DNF at 25%

I don’t usually write reviews for books I haven’t finished, but I felt especially motivated to do so for this book. While reading I just kept having less and less of a good time and decided to see if this was even worth finishing… so I purposefully spoiled myself and read some reviews. The way the ending has been described by many made me realize that this isn’t the series for me.

Here are my thoughts on the parts of the book I did read…

While the first sex scene was hot, it also… didn’t do it for me. I appreciate the language, I like all the begging and different descriptions, but because almost nothing has happened and I know so little about these characters… I just don’t have enough of an emotional connection to get into it the way I usually would for a scene like this. It didn’t feel like two consenting adults engaging in passionate kinky sex, it felt like a victim and her captor… and not in a fun way.

The writing is really good, clearly this author knows how to weave words, but the type of story it is just isn’t my thing I guess. It’s darker but… not in a romantic kind of way. He doesn’t seem to have respect for her which is annoying. I can handle a morally grey lead, but the ml not respecting the fl just irritates me. They spend much more time fucking than talking… which I’m not into. They don’t really understand each other’s cultures and a little talking would clear this up. Why doesn’t the orc just ask Jule what she wants? I’m wondering if he’s ever truly vulnerable with her at all. A dark lead is best when he’s able to break down those walls for his woman… and I just can’t see this happening.

The only reason this is two stars instead of one is because the way this author actually writes, like just talking about the words she chooses and how she puts them together, is really quite beautiful. It’s the type of story and the kind of male lead that makes me really dislike it, not her words.