The voice actors who did Clara and Tyse were lovely. The premise of middle class becomes almost royalty discovering and becoming disillusioned by their lot seemed like it would be a good concept to explore. I loved the idea of a maiden tower.
The reality was.. I started and noped this audiobook 3 times due to the beginning narration. it’s stilted, cold, and just not the right time for narrating a fantasy/sci-fi romance sort of story.
the fourth time I restarted it… I was outside cell service in the mountains and it was one of the only choices downloaded and available to me.
it was hard going.
lowlights include Finn’s character, actions, monologues and action/ development. Clara is not written as a stupid woman. Finn must therefore be pretty buttoned up in his lack of awareness of his rapey dominating vibes. I see no way Clara would put up with that sort of thing without addressing it with him given the length of their relationship. it just renders Finn’s attitude and waffling completely nonsensical for me is all. His rapey trump-esque brother in arms was so overtly disgusting.. again it doesn’t track that Finn couldn’t see the creepy behavior. it felt cheap, using that under-developed, yet beat you over the head with it 1-dimensional sex scum slumeball trope.
this felt like a rough draft of a one-sided male sex fantasy. all the justifications and words upon words of explaining things to himself, to herself… pleased show rather than telling so much?
I will not be reading the sequel, though my list of dnr and deficits are counted on 1 hand… I wouldnt recommend this book. Disappointing.