I enjoyed this one more or less, but not nearly as much as the original trilogy. As several other reviewers have noted, there was something almost remI enjoyed this one more or less, but not nearly as much as the original trilogy. As several other reviewers have noted, there was something almost remote and distanced in the storytelling here, that prevented me from really feeling immersed in the story and engaged with the characters. Personally, I think a large part of this was due to the narrative style where the book was essentially told in two timelines, the present tense with Iain trying to reconnect with James, and the past that shows how they formed their friendship and how it fell apart. I don't generally enjoy heavy flashback use, partly because it often feels like almost a crutch for the writer to give us needed context. And while I don't deny that some of this context *was* needed, I don't think it was necessary to show us quite as many flashbacks as she did. I think the story would have felt stronger if there'd been more of a focus on the characters as they were in the present instead of the past. I still enjoyed this one, and I'm glad to have read it, but don't expect it to read like the first three books!
Merged review:
I enjoyed this one more or less, but not nearly as much as the original trilogy. As several other reviewers have noted, there was something almost remote and distanced in the storytelling here, that prevented me from really feeling immersed in the story and engaged with the characters. Personally, I think a large part of this was due to the narrative style where the book was essentially told in two timelines, the present tense with Iain trying to reconnect with James, and the past that shows how they formed their friendship and how it fell apart. I don't generally enjoy heavy flashback use, partly because it often feels like almost a crutch for the writer to give us needed context. And while I don't deny that some of this context *was* needed, I don't think it was necessary to show us quite as many flashbacks as she did. I think the story would have felt stronger if there'd been more of a focus on the characters as they were in the present instead of the past. I still enjoyed this one, and I'm glad to have read it, but don't expect it to read like the first three books!...more
I keep telling myself that I won't read this author anymore, but each time I keep picking up her newest release, hoping this time will be diffDNF ~47%
I keep telling myself that I won't read this author anymore, but each time I keep picking up her newest release, hoping this time will be different...
To be fair, I was actually quite enjoying myself, right up until they finally started acting on all the pining between them. By the time they admitted their feelings to one another, it honestly felt like I was reading two entirely different characters. The personalities that were established in the first 1/3 or so of the book seemed to be entirely disregarded so that, I can only assume, the author could achieve a certain kind of dynamic she was looking for. But that could have absolutely been done without making the characters feel totally unrecognizable. Albie, despite being only one year older than Percy and just as inexperienced (one has to assume even less so, given he had far less exposure to people his own age) turns into a suave sex god, and Percy, who's been quite bold and confident throughout the book, suddenly turns into a shy, submissive flower--not sure why we couldn't have had the sweet, bumbling, first-time exploration from them both, which was what I'd been expecteing from the set-up. The shift in personality for me was jarring and I lost all interest in the characters that had previously been engaging. Possibly things get better as you read on, but the book wasn't good enough to make me persevere....more
Intriguing premise, and I enjoyed the writing quality, but I wasn't sold on the pairing. Grif starts out as a real asshole with fucked2.5 rounded down
Intriguing premise, and I enjoyed the writing quality, but I wasn't sold on the pairing. Grif starts out as a real asshole with fucked-up and abusive tendencies, and I think if the author wanted to start him at such a low point, the book needed to be a hell of a lot longer with a much slower burn to work for me. Kiernan is essentially entirely dependent on him for survival, and the build of feelings on his part felt really rushed given how their relationship started and the super unequal power imbalance between the two, so it just felt a bit icky for me. I think if things had progressed more slowly and we'd seen Grif take any kind of accountability for his shitty behavior I may have felt differently, but alas, we did not get that. ...more
In what has felt like a sea of mediocrity in the genre over the past few years (most heartbreakingly even from authors whom I really lov4.5 rounded up
In what has felt like a sea of mediocrity in the genre over the past few years (most heartbreakingly even from authors whom I really loved and enjoyed), KJ Charles is a beacon of light and hope! This was just as delightful and charming as one would expect, fully of engaging characters, lovely emotion, and a plot that toes the line of zany in the best way. The kink stuff did feel a little out of left field, even for being relatively tame--it didn't bother me and I could see what the author was going for, but it didn't really feel like it totally fit with the vibe. But truly this was a joy, and a welcome reminder that it's not just *me* who has gotten more critical of books lately, because clearly I'm still very much capable of reading and loving a book in the genre....more
An enjoyable conclusion to the series overall, but I'm a bit bummed that the last two books are my least favorite of the series. Somewha3.5 rounded up
An enjoyable conclusion to the series overall, but I'm a bit bummed that the last two books are my least favorite of the series. Somewhat mends one of my quibbles in the first book of the duo, which is that we do finally get appearances from our book 1-4 favorites, though not nearly as much as I'd have personally preferred. I continued to find Fedeles and Aziz's relationship to be bland and uninspiring--I never really bought into the build between them, which undermined my ability to care about them, or to feel their connection at all. I loved Atreau and Narsi, and I dearly wish the book had exclusively focused on them. Partially influenced by the fact that while the stakes in this conclusion felt properly high, the way everything came about felt a little silly, particularly when compared to the villains and battles in book 2, which just felt a little grander, despite the fact that the scale of destruction in this one had such higher potential.
