(I don't rate rate eroticas)

Erotica rating: 3⭐ Regular rating: 2.5⭐

I remember not really loving this book but the second read was more enjoyable. What I always appreciate is the character work Nyla puts in her characters, though that doesn't usually translate the best

In here I think Velle and Joy, with a bit of introspection, are well rounded, somewhat well written figures, while rook falls behind. Which is such a shame, cause he got the "nice guy love interest" treatment (kinda boring, shallow ect ect). Usually a 'good' thing about taboo/dark romance storylines is the complexity they often explore in relationships, and though I enjoyed the Ivory-Velle storyline and Joy's perspective a lot, I can't help but feel this is an mm love story with the existence of a woman somewhere in there as a prop. I can kinda see why in the narrative, but the justification of this was just not well explored in subliminal ways in the writing. Rook is the catalyst for everything but Joy and Velle should have been pining for one another, with both actively pulling away, instead of ignoring her completely in various emotional moments. I think this is more of a show dont tell issue

Intimacy was okay I guess, there were scenes I liked, others I didn't. This had solid ideas behind each interaction, I just feel it didn't translate well in the throuple sense (and I've read wonderful poly spicy scenes, so this is case specific). I can say some just weren't my cup of tea however pacing, amount and diversity in content were just right

I don't like the formatting in the series, and for this one it's particularly irritable cause we get to see for the first and only time the work behind the guards and Manuel Blanco. While there was important information shared there are so many gaps in the story that unfortunately will only be revisited much later, and it makes this bleak. I would argue there's more of a plot, obviously, but again until we pick back up much later on it seems almost unnecessary

I wasnt much impressed with the audio book this time around. And what frustrates me is that there was potential, the dialogue was usually fine, but the narration was so off so many times it pulled me often out of the story (Velle was the only enjoyable one I would say)

Clickbaited into reading straight omegaverse

Erotica rating: 1.5⭐ 'Normal' book rating: 2⭐