If you're looking for a cozy, slice of life, fantasy romance, this is a great choice. Phantom and Rook is a litRPG type fantasy, so there are all sorts of non-human people in the diverse cast of characters. It's got found family and community, fated mates and a long, slow burn.
First of all, I want to say how much I fell in love with the characters. They were so well written, and I genuinely felt like I knew them. The descriptions, characteristics, facial expressions, snark, camaraderie, everything about them was beautifully written.
This story was so beautifully written, and I got lost within the descriptions of the town. Being able to see the vibrancy of the words as they were brought to life for me.
I went into Phantom & Rook expecting a cozy little fantasy book about a pair of misfits getting their second chances at love and life, while surrounding themselves with a great circle of friends/family, and just would be overall cute. Not that it wasn't, it was all those things and more! I just didn't expect it to hit me right in the feels the way it did. Aelina handles Arlo's trauma and mental health so beautifully, and I might have cried... A lot lol
Started reading this at lunch at work, thought about it for the rest of the work day, got home and finished it before I went to bed. The characters were so warm and good to each other, even though fights and disagreements naturally came up during the story. The romance got me INVESTED - I loved the dual perspectives letting us see into both their heads! You will care so so deeply about these guys, as well as their friends. I'm sometimes iffy about kid characters, but the kid characters in this book were both a) realistic and b) likeable as hell. Everybody was endearing as hell! I was rooting for all of them.
✍️⭐🦉🏳️🌈
Goodreads Reviews
