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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fantasy antisemitism and lesbian love confessions. I enjoyed the magic system, simplistic but versatile.🌟 One complaint off the top of my head is the use of the “keepers of the status quo” trope (pop-culture detective marvel video on youtube for reference).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, War
Minor: Bullying, Genocide, Sexual content, Medical content, Toxic friendship
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I quite enjoyed this book for the most part, I loved the world building and the magical creatures. It had just the right amount of whimsy and dark academia vibes - even tough I would have wished that the folklore aspect of Lorelei's character had played a bigger role, instead of just dumping in some tales here and there.
The writing at times was so beautiful. And then the next sentence would be so clunky it hurt haha. But overall I really enjoyed her writing style.
I actually liked the romance too, I thought Sylvia was a really refreshing character. She is kind and hopeful but still strong and determined, it felt balanced out really well. Only the old 'I've always liked you, you just interpreted my actions wrongly' was a bit meh in my opinion, I feel like you could have worked better with the 'rivalry' that's set up and then never actually explored.
What threw me off, as many others, was the ending. It just felt so strange with these pro-imperialist vibes.
They had come to realise that Wilhelm would do whatever suited him to stay in power and yet they just handed everything to him despite having the means to do things differently. How could Lorelei especially be content with her position when she tells us again and again that the ones in power will always use her people as scapegoats if necessary. Like?? I just hated that ending, it could have been handled so much better and actually show some character development.
Also, as a German, it kind of caught me off guard that all the magical creatures (except the nixies for whatever reason) had German names. At least the names made sense for the most part so I guess the author did her research but it just took me out of the story.
The writing at times was so beautiful. And then the next sentence would be so clunky it hurt haha. But overall I really enjoyed her writing style.
I actually liked the romance too, I thought Sylvia was a really refreshing character. She is kind and hopeful but still strong and determined, it felt balanced out really well. Only the old 'I've always liked you, you just interpreted my actions wrongly' was a bit meh in my opinion, I feel like you could have worked better with the 'rivalry' that's set up and then never actually explored.
What threw me off, as many others, was the ending. It just felt so strange with these pro-imperialist vibes.
They had come to realise that Wilhelm would do whatever suited him to stay in power and yet they just handed everything to him despite having the means to do things differently. How could Lorelei especially be content with her position when she tells us again and again that the ones in power will always use her people as scapegoats if necessary. Like?? I just hated that ending, it could have been handled so much better and actually show some character development.
Also, as a German, it kind of caught me off guard that all the magical creatures (except the nixies for whatever reason) had German names. At least the names made sense for the most part so I guess the author did her research but it just took me out of the story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
there were a lot of different elements to this book that were quite shallow and felt chaotic to read, much like the inside of Lorelei's mind. there was some thoughtful critique set up throughout the book but it ultimately fell short with the ending that seemed to shrug "oh well, it happens" at the war and colonialism present. and as an enjoyer of enemies/rivals to lovers, the setup for this one felt flat and not really believable, with the tension being more one-sided bullying that did a complete 180 at one point than a true slow burn.
this is getting 3 stars because the portion where Sylvia and Lorelei were travelling through the mountains together in Albe was genuinely fun and enjoyable. the rest of it was kind of a mess to read through.
this is getting 3 stars because the portion where Sylvia and Lorelei were travelling through the mountains together in Albe was genuinely fun and enjoyable. the rest of it was kind of a mess to read through.
This is a rivals to lovers folklore tale.
We enter a world of fantasy, of fairytale, and of mystery, as Lorelei Kaskel—a folklorist—sets out on an expedition with six nobles to seek out a fabled magical body of water for the king. But when she finds her mentor—who is also the expedition’s leader—dead in the middle of the night, tensions grow high. Lorelei must work with her academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff, to solve her mentor’s murder, all while taking over the leadership of the expedition and dealing with political and emotional turmoil of her own. Not to mention the dangers that lay beyond in the forest ahead and in the court back home. -Bri
Probably my favorite part is when the book talks about mermaids. I found them to be so interesting, and I wish they had their own novel.
