I should specify that I was reading the OG version, since there have been a few changes to the spice level in the most recent editions, not that it impacts more than ~5% of the total word count. I would like to say, however, that although I am glad I got the OG version rather than the "clean" version, I also consider most YouTube criticism to be entirely unfair, especially since Elizabeth Wheatley gave everyone the opportunity to purchase OG copies before they disappeared and labelled them appropriately. Furthermore, I consider the term "self-censorship" to be an entirely invented term which bears no real meaning in the real world. Elizabeth Wheatley can do as she sees morally appropriate with her own writing when she still possesses the rights to it, no further argumentation required.
As to the book itself, I thought it was excellent. World building was sufficient to understand what was happening but was not overwhelming. Dialog was engaging and kept the reader into the story. The story did not require constant violence to drive the plot as some fantasy does, but Wheatley also did not shy away from difficult topics either. I think this is an excellent "thinking book" in that it makes the reader address ethical issues that have been common in past ages and wrestle with ethically grey situations we may run into today. I also appreciate that Elizabeth Wheatley, while not writing natural heroes in the same sense that some authors do, wrote noble characters who make sense to the reader and who became heroes when they were in the right place at the right time. These books also provide a lot of clarity to the universe Elizabeth Wheatley has created without spending excessive time on long descriptions.
As to the spice, I thought it was appropriately handled since only married couples ever get real scenes in these books and sexual immorality, while not outright shamed in a "purity culture" sort of way, is presented as being questionable at best, with married sex being presented as the morally right and noble choice, when engaged in a serving manner. I appreciated that the spice scenes were made to be realistic enough to connect to the way real life can actually work, not an overly idealized version that isn't attainable for most people. I also appreciated that sex was portrayed as an act of love and service, even in the midst of passion, rather than the way many books portray it. Elizabeth Wheatley does not write mere smut. I think, personally, that the spicy scenes in these books are an excellent alternative to the garbage out there in the world today and are a valuable corrective to that nonsense. When actually reading the books, it is hard to misinterpret this.
Overall excellent books. I can see that Elizabeth Wheatley's writing abilities have developed over time, this being one of the later book series that she has written. Her earlier books were also good, but this is rather excellent writing with much clearer descriptions than a handful of scenes in previous books. Also, Elizabeth Wheatley is a fantastic multi-voice talented reader. Well done!
