The only decent person in that family was Tommy. 😵‍💫

Funny, witty and mysterious!

Things I liked: Chapters with Orkideh, these conversations she had with Cyrus actually felt meaningful and thought-provoking. I also liked her sass into questioning Cyrus’s views around death Some good writing in some parts, pretty prose History/culture lessons - I found learning about these real life events and how governments would utilize tragedies as propaganda very interesting. His uncles military role was also something I have never heard of.

Things I appreciated but missed the mark: -alternating POVs. Honestly hopping from Cyrus to his mom/uncle/dad and then the random dream sequences felt very disjointed. Especially the dream conversations, they never left me feeling like I gained anything from those chapters -overall messaging of martyrs. This is more just a personal belief but I’m very much of the type that death doesn’t have to be meaningful. I also don’t think life needs to be. Life is what happens when youre busy making other plans. So because this was a HUGE premise of the book, it just doesn’t sit with me of having any inherent value.

Things I disliked: Cyrus 🫣

An okay story. It actually reminded me a lot of Robin Hobbs Farseer series (which also was not my vibe). I really didn’t connect with ANY of the characters besides Horyse and he played a very small role. The romance felt very forced and surface level, yall love each other? HOW? WHY? I just didn’t get it. The plot itself however was pretty fast paced and dynamic.

DNF @43%

I do not like how our MMC practically declared that he wouldn’t find our FMC attractive, that it’s the “wolf in him”

-Asking for her conditioner to use as lube. Gross - he’s overly horny but not even for FMC. Just in general like him trying to find good cable porn at the hotel 😵‍💫 -Wondering if her pink scrubs were lighter or darker than her nipples…. COME ON MY GUY.

I don’t mind someone being “hot” for someone but this is just done in very distasteful way that made me feel icky. I’m sure lots of ppl will love this, but not my type of romance.