Real star-age: 3.5/5. I still rue the fact that there are no half-stars in this system.
I liked this okay! But just okay.
Brigid is good in principle, and I liked her for the most part, but she's a little ... inelegantly drawn? Some aspects of her just don't feel quite fleshed out. Like, I'm told she's really girly and loves makeup, dresses, and pretty things (which is important because it doesn't undermine her seriousness, intelligence, or badassery. Which, valid point) but I feel like I don't actually get to see much of that in action. Her nice dresses are mentioned many times but other than very tell-y internal monologues about how liking pretty stuff is valid, I don't see her actually caring much about anything but saving people from the Fae. Which is good! I'm all for saving people from the Fae! Just an example to back up my point.
Munch annoyed me. I wanted to like him, because I like: a) banter, b) hot archers, c) friends-to-lovers, and d) just a smidgen of angst. But I felt like there were two Munchs: an insecure, whiny, obnoxious Munch who is completely un-socially aware and another Munch who is competent even if he's not very confident, tuned into people, and brave. I got much more of the former than I cared for and I found myself annoyed that Munch had his Eureka! character-growth moment three separate times in the text. In his own internal monologue, no less. You'd think it would sink in.
Which brings me to my main grievance, which is small overall: I don't like being told simple things repeatedly. I want to be trusted as a reader to remember stuff. The problem of why Munch and Brigid each think they shouldn't be together is rehashed, basically word-for-word, dozens of times in the book. This happens with other, smaller things, too: reiterating a plan we just made a page ago, waxing eloquent about injustice in the same manner two paragraphs apart, reminding me about the Fae-deep pockets every single time we use them. But I thought the romantic issue was the most egregious in this book.
I will stop piling on what annoyed me and talk about what I liked, now, because I did still like it (despite the above appearances). It kept me reading and I was compelled by the twisty-turny mystery and heisty bits, and I did like Munch and Brigid enough to ultimately root for them. I also like most of the supporting cast (especially my beloved Basil), so it was fun seeing them and the Fae world some more. I am a fiend for The Scarlet Pimpernel retellings (for another great one, read Rook by Sharon Cameron) and am likewise a fiend for Shakespeare referencing and retelling, so I enjoyed all of that and all of the setup for the future books. (I'm lookin' at you, groundwork-for-a-Much-Ado-adaptation). I thought the finale of the book was really great; it was tightly written, tense, climactic, and heaps of fun. I really loved reading it and I couldn't put it down for that ending.
So, alright! Not my favorite Tara Grayce to date but pretty darn fun, still. A nice, pretty fun, light, quick read. If you like TG, read it. If you're new to her, start with Elven Alliance, it's a better introduction.
OR
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
![Forest of Scarlet (Court of Midsummer Mayhem Book 1) by [Tara Grayce]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Zf2yudf8L._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
- Read with Kindle Unlimited to also enjoy access to over 4 million more titles
-
Audiobook
$0.00 - 1 Used from $28.91 4 New from $22.00
- 2 Used from $10.25 5 New from $13.24
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 28, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 25, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 11, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 3, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 29, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 29, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
Steve Wilson
Another enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 30, 2023
Annette van Geloof
A big and interesting plot and a romance with loads of issues to solve
Reviewed in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 on March 7, 2023
