I'm abandoning this early on. Too slow for me, too much dry dialogue. ( )

This was probably one of the most dialogue-heavy books I’ve read in some time, and that really surprised me. There was a lot of talking, and a serious lack of action to balance it out. By 30%, I was getting fed up with the never-ending conversations about totally inconsequential things, and it almost put me to sleep. I’m glad I kept going, though, because it got better.

I really liked Rus. He was the main reason I was so determined not to toss this book, and even though his half of the story wasn’t perfect, it was much more enjoyable than than the first part. Adares was okay, I guess, but I didn’t have many strong feelings about him one way or another, so that may be the reason.

The way their relationship was developed lacked credibility, in my opinion. While such quick attraction is believable, acting on it almost instantly in these circumstances, when just a couple of hours ago their people were killing each other?? Let’s not forget the fact that Rus was willing to die for Adares after spending THREE DAYS in his company. Nope, I’m not buying it. Some authors are able to swing the whole one true love trope, but not this one.

I’m not sure I liked this author’s writing style. What really bothered me was definitely the pacing - most of the time the story outright dragged, then something happened and I got sucked right back in, only for the story to move at a snail’s pace again.

All in all, I liked it, even though I'd expected more - an epic enemies to lovers story, maybe - than the rather tame insta-love I got. I feel like the author made light of some things, skirting around the interesting parts and focusing on unimportant details instead. ( )

3.5 stars

This was lovely. Marvellously charming. ( )

Every time I open this book I address a prayer to God, asking him to forgive me for my immoral acts, each time I ask him to help me carry on with this nauseous book, and I keep latching to the vain hope of making it to the end of the overabundant paragraphs chock full of dialogues which make up roughly 1/3 of the book. Lately I've decided to change my tune, and I still spare a pray for the almighty "Lord, Lord, I'm begging you, don't put me through this sort of torture ever again.". ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2020/01/2020013-something-human-j-demas.html ( )