Midge

updated my review from 3 to 4 stars for this one. the first time i read it i was unreasonably cynical, but i actually quite enjoyed it this time around. there were a couple slow stretches but i'm not sure if that was the writing or just the fact that i vaguely remembered the main story beats and was anxious to get to them. i never read book 3, so i'm just anxious to get there now.

okay, i finally finished my reread of this series. and i have feelings.

this series is so tough for me. while i do enjoy the story, about 2/3 through the first book i become super involved in the romance and then i don't really care about much that happens outside of that after. and a lot happens outside of that. like most of the books. after reading it i seemed to have blacked out and forgot how SLOW it burns. during my read this year i got about 1/3 of the way into this book and started losing it a little. i knew there were good moments coming up, but they really felt outside of my grasp.

then i picked it back up.

today i remembered why i soldiered on through the slow beginnings of this book because the QUOTES.

CARDAN AND JUDE.
(i feel strongly about them).

“my sweet nemesis, how glad i am that you have returned” is a line that makes me want to scream a little every time i readit. she made me wait so long to hear those lines of them finally understanding and hearing each other truly, and i am thrilled by it. anyway if you've read this please come talk to me about cardan and jude because they make me so mad and i love them in such an unreasonable way.

i may have enjoyed this book a lot more if i didn't have to read it for class, but then again i may never have read it. gallagher's arguments in this book are really interesting, but challenging to get through when you read the whole book in less than 24 hours. overall, i am not a historian i am just a person who enjoys the casual learn so i cannot speak from a historian's perspective. i thought it was interesting but not fascinating.