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gummyknives's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pretty solid read! Great book for a debut and if you love political plot driven books id definitely recommend it
iamleighbot's review against another edition
4.0
ALRIGHT... did I think this needed a lot more editing in order to fix some plot holes or just other oddities? Yes, absolutely. Four people in line for the throne are wiped out and we just move forward with our day? Nah, that didn't make a ton of sense. I thought the idea to open on Balen's first day as Prime made sense and we would see a little "this investigation happened in the past" BUT it was pretty quick into the read when I realized that wasn't what happened.
THAT BEING SAID, DO I CARE? No, this was an amazing read! I loved the characters so much - this read like a fanfiction where we already know the characters so the author just jumped right into the action. There were very few times when I went "Why are Balen and Zavrius doing this?" because they were so well done. There were many times I thought that about side characters/overall plot points but I was in love with these two from the beginning
Overall, I will continue to read Seth Haddon and I do hope that future reads will have more logical plots. I don't expect I will put the books down even if they don't, however
THAT BEING SAID, DO I CARE? No, this was an amazing read! I loved the characters so much - this read like a fanfiction where we already know the characters so the author just jumped right into the action. There were very few times when I went "Why are Balen and Zavrius doing this?" because they were so well done. There were many times I thought that about side characters/overall plot points but I was in love with these two from the beginning
Overall, I will continue to read Seth Haddon and I do hope that future reads will have more logical plots. I don't expect I will put the books down even if they don't, however
jessicainanook's review against another edition
2.0
TLDR Review: I'm disappointed. This book has a lot of potential. I believe Haddon could create a great book with the proper editor and publisher. The story has so much going for it and I can see that the author has talent but needs a guiding hand. Also a beta reader that will be realistic with him.
This book needs more world building, more character development, more relationship development, and all of the holes in the plot shored up.
Review: This book starts out with a narrator that immediately discredits himself three times as the King's Knight. He's late to the thing he had been working toward since he was a boy. He almost gets the King killed and doesn't set up a watch with assassins in the area? Then he joins a fighting tournament with him. What is happening? His incompetence continues from there. He is supposed to be with the king to protect him from harm. Days go by that he doesn't even see the King despite sleeping in a room that adjoins. Huh? On and on it goes.
The King constantly undermines his own authority. He is a 5th prince that becomes the King after the Queen passes at the same time his four siblings die in a mysterious accident. Everyone thinks he killed them and the nobles are close to over-throwing him. We are never really given a good look at who he is as a character. No development and little that actually seems to motivate him. He reads as a caricature.
The romance between them is nonexistent for most of the book. We never see anything about the previous relationship they had. Its referenced enough that it could have been slipped in somewhere. The slow burn is mostly just the Knight staring lustfully at the King. When they finally seal the deal and become a couple its anticlimactic. We still know so little about the characters that it doesn't hit like a slow burn should.
The motivations of the two kingdoms featured don't make sense. The neighboring kingdom seems to be a war hungry kingdom but wants peace because of the dead/dying creatures that give the MCs kingdom magic? Meanwhile the MCs kingdom actually wants war for some xenophobic reason. The fact that four dead royals are found there and this doesn't trigger a war makes no sense. The nobles are ready and able to revolt and they wait and do so in secrecy for plot reasons.
This book had a lot of potential and if Haddon gets some good support I think he could make a great book. Unfortunately in its current state this book is full of mistakes and holes in every aspect; plot, world building, characters, and logic. This reads as a well edited first or second draft. From the amount of DNFs in the reviews I think a lot of people concur. I hope that Haddon takes another couple of passes at this book and submits to a publisher. I think it would do really well in the Romantasy category. Also maybe think of getting a better beta reader. One that will be realistic with what a book is and not just a cheerleader.
Good luck to the author.
This book needs more world building, more character development, more relationship development, and all of the holes in the plot shored up.
Review: This book starts out with a narrator that immediately discredits himself three times as the King's Knight. He's late to the thing he had been working toward since he was a boy. He almost gets the King killed and doesn't set up a watch with assassins in the area? Then he joins a fighting tournament with him. What is happening? His incompetence continues from there. He is supposed to be with the king to protect him from harm. Days go by that he doesn't even see the King despite sleeping in a room that adjoins. Huh? On and on it goes.
The King constantly undermines his own authority. He is a 5th prince that becomes the King after the Queen passes at the same time his four siblings die in a mysterious accident. Everyone thinks he killed them and the nobles are close to over-throwing him. We are never really given a good look at who he is as a character. No development and little that actually seems to motivate him. He reads as a caricature.
The romance between them is nonexistent for most of the book. We never see anything about the previous relationship they had. Its referenced enough that it could have been slipped in somewhere. The slow burn is mostly just the Knight staring lustfully at the King. When they finally seal the deal and become a couple its anticlimactic. We still know so little about the characters that it doesn't hit like a slow burn should.
The motivations of the two kingdoms featured don't make sense. The neighboring kingdom seems to be a war hungry kingdom but wants peace because of the dead/dying creatures that give the MCs kingdom magic? Meanwhile the MCs kingdom actually wants war for some xenophobic reason. The fact that four dead royals are found there and this doesn't trigger a war makes no sense. The nobles are ready and able to revolt and they wait and do so in secrecy for plot reasons.
This book had a lot of potential and if Haddon gets some good support I think he could make a great book. Unfortunately in its current state this book is full of mistakes and holes in every aspect; plot, world building, characters, and logic. This reads as a well edited first or second draft. From the amount of DNFs in the reviews I think a lot of people concur. I hope that Haddon takes another couple of passes at this book and submits to a publisher. I think it would do really well in the Romantasy category. Also maybe think of getting a better beta reader. One that will be realistic with what a book is and not just a cheerleader.
Good luck to the author.
gsforest's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
pengustorm's review against another edition
I'll probably try this one again later, but for now, it just isn't hitting
syllareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mnemosyne5's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars. An interesting magic system and enjoyable characters made for a good read.
finnsbookrecs's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5