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A review by tendaii8
Lies of the Fae: Book One of the Stolen Fae series by M.J. Lawrie
0.5
Where do I even begin? Overall the plot was interesting which is why I kept reading, but there were so many things that irritated me and took me out of it that it started feeling like a chore. The only reason I’m giving it a 2 and not a 1 is that I like the way it ended when she gave those two assholes what they deserved.
Edit: I have since changed this because looking back on it I realized I was being way too nice to add that star. It really didn’t deserve it for such a bare minimum thing to do.
The hypocrisy of men! That absolute audacity to treat her the way her supposed bonded mates treated her was one of the things that got to me the most. She would bear her soul to them because they practically force her to, and as soon as she asks a single difficult question, she all of a sudden doesn’t have the right or the place to know?? Like what gave you the right to know her shit if she can’t know yours? And then they want to have the freedom to do whatever they want with whoever they want because they're apparently children who can't commit, but god forbid she has the same right. All throughout the book, it was just a constant battle of these men wanting everything from her but not wanting to make any of the same sacrifices and it was driving me insane.
A major theme in this book is consent, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Apart from the numerous and constant scenes, mentions, and implications of rape, there are other representations of consent being taken away. Her mates take it upon themselves to mark her as theirs so that she may never leave them, doing so without her permission and with no intention of staying as loyal to her as they want in return. Instances like this happen repeatedly in the book.
My last issue is the age gap. I understand that in this world it is probably at least relatively normal to wait for a bonded one to mature because they live long lives. I can see past that and I was. But if you want your audience to believe that it is okay for them to do this then you can’t have multiple main characters treating her and calling her a child. After you have established that she is an adult, to turn around and have multiple characters saying “You’re an inexperienced child so you can’t do this” (paraphrasing) completely contradicts it and makes it very disturbing.
Edit: I have since changed this because looking back on it I realized I was being way too nice to add that star. It really didn’t deserve it for such a bare minimum thing to do.
The hypocrisy of men! That absolute audacity to treat her the way her supposed bonded mates treated her was one of the things that got to me the most. She would bear her soul to them because they practically force her to, and as soon as she asks a single difficult question, she all of a sudden doesn’t have the right or the place to know?? Like what gave you the right to know her shit if she can’t know yours? And then they want to have the freedom to do whatever they want with whoever they want because they're apparently children who can't commit, but god forbid she has the same right. All throughout the book, it was just a constant battle of these men wanting everything from her but not wanting to make any of the same sacrifices and it was driving me insane.
A major theme in this book is consent, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Apart from the numerous and constant scenes, mentions, and implications of rape, there are other representations of consent being taken away. Her mates take it upon themselves to mark her as theirs so that she may never leave them, doing so without her permission and with no intention of staying as loyal to her as they want in return. Instances like this happen repeatedly in the book.
My last issue is the age gap. I understand that in this world it is probably at least relatively normal to wait for a bonded one to mature because they live long lives. I can see past that and I was. But if you want your audience to believe that it is okay for them to do this then you can’t have multiple main characters treating her and calling her a child. After you have established that she is an adult, to turn around and have multiple characters saying “You’re an inexperienced child so you can’t do this” (paraphrasing) completely contradicts it and makes it very disturbing.