The island they need to locate that has this body of water isn't easy to find. That's why it's been an object of desire for so long.
We find out that Sylvia is able to speak to the faeries through song (or so it seems). They lead Sylvia and Lorelei through water, rocks, a cave it seems, and to the body of water they are longing for. This body of water is said to contain great powers. However, if a person is seeking to obtain this power or has ill intentions, the body of water somehow knows and will harm that person. But if a person comes with true intentions, then it seems like they may be able to harness the power. So two other people from their expedition follow Sylvia and Lorelei to the water. One of them does try to harness the power, and it basically consumes them.
Sylvia and Lorelei escape and return home. Lorelei is offered a job as the advisor for the king, and she accepts. Sylvia leaves, and Lorelei doesn't see her or hear from her for months. As Lorelei is sorting the kind's mail (one of her jobs), she sees that Sylvia has written him, but not her. Sylvia ends up coming to Lorelei and tells her that she was writing to her the whole time, not the king, because she knew that Lorelei was in charge of his correspondence. Slyvia hints about some of the messages she sent the king - perhaps inappropriate and private. They reconcile and become engaged.
Through the whole book, Sylvia and Lorelei act with hatred towards one another. Slowly, we see their walls come down. They have one night together, and Lorelei is afraid no one else will understand their love. She distances herself from Sylvia as a part of her strategy, and she ends up hurting Sylvia. But of course, they reconcile.
I was not a fan of this book. I was rather bored for almost the entire thing. I really only got excited to read once Sylvia and Lorelei begin their adventure on the island together. I wish we saw more magic elements. The romance wasn't that interesting for me. This book was definitely a miss IMO.
We enter a world of fantasy, of fairytale, and of mystery, as Lorelei Kaskel—a folklorist—sets out on an expedition with six nobles to seek out a fabled magical body of water for the king. But when she finds her mentor—who is also the expedition’s leader—dead in the middle of the night, tensions grow high. Lorelei must work with her academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff, to solve her mentor’s murder, all while taking over the leadership of the expedition and dealing with political and emotional turmoil of her own. Not to mention the dangers that lay beyond in the forest ahead and in the court back home. -Bri
Probably my favorite part is when the book talks about mermaids. I found them to be so interesting, and I wish they had their own novel.
The island they need to locate that has this body of water isn't easy to find. That's why it's been an object of desire for so long.
We find out that Sylvia is able to speak to the faeries through song (or so it seems). They lead Sylvia and Lorelei through water, rocks, a cave it seems, and to the body of water they are longing for. This body of water is said to contain great powers. However, if a person is seeking to obtain this power or has ill intentions, the body of water somehow knows and will harm that person. But if a person comes with true intentions, then it seems like they may be able to harness the power. So two other people from their expedition follow Sylvia and Lorelei to the water. One of them does try to harness the power, and it basically consumes them.
Sylvia and Lorelei escape and return home. Lorelei is offered a job as the advisor for the king, and she accepts. Sylvia leaves, and Lorelei doesn't see her or hear from her for months. As Lorelei is sorting the kind's mail (one of her jobs), she sees that Sylvia has written him, but not her. Sylvia ends up coming to Lorelei and tells her that she was writing to her the whole time, not the king, because she knew that Lorelei was in charge of his correspondence. Slyvia hints about some of the messages she sent the king - perhaps inappropriate and private. They reconcile and become engaged.
Through the whole book, Sylvia and Lorelei act with hatred towards one another. Slowly, we see their walls come down. They have one night together, and Lorelei is afraid no one else will understand their love. She distances herself from Sylvia as a part of her strategy, and she ends up hurting Sylvia. But of course, they reconcile.
I was not a fan of this book. I was rather bored for almost the entire thing. I really only got excited to read once Sylvia and Lorelei begin their adventure on the island together. I wish we saw more magic elements. The romance wasn't that interesting for me. This book was definitely a miss IMO.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes