D
4.5
In Think of England I found elements of Lymond (Francis & Richard dynamics), Loki and Thor, Damen and Laurent (with reversed colouring, but it's the contrast that's important), with a touch of John/Sherlock and And Then There Were None. When you add to that engrossing writing, it's no wonder I'm all over it. :D
I really should catch up on the Magpies series. :D And I will... sometimes this year.
Meanwhile I'm looking forward to more of these two's adventures.
I feel kind of cheated because of the skipped year but in the same time I'm grateful I was spared from the trainwreck in slo-mo it apparently was. Still, it annoyed me and this is the reason I'm reducing half a star. Pffft, whatever.
It was a rich book, showing the cultural and religious clash between three countries and faiths marvellously. Not sure why it's being marketed as sci-fi in my country since it's obviously high-fantasy but hey, at least it's translated and more people have the opportunity to get to it (and feel my pain). i'll recommend it endlessly, I'm generous like that (especially with pain).
I really liked the characters.
Strong, self-assured women.
Clever, proficient men.
I'm especially fond of Ammar and Miranda. ^^
This was beautifully done and played with my heartstrings like nobody's business. I've barely finished (ugh, so long!) but I want to start it all over again.
The watersports were all right. I'm glad I didn't let my (pretty low level of) discomfort stop me from reading this. The kink was ingrained in the story but it wasn't what the story was about.
Favourite quote:
"How's it feel?" "Like I love you," Louis says, softly. "Like I'm telling the truth."
___
Generally speaking in 1D fic:
Louis and Harry are cute.
Nick and Harry are meh. At least I haven't been wowed yet. Taking that back now. I've been wowed.
Louis and Nick are explosive.
Louis, Harry, and Nick are right, when done properly.
Apologies about how incoherrent this review probsbly is. It's 2.52 AM and my brain's half asleep. Also I have to get up in 4ish h.
Also apologies in advance for all the cursing, I don't usually speak all the words in my brain but currently my brain filter's on vacation.
Loved Rikker from the start. He's braver in his early twenties than many get to be their whole lives.
Had a bit more trouble with Graham: on the one hand, poor boy. OTOH, what an asshole. I really liked the mindfuck where he realised what an asshole he was and that added to his poor boy quota. Felt a bit cheated about how (some of) his conflicts were resolved. I didn't want a big trauma to “wake him up” or whatever. I wanted... more. Still I'm glad he didn't make it any harder on Rikker.
My inability to make up my mind goes on as I can't dcide whether it is a feel-good book or not. It is deeply satisfying and happiness inducing when you read it from start to finish. BUT it's too intense to open and feel instant happiness and then close it whenever and open it when I next have time (as is my mode with my favourite rereads). So. I want to reread it because I really liked it but I have to be aware of the risk of abandoning my chores for the day to finish it once I start. But damn, it's so good.
So freaking good. I was trluy mistaken to put it off for so long due to dreaded het sex. I shouldn't have worried.
The m/f was hot.
The f/f was hot.
The m/m was hot.
Everything was hot.
Dean stayed Dean the whole time, with or without the girl parts. Dominant, possessive Sam is like the sexiest thing ever, and I didn't even mind the het, largely because Dean still felt like himself, whatever his form.
It hit all the right buttons and I'm very, very happy I decided to read it.
I don't read genderbend stories for largely the same reason I'm not fond of mpreg. But when I make an exception, the story somehow manages to cheat the “rules”: in this case Dean being Dean (he, always he) even in temporarily female form. The mpreg example is the non-mpreg McShep fic where Rodney pretended to be pregnant during diplomatic contact with the people on some random planet. The other mpreg example was a badfic-parody of mpreg in the QAF fandom a few years ago. Made me LMAO. See: to make me read something I usually avoid - cheat the rules. And do it cleverly. Works like a charm.
I saw a review while scrolling down comparing this story to The Student Prince. I can't make that comparison - both stories move me in different ways. While TSP is like sunshine, something bright and clear and precious, this is something different. While, as it says in the description, it is a humorous story, it feels heavier, more serious. Though admittedly in both cases the UST goes through the roof.
This book sold me on Miles and company in a way The Vor Game never managed. I'm ready to read more of Miles and company's adventures, both in the future and going back to what I've missed on the road so far.
Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
“You go on. You just go on. There's nothing more to it, and there's no trick to make it easier. You just go on.”
It's strange, really, how I felt the chemistry between Jensen and Misha and it felt real and so so good, but I have yet to read a Destiel fic that doesn't bore me to tears. I like Dean/Cas' chemistry on screen and they make a good couple, you know, theoretically, but in practice (or fic) thet read so bland. So boring.
This story felt nothing like Destiel at all and that was a big plus for it. :D Also non-AU RPF, brings me back to the good old days when I was reading QAF RPS.
I apologise for all the abbreviations, really, I do. (Sorry.)
