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rebeccazh's Reviews (2.89k)
I actually really liked this - hit a lot of my fav tropes - but it started getting a bit draggy and book 2 wasn't what I was expecting.
3.5 stars. A bit too much introspection, inner monologuing and telling not showing, could've shaved off a good 20-30% of this mammoth book. I started skimming. Anyway J Bree's ability to write characters and relationships full of drama prevails again and I was riveted. Rooke is a fantastic heroine - a woman a few hundred years old who acts her age. She is mature, poised, and embodies Michelle Obama's quote, "when they go low, we go high". She is very competent and powerful and it's obvious in her mindset and behavior - she always has the big picture in mind and doesn't let the shitty behavior of Soren and gang's bullshit bother her.
Soren on the other hand... He is immature, egotistical and a bully at best, racist, hateful and abusive at worst. The supposed romance left me cold and I really don't see how they're supposed to be together. He is a total asshole to her, her culture, her people etc, and he is demeaning, dehumanizing, and threatening towards her consistently and endlessly.
I saw online that the second book is a bigger mess, no apology from Soren nor any kind of groveling or changed behavior about his absolutely shitty and unforgivable actions. So... It's pretty disappointing. We need more female leads like Rooke.
Soren on the other hand... He is immature, egotistical and a bully at best, racist, hateful and abusive at worst. The supposed romance left me cold and I really don't see how they're supposed to be together. He is a total asshole to her, her culture, her people etc, and he is demeaning, dehumanizing, and threatening towards her consistently and endlessly.
I saw online that the second book is a bigger mess, no apology from Soren nor any kind of groveling or changed behavior about his absolutely shitty and unforgivable actions. So... It's pretty disappointing. We need more female leads like Rooke.
Ice princess trope done right. I do love me some angst.
Review for the whole series. I picked this up because of the J Bree drama about her Mortal Fates book 2 release (popcorn time) that made me curious about this author's works. Amazingly, this series is pretty addictive! Though the quality really varies. Books 1-2 are my fav, book 3 onwards really dragged.
Disregarding my usual thoughts about representation of sensitive topics and the way men treat women like dirt in romances and the serious misogyny in romance stories (only heroine and 1 or 2 female sidekick friends are likeable), I thought this was very bingeable. This is a reverse harem story so ymmv but I loved the relationship drama. The series focuses a lot on heroine Oli's relationships with various characters - lovers, mentors, friends, enemies, etc. and I do love some messy and reality tv worthy relationships, and it's really where the series shines. There are so many secrets, misunderstandings, angst, conflicts, etc.
Pacing was a serious issue though. I thought the books could've been tightened a lot better. Some parts really dragged (book 3 and onwards), and some of the relationships (North) were smoothed over too fast. The world building is barely there and seems just there for the plot (which I also had issues with). Might check out her Mortal Fates series once a few more books release (at some point
Disregarding my usual thoughts about representation of sensitive topics and the way men treat women like dirt in romances and the serious misogyny in romance stories (only heroine and 1 or 2 female sidekick friends are likeable), I thought this was very bingeable. This is a reverse harem story so ymmv but I loved the relationship drama. The series focuses a lot on heroine Oli's relationships with various characters - lovers, mentors, friends, enemies, etc. and I do love some messy and reality tv worthy relationships, and it's really where the series shines. There are so many secrets, misunderstandings, angst, conflicts, etc.
Pacing was a serious issue though. I thought the books could've been tightened a lot better. Some parts really dragged (book 3 and onwards), and some of the relationships (North) were smoothed over too fast. The world building is barely there and seems just there for the plot (which I also had issues with). Might check out her Mortal Fates series once a few more books release (at some point
Though the prose is distracting and too purple prose-y, I surprisingly enjoyed this. Has a lot of tropes I like - second chance, dragon riders, hidden/secret identity.
Interesting to see the alpha male trope reversed with an alpha female this time. Eve is aggressive, dominant, sexual, competent and emotionally distant. She did a lot of stuff that's considered dubcon at best noncon at worst, similar to most alpha male romances. I enjoyed this as fiction but really have to suspend my usual beliefs etc.
Another absolutely gorgeous story by Kennedy Ryan. I absolutely love this and the Skyland series. I'm dying for the next book in this series, Score. Verity and Monk please! But anyway, this book made me love things I usually hate in a book - music/entertainment industry romance, narration switching between the present and the past and historical fiction. Dessi Blue's story was as compelling as Neevah and Canon's and I almost wish I could read a full novel about her.