*~~*ARC kindly provided to me for an honest review *~~*

- Review to come

Review originally posted on my blog with added content on Mikku-chan / A world full of words

This is a book with an interesting premise and two women who fall in love with each other despite themselves, but for me, it just kind of didn't work. I felt that the sci fi changes in the world would have meant a really rich tapestry of world building but what I got was a world the same as ours in every other way than that you are given a tattoo under your thumb that tells you when you're going to fall in love with 'the one'.

This book tried to deal with the difficulties of already knowing that person before the clock turned to zero, but for me that moment seemed too unrealistic and the courting between the two main characters was just too stilted for me to enjoy.

I LOVED this book by the end. At the beginning it was a bit more difficult for me to get into it since it was one of the first f/f books I've ever read, so I wasn't used to it. But it was amazing! Chelsea is bi, and Daisy is demisexual and I've loved both. The girls have to go through some difficulties when they clock out together, and there is drama and some other things.

What I especially loved with the book, and with the first one, was that they have content warnings for everything that happens in the book and may be triggering for someone, written before the book even starts and in which chapters they occur.

I loved it just as much as the first book and I hope it has the same, or even better success!

4.25 Stars

Curved Horizon is the follow up to Taylor Brooke’s Fortitude Smashed. There we were introduced to the concept of the Camellia Clock, where people had small clocks embedded into their thumbs that would countdown to the moment they would time out and meet their “Rose Road,” or their soulmate. Aiden and Shannon, from the first book, are integral to the plot here and reading that book first would help readers to understand the plot and the characters a whole lot better here.

Curved Horizon is also about Daisy and Chelsea, whose clocks are about to time out. Daisy is best friends and roommates with Aiden and Chelsea is Shannon’s ex. Daisy and Chelsea have known each other through the guys and while Chelsea is bisexual and Daisy is demisexual, they never thought of each other as romantic partners. There is also a reason they never expected to time out at the exact same time.

These women are different and not just on the outside, with Daisy being Chinese and Chelsea having grown up in small town Georgia with a refined upbringing that earns her the nickname “charm school.” Daisy thought she had found the one in her ex, but that’s a sordid and distressful tale that she won’t talk to anyone about, even with Aiden, and it directly involves him as well. The attack from last book also weighs heavily on Daisy and she’s not in the place to be open in a relationship and she thinks that Chelsea is way out of her league.

Chelsea moved to California for medical school and her relationship with her parents is strained. Her father was abusive and her mother was more concerned about appearances and it’s taken Chelsea a long time to realize that she deserved to be loved. These women have a lot of issues to navigate and just because the energy of the clock finds their soulmate for them, there can still be a lot of work that has to be done to forge a relationship.

All of them, Daisy, Chelsea, Aiden, and Shannon, cling so tightly to their pasts. They all have a lot of baggage and don’t know how to move forward and they almost don’t allow themselves to do so. The romance between Daisy and Chelsea is quiet and the writing is descriptive as they set out to get to know each other as friends with the potential for a lot more.

Aiden and Shannon were a highlight here for me as well. I would say the storyline was equally theirs, but it may have just tipped over into being even a little more about them. In some ways this book felt like the second part of Aiden and Shannon’s relationship and if it was supposed to be more about Chelsea and Daisy, the balance was off in that regard. Daisy and Chelsea circled around each other each other and talked around each other as they had to get more comfortable with themselves. It then left a great impression of seeing them as individuals, but slightly less as a couple. The intimacy of this book lies in the emotions of the characters and how they discover themselves as they discover each other.

When Shannon is injured at work, it shifts all of the characters’ focus. There aren’t many things more heartbreaking than a broken Aiden waiting on word of Shannon’s condition. This plot line moved the story forward at a pace that I found refreshing. It wasn’t the sudden realization that life is fragile, but a natural progression that enabled the characters to move forward. I also got more of an understanding here of the Camellia Clock than I had in book one and while I appreciated the information, I would have preferred to have had it in the earlier book. But still, I feel like there is a lot of finer detail I am missing out on about contemporary characters having a clock imbedded in their thumbs and it just being a regular part of society. I also felt like after two books now, Shannon and Aiden’s story is still not yet complete. While their relationship has evolved tremendously and their love for each other is strong, we don’t see them completely settled with each other yet.

This series takes an interesting premise and builds upon it with a variety of intriguing characters with a softer, character driven tone. The style has a lot of descriptive words that will slide over you as you read and if that style appeals, definitely check it out

Just like the first book in the series, Fortitude Smashed, Curved Horizon immediately sucked me in..
Curved Horizon is an amazingly layered story with multifaceted (main and side) characters. I loved every second I spent with them and was sad when I had read the last page. Hopefully there will be more in this universe!

