**spoiler alert** Preface to say - I don't know why I keep picking up 2000/2010's NA fantasy books with straight MF relationships and expect to enjoy **spoiler alert** Preface to say - I don't know why I keep picking up 2000/2010's NA fantasy books with straight MF relationships and expect to enjoy them. No clue, I'm in a slump and just going with it. I am not the audience for these but yet continue to read.
I read this in a sitting, the first 3/4's of this book was entertaining and I'd love to see a queer version of it. There's: - Protagonist is the food tester for the commander, she gets to see the inner politics and maneuvering happening, emphasis on testing and tasting for various poisons - Strong NA heroine trope of her outsmarting and surprising a bunch of people with how she stays alive and survives in random tests - Traumatic backstory and protagonist working through PTSD and grief - Lots of loyalty checks from her handler and the commander, the reader doesn't know who to trust and what is a set up - Creating world building for more books: there's different regions, each has specific trade, customs, rulings, topography, magic systems, etc. Magic has a mind control and telepathy element I am intrigued with. - Examining the effects of socialism. the commander overtook the monarchy and implemented new rulings and systems. some new rules seemed to help the people, while other systems were dumb, as expected. - I love a training montage. protagonist ends up learning self defense in her spare time and befriending Ari & Janco (arguably the best characters in the whole book)
Very entertaining. I want more food tester plots, I love seeing the inner workings of court and political shenanigans from a different lens. This had the classic NA trope of heroine learning to trust herself, get a backbone, and become a badass. This also had the horrid backstory protagonist is working through.
HowEver...
The last quarter of this book fell apart, was rushed, and jammed so much in that didn't need to be there: - This went from the slowest of slow relationship arc from the protagonist and assassin throughout the book to immediately "we must kiss, then have fade to black sex on this dirty ass straw covered prison floor while waiting for our attackers to leave and then profess undying love for each other" for no damn reason. the romance should have been drawn out over a couple books, there was no need for that nonsense. This also went from them acknowledging that they trust one another to immediately together. Why ruin all the slow build development and character growth? - More grumblings from me of having a 19 year old girl in a relationship with a 30-40 yr old grown ass man. This one is also her handler. She is a prisoner, he is in charge of her life. That power dynamic is not one I enjoy. Let her at least have her frontal lobe developed please. He also had a lot of abuse of power over her, which I also am not on board with. - The plot went off the rails with trying to do too much in a short period of time. This was clearly set up as the first in a series, not everything needed to be wrapped up neatly in a bow. - The commander was supposed to be this fair and just leader, but was super bigoted against magic users. One saved his life and he still sentenced them to death? What. - No explanation on random buzzing the protagonist could do (assuming it's magic but who knows) - That's so 2000 trope of using threat of rape as a plot device
And finally, the "WTF IS HAPPENING" reveal of the commander being trans that was clunky at best. - We find out the commander hates magic users solely because they could tell that he's trans and he doesn't want his secret out. Very good leadership happening there. He would execute babies, y'all. - This ham fisted misgendering and dead naming situation inside his head that we had to read through. And him killing off his inner demons. - Internalized transphobia to the extreme. - I don't know whether to applaud or cringe at Snyder including this in the book. It added 0 value to the story or plot. But also, what books in 2005 were including trans characters in their books, in a way that wasn't as the punchline of a joke? The commander was heavily respected throughout the book, and after the 'big reveal' he was still the same guy and treated the same. Yay? Maybe? Idek. I did read that this is Snyder's first book, so I'm going to guess that things get better in future books.
I am both intrigued with wanting to see how the plot line of the protagonist learning how to use her magic and the magic system pans out. I also don't want to read about the romance in this. I do hope that Ari and Janco are recurring characters and also are in love with each other. Again - they're my favorite characters lol.
Adding a star because of the world building and plot that was intriguing for the majority of the book. Minus a bunch of stars for everything else listed above.
CWs: transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, child sexual assault and child abuse, explicit rape recounted from memory, threats of rape multiple times, abuse of power, lots of murder, knives, blood and gore, mind control, torture, suicide ideation, poisoning, drugging, kidnapping, slavery, bullying...more
Didn't really love the art style, but the plot was still enjoyable.
Classic YA fantasy with some romance. But! HeroGraphic novel version of Graceling.
Didn't really love the art style, but the plot was still enjoyable.
Classic YA fantasy with some romance. But! Heroine stands her ground with wanting no marriage, no babies, taking birth control. Sleeping with her lover (fade to black/not on page). No shame, no guilt. Reading this makes me want to read the actual books again cause pieces were missing in this version....more
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I lInsert Ben Affleck chain smoking meme....
