Once a Soldier
DNF at 40%I never read anything by Putney before this, the plots sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try.
Despite the DNF I have to say: It's not completely terrible. But nearly halfway in I found myself uninterested. I found it too long wound and rather dull, even if there are interesting aspects to the MCs. It just felt too constructed and the more I read the less interested I got. It might pick up mind you.. but I decided I don't really care anymore.
I also found the fictional country set in a historical novel kinda annoying. I am not sure why. But when I read a historical I would like it to be historically accurate, even if the storyline is naturally mostly fictional.
I think I could have lived with all of those things, but then there is the romance. I didn't feel it at all. I mean it's sweet enough, a bit insta, but it's not cute or swoony or .. I dunno.. enticing? It felt too thought through and scripted but mostly simply not cute & fluffy , which is the way I like it.
So not characters I found myself interesting, a backdrop and romance I didn't like and generally slow plot made this a no-go for me.