Rei
Have you ever read a book that seemed engaging and interesting until a romance came along and totally derailed all the plot action with a bunch of cringy, inane, interpersonal drama? Yeah, this was that book for me.
Caveat: I don't like romance fiction. I have a pile of reasons, but at the end of the day it's just not to my taste. I think that when “romance” is centered in a story it bogs down everything else that's trying to happen in story. The viewpoint becomes very internal and overly focused on characters languishing in their own feelings and perspective to the exclusion of everything else. I also find that the typical way that authors create tension and conflict in a story that centers a romance is to make that relationship toxic and rife with pettiness and bad communication. In general, I think romance as a genre is a lazy way out of telling a more nuanced and mature story. Dysfunctional relationship angst makes a hell of a filler.
So while I'm a fan of fantasy, romance fantasy is very much not for me. I didn't realize this book was a romance when I picked it up as an Amazon First Reads title. That's on me.
That said, while I think Charlie Holmberg's storytelling has potential, I can't bring myself to read any more of her work, knowing now that all she writes is romance.
Have you ever read a book that seemed engaging and interesting until a romance came along and totally derailed all the plot action with a bunch of cringy, inane, interpersonal drama? Yeah, this was that book for me.
Caveat: I don't like romance fiction. I have a pile of reasons, but at the end of the day it's just not to my taste. I think that when “romance” is centered in a story it bogs down everything else that's trying to happen in story. The viewpoint becomes very internal and overly focused on characters languishing in their own feelings and perspective to the exclusion of everything else. I also find that the typical way that authors create tension and conflict in a story that centers a romance is to make that relationship toxic and rife with pettiness and bad communication. In general, I think romance as a genre is a lazy way out of telling a more nuanced and mature story. Dysfunctional relationship angst makes a hell of a filler.
So while I'm a fan of fantasy, romance fantasy is very much not for me. I didn't realize this book was a romance when I picked it up as an Amazon First Reads title. That's on me.
That said, while I think Charlie Holmberg's storytelling has potential, I can't bring myself to read any more of her work, knowing now that all she writes is romance.
It was ok. The show was better.
It was ok. The show was better.
