, or at least more conflict between her and the girls?

🌶️4/5

Ok the thing I appreciate about Hazelwood's books is they're not insta-love. This one actually brought me to a realization that the reason I probably enjoy enemies/rivals to lovers is because I prefer a slower burn and those plots take longer for the romance to solidify. The romance/relationship plot of this one is a bit predictable, but that didn't really detract from my interest in seeing how it played out. Levi has some great passages, despite this being one pov. I was a bit indifferent about Bee our main character though. Hazelwood also is good at the third act 'break ups' not being too over the top or drawn out. I was quite surprised by the other plotline (her science career) ending tho and that did feel a bit out of left field.

I was told to read this book because it has two vegan MCs, and I probably have only read a handful of other fiction books with a vegan character ever in my life. But I could tell that Hazelwood is likely not vegan herself, so some things seemed a bit stereotypical to me.

Queer side character rep. Bee's lab assistant Rosio (sp? I did audio) was honestly my fav character.

🌶️3.5/5 (this spice wasn't my fav)