I did enjoy it, and I think this duology is worth reading for Atreau and Narsi, but particularly compared to how amazing the second two books were in this series, this conclusion fell a smidge flat....more
I enjoyed this one, but unfortunately it's my least favorite in the series so far. This one is a slightly departure from the previous two duologies inI enjoyed this one, but unfortunately it's my least favorite in the series so far. This one is a slightly departure from the previous two duologies in this series in that there are really four main characters and two primary couples, which I do think is a large part of why I didn't enjoy it as much. It was too broad of a focus for me, and I vastly preferred one of the pairings/related characters more than the others, so it dragged for me whenever it was focusing on the other two. I also wonder if part of the problem here is that Fedeles wasn't really much featured in the last duology, and his presence in the first was underneath a curse, so we haven't really had a chance to get to know him at all, unlike Atreau, who was a prominent side character in the last duology, setting him up nicely for us to care about his arc. I really enjoyed both him and Narsi, and though the build has been quite a bit slower than I'd prefer for the end of the first book, I still am very much enjoying.
With Fedeles, I just don't really care much about him at all--he's unrecognizable from the character we met in earlier books, and I just find him a little dull and underdeveloped. While I find Aziz a compelling character, the build between him and Fedeles felt really rushed to me -- I feel like we needed to see them more before the start of this book to not feel dumped in the middle of things without connection or context.
The tone of this one is also a bit different, with higher stakes and more political machinations. I didn't love the tone shift as much, though I think that's influenced by my lack of connection to half of the main characters in the book. I am also a bit bummed that the MCs from the previous books haven't really factored in much at all. That was my worry upon reading the summary, and it makes sense geographically, but having loved the first four books so much, the departure here in tone, set-up, and character is a bit of a detractor.
I did still enjoy it, and I remain cautiously hopeful about the conclusion, but this one didn't enthrall me as much as the first four books did....more
Enjoyable sequel in what I believe will ultimately be a trilogy following the same couple--you definitely need to read book 1 before this one! I contiEnjoyable sequel in what I believe will ultimately be a trilogy following the same couple--you definitely need to read book 1 before this one! I continued to like both of the MCs and the other people in their lives, and I appreciated that all of the tension points felt very believable and reasonable, and don't necessarily have easy solutions, but it's clear they both really care about one another and want to do their best to make things work. I did think the "evil ex" trope was a little unnecessary here--there was plenty else to go on without adding that into the mix and I don't really think it actually enhanced anything personally. Very much looking forward to the next (final?) installment!...more
Wonderfully written mm romance set in mid-century NYC and the following We Could Be So Good though it features a different couple and can definitely bWonderfully written mm romance set in mid-century NYC and the following We Could Be So Good though it features a different couple and can definitely be read as a standalone. Gorgeous characters and connections as I've come to expect from this author. I don't tend to love the "dead spouse" trope because it's so often written in a way that doesn't really resonate for me, but I thought the author did a great job with it here. Very similar vibe to the first book -- slow, sweet but not saccharine, low-angst, and just a feel-good read. I did think, as with the last book, that it dragged a little in the second half, like it was missing a bit of tension once they got together and given there were no really big issues/moments of conflict. I also wish it was a smidge more explicit as it's almost entirely fade-to-black, and the characters had such great chemistry, I wanted to get a little more of the actually being able to act on it. Particularly because of the time period in which it's set, and the themes of having to hide their queerness, I think not "hiding" the explicit acts of love would have felt more thematically in live with the book, but a small quibble overall....more
I enjoyed this one! Historical supernatural mystery, with a MC that appears to be somewhere along the autism spectrum, but well before there was any lI enjoyed this one! Historical supernatural mystery, with a MC that appears to be somewhere along the autism spectrum, but well before there was any language around that. Not overly gory, but a smidge more than the usual supernatural mystery, which is to be expected considering one of the MCs is murdered early in the book and the other, a necromancer, accidentally brings him back to life. The concept was super interesting, and I really enjoyed the characters and the various relationships throughout, including a lot of strong women and friendships that actually had some depth. I found the actual mystery part to be a little underbaked, with the climactic scene a bit overly dramatic--and it felt unnecessary, though I guess TBD if there are any repercussions in subsequent books. The smut is also very low on the steam, primarily fade-to-black, which is always a bummer. Still, I did like this one on the whole and I'm curious to keep reading!...more
