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lifeinthebooklane's review against another edition
5.0
Quite simply this is Elin Peer at her very best
Whilst we've actually seen the end of the Men of the North series, this prequel gives us some insight into how and why the Motlanders and the Northmen grew so far apart. Elin's narrative is not only that of a love story but also a warning of how divided we can become over the simplest of issues. I adored this story and, if like me, you have read the rest of the series, it was so enlightening. It shows a time when the differences between the two nations were actually much less. A missed opportunity to build bridges rather than walls. Knowing the love of two very wonderful people led to even more suspicion, distrust and a worsening of relations between the Motherlands and the North was, at times, heartbreaking. A rather chilling analogy to so much of human history where something good has been twisted into something to fear.
Forbidden Letters is a beautiful story of love across the divide but also a warning of what happens when we allow prejudice and fear to lead our decision making. Whilst it is an amazing work of fiction, it also draws some eerie and foreboding parallels to the political situation in so many countries at the moment, my own included. Yet at no point does this ever feel as though the author is trying to force her views on us, but it does open ones eyes and elicit deeper contemplation at times. It's also one heck of an emotion packed, full of feels love story.
For some reason Devina reminded me of Christina, though she was a much 'freer' Motlander due to living in a different era. She had the caring-sharing ethos of the Motherlands, but was much less of a conformer to societal expectations and so much more of a free thinker. Tyton was perhaps more like Finn, a much milder N'man than some of the later protagonists. I totally and utterly fell in love with this pair, thankfully they get a much better ending than Romeo and Juliet did, even though I consider their love story to be just as wonderful as that of the star-crossed lovers.
This book took me through the gamut of emotions with a story that has carved itself a special place within my heart. I won't quote them, because of spoilers, but some of those lines in the epilogue were like a punch to the gut. I could feel them squeezing my heart!
I really can't recommend this book enough. The writing, the story, the pace and the characters do not disappoint but are all outstanding.
Whilst we've actually seen the end of the Men of the North series, this prequel gives us some insight into how and why the Motlanders and the Northmen grew so far apart. Elin's narrative is not only that of a love story but also a warning of how divided we can become over the simplest of issues. I adored this story and, if like me, you have read the rest of the series, it was so enlightening. It shows a time when the differences between the two nations were actually much less. A missed opportunity to build bridges rather than walls. Knowing the love of two very wonderful people led to even more suspicion, distrust and a worsening of relations between the Motherlands and the North was, at times, heartbreaking. A rather chilling analogy to so much of human history where something good has been twisted into something to fear.
Forbidden Letters is a beautiful story of love across the divide but also a warning of what happens when we allow prejudice and fear to lead our decision making. Whilst it is an amazing work of fiction, it also draws some eerie and foreboding parallels to the political situation in so many countries at the moment, my own included. Yet at no point does this ever feel as though the author is trying to force her views on us, but it does open ones eyes and elicit deeper contemplation at times. It's also one heck of an emotion packed, full of feels love story.
For some reason Devina reminded me of Christina, though she was a much 'freer' Motlander due to living in a different era. She had the caring-sharing ethos of the Motherlands, but was much less of a conformer to societal expectations and so much more of a free thinker. Tyton was perhaps more like Finn, a much milder N'man than some of the later protagonists. I totally and utterly fell in love with this pair, thankfully they get a much better ending than Romeo and Juliet did, even though I consider their love story to be just as wonderful as that of the star-crossed lovers.
This book took me through the gamut of emotions with a story that has carved itself a special place within my heart. I won't quote them, because of spoilers, but some of those lines in the epilogue were like a punch to the gut. I could feel them squeezing my heart!
I really can't recommend this book enough. The writing, the story, the pace and the characters do not disappoint but are all outstanding.
arasjial's review against another edition
5.0
Ich habe keine Ahnung warum ich diesen Teil so lange vor mich hingeschoben habe. Er ist einer der BESTEN aus der gesamten Reihe!!!!! Ich liebe einfach alles an diesem Teil xD. Ein absolutes Muss für jeden Fan von unabhängigen Frauen und starken Hotties mit Herz. Bekomme einfach nicht genug. Ich glaube ich lese ihn nochmal.
PS: war seit langen wieder einer meiner schnellsten Readings. 4 1/5 Std. :P
10 Sterne !!
PS: war seit langen wieder einer meiner schnellsten Readings. 4 1/5 Std. :P
10 Sterne !!
patrizia_anna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
melorpio's review against another edition
2.0
This story follows Devina, who currently resides in a futuristic America where women have been put into power, and Tyton, who is in an alternative version of Canada where mostly only men reside. I really liked the idea of this story, but unfortunately the execution was lacking. I know a dystopian world isn’t necessarily supposed to be realistic, but this story was just too unbelievable to make much sense. The biggest thing wrong with this story, of course the fact that nobody stood in the way of a 15 year old marrying a 26 year old man. I can only hope that since there are several books in this series that hopefully the marriage age changes, but since I do not plan on reading them, I will never know.
africreole's review against another edition
5.0
She fulfilled her grandmother's dying wish
Davina just knew Wilma needed saving. Nothing could be further from the truth. After sneaking into the Northlans, what Davina found were Nmen unlike she'd been taught they were. She met the love of her life Tyton. With Davina being an author and co-authoring her experience in the Northland with Tyton, the supposedly fictional romance book had her rethinking her life in Motland. Things were just becoming too restrictive with the band of her popular book and other emotional topics. She had to find her way back to Tyton.I
What Davina didn't know was that Guy in and his entire family were in for the right of their life from a crazy dictator of a king. What they all learned was that woman's will fight just as hard to protect their family and love ones as the Nmen.
