stardust_heidi's reviews
462 reviews

Maybe better on the reread. 

I’m having such a difficult time rating this book. I think what docks it the most points is the fact that this book could have used at least a few more rounds of editing. In the first half there were multiple missing words, and then I found html structural formatting that wasn’t deleted at one point. Uff. Bummed me out a bit, not gonna lie. 

I also cannot decide if I like the use of language in this book; it’s unique from most romantasy that I’ve read in that the author approaches her story with a very old fashioned voice. It’s consistent and done well, though I often had no idea what the insults slung between Louvaen and Ambrose mean. I’m used to authors injecting more of a modern voice to a medieval setting, and this was the opposite. It just took some getting used to. 

I think my biggest issue with the book overall is the formality surrounding Cinnia’s virginity. Yes, it was addressed and spoken about, but it still gave me the ick. I realize the author was going for a historical fantasy feel, but still…no. One thing I like about more recently written romantasy is that authors are subverting that trope and saying fuck that noise. It just really grated on me the first half of the book and into the second. On one hand, the author stayed consistent to Louvaen’s role as widowed older sister, but on the other hand…make your own world free of the patriarchy. 

It’s probably telling that I’m listing all the things I don’t like about the book before the things I do, but really — I DID truly enjoy it! It’s my first romantasy in a while after overdoing it a few months ago. I liked the characters, and Louvaen’s straight forwardness is a FAVE. It was a simple tale with a twisted curse, but I found it compelling and was easily drawn into the story. I’m really happy with the ending and enjoyed its resolution.  

🥰✨🥰✨🥰✨🥰✨🥰✨🥰

I’m not really sure how to rate this. At times, I was desperately wishing to be done with it. Other times I was cackling out loud and really enjoying. I considered rating this a 5 and then it went to a 4, and by the end I just had no idea lmao. 

I think part of the problem was that I listened to this vs read the physical book. There are so many characters, and after a while, I got confused about all the different sisters and aunties and cousins and who belonged to which family and whatnot. I wonder if having the physical names to read in the book might have been easier? I don’t know. The narrator was good, but at times I felt like she was almost too intense.  I don’t know how to describe it, lol. 

I did enjoy the Vietnamese cultural element a lot, especially with the American born descendants and how they were no longer only Vietnamese. I think exploring that (Asian) immigrant perspective was really interesting, especially as someone who does not fit into that demographic. I liked the exploration of womanhood, independence, and individuality in a culture that holds a strong belief in customs and family.

One of my favorite parts of the story is when everyone comes home for the wedding, and it’s an absolute catastrophe. 

This book felt like it took absolutely forever to read, but I started it and then paused it to read a higher priority book (sorry not sorry) and then came back to finish it. The fickle mood played into my rating as well as the fact that I tend to struggle more enjoying literary fiction. (Also, the biggest reason is that I decided to read The Pairing by Casey McQuiston next, and I’ve been impatient as fuck to get to it.)