If someone asked me to define the phrase “looks can be deceiving” with a single book, this one would be it. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t look at the cover of Amid Clouds and Bones and think “fairy smut”, yet here we are. Despite the unassuming cover, this 364 page book is jam packed full of romance, angst, and a smutty good time!
**Please note there are spoilers ahead**
Quality of Writing
Rating: 5/5
Having marked Amid Clouds and Bones as my 3rd bully romance, I think it’s safe to say I am big fan of the trope. The banter and bullying was superb while also feeling period appropriate for the time.
Plot Development
Rating: 4/5
Despite the smaller page count, Amid Clouds and Bones manages to strike a perfect balance of fast paced but not rushed. However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the King Vane interlude, mainly since Mildred spent most of her time lounging in the castle and being entirely cliched and predictable. Aside from that, the plot was engaging from start to finish, with the smut being nicely sprinkled throughout.
Characters
Rating: 4/5
Continuing my love affair with a bully romance, I adored the dynamic between Atakan and Mildred. The hate-to-love was absolutely salacious and had me gasping at the audacity a couple times.
Although I have to give props to Amid Clouds and Bones for having some solid and hashed out characters, I could’ve done without King Vane and his entourage entirely. I would easily give a 5 star rating to this category if the character development stayed within the cloud kingdom instead of branching out.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 4/5
Amid Clouds and Bones keeps things simple and easy. There’s no intricate lore or multi-plotlines to follow, which is ideal for a shorter standalone. My only bone (ha) to pick is with the midpoint of the book, as it got mildly repetitive and a bit of a slog to get through.
Ending
Rating: 5/5
For a bully romance, Amid Clouds and Bones manages to close out with a super sweet ending that somehow still manages to feel on brand with the relationship dynamic between Mildred and Atakan. I love a good wrap up as much as anyone, and this book did a great job of giving me that warm “complete” feeling that any good ending does for the soul.
Would I Recommend This Book
Amid Clouds and Bones gets a resounding yes from me. This is an easy read with a super fun bully romance dynamic, and an engaging plot that’ll keep you turning the pages.
Overall Rating
Amid Clouds and Bones is a short standalone that manages to be well written and full of plot. Although I did find some plot points to be tedious, and could’ve sidestepped some of the characters entirely, this book wrapped up a fun story with a perfectly smutty little bow.
Book Rating: 4/5 (TW: Attempted murder, Verbal Abuse, Kidnapping, Imprisonment)
Spice Rating: 4/5 (K*nk, Biting, Blood Play, Virginity)
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
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Reading Stack
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Current Book: Blood of Hercules
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