“How can you stand it?” he asked, his voice like sandpaper. “How can you stand to be touched after what they did?” The breath I was holding burned in my lungs before I finally whispered, “Not all touches hurt.”

This scene summarises the hope and the hurt, not of one character but both. One does not know what care is, until given a glimpse, and the other knows and only wishes to feel it again.

We start by meeting two very different children, one believes and dreams of stories an fairies, the other swims in despair and rage. As if one is being prepared to become the evil the other will need.

But don't expect a princess in trouble and a morally grey prince to the rescue. Expect an equal journey of trauma and healing with others being but the catalysts of their journey.

It was beautifully written, meaning the author was able to convey the hardest truths and feelings through actions and little words. I don't think I will ever forget the cold tub scene. My poor baby

I visited Dublin and can't stop imagining our FMC in the Library of Trinity College, imagining the best of stories

Dark mafia romance, but expect a tiny dash of fantasy or just hope? Intimacy as healing, through touch or lack thereof

I loved this and am simontainiously mad at myself that I waited this long to read it and happy I still had it because it's so hard to find romantasy written like this. 🪓

The emotional arc of both the characters was beautiful. The worldbuilding intense and plentiful (there's big reptilian dinosaur-like creatures!?). The suspense of it all had me wanting to read far past my bedtime. The plot had me hooked right away. The tension and banter? Absolutely delicious. The romance was slowburn and felt so mature. The groveling scenes were satisfying.

The fmc is so strong and determined regardless of her bodies limitations. And I loved that she is portrayed as so smart yet scared yet fierce.

Same with the mmc. He's not just a blunt hammer alphahole. Yes he's grumpy and a tiny bit of an asshole. But he has layers and complexity to him. He's fighting with grief and his own hotheathed nature and trying to see beyond it.

The ending has me wanting to read the next book right now though 😂 (and the mail is taking forever to get here). And I still have so many questions about the magic and the past history with the Destroyer.