Bored out of my mind. I cannot get behind Sierra Cartwright's style. I find her characters flat and uninspired with very little chemistry. I'm sure a lot of people dig it but as far as BDSM go, I find some authors to be much more equiped at expressing the tornado of feelings that comes from such compelling relationships.
I think I'm in love. This hit all the right spots in all the most perfect way. What seems like another stereotypical romance story was actually layered with characters that aren't perfect, that have flaws and depth. The overall pacing is incredible. I cannot wait to read the rest and to fingers crossed discover if I have a new fav author.
This made me think of a few other things I read this year that I loved (Lucinda Dark, MJ Lawrie). This is just overall not as good as those two mentioned above : there are some issues with the pacing for once but it has the same elements that I enjoyed in those two previous stories : strong competent female lead, enigmatic dark male heroes, sort of almost medieval-like setting.
This didn't really vibe with me, which is a real shame considering I absolutely loved the entire series. I like how gender pushing Roni Loren can be and that she writes a little about everyone. However, I had trouble connecting with any of these characters. The whole online universe was really interesting and a nice basis, but I find it didn't mesh so well with the “real world”.
Copy/paste from my book 1 review : I was so pleasantly surprised by this find. I often think that most sci fi erotica novels have to be somewhat lame but this universe was interesting, detailed, the characters were endearing. This has some serious macho vibes but you know what, it kinda worked. So yes, be warned, the way this universe treats its female characters is appaling, the way the heroes often treat the heroine is somewhat appaling, this has dubious consent all over and the dirty mouth is almost too much at time BUT it still works.
Calliope Stewart is always a medium for me, not a hit or miss, just a medium, as in I know I'll enjoy it but I cannot go all the way to loving it. There's something very refreshing that I appreciate about her stories, some sort of candor or even innocence while being downright dirty at times that is amazing. However, I'm always missing something. I can't fault how she handles the relationships between her characters, it's almost soft spoken, quiet and it is a nice change from non stop drama. But then again, maybe a little drama drama is what her stories need...
This was grueling to get through. I only did because I enjoyed the first one despite its flaws and because I wanted to read the third one badly. All in all, I thought that everything that didn't work in the first didn't work in that one but adding to that, the characters weren't as endearing as in Heat Clinic so that was a big loss overall.
I really wished I had liked this more but the universe felt strangely contradictory. Lots of consent on one hand, on the other hand the omega doesn't get much choice during her heat so I'm just very ambivalent towards the details given to the universe created. Apart from that, the characters were endearing but sadly underdevelopped which isn't a testament to great writing considering that this is +400 pages. All in all, an okay read, lots of wasted potential.
Tessa Bailey has never disappointed, and this hasn't either. She's really great at making seemingly noble even if grumpy heroes have a serious dirty mouth. Autumn was an amazingly adorable female character and the whole height difference really made my day. I could actually picture these two in my head.
All in all, you're in for a treat. Not much is happening, but honestly I don't mind at all!
I enjoyed this much more than I should. I don't know what it is with me and reading books out of order lately but this made me want to read the first and the next book so at least that's a win.
I found both characters to be very endearing, there was one scene that had me choking in particular the tattoo revelation and while there were parts that should have been icky, I found that the characters made it all okay.
A very pleasant surprise.