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plumpaperbacks's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is my newest obsession. I was instantly drawn into the story and attached to Taliesin and Athlen. These boys are adorable and precious and need to be protected. Their romance is so soft and sweet and perfect. I love them and Tal’s family and Dara.
From a more critical perspective, not only was this a really fun read, but the plot, characters, and world were all well-developed. In the second half, there were some interesting twists I didn’t see coming. Lukens took the story in multiple directions I never expected.
Also, I was so not expecting the last fifty pages to be as emotional as they were. I was panicking as I read, desperately hoping that everything would work out. Thankfully, it did. The last chapter was so unbelievably cute and wholesome and good. It made me very happy.
I’ll be thinking about this book for a while. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read in 2021, and a new favorite. Highly, highly recommended!
Representation
From a more critical perspective, not only was this a really fun read, but the plot, characters, and world were all well-developed. In the second half, there were some interesting twists I didn’t see coming. Lukens took the story in multiple directions I never expected.
Also, I was so not expecting the last fifty pages to be as emotional as they were. I was panicking as I read, desperately hoping that everything would work out. Thankfully, it did. The last chapter was so unbelievably cute and wholesome and good. It made me very happy.
I’ll be thinking about this book for a while. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read in 2021, and a new favorite. Highly, highly recommended!
Representation
- queer protagonist and love interest
- achillean romance (m/m)
- side character with depression
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Genocide, and Slavery
Genocide and slavery tags included because both occurred prior to the story and are briefly mentioned throughout the book.sapphicread's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
“You promised once that you’d show me what the bed of a prince was like.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
Athlen smiled, “I did.”
I did not expect to love this as much as I do, and I’m so glad I picked it up. Athlen and Tal are literally the cutest!
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
Athlen smiled, “I did.”
I did not expect to love this as much as I do, and I’m so glad I picked it up. Athlen and Tal are literally the cutest!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Genocide and Vomit
enbylesbianism's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I'm truly and completely obsessed with this book. I can barely count the amount of times someone told me to watch a video or whatever and I said, "You'll have to wait, because I'm reading this awesome book". One of the things about it that got me was the fact that there was no LGBTphobia in this world. Sure, the whole thing about Tal hiding his magic seemed to have a lot of symbolism in relation to being queer, but it was refreshing to read a book where two boys were in love without a tone of "no, we're not allowed, I have to hide that I'm in love with a boy".
At first, I thought this book would be about gay pirates, but it didn't even give me time to be disappointed that it wasn't. It's just so amazing, the whole plot, the way it was developed... It was so strange to have a lot of expectations for a book and when it wasn't quite what I expected, I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I seemed to forget I even had that kind of thought.
Anyways! This book is just so good, with the plot being amazing, as well as the romance and the writing style, and the world building, that's not too slow or too fast--just at the necessary pacing for the reader to get used to without being overwhelmed... the feeling of the characters, the development of Tal's confidence, as well as the personality of the secondary characters, I loved it all.
At first, I thought this book would be about gay pirates, but it didn't even give me time to be disappointed that it wasn't. It's just so amazing, the whole plot, the way it was developed... It was so strange to have a lot of expectations for a book and when it wasn't quite what I expected, I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I seemed to forget I even had that kind of thought.
Anyways! This book is just so good, with the plot being amazing, as well as the romance and the writing style, and the world building, that's not too slow or too fast--just at the necessary pacing for the reader to get used to without being overwhelmed... the feeling of the characters, the development of Tal's confidence, as well as the personality of the secondary characters, I loved it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Minor: Vomit, Murder, and Genocide
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