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bucketsjen's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I devoured this book.
That's not to say it is perfect, because that's not it. But I couldn't put it down and I was so invested in the characters and what was happening even as I giggled that every time a particular character was on the page, the author just had to mention the fact that he has one eye.
It's marketed as romantasy, but the plot and world building are SOLID. I'm fascinating the magic system in place, and the swirling mess of politics and power and religion and poisons and necromancy that's going on. For a romantasy, it's also very low spice - there's lots of yearning, lots of emotions, but very little on-the-page action and what's there is tame. Be ready for slow slow burn.
As a note in regards to the romances:
I am hoping against hope that this ends in a polycule, because the two male love interests have as much chemistry with each other as they do with the female lead. One of them is even outright states to be bisexual, the other one supposedly has taken a vow of celibacy that we all know won't stick. And one of the male interests has a secondary interest to our main female, who is so sweet and adorable and they're good friends. So I'm just saying, it would work and be amaaaaazing anf I would be deliriously happy is that's where it ends - but alas, it isn't resolved at all in book one.
That's not to say it is perfect, because that's not it. But I couldn't put it down and I was so invested in the characters and what was happening even as I giggled that every time a particular character was on the page, the author just had to mention the fact that he has one eye.
It's marketed as romantasy, but the plot and world building are SOLID. I'm fascinating the magic system in place, and the swirling mess of politics and power and religion and poisons and necromancy that's going on. For a romantasy, it's also very low spice - there's lots of yearning, lots of emotions, but very little on-the-page action and what's there is tame. Be ready for slow slow burn.
As a note in regards to the romances:
cheyarsen's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
miyu1339's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.25
bibi_reads_writes's review against another edition
4.0
“Are you so accustomed to being used that you don’t realize when it’s happening, as long as it’s done kindly?”
3.5⭐ rounded up to 4. Maybe it’s really just because I’m currently swamped with work and stressed out, but I struggled with this one. Nothing really *annoyed* me, but I didn’t looooooove anything either. I’m diving in the ARC for the sequel, so hopefully I’ll feel better about this one.
❤️ Atmosphere
❤️ Bastian and “Horse”
❤️ Refreshing magic system
❤️ Court intrigue
❌ Intriguing, but messy worldbuilding
❌ Predictable plot twists
❌ Awkward and unrelatable relationships between the FMC and the MMCs
Trigger Warnings: violence and death, blood and gore, animal death, cult, indoctrination, poisoning, drug and alcohol consumption, child death, war, parental abuse.
Plot:
Lore is a spy and poison trafficker. But she keeps an even darker secret: she can channel the very-sought-after, but also feared and illegal, magic born from death. When a deal goes wrong and her power is revealed, Lore thinks she’s done for. But instead, she’s taken to the king by a group of warrior-monks and given a task. She must gain the prince’s trust and find out if he’s been colluding with the kingdom’s sworn enemy.
After writing this short summary, I thought, “Why didn’t I like this book more?” Indeed, the plot is interesting and compelling. I love when MCs have darker kinds of powers, and I love court intrigue and regency and all. This book ticks most of the boxes for me, so why didn’t I enjoy it more? In addition to my current state of mind, I feel like many things led to this book not living up to its full potential.
The pace was inconsistent, with predictable plot twists and one-dimensional characters. The stakes should feel very high, but they don’t quite do. The characters spend a lot of times in the library or exchanging pleasantries with bored or stoned nobles. The three protagonists are also thrown into a I-automatically-like-him/her-without-knowing-why dynamic that feels forced. Which brings me to spice. This book *screams* spice: the FMC is introduced in a compromising situation. She’s confident in her sexuality. There’s a love triangle and forbidden romance, a bad boy prince and a hot monk… but… but… no spice whatsoever? I feel cheated So-Lorcan-Did style.
In short, there’s a lot happening and not much at the same time.
