A review by magnafeana
Enchanted by Emilie Ocean

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

 
DISCLAIMER: I received this book by HiddenGems for an honest review. All my thoughts and opinions are my own. 
 
  •  Found On: HiddenGems 
  •  Available On: KU 
  •  Audio: N 
  •  Genre(s): fantasy romance, adventure fantasy 
  •  Demographic: NA 
  •  Page Count: 311 pages 
  •  Tropes: virgin FMC, fantasy species, magic and technology in modern age, “female”/“male”, arranged marriage options, fight for her hand 
  •  POV: multiple 
  •  Reproduction: 
    N
     
  •  Third Act Conflict:
    External
     
  •  Intimacy: sexual w/penetration (graphic – moderate) 
  •  Standalone: Y (for now) 
  •  Connected to Other Works: TBD 
  •  Personal Rating: 2.5 ⭐️ 
 
I wish I had more to say about this book, but this just wasn’t for me. By 20%, I was skimming. The inserts, the use of exclamation marks, the lack of romance between Juliette and Feidhlim, and the weirdness of El and Juliette’s friendship. 
 
WHAT WOULD HAVE INCREASED MY RATING: 
 
Revaluating Elmas. 
 
I enjoy “Peacocking”, spoiled boys, but Elmas lost interest with his weird friendship with Juliette and Juliette just accepting him using blackmail and crap. The blackmail was just…contrived. He really was never 2ML material to begin with. Making him a friend of Juliette point-blank would have been a nice addition. 
 
Conlags. 
 
The “[foreign dialogue here]” (translations here) wasn’t necessary. If they’re speaking the foreign language, it would have been less clunky  to simply write what they say in English and use dialogue tags to declare they’re speaking another language. 
 
Juliette and Fiedhlim 
 
I was here for a Black competent FMC and a Draco-esque MMC, but what I was an FMC I didn’t have any feelings for and a pathetic MMC. Granted, I skimmed, but I would have bumped up my rating if they’d been dressed up a bit in their personalities. I didn’t cheer for them as individuals, and I certainly didn’t cheer for them as a couple. Maybe having them as an arranged couple with Juliette disliking him, and the MMC a simp for her would have caught my eye with the tension, especially with the MMC accidentally proving her right  about him in having private meetings with her father. I just…need more. I needed more compelling reasons why I should enjoy them independently  and together. And, in the entirety of the book, Juliette never laid down roots for her to be internally consistent to me, Feidhlim was just…pathetic for no real reason. 
 
OVERALL 
 
This was a 2 ⭐️ star read for me. I read it. I’m bummed that a BW/WM fantasy romance went wayside for me again. I want more BW/WM romances, especially as a BW myself, but this wasn’t for me.