Review #404
4.7/5 for this retelling.
I know you, I danced with you once upon a dream.
Briony Rose, AKA Rosaline Briar, has been raised in secret at a convent. She turns 20 and just choose a life of sisterhood or a governess. Until her parents have found her and call her home. Apparently the one to escort her is the man who haunts her dreams, Thorne Blackwood.
“He’s no more than a shadow darkening the doorway until he takes a hesitant step across the threshold.”
Why does he seem to know her true identity before they’ve been formally introduced?
I’m not a huge fan of memory casting spells in books. It feels like the easy way out.
This is the second book in a row where the heroine is used as a negotiation tactic and wed off to a stranger for “the greater good” and the concept is so disgusting. I hate it.
I love the simple concept of creating a frame with her hands to save a memory for her dreams.
At the end of part 1 I’m very grateful that the backstory is described clearly and makes sense. But where does Thorne fit into all of this? If he’s the cursed next born of the Lemurias side then wouldn’t he also be under the sleeping spell?
I hate him for continually erasing her memories tho. And what exactly are the Lemurias powers? Is the author not telling us yet because it’s memory erasing, thus the pieces would all fit together too quickly?
Oooh Thorne has his first point of view in chapter 8!!! Then he has another one at chapter 14… they’re pretty far apart.
Aaaah! The meaning of Vintarys!!!!
Nyxia’s information felt a little too conveniently given.
At the end of Part 2 I’m glad Briony had a plan/way to even the game because if he had full control over her every movement for the rest of the story, I wouldn’t have been a fan. Also this choice gives her agency instead of being forced into marriage.
At the halfway point I’m impressed by how gradual Tessonja has the characters change from hate to dislike to tolerate to potentially interested.
Chapter 40 is infuriating but kind of predictable but very effective all rolled into one. I’m super relieved …
Chapter 43… oh my god I hate him so much!!!! Are you kidding me?!?!! No!!!!
I finished And I’m in love with it.