The entire series has been very exciting creative and imaginative about two separate cultures of people breaking through the barrior of forbidden contact and growing to accept those difference through love.
Davina just knew Wilma needed saving. Nothing could be further from the truth. After sneaking into the Northlans, what Davina found were Nmen unlike she'd been taught they were. She met the love of her life Tyton. With Davina being an author and co-authoring her experience in the Northland with Tyton, the supposedly fictional romance book had her rethinking her life in Motland. Things were just becoming too restrictive with the band of her popular book and other emotional topics. She had to find her way back to Tyton.I
What Davina didn't know was that Guy in and his entire family were in for the right of their life from a crazy dictator of a king. What they all learned was that woman's will fight just as hard to protect their family and love ones as the Nmen.
The entire series has been very exciting creative and imaginative about two separate cultures of people breaking through the barrior of forbidden contact and growing to accept those difference through love.
what_alice_saw's review against another edition
4.0
A bit better than the first two. I was more engaged with the couple & liked their dynamic.
ezichinny's review against another edition
5.0
From opposite sides of the Wall
stars.
I’m amazed that with So many books in this series, author Elin Peer continues to deliver high quality story telling complete with a well developed plot, fleshed out characters and an emotional appealing romance.
Forbidden Letters is a prequel giving us some background into the further breakdown of relations between the Mothlanders and Nman due to some prejudices due to the war. What a subtle commentary on societal prejudices and stereotypes but written without a heavy-handed dose of her opinion. I didn’t feel like it was preachy at all.
Devina and Tyton are one of my favorite couples in this series. They were both brave and flexible despite their societal views at that time. Tyton reminded me of Alexander Boulder, Christina’s husband, because he was protective without being overbearing or aggressively alpha.
Tyton’s Family was exactly what Devina needed and I love their journey to love as it was full of twist and turns. The story flowed so well, the pacing was perfect and the story left me feeling really happy at the end.
I recommend that readers DON’T start with this one. I believe I enjoyed it more having read the other stories in order first.
stars.
I’m amazed that with So many books in this series, author Elin Peer continues to deliver high quality story telling complete with a well developed plot, fleshed out characters and an emotional appealing romance.
Forbidden Letters is a prequel giving us some background into the further breakdown of relations between the Mothlanders and Nman due to some prejudices due to the war. What a subtle commentary on societal prejudices and stereotypes but written without a heavy-handed dose of her opinion. I didn’t feel like it was preachy at all.
Devina and Tyton are one of my favorite couples in this series. They were both brave and flexible despite their societal views at that time. Tyton reminded me of Alexander Boulder, Christina’s husband, because he was protective without being overbearing or aggressively alpha.
Tyton’s Family was exactly what Devina needed and I love their journey to love as it was full of twist and turns. The story flowed so well, the pacing was perfect and the story left me feeling really happy at the end.
I recommend that readers DON’T start with this one. I believe I enjoyed it more having read the other stories in order first.
amyiw's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite of the series. This happens right before the Motlanders start censoring romance novels and forbid speech that doesn't "conform". 2273 says the book.
Here the nMen are feared but not to the point of the later books. People still talk about them and emotions are not stunted quite yet by the ridiculous censorship of book and talk. Actually this is the book that sets that in motion and gives us a little more insight into the Motlanders "reasoning".
The two are great together after their rocky beginning. There is a lot of emotion as they realize that they cannot be together on either side. His family is great and it is really what she needs.
Here the nMen are feared but not to the point of the later books. People still talk about them and emotions are not stunted quite yet by the ridiculous censorship of book and talk. Actually this is the book that sets that in motion and gives us a little more insight into the Motlanders "reasoning".
The two are great together after their rocky beginning. There is a lot of emotion as they realize that they cannot be together on either side. His family is great and it is really what she needs.
shealwaysreads's review against another edition
4.0
It pains me to rate this 4 stars but this one just didn't meet my expectations. I felt it was to similar to the old Romeo and Juliet in the sense two people from different paths of life who cant be together. And I think that why I was let down by it.
I loved the story in a story vibe that it had going on it. I loved the correlation between the two tales. While the plot kept me reading because I had to know the ending ( that is a good thing when you have to know the ending) I cant say I was so pleased with it.
I think this will be great for those new to the series, but for me given that I read the entire series, I was holding out for a different ending than the others. But it followed the same path. I was eager for more.
I also found the intimate scenes be lacking. While they were well written I just felt like that extra umph that was received in the other 10 books just wasn't as comparable.
I however did love finding out more about the NWomen and the hidden strengths they have over their men. I devoured the more in depth look into both worlds, the pros and cons showed more vividly in the prequel more so than any other book.
I loved the story in a story vibe that it had going on it. I loved the correlation between the two tales. While the plot kept me reading because I had to know the ending ( that is a good thing when you have to know the ending) I cant say I was so pleased with it.
I think this will be great for those new to the series, but for me given that I read the entire series, I was holding out for a different ending than the others. But it followed the same path. I was eager for more.
I also found the intimate scenes be lacking. While they were well written I just felt like that extra umph that was received in the other 10 books just wasn't as comparable.
I however did love finding out more about the NWomen and the hidden strengths they have over their men. I devoured the more in depth look into both worlds, the pros and cons showed more vividly in the prequel more so than any other book.