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rebeccazh's Reviews (2.89k)
2.5 stars. Read this a few months ago. It was okay, a quick and simple fairy tale retelling. Some parts weren't very believable/logical but I went into it expecting that.
Was interested in the premise; unfortunately, didn't like the characterization of a few characters (especially the female protagonist). Felt like they were either flat or had potential to be so much better.
Really fun book!! Really picks up when Marci enters the picture
02/09/16 reread this in preparation for [b:Memories of Ash|17969479|Memories of Ash (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #2)|Intisar Khanani|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1458218563s/17969479.jpg|25187905]. Sunbolt is so good. The writing is refreshing, the world-building intriguing and detailed, the pace is good, and the characters are believable and likable. I like Hitomi a lot. Val is intriguing -- hope he appears in the next book.
I think I'm going to DNF this halfway in. I love the evil-forest-as-character + queen setting (ever since [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1420795060s/22544764.jpg|41876730] and [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1413217438s/21570318.jpg|40902835]). The problem is that I like this book but I'm also fine if I don't finish it -- I'm feeling indifferent and there isn't something compelling that makes me want to continue. Love the premise. I honestly love the evil forest + queen idea and wish I could find more books like it.
I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. One thing I really liked: the sensitivity both characters showed for each other and for the abuse they'd each suffered. I'd originally thought this book was going to gloss over Hannah's rape, which would have been awful, because abuse is not something that should be swept under the rug, but the author didn't.
I also originally thought that this book was just going to be about Hannah and her struggles because Garrett didn't seem to have a shitty past, but he did, and I really liked that the book managed to allow both these characters and their issues to breathe and to just be there in the book with little jostling, with no comparing, no, "he is more of a victim because his abuse was worse", or anything like that - abuse is abuse and it's not about who is more of a victim. The author acknowledged that, and said that oppression was oppression. I liked that a lot.
I also really their conversations - lighthearted and quick and easy to read. It felt very real. I expected only a PWP love story but I really liked how the author approached the characters and abuse with such care.
I also originally thought that this book was just going to be about Hannah and her struggles because Garrett didn't seem to have a shitty past, but he did, and I really liked that the book managed to allow both these characters and their issues to breathe and to just be there in the book with little jostling, with no comparing, no, "he is more of a victim because his abuse was worse", or anything like that - abuse is abuse and it's not about who is more of a victim. The author acknowledged that, and said that oppression was oppression. I liked that a lot.
I also really their conversations - lighthearted and quick and easy to read. It felt very real. I expected only a PWP love story but I really liked how the author approached the characters and abuse with such care.
Reread. I've missed Harry's world - it was great to be back in it. Really enjoy the style and the deadpan/witty humor.