Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsVery dry and the last 1/3 of the book was awful!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022
This story had the potential to be something great. It floundered, however, and it left me absolutely let down.
There is a lot of content and yes, the abuse included is absolutely heart wrenching... but within limit. This story has the horrendous flaw of telling and not showing, and as a result the story was not as emotional or as fluid as it had the potential to be.
At first, it was completely understandable since it was a retelling from journals. The second POV was better as it focused on Acheron, but still suffered from telling too dryly. I found the story interesting but just could not Feel anything for his trials, despite having lived through some myself and KNOWING what he must be feeling. It just didn't convey the depth of his situation.
The last chunk was horrendous. Using the enemies to lovers trope, it failed in really setting this up. He was misunderstood, but not... cold and indifferent and yet loving and somehow addicted to the toxic female... AGAIN. She was haughty and stubborn, and yet the writer tried so hard to make her likeable. She had no trauma, not real trials but somehow we are expected to relate to her feeling wronged?? And despite having had a good childhood, was not a compassionate or thoughtful person. Quick to anger, and yet somehow mothering and attentive??? it just didn't flow.
The entire relationship was forced, and the ending abominable! He is the god of destruction who destroys nothing... his word is the will of the universe and yet somehow despite declaring aloud that he would never be a prisoner, or bound to another... he ends up a prisoner! Like, What? shouldn't there be repercussions for his word being broken, like there would be if his mom were free?
AND it is Sooo LONG, which if it was well written would be a + not a negative, but this feels like time I can now never get back!
I have heard a lot of positive reviews, but I disagree. It is only passably written and i would not recommend.
