NJ
This book was not what I expected at all. From the summary, I was expecting his love interest to play a much larger role than she ended up playing. I was therefore jarred by how focused it was on the hero. I kept expecting to learn more about her but I didn't, ultimately that distracted me and took away from my enjoyment of the book. If I had gone in with different expectations this might have been a 5-star read for me.
Reading this book reinforced something I've long since suspected: I need my fantasy to be darker and to have characters who are ruthless and have a bit of an edge. Recently, YA fantasy, no matter how good just doesn't scratch that itch for me. I'm going to keep trying, but I'm beginning to accept that it may just not be for me. For example, I was really expecting Lirael to die in the binding that got rid of The Destroyer and I was disappointed in Nix for not taking it there but then I remembered that it was YA Fantasy and not grim-dark and it was unreasonable of me to expect that
This was unnecessarily dense and difficult to understand. While I enjoyed the political intrigue, I never really comprehended the world, I also feel like Cheris' character was never explored in the depth; instead she seemed to be a convenient conduit for Jedao. I enjoyed some parts of this book, but ultimately it was pretty meh for me.
This was so disappointing.
The series description and initial set-up make it seem as if the novel will be invested in upsetting the systems of power that create severe inequity and oppression. Instead, by the end of this book, I'm left with the impression that the author is truly more invested in a world that is peaceful rather than just.
I don't know if the issues I have with the book are more to do with its themes or the poor execution of what is otherwise a good idea. I think that in more recent books, readers and authors have become enamoured with the idea of a sympathetic villain; one whose motives and emotions you can sympathize with even if you don't agree with their means. However, I think that sort of villain is incredibly difficult to pull off without absolutely invalidating their worldview, which is what I think happened here. If you make me sympathize with your villain's goals (particularly if they are fighting to end systemic inequity), then I need to see narrative and character investment in ending those inequities even after your villain has been nullified. Otherwise, it seems as if the book is suggesting (which is what happened here), that rather than incredibly flawed systems, the real problem is individuals like the villain. And really, the world as it currently is is not that bad wouldn't you know
I read this book because I saw multiple reviews mention that it had some great grovelling. However, it felt a little flat for me. Even at the end, Alessandro was still a little too alpha for my tastes (probably a reflection of the time this book was written). Additionally, I felt like too much of the book was spent on their sexual chemistry and the rest of the relationship-building was glossed over. For example, after Alessandro wrangles 2 hours from her, I would have loved it if the author had spent a lot more page-space giving us examples of the quality time the two of them spent during that time. It was cute but ultimately a little disappointing.
I'm leaving this book unrated because I don't think I really gave it a fair chance. After a brutal 2021, I am finally in a semi-good place mentally so the discussion of depression and anxiety in this book was too much for me. It understandably coloured my enjoyment of this book and it was a bit too heavy for me.
I might reread this when I am more solidly in a better place. It might be everything I want in a romance, but at this moment, I can't tell.
Loved the resolution of the love triangle although I've seen it get a lot of hate. The only thing I would have changed would have been the amount of time Aerin spent with Tor after returning before the proposal. The first half of the book is spent establishing Tor and Aerin's connection and then the next half is spent with Luthe. So by the time they're getting married I've almost (but not quite) forgotten why I love Tor and Aerin together.
3.5 stars
I wish we got to learn more about Whit other than he's hot and stubborn. I would have loved to know more about how his stubbornness was essential early in the farm's history. Instead, I felt like I didn't get to know many of Whit's strengths.
However, because I love mutual pining, this was still a cute story in my book.
I should not have read this book so soon after reading [b:The Broken Earth Trilogy: The Fifth Season / The Obelisk Gate / The Stone Sky 38496769 The Broken Earth Trilogy The Fifth Season / The Obelisk Gate / The Stone Sky N.K. Jemisin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530531199l/38496769.SX50.jpg 60137524].This was a good book. It really was. But I couldn't help comparing it to [b:The Fifth Season 19161852 The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) N.K. Jemisin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386803701l/19161852.SY75.jpg 26115977] and finding it wanting. Perhaps, if I had read it a month from now, I would have been a bit less critical.I loved the characters, the world was interesting, the plot was exciting. It had a lot of great elements but I couldn't help being a bit disappointed with the ending. Not all the plot points were resolved satisfactorily in my opinion. How were they going to ensure in the future that there was no more corruption within the Augurs? What was Dar's plan for Zarin in the long term? How were they going to ensure that he wasn't born a kehok again? I just had a few things that I would have wanted resolved. I found myself wanting the same detailed world-building that I found in [b:The Broken Earth Trilogy: The Fifth Season / The Obelisk Gate / The Stone Sky 38496769 The Broken Earth Trilogy The Fifth Season / The Obelisk Gate / The Stone Sky N.K. Jemisin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530531199l/38496769.SX50.jpg 60137524] but I was a little disappointed. But to be fair, it was a really good standalone and I wish the fantasy genre would have more standalones. Additionally, I think this book would make a great movie. Some of the scenes were vivid and epic and I would love to see them on-screen.
I really hated Assasin's Apprentice and I was fully prepared to write Robin Hobb off forever but I have to concede that this trilogy was good . I felt so emotionally invested in most of our characters and I was gratified by their growth at the end.
I just find that there are still some aspects of the book that I find troubling and that's why despite enjoying it I couldn't rate it five stars. I'm going to try more Hobb now that I know they are not all like Assasin's Apprentice.
This was good, particularly in its rejection of the “your love cured me trope” in which beautiful young, women save surly, hurting men from themselves. However, this is the second age-gap romance I read in as many days, and it shames me to admit, I don't really enjoy them. Particularly, because I rarely, if ever see the reverse in romance and most of the age-gap romances I've observed in real life are rife with unsavoury power dynamics. But, I digress, on its own, this book was a swoony, enjoyable romance.
Can we please reserve the cartoon covers for light, swoony romance?!? Because this was definitely not that. It struck me more as literary fiction with some romantic elements thrown in and I did not enjoy the reading experience at all. I read the first few chapters, saw the direction it was going in and quickly skimmed the rest. I am so happy I didn't spend time finishing this book.Much like [b:People We Meet on Vacation 54985743 People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618913179l/54985743.SX50.jpg 67832306], this is a story about two people who have been in love with each other for years, during which time they are in relationships with other people. The difference between the [b:The Roughest Draft 57933316 The Roughest Draft Emily Wibberley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1622091718l/57933316.SX50.jpg 77336310] and [b:People We Meet on Vacation 54985743 People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618913179l/54985743.SX50.jpg 67832306], is that the former spends a lot of time on the MCs relationships with other people. Thus, we are forced to reckon with the betrayal of their love and it really dulled the “romance” of the book for me. If this book had been marketed as literary fiction, I would have gone in with different expectations and probably enjoyed it for what it was. As it stands, I am a moody reader who was hoping for light, swoony romance and was instead hit with this. I just wish this book had been marketed as what it was