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I love you" moments, more rabbit mask killer case - there were some big reveals in this one. Still hate Sila though.
Great narration as usual. Also good for the side characters getting in some pegging. Good for them indeed!...more
Going into this without reading blurbs or anything - this was a wild time. Dracula and his coven of sires, through the POV of his wife. The writing waGoing into this without reading blurbs or anything - this was a wild time. Dracula and his coven of sires, through the POV of his wife. The writing was great, plot was a bit light, but the handling of a toxic emotionally manipulative partner written through the POV of the person in love with them was tragically great.
I'd read a whole book just with the sired 3 vampires, which are already in a little poly relationship. Loved the normalization of bisexuality throughout this.
Lots of imagery and descriptions of the locations the group moves too throughout the centuries.
Abby Craden narrates this too? Love it.
Check out CWs - there's lots of blood, blood drinking, death/on page killing. Emotional abuse, manipulative & toxic partner, lots of gaslighting. The sex scenes in this are a mix of closed door and vague open door non-explicit. Also ancient vampire siring an 18 year old, in case huge age gaps aren't your thing. This isn't a genre romance, but has romantic elements. ...more
Really enjoyed Tor Thom's narration in this! Alexandre Steele was technically there too, but Thom's voice stood out.
I kept thinking "I really wish thReally enjoyed Tor Thom's narration in this! Alexandre Steele was technically there too, but Thom's voice stood out.
I kept thinking "I really wish they'd stop being in love and we could get to the heist shenanigans!" while listening to this. Instalove, opposites attract, size difference, sex worker MC, and taking down shitty politicians.
Curious to see what other relationships will be happening throughout this series, there were some other notable characters in the group I'm intrigued with. ...more
**spoiler alert** Audio reread: The John Solo & Kirt Graves' narration on this series continues to be great.
Loved it, maybe these narrations will cur**spoiler alert** Audio reread: The John Solo & Kirt Graves' narration on this series continues to be great.
Loved it, maybe these narrations will cure my slump? Fingers crossed.
------------------- Prince & his bodyguard/best friend who's a bit of an obliviot in terms of understanding feelings. Yes, every bloodguard thinks that their ward is the most beautiful person on the planet. Totally normal.
This had such a strong start, great relationship development and showcasing of how each lead was so enamored with the other. Unfortunately, the ending felt way too rushed and there were so many things that could have used more information on.
Their bond turning from pain to pain & pleasure - can we get more information on as to why? Could we have more than just a scene or two of them 'testing out' the pleasure elements? The ending felt a bit lower stakes, and I'm happy for them and their HFN but it didn't feel too satisfying compared to the dark and sinister breadcrumbs of their kingdom only for a clean and swift end. There's also a severe lack of animals in this compared to the first three books. The dream falcon didn't really have any character, and the fellcat minor appearance I wanted so much more from!
I'm just a bit unsatisfied with this one, and it pains me to say so! Still a 4-star read, but it could have been a million stars, ya know?...more
The line I draw in the sand is not reading about explicit sex with minors. Age of consent is 18 where I'm at, and is what I'm comfortable witDNF @ 26%
The line I draw in the sand is not reading about explicit sex with minors. Age of consent is 18 where I'm at, and is what I'm comfortable with reading as an adult. This features a 19 year old and 17 year old, but there's so much at the beginning describing how the younger MC looks maybe 16, is so young and tiny and malnourished, and it's a no for me after getting to explicit sex scene #1.
Also, not loving the captor/prisoner dynamics for an enemies to lovers situation, and these two are giving each other hand jobs while the prisoner's leg is still healing from being shattered for running away.
Sigh. Bleak scifi dystopian short touching on colonialism, genocide, and politics.
I think it needed a bit more length to fully show the world, politiSigh. Bleak scifi dystopian short touching on colonialism, genocide, and politics.
I think it needed a bit more length to fully show the world, politics, and cultural elements Roanhorse was going for. Good narration. Check CWs....more
**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be included for the transphobia, homophobia, slurs, N-word, lesbophobia, biphobia, etc that is throughout the series, at a minimum.
Original review:
I did enjoy parts of this, especially the romance elements! However, there was so much that I wasn't ok with, and it tainted the book overall for me.
1. Why on earth is the n-word said out loud in this? Jarring as hell to hear, and not comfortable with it being used. The narrator also turns into characterizations of any characters that are non-white, and it's a no on that front.