Characters:
I didn’t hate Lore, the FMC, but I’m also pretty sure I’ll forget her in 37 seconds. I might have forgotten her already. I felt like Gabe would be the Dain/Tamlin in the saga right from the start, although I wish I’d been wrong. The only character I really liked was Bastian. Snarky, smart, scheming, attractive—yes please! The other character I kinda liked best was Horse, the undead horse. I’m guessing that says a lot.
Writing:
This book was my introduction to Hannah Whitten, and I kind of liked her writing style. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was atmospheric and evocative. I liked the bit of trivia at the beginning of each chapter.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
3.5⭐ rounded up to 4. Maybe it’s really just because I’m currently swamped with work and stressed out, but I struggled with this one. Nothing really *annoyed* me, but I didn’t looooooove anything either. I’m diving in the ARC for the sequel, so hopefully I’ll feel better about this one.
❤️ Atmosphere
❤️ Bastian and “Horse”
❤️ Refreshing magic system
❤️ Court intrigue
❌ Intriguing, but messy worldbuilding
❌ Predictable plot twists
❌ Awkward and unrelatable relationships between the FMC and the MMCs
Trigger Warnings: violence and death, blood and gore, animal death, cult, indoctrination, poisoning, drug and alcohol consumption, child death, war, parental abuse.
Plot:
Lore is a spy and poison trafficker. But she keeps an even darker secret: she can channel the very-sought-after, but also feared and illegal, magic born from death. When a deal goes wrong and her power is revealed, Lore thinks she’s done for. But instead, she’s taken to the king by a group of warrior-monks and given a task. She must gain the prince’s trust and find out if he’s been colluding with the kingdom’s sworn enemy.
After writing this short summary, I thought, “Why didn’t I like this book more?” Indeed, the plot is interesting and compelling. I love when MCs have darker kinds of powers, and I love court intrigue and regency and all. This book ticks most of the boxes for me, so why didn’t I enjoy it more? In addition to my current state of mind, I feel like many things led to this book not living up to its full potential.
The pace was inconsistent, with predictable plot twists and one-dimensional characters. The stakes should feel very high, but they don’t quite do. The characters spend a lot of times in the library or exchanging pleasantries with bored or stoned nobles. The three protagonists are also thrown into a I-automatically-like-him/her-without-knowing-why dynamic that feels forced. Which brings me to spice. This book *screams* spice: the FMC is introduced in a compromising situation. She’s confident in her sexuality. There’s a love triangle and forbidden romance, a bad boy prince and a hot monk… but… but… no spice whatsoever? I feel cheated So-Lorcan-Did style.
In short, there’s a lot happening and not much at the same time.
Characters:
I didn’t hate Lore, the FMC, but I’m also pretty sure I’ll forget her in 37 seconds. I might have forgotten her already. I felt like Gabe would be the Dain/Tamlin in the saga right from the start, although I wish I’d been wrong. The only character I really liked was Bastian. Snarky, smart, scheming, attractive—yes please! The other character I kinda liked best was Horse, the undead horse. I’m guessing that says a lot.
Writing:
This book was my introduction to Hannah Whitten, and I kind of liked her writing style. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was atmospheric and evocative. I liked the bit of trivia at the beginning of each chapter.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
emmandm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sweetkelly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
beck96's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
saigelecteur's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bookshelvish's review against another edition
4.0
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This was more accurately a 3 for the first 3/4 of the book and a 5 for the last quarter. It was nothing like I expected but I don’t really know what I was expecting either lol (going in to every book blind will do this to you). This was a vibe combo of Shadow & Bone and The Familiar if Celaena/Chaol/Dorian were starring in it. As everyone knows I am obsessed with love triangles and this one had the perfect amount of tension on both ends and you also didn’t really hate anybody (y’all will actually probably hate Gabe sometimes bc he was giving Dain but I love him still lolz). I’m interested enough to read book 2 but I’m not DYING to pick it up asap. Stay tuned. 😂 Shout out to @faes.bookcorner for the motivation needed to finish this bc it feels like i was reading it for several years (it’s been like a week and a half but still).