Similar to Aiden and Shannon, the start of Daisy's and Chelsea's relationship wasn't all hearts and roses. Both of them never expected to be each other's Rose Road, so when they time out they're both surprised to say the least. This is where the book really shined for me: the way Brooke handled the newness of this changed relationship from friends to soul mates, how they slowly fell in love and together built a romantic relationship. The issues and insecurities both characters felt was well-written and fleshed-out without being a tool to create drama.

Both Chelsea and Daisy aren't really ready for a relationship at the beginning of Curved Horizon, but together they work through their shit, build trust and learn to confide in each other - and though all of that fall in love. This made their happy ending even sweeter. I loved the progress of their relationship so much.

We got to know both characters a bit in Fortitude Smashed, but in Curved Horizon we see another layer to each of the characters. Mostly - of course - Chelsea and Daisy, because they (and their story) are the main focus of this book. As well, Shannon and Aiden each revealed new things about themselves. I love how Brooke explored each of the characters: their ambitions, their pasts and plans for the future but most of all the feelings between each of them - varying from friendship to romantic love. Brooke doesn't shy away from diving deeper into some of the character's not so pretty pasts. She deftly creates a story that is so layered, with every character so deeply entwined in each others lives, that just leaves you with a feeling of admiration. I wished they were real and I could be part of that group of friends.
She also does not shy away to put her characters (and the readers equally) through the wringer. (As with Fortitude Smashed I'd strongly advise you to pay attention to the content warnings for this book.)

One thing that is truly special to me is how Brooke wrote Daisy's demisexuality. The whole scene of Daisy coming out to Chelsea, and Chelsea's reaction had me in tears - and I'm tearing up right now writing this - because it was just so beautiful and done so wonderfully. I might have not particularly liked Chelsea during the first half of Fortitude Smashed, but in that moment she absolutely became my favorite. And it's not just that scene, but throughout the book Chelsea constantly checks in with Daisy and explicitly asks for consent. This made my heart soar and I can't describe how amazing that felt. (Too bad she's not real - and already taken. Because I could easily fall in love with her.)

Of course I also loved that I could spent time again with my favourite (retired) art thief and his cop boyfriend. Each of them get a couple of chapters in the book and I really enjoyed to see how they were doing a couple of months into their relationship from their point of view.

We already go a bit of information regarding the Rose Roads and how they work in Fortitude Smashed, but there were still things to explore in Curved Horizon and I really liked how Brooke included tiny tidbits here and there.

I really hope that Javi and his partners will get their own story one day, because of all the minor characters he was easily my fave. I mean... poly soul mates! How could I not love that? But I also would love to see how having two Rose Roads works close up.

If you've read and loved Fortitude Smashed you'll like this one too!

I have been waiting for this and it delivered everything I wanted and more. I loved the first book in this series and could not put this sequel down. Such a fun world and I loved how the Camellia Clock works. The whole plot is just fascinating to me and I love the characters and the whole world. Recommended for anyone who loved the first book.

Where do I even start with this book?

If you look back at my Fortitude Smashed review, it'll be pretty obvious that that book ruined me. Curved Horizon did the same exact thing, except much more brutally. Where FS was subtle yet strong, CH was strong and distinct. Both books deal with similar heavy topics, like depression and abuse and sexual assault, but you get a much wider view of how it has affected each character. You get to learn much more about the characters that were central or introduced in the first novel, because while we got the majority of their backstory before, we get to hear how it affected them.

Curved Horizon follows Daisy and Chelsea, who were both introduced as close friends to Aiden and Shannon about halfway through Fortitude Smashed. At first, I have to admit, both characters seemed like very obvious stereotypes, but as you learn more about them in CH, Brooke will flip those stereotypes on their head. Chelsea is the stereotypical jealous, perfect ex-girlfriend with blond hair and a rich family. Daisy is the stereotypical goth girl BFF. But in CH, you learn so much more about these two characters, and how they break those stereotypes so forcefully that you can't even comprehend how they fit into that mold originally.

Just as I mentioned before, The Camellia Clock Cycle deals with some heavy topics, and Taylor Brooke does not shy away from them. I love how, despite these horrible events happening, the characters help each other through them, and are able to heal--not because they're in love, but because these relationships allow them to talk about and discuss what happened. Brooke's portrayal of these events and how a survivor heals from them was so honest and inspiring.