I quite enjoyed the first duology in this six-book series, but I think this second duology is even better! For one thing, the characters are no longerI quite enjoyed the first duology in this six-book series, but I think this second duology is even better! For one thing, the characters are no longer teenagers--this taking place five years after the end of book 2, putting the Hellions in their mid-twenties--and I think the author did a great job showing the ways in which they've all matured, while also showing they still have their faults. We also get the POV of both the main characters in these two, and while I think the single POV in the first two books was the right call for the story being told there, it necessarily provided a bit of distance from Javier as a character--necessary, because he's a bit of a mysterious dick--but it was nice not to need that obfuscation here, because both Elezar and Skellen are really compelling characters, and it was wonderful to get in both of their heads. The romance is great, the plot compelling, the world-building continues to be fascinating, and I really enjoyed the strong friendships and that we got to see Javier and Kiran and Atreau in really substantial and satisfying ways that also felt incredibly natural to the plot. I'm incredibly excited to read Atreau & Fedeles' books next as it seems like the final duology will focus on the two of them and their separate love interests... maybe?...more
I continue to really enjoy this universe!! This book and the next focus on one of the Hellions from the first two books, and it was cool4.5 rounded up
I continue to really enjoy this universe!! This book and the next focus on one of the Hellions from the first two books, and it was cool to learn more about him and the world overall. The plot was fascinating, and I really enjoyed the characterizations and relationship build. We get both POVs in this book, which I think worked well. We also get several fun cameos of characters from the earlier books in a way that felt natural and didn't distract. Unlike book one, this book's ending felt fairly self-contained, so I'm very curious to see the direction things go in book 2!...more
Another interesting book in this series. I thought the miscommunication dragged a bit long and lacked a bit of nuance, and I'm dubious3.5 rounded down
Another interesting book in this series. I thought the miscommunication dragged a bit long and lacked a bit of nuance, and I'm dubious that the two of them staying in the secluded wilderness will actually work long term for them both, but I enjoyed overall....more
Interesting concept, but the romance is really quite muted and rushed here, to the point of feeling shoehorned in just so this could be considered oneInteresting concept, but the romance is really quite muted and rushed here, to the point of feeling shoehorned in just so this could be considered one. I think it may have worked better as a novel....more
Short and sweet MM retelling of Cinderella. I enjoyed the adaptations and the connection between the characters, but the ending felt a l3.5 rounded up
Short and sweet MM retelling of Cinderella. I enjoyed the adaptations and the connection between the characters, but the ending felt a little rushed and overly simplistic....more
I quite enjoyed this one! Lower steam, which is what I've sadly come to expect from this author, but the story was lovely and had just the right amounI quite enjoyed this one! Lower steam, which is what I've sadly come to expect from this author, but the story was lovely and had just the right amount of creepiness for a fae story. The ending genuinely went somewhere I hadn't expected, and though I did feel like the climax on felt a bit rushed and less developed than I'd have preferred, I thought this was a compelling read overall!...more
I thought this was a really well-written historical, which takes place during the Crimean War--not a time period/event I read much of! It does take plI thought this was a really well-written historical, which takes place during the Crimean War--not a time period/event I read much of! It does take place on the battlefront, and it's appropriately gritty, dark, and gruesome. Characters and animals die of injury, disease, and the elements, including ones we come to care for. There's also a supernatural element involving, essentially daemon possession, which was interesting, though it did feel like there was a LOT going on, and ultimately I think I'd have preferred if the supernatural angle had been ditched. It wasn't poorly done, but it did leave me feeling like the author was trying to do too much. Still, I appreciated this look at what life might have been like during this time, and the author doesn't pull any punches--but we get our happy ending....more
MM historical romance that takes place in 1920s England, with supernatural elements. The supernatural aspect was really lightly handled and the worldbMM historical romance that takes place in 1920s England, with supernatural elements. The supernatural aspect was really lightly handled and the worldbuilding felt really under-developed, to the point where I wasn't entirely sure of the point--I wish it had either been more clear/prominent or just nixed altogether. The historical aspect... IDK, there were times throughout that, to me, it felt like a much older time period than the 1920s, and then times where it felt accurate; maybe I'm just not super familiar with what it was like in the 1920s, but the time period for me didn't always totally jive. I quite liked Alphonse and his feelings realization journey. We don't get Jacobi's POV and given the nature of his character, I did find him somewhat opaque, and wished we had a little more from him to understand the why and how of his love for Alphonse. This is also quite a slow burn, and very low steam, lower even than book 1, which I did find disappointing--there's such a slow build that I was really looking forward to a smutty payoff, which we never got. I did enjoy this one overall, but I didn't love it....more
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