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A review by luluwoohoo
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
This lighthearted romantic romp, which is actually the first novel written by Markse, does a lot of fun stuff but doesn't quite stick the landing like her later work does.
Firstly, this story barely touches the edges of fantasy as I think of it, so dubbing it a 'romantasy' feels disingenuous. Perhaps that's why I felt cheated by the vast amount of worldbuilding thrown out initially, given that it was relevant but not especially interesting or difficult to follow. There was a bit too much info-dumping on cultural customs and wool-based facts early on which made the beginning a struggle to hook into, particularly in combination with the progression of the romance which somehow felt rushed but also slow? I can't explain it. Their dynamic was always fun and definitely improved once they acknowledged wanting each other, but initially I wasn't buying into the insta-lust as much.
Both Matti and Luca are well developed as characters. I appreciated their very realistic neuroses and how their familial obligations linked them thematically as well as socially. I don't think that the secret held back for so long between them needed to break everything, but the ending was satisfying enough to allow it. The banter was enjoyable not only between them but also with Sofia and Maya, who are both awesome characters in their own right.
The plot was relatively simple and handled well given its predictability. I would have preferred a snappier second act, which dragged and became a little repetitive in its need to build upon the relationship and pass time, but the third act definitely brought it all home.
I enjoyed this as an amusing historical romance, but given my love of Marske's Last Binding trilogy, I just didn't love this the way I'd hoped I would. It's by no means a bad book, but her work has improved significantly between this and the series.
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
This lighthearted romantic romp, which is actually the first novel written by Markse, does a lot of fun stuff but doesn't quite stick the landing like her later work does.
Firstly, this story barely touches the edges of fantasy as I think of it, so dubbing it a 'romantasy' feels disingenuous. Perhaps that's why I felt cheated by the vast amount of worldbuilding thrown out initially, given that it was relevant but not especially interesting or difficult to follow. There was a bit too much info-dumping on cultural customs and wool-based facts early on which made the beginning a struggle to hook into, particularly in combination with the progression of the romance which somehow felt rushed but also slow? I can't explain it. Their dynamic was always fun and definitely improved once they acknowledged wanting each other, but initially I wasn't buying into the insta-lust as much.
Both Matti and Luca are well developed as characters. I appreciated their very realistic neuroses and how their familial obligations linked them thematically as well as socially. I don't think that the secret held back for so long between them needed to break everything, but the ending was satisfying enough to allow it. The banter was enjoyable not only between them but also with Sofia and Maya, who are both awesome characters in their own right.
The plot was relatively simple and handled well given its predictability. I would have preferred a snappier second act, which dragged and became a little repetitive in its need to build upon the relationship and pass time, but the third act definitely brought it all home.
I enjoyed this as an amusing historical romance, but given my love of Marske's Last Binding trilogy, I just didn't love this the way I'd hoped I would. It's by no means a bad book, but her work has improved significantly between this and the series.
"He'd felt that there was nothing disappointing at all about the chance to sit there, on a narrow bed in a rented room, with Luca Piere asleep in his lap, for the long bittersweet hour before he surrendered to the reality of his life and crept out of the boardinghouse."