Final Rating: ★★★★★
Overall?
Taylor Brooke once again crushed my heart with this book. I love the characters so much, especially their complex relationships and lives. I love how the story is more character driven rather than plot driven, because I don't read many character driven stories anymore. Taylor's stories and characters seem so much more authentic with her writing style, as well as the setting and story. I need another one. Please?

Would I Recommend?
Definitely. These books are so, so important with how they deal with abuse, depression, and sexual assault. If you're looking for it, there's also on-page representation -- Aiden is pansexual, Chelsea and Shannon are bisexual, and Daisy is demisexual. Before, this wasn't explicitly said, but in this one, it is.

Since I got an ARC of Curved Horizon on NetGalley, it has kept me warm on some bitter New England nights. As wind gusts across a frozen lake just outside my window, my mind is still in the warmth of Laguna beach and the characters Taylor Brooke brought to life on it’s shores.

I read Curved Horizon slowly, savoring the gorgeous sentences packed with emotions I seldom feel in real life. I drank in the passion and pain the words evoked, the bruised kisses of new love, and imagery that made me crave summer.

Curved Horizon is a book about friends, soulmates and the kind of family you choose for yourself. It may not be the fastest paced, most suspenseful book, but I like it just the way it is. I enjoyed lingering in little moments, watching the characters grow and bloom from both good moments and challenging ones.

There was one big plot event described in the cover copy that came much later in the book than I was expecting, so while I was not forever wondering what was going to happen, I was wondering when it was going to happen, holding my breath, waiting for the weight to drop. And when it finally came, it was flawlessly executed.

I could go on and on about how good this book was, but I’m not going to. Want to know more about Curved Horizon? Pre-order.

Support the author by pre-ordering it, reading it, and leaving a review of your own.

Thank you very much to Interlude Press for providing a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings in novel: suicidal thoughts/discussion of suicide, depression, parent abuse/domestic violence, sexual assault. A fully list and relative chapter numbers is provided at the beginning of the novel.

Curved Horizon is the second book in the Camellia Clock series about soulmates, destiny, love, and life. This strong sequel follows the ex-girlfriend and old friend of the love interests from book one, as the two women navigate their friendship into something more.

I really liked Daisy from Fortitude Smashed, so I was beyond excited when I found out the second book would be about her. And then I found out her soulmate was Chelsea, Shannon's ex-girlfriend from book one, and I was less excited. I didn't like Chelsea all that much due to her behaviour, and although I had stated I didn't want to read Curved Horizon because of an issue I had with Fortitude Smashed, the fact that the romance was f/f changed my mind.

I'm glad I read it, in the end.

Daisy and Chelsea's relationship is very different from Aiden and Shannon's - and I don't just mean in the sense that all relationships are different. In Fortitude Smashed, we learn that there are two types of relationships that Rose Road's have: physical, or emotional. Aiden and Shannon have a physical relationship - that means that instead of talking about an issue affecting them, they have sex and deal with their pent-up issues and emotions that way. Daisy and Chelsea on the other hand are in an emotional relationship. They talk about everything, even the things that frighten them, which is key in a relationship. Despite how different they are, the fact that they can discuss their issues shows why they are each others Rose Roads.

Daisy deals with quite a lot in Curved Horizon: the fallout from her sexual assault in book one, coming to terms with her past with Aiden, worrying about Chelsea's reaction to her demisexuality. She has to learn how to forgive herself from her choices in her past, and move on with Chelsea. She goes through a lot, but comes out stronger for it. I really admired Daisy for that.

Chelsea's character development was off the charts. Like I mentioned, I didn't like her all that much in Fortitude Smashed, just because her character seemed to be written as the blonde bitchy ex-girlfriend trope - which I abhor - but reading from her perspective helped me understand her motives in book one. I don't agree with them, but I can understand them. Chelsea also struggles to deal with her toxic family life, but she learns that family doesn't always mean the people you share blood with. You can make your own type of family. That's a really important message I support.

However, I grew irked by the constant issue Chelsea and Daisy seemed to have: both of them feeling as though they aren't good enough for their soul mate. I thought the issue was a realistic one, but after reading all of their fights about the exact same issue, it got dry very quickly. After reading the same fight approximately five times in as many chapters, I just wanted to scream 'I get it! You both think you're not good enough. Move on!'

I loved reading about Aiden and Shannon's relationship, a year on from Fortitude Smashed. Honestly, it seemed like they weren't going to make it, considering how different they are, but they have grown so much and work really well together as a couple. It absolutely tore my heart to read about what happens to them towards the ending of the novel, but I masochistically enjoyed it too, just because the event brings everyone together in an important way and shows both Daisy and Chelsea how loved they really are.

