Scan barcode
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
it's giving acotar but actually entertaining and the main character vaguely has some common sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty and Cannibalism
_ava_summer_reads's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Slavery, and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse and Abandonment
I thought it was really good! It was quite entertaining and Fortuna did develop a little bit over the course of the book. The trials were shocking and fun to watch her overcome. However, there are a lot of things I’m still confused about, which I’m sure they’ll go into in the next couple of books in the series.sammyfitz's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Kidnapping
withywoods's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
My rating isn't fair, perhaps. For books of this genre, maybe Fortuna Sworn is above average. I wouldn't know.
I was tempted to keep a list of all the things that made me scoff and roll my eyes and just sigh with exasperation. But I didn't. So let me just say that this book's biggest problem is the protagonist. I wanted her to fail. She's just odious. I like the idea that she sees her work pals as her little found family when you know that they'd be better off without her sarcastic ass dragging the mood down constantly. Abrasive, mercurial to a fault, HORNY AS A DOG (my God what was WITH her constant horniness?!) and just plain idiotic most of the time, Fortuna made this book about ten times worse than it might otherwise have been. Make up your mind, woman – are you ready to jump this man's bones or do you hate him, hate him, never want to date him? By the third or fourth lengthy description of Collith's appearance, we had a preface of "I've never had a chance to look at him properly before now". Honey, what?! Ogling this "male", your "mate" is ALL you've been doing!
Anyway, the reason I can't read books where "romance" (let's be honest, here, it's just plain smut at points) is the main theme is that there's never very strong plot, worldbullding and characterization. All cheeky little things that I tend to enjoy in my fiction. But what you will get is loads of "and now his dick was hard". Right now? When he's being attacked? And he's surrounded by others? Unlikely. Apologies to anyone reading this review and thinking "Yeah, that's the whole point of the genre". Fair enough, but it clearly doesn't work for me.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS, PROBABLY
Buried under the POV of the world's most tiresome protagonist and the paper-thin cast of characters is a vaguely intriguing plot. Just about. Does anyone want to know who or what Oliver is, exactly? Because spending time with Fortuna's mental sex doll would otherwise be very bleak, if his plot and purpose don't amount to anything more. And who would've thunk that the character only Fortuna interacted with was visible only to her?! I am in pure disbelief and will never recover from this groundbreaking discovery. Is there really more to Sutton's world to warrant further reading? Perhaps. Check in with me next year, when the nights draw long and the temperature plummets and I once again lose all sense and reason, and reach for another trashy and easily devoured book. Maybe the next in the series is what I'll reach for. If I can remember one bland character from the next, or why I should care about Fortuna's motives, or or or.
Note that even this review is tainted – influenced by Sutton's overwrought writing, mean-spirited, aiming for a banterous tone but just sounding petulant. I need my mental space to be clean once more. May the next read be a good one.
I was tempted to keep a list of all the things that made me scoff and roll my eyes and just sigh with exasperation. But I didn't. So let me just say that this book's biggest problem is the protagonist. I wanted her to fail. She's just odious. I like the idea that she sees her work pals as her little found family when you know that they'd be better off without her sarcastic ass dragging the mood down constantly. Abrasive, mercurial to a fault, HORNY AS A DOG (my God what was WITH her constant horniness?!) and just plain idiotic most of the time, Fortuna made this book about ten times worse than it might otherwise have been. Make up your mind, woman – are you ready to jump this man's bones or do you hate him, hate him, never want to date him? By the third or fourth lengthy description of Collith's appearance, we had a preface of "I've never had a chance to look at him properly before now". Honey, what?! Ogling this "male", your "mate" is ALL you've been doing!
Anyway, the reason I can't read books where "romance" (let's be honest, here, it's just plain smut at points) is the main theme is that there's never very strong plot, worldbullding and characterization. All cheeky little things that I tend to enjoy in my fiction. But what you will get is loads of "and now his dick was hard". Right now? When he's being attacked? And he's surrounded by others? Unlikely. Apologies to anyone reading this review and thinking "Yeah, that's the whole point of the genre". Fair enough, but it clearly doesn't work for me.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS, PROBABLY
Buried under the POV of the world's most tiresome protagonist and the paper-thin cast of characters is a vaguely intriguing plot. Just about. Does anyone want to know who or what Oliver is, exactly? Because spending time with Fortuna's mental sex doll would otherwise be very bleak, if his plot and purpose don't amount to anything more. And who would've thunk that the character only Fortuna interacted with was visible only to her?! I am in pure disbelief and will never recover from this groundbreaking discovery. Is there really more to Sutton's world to warrant further reading? Perhaps. Check in with me next year, when the nights draw long and the temperature plummets and I once again lose all sense and reason, and reach for another trashy and easily devoured book. Maybe the next in the series is what I'll reach for. If I can remember one bland character from the next, or why I should care about Fortuna's motives, or or or.
Note that even this review is tainted – influenced by Sutton's overwrought writing, mean-spirited, aiming for a banterous tone but just sounding petulant. I need my mental space to be clean once more. May the next read be a good one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
lemon_illua's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fortuna Sworn is the first book of 4 (so far) & is a quick & interesting read. Great for fantasy romance lovers, definitely check trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Gore
ka_ke's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I could not put this book down. It’s perfect for those who love ACOTAR but perhaps want something a little darker. The spice is mild, but I feel like it amps up in book 2. Fortuna Sworn is a beautiful character with fully personality. Do not trust Collith.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Medical content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
spaghettii's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A fun little fae book with tricky characters and nice little plot twists
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, and Stalking
prettynerdy3's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
genny's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was so skeptical about this book (I kept removing and then putting it back in my e-reader, haha) but I'm glad I decided to give it a chance! I didn't know what to expect other than a "fantasy romance", so I was surprised to discover that this was more focused on the protagonist discovering the fae court and passing a series of trials. I suspect that might be a cliché in fae stories, but this is the first one I've read, so...I liked it! It was actually pretty light on the romance since Fortuna's attention is occupied by more important things, but that worked in my favor. The concept of supernatural creatures descending from fallen angels was cool - I hope that's explored more in the next books. This was also way more grim and gore-y than I expected. The death of the dragon made me teary-eyed :'(
I was waiting for an explanation about Collith's extremely sudden interest in Fortuna, but we never got one, and now I'm scared that we're supposed to just accept it 💀 That can't be it though, right? He had to have known they were soulmates or whatever beforehand...right? He didn't just pick her out of a crowd, I hope. I guess I'll find out in the next book. Also intrigued by Oliver and Laurie. I thought the latter wasan angel, not a faerie king . My idea was cooler. :P
P.S. I despise the use of the word "mate", it sounds so yucky 😭
I was waiting for an explanation about Collith's extremely sudden interest in Fortuna, but we never got one, and now I'm scared that we're supposed to just accept it 💀 That can't be it though, right? He had to have known they were soulmates or whatever beforehand...right? He didn't just pick her out of a crowd, I hope. I guess I'll find out in the next book. Also intrigued by Oliver and Laurie. I thought the latter was
P.S. I despise the use of the word "mate", it sounds so yucky 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Cannibalism, Gore, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
murphymegs's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Ugh I wanted to like it. I did!!! But there were so many pieces of the story that didn’t mesh together. We would be in one scene and then suddenly another. There was a strange obsession with her virginity. It was gruesome and cruel and didn’t start to get good until the last 50 pages. I don’t think I’ll pick up the next books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Death, and Cannibalism