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I liked they they defied the norm at that time and got involved romantically. I expected to feel something about their relationship and i did. it was beautiful and filled me with many emotions. I liked it.

This book was well-written, and I think the relationship between the master's son, James, and the slave, Lily, was not forced neither was it inappropriate. I think I loved the way they related with each other unconventionally.

If it was a realistic story I would've said that their love will come to an end and James will find someone else to love because the time period didn't allow it and punished by law if they were caught. But with all that happened in this book and the lengths they went through to get to where they were, it makes me believe that they might need to start over but they will always end up back together.

I appreciated how different their relationship turned out to be, but it felt like the author was attempting to force the two characters to do something that didn't seem to fit them. While reading the book, I went through similar feelings.

I believe they were forced feelings, that neither of them felt, but over time it became more mutual. It was a good romance and if it were real people would call it “toxic”

For once, I never found their love to be inappropriate because we are all human and, besides, this would not have been a topic if not for the conflict that occurred between the human races.

I am a bit undecided on this. Maybe because the balance of power weighs more with James than with Lily. As a result there would always be that fear that under pressure, James may begin to love her less.

James and Lily's love story is not the usual type of love story but I don't think it's forced. But the problem is the uncertainty of James future action towards their relationship.

I do not think the relationship was forced. I thought it was romantic but I feel the imbalanced power dynamics between both makes it a bit inappropriate but definitely not forced.

I think the attraction between them is mutual. However, I worry about Lily's and James' frame of mind. The writer could have done more to clear up the ambiguity or unnaturalness that appeared in certain parts of the story. This might be cleared up in other books since it is a series.

I'd like to share the early experience I had as while reading the initial part of the book.

"I feel that the romance is rather mechanically forced to be more difficult than it ought to be. James is an intelligent and educated man, and nothing is more indoctrine-liberating than a good education. It's a bit strange that all of his knowledge has failed to undo the coarse pedagogy of his father. It makes no sense to me why he would continue to mistreat and be so cold to Lily when he really should no longer fear his papa."

Well, let's just say the plot-twist that the whole charade was just that, a charade, was warmly welcomed by me and my common sense. The heart is a very fickle thing, it's also a very sensitive and tender thing. It makes sense that Lily and James fell in love with each other. They were in a very unloving, unforgiving and cold world, counting only on each other for warmth. That's the kind of bond that only grows and creates more longing with distance and time, like a small flame left out in the middle of the forest. Their love, in all its messiness and confusion sometimes, is very human and organic to me, because that's how love works. It's rarely ever without confusion.

The relationship is a natural outflow from their childhood friendship. They loved each other from a very young age, so not forced in any way.

I am of a different opinion. Other than the book's ending, I found the romance that kindled between the two was based on honest feelings and passion. The way the affair was portrayed was, thus, sufficient and fulfilling for me.

James genuinely loves Lily as the author made us understand that they both had feelings for each other from childhood. However, the prevailing situation made James pull back.

I definitely think the love was genuine and not at all forced. James surely loved Lily and while there was the possibility of him bowing to societal pressure, I do not think it wipes the obvious love all away. Love is a really strong emotion.