I also enjoyed learning a little more about this scientifically-advanced world. We finally learn more about the Camellia Clocks, but the one question I had wasn't answered: why did Daisy and Chelsea's clocks not time out as soon as they met, like everyone else's did? Isn't that how the Clocks work? It's a clock counting down to the second you meet your soulmate. But Daisy and Chelsea met months before their Clocks timed out, and Chelsea's Clock actually speeds up to time out at the same time as Daisy's. But why? Clocks speeding up is considered rare in this world, so shouldn't have Chelsea sought out an answer? If there is a third book, I hope that question is answered. I'm sensing that perhaps the world building wasn't completely formulated once again. Or perhaps it's one of those books that doesn't mention world building, it just shoves you into the world and you have to figure things out for yourself. But I still think we should have an answer in regard to Chelsea, only because the text actually mentions that what happens to her is rare.

Curved Horizon was a fantastic sequel and I really want to read more about this world now. Daisy and Chelsea were wonderful protagonists, who have burrowed their way into my heart. I definitely recommend this gem!

In many ways, I have the same things to say about this book as I have to say about Fortitude Smashed — dramatic writing that can get overbearing but somehow still works for me, complicated relationships both romantic and platonic, a repetitive feeling to the whole book that can get aggravating but always gives way to really enjoying it by the end.

Some part of me feels like the author tries to tackle too much with this book, with continuing to follow Aiden and Shannon's relationship as well as Daisy and Chelsea and each characters' Tragic Backstories, because everyone has them. Except for Shannon, I guess? Either way, it's good that the book includes trigger warnings in the beginning.

But despite how much I could complain about the mostly plot-less walking around in circles kind of feel to the book, I really enjoyed it. The amount of crap each character is dealing with and helping each other deal with, along with all the different levels of relationships being developed, makes the way it all builds up to the end really satisfying. The endings to these books always casts the rest of the book in a rose-colored light because they're so good.

Seriously, this book is all about putting opposites together in relationships and friendships and showing how it works out to something beautiful and complicated and unexpected, whether it's Chelsea falling for Daisy or Chelsea becoming friends with Aiden, and I love it. Also the individual character development that goes along with that is amazing.

One thing that is a problem is the point of view shifts, when the third person narration switches which character is the focus and it was jolting or confusing. Although I always wonder if these kinds of problems are because formatting is sometimes messed up in ebook arcs so I'm hesitant to blame it directly on the author; it might not be a problem in a finished copy.

Anyway, I'll say what I always say about these books: it's not about a plot, it's about character and relationship development, so if you're up for that and piles of overdramatic prose you should definitely try it.

I loved this book. It was such a strong sequel to the first book and I loved it so much more than the first. 

The book takes place soon after where the first book ends. Daisy and Chelsea are both close to timing out and finding out who their Rose Road is. While they're both talking on the morning Daisy will be finding out who her Rose Road is, and less than 24 hours for Chelsea, whilst in the middle of a conversation they both time out, finding out that they are each other's Rose Road. This is a surprise because, as established in the first book, people time out when they first meet their Rose Road. People finding out a person is their Rose Road after meeting them is extremely rare.

They both have different struggles as a result of their relationship. Daisy is still healing from an abusive relationship as well as having insecurities of not being good enough for Chelsea. She's also nervous to tell her she's demisexual. Chelsea has struggles of being expected to be perfect and knows Daisy is a less than ideal person because she wouldn't get her parents approval. Throughout the novel, they learn to communicate better and slowly fall in love. 

I love both of these girls. I loved seeing them slowly get closer and understand each other more. As well as them opening up to each other more. They did communicate a lot too. When Daisy told Chelsea she was demisexual, they talking about what she was comfortable with. Chelsea had also asked if she could kiss her before their first kissed which I loved seeing. She also did it more than once. 

Platonic male-female friendships is a big part of the book too. As Chelsea is close with Shannon, and Daisy is close with Aidan that was a big part of the book. I loved seeing more of the close friendships they had with the guys.

Shanon and Aidan, while not being the focus, do have POV's in the story. We see how their relationship had grown and how they've gotten better at communication. It was a nice part of the story and one I really enjoyed seeing.

There's also a prologue that explains exactly how Camilla Clocks work and them coming a big part of society. It's explained to have scientific reasons behind it. 

It was overall a great sequel to Fortitude Smashed and I am so excited to see more of this series.