Whitley Birks > Recent Status Updates

Nope

"I figured the point of settling in a place like this (Kansas) would be that it was [...] largely empty of people."

Sigh. I see we're not exactly going to be bucking any of those frontier tropes where the whole nation is just ~*~*~mysteriously empty~*~*~ of Native people.

This is extremely readable so far, I'm going to have to rethink my 'read before bedtime' policy, lol.

So far this has all of my least favorite romance tropes, but it also has all the campy elements I picked it up for, so...I'm hating that I love it? I'm loving that I hate it? Something in that general vicinity.

Super duper uncomfortable with this whole "other rich people are mean to me so that's just the same as being from a racially oppressed group!" plot line.

Able-bodied reviewer caveat, but...I'm really not a fan of how Lily's disability is portrayed. It has no effect on her, despite supposedly including persistent pain. She just...does everything normally, while thinking "also doing that hurts." It's not even a consideration on whether or not to do the thing. Just a footnote.

I know all these tattoos Nova has are supposed to be significant, but I can't stop thinking about how so many are placed on critical points. A giant circle on your solar plexus? Why not give in and make it a literal target?

This is the most I've enjoyed a romance subplot in a LONG time.

Pretty sure I know who the bad guy is, but only because I always suspect the least suspicious character.

Aw, phoey. I wanted someone else to get assassinated. But hey, we're getting into the plot from the summary delightfully fast!

THIS FUCKING ASSFACE.

SHE LAYS OUT ALL HER CONCERNS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR
HE RIGHTLY GUESSES SHE'S PROJECTING BASED ON HER OWN HUSBAND'S SINS.

THEN HE DARES TO TURN IT AROUND AND BE LIKE "Well I wouldn't do that, how dare you suggest otherwise."

BUT BASED ON WHAT, ASSFACE?

TAKE SOME FUCKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE IMAGE YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTING FOR THE PAST TEN FUCKING YEARS.

"You're going after Rose to get back at me for blabbing to the papers, aren't you?"
"Psh, I have many faults, but I don't exact revenge on ladies."

I'VE BEEN IN YOUR HEAD THAT WAS LITERALLY YOUR THOUGHT LIKE TWO PAGES AGO LIKE WORD FOR WORD ALMOST

"Oh, he's not that bad. After all, everyone among the peerage marries for money, you can't judge him harshly just on that."

I'VE BEEN IN HIS HEAD AND I'LL JUDGE HIM AS HARSH AS I WANT.

One page ago he was literally surprised by his own guilt because he hasn't felt it in too long. He thought toying with a naive girl might be going too far, then said "nah, I'm peeved at Belinda so I'm gonna do it just to spite her."

Okay but no I really don't like this guy. Belinda's frustration is too well conveyed and has too much justification; I am 100% behind her determination to hate this self-sabotaging, short-sighted dipwad.

"You made assumptions based on publicly available information, but this is what REALLY happened," doesn't (or shouldn't) make the assume-er look bad.

And frankly, I'm sick of stories that use this tactic to make characters (usually women) feel guilty. It's gross and manipulative and verging on gaslighting.

This quite suddenly turned into not my kind of book and I really hope it stops.

EW EW EW EW EW EW NO. I DON'T CARE IF HE'S ADOPTED THEY'RE STILL SIBLINGS EW.

Oh. More pseudo-incest. ...how nice. *sigh*

I feel like I'm reading a Regency romance, but one where the two leads barely ever talk. Catch has spend more words THINKING about Jest than actually interacting with him. I like Regency romance, but usually because there's some...you know, actual romance going on.

"Daine Loses Her Temper" is the most deliciously understated chapter title ever.

"After half a mile, when the grade in the ground's tilt began to lessen..."

The absurdly small scale of this world is bothering me greatly. This continent is smaller than Rhode Island and has a desert, jungle, two mountain ranges, and tundra. People walk from biome to biome in literally half a night. I cannot suspend my disbelief for this worldbuilding.

Also if your character's attraction to someone has been 100% in her own head, that is NOT a free pass for the attract-ee to act on it. Write some attractive interactions, damnit!

I understand the appeal of passionate, "crushing" kisses, but a FIRST kiss with NO lead in, right after the woman was CRYING ABOUT HER RECENTLY DEAD FINACE and then TRYING TO LEAVE is not the proper time. Context matters, people. Not every act is sexy every time.

OH GOD, VIOLET'S MOTHER IS MAKING ME BAWL, BLESS THIS WOMAN.

I do love a man who can apologize. Not as much as one who doesn't make sexist jokes in the first place, tho. There are other ways to be cocky, people.