2. Why did Hazard have to be this caricaturized villain version of himself, and every other minute he was either breaking something, throwing a tantrum, breaking a nose, slamming people into a car hood, destroying his home, or verbally abusing John. There was so much hate and anger and abusive behavior in this book, in both the relationship and with treating suspects on the case? How is Hazard not in jail after that stunt with following the pastor. A cute stargazing moment and proposal doesn't quite wave a magical wand and make the last 15 chapters disappear. I get that he's dealing with PTSD and is scared, but jfc with how much physical therapy is normalized in this series to fix broken bones and gunshot wounds, you'd hope there's maybe someone to talk to about brain stuff. How is no one on the police force in mandatory therapy for the nonstop trauma and murder their tiny town has seen? On a tangent now, but geez I hope there's therapy in someone's future.
3. Hearing so much dude-bro fuckboi conversations and slang made me lose IQ points throughout this, and also turned super repetitive. I imagine it's less in your face reading with eyes instead of ears - the audio was so rough.
4. It's ok to not include trans characters into books if you can't write them in a way that isn't awful? This is the third instance of just fumbling and clunky writing and not great trans rep. Also, I was so relieved the trans lead wasn't the villain, again. It would be really cool if the pastor doesn't get ripped to shreds, beat up, or have threats of police brutality against him, on top of the whole transphobia white power fuckery happening in the town. I hope there's a better arc for him, and he wasn't included just for ~trauma.
I don't think this was a 1-star book, but for the n-word alone and hearing it through audio, I'm not giving it anything higher....more
**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be included for the transphobia, homophobia, slurs, N-word, lesbophobia, biphobia, etc that is throughout the series, at a minimum.
Original review:
4.5 stars!
Ok now we're getting somewhere. Really appreciated seeing the depression arc throughout this, and the utter feeling of emptiness and not knowing how to exist- a mooood. Also, I love that they have found adult friends with kiddos that are outside of the normal folks in the last series. There's some growth going on, emotional vulnerability, and working through the trauma that was the H&S series of endless concussions, stabbings, and shootings. Go relax and hand out candy at a trunk or treat in the neighborhood.
The angle of someone obsessed with Hazard and going on a killing spree is an arc I'm curious to read more on and see how they capture them and their motive. I already have my guess of who this person is.
Also very much am glad that I did read the OG series of Hazard & Somers to understand the emotional connection and how hard it is for each MC to not self-sabotage or lash out at the other during conflict or stress. I also like all the check ins they have and am loving the emphasis on their emotional and intimate relationship, and less on their sexual relationship. We know that's working right, show us the demons.
The writing has also improved a lot, and while I'm glad the same narrator is continuing with the series, there are unfortunate some background sounds that didn't get edited out, and randomly it sounds like someone is walking around upstairs, and I thought I had a ghost in my house, lol....more
**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be**spoiler alert** After stewing about this series for a while, changing my ratings to reflect my overall enjoyment of the series. Major CWs need to be included for the transphobia, homophobia, slurs, N-word, lesbophobia, biphobia, etc that is throughout the series, at a minimum.
Original review:
I am both attached to Hazard & Somers and also slightly annoyed?
There's finally some communication on their past and items no one's brought up, trust building and also insecurities, finally some answers for overarching plot questions and revealing the shitty members of the town. There are some vulnerable and intimate relationship arcs throughout that I did love.
However, the list of comments I had kept growing:
- The Mikey villain scenes could have been edited down a bit. There's only so many times we need to hear him threating rape, torture, and body violation to get the point across. Also, with how much they talk about how much he's used meth and isn't that bright, he's a mastermind in this and can surprise H&S? Sure.
- The trans rep in this, again, I hate.
- Stop body shaming Hazard babby, he's perfect
- Listening to the audios of this series, there's quite a bit of repetition of the same phrases and characteristics to describe the leads that got distracting (scarecrow eyes, the blonde man, turquoise eyes, slurs)
- How many times can someone get a concussion, sliced up and stabbed, shot, etc, and still able to do lifesaving hero moves book after book?
- Holy ACAB
- Constant threatening of rape and SA isn't something I love reading about, especially on repeat again and again.
- This was missing the Evie content after the first quarter of the book. More kiddo bonding!
I'm going to keep reading, I want to see more Hazard growth arc, and am curious how it goes with him leaving the police force. I also want to see how their relationship develops and if they get the hell out of this cursed town!...more
thosemedalingkids
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