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antivancrowe's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Character 2| Setting 3| Plot 3| Writing 3| Enjoyability 3
Overall Rating: 2.8
I have never read a book that has made a character so insufferable. I hated Andrius, he is the dumbest character I've ever read about. I wish it was endearing. It was just frustrating. He has never had to play the game of politics like his sister or his brother the crown prince.
It shows so much he gets played so easily. He ignores his princely duties to play engineer for the wind turbines, because he is physically weak. His sister Carys protects him from it, she understands the game a lot more. And is honestly the redeeming quality from this book. I didn't feel much growth from Carys she felt pretty static and that's not terrible, Andrius changed but like for the worse.
I honestly just didn't care who ruled through most of the book or really care about what was going on the book felt rather boring to me? A lot happened, but it didn't feel like a lot happened. I only started to care when Andrius started to be a shit to Carys because all his life Carys has protected him and it feels like Andrius just doesn't really understand. He is a dumb-ass. I wish he wasn't so stupid.
I don't have any desire to read more about andrius being stupid, so I won't be continuing the series, this kind of bummed me out because I saw this on a list of queer books...wheres the queer?
Overall Rating: 2.8
I have never read a book that has made a character so insufferable. I hated Andrius, he is the dumbest character I've ever read about. I wish it was endearing. It was just frustrating. He has never had to play the game of politics like his sister or his brother the crown prince.
It shows so much he gets played so easily. He ignores his princely duties to play engineer for the wind turbines, because he is physically weak. His sister Carys protects him from it, she understands the game a lot more. And is honestly the redeeming quality from this book. I didn't feel much growth from Carys she felt pretty static and that's not terrible, Andrius changed but like for the worse.
I honestly just didn't care who ruled through most of the book or really care about what was going on the book felt rather boring to me? A lot happened, but it didn't feel like a lot happened. I only started to care when Andrius started to be a shit to Carys because all his life Carys has protected him and it feels like Andrius just doesn't really understand. He is a dumb-ass. I wish he wasn't so stupid.
I don't have any desire to read more about andrius being stupid, so I won't be continuing the series, this kind of bummed me out because I saw this on a list of queer books...wheres the queer?
beccam22's review against another edition
The idea of this book sounded interesting and I wanted to like it. The actual plot points mentioned in the summary don’t actually start until about 30-40% in to the book and I don’t think we really needed to spend so much time leading up to it as we did. I didn’t care about any of the characters
sel21's review against another edition
1.0
Actual rating: 1.5⭐️
I skimmed this book more than I actually read it, in attempt to avoid adding it to my DNF shelf. But as much as I love The Testing trilogy, this was absolutely awful.
I skimmed this book more than I actually read it, in attempt to avoid adding it to my DNF shelf. But as much as I love The Testing trilogy, this was absolutely awful.
apersons's review against another edition
4.0
slow at first, but i came to love it. the sibling connection between carys and andreus in this book is unreal.
aislinnoc's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure anyone in this book is actually likeable. Larkin for monarch?
read2menow's review against another edition
2.0
The book was confusing when I started it. I did not gain interest as I finished the book. This book is example of switching perspectives, but not done well in my opinion.
zanybibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
I am going to start by saying that I want to read the second book before I make any final judgements on this book but, for now, all I have is this book. It was odd. Good, but odd. It took reading half of the book before I got a somewhat clear idea of what was going on and that only revieled how crazy the situation was. Assassinations, druggings, the need for disguises to talk to friends - all of it seemed crazy yet essential to the plot.
Clarys and Andreus are odd little characters and they seem to be surrounded by weird, manipulative characters that wish to only use the royal twins as pawns in a game. I feel like I was lied to for 318 pages by both the prince and princess as nothing seems to add up. I am hoping this will be cleared up in the second book and I am interested to see where the story goes.
Clarys and Andreus are odd little characters and they seem to be surrounded by weird, manipulative characters that wish to only use the royal twins as pawns in a game. I feel like I was lied to for 318 pages by both the prince and princess as nothing seems to add up. I am hoping this will be cleared up in the second book and I am interested to see where the story goes.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
OH MY FREAKING GOD!
Okay, first I finished this book like 6 days ago and I'm just now getting to this review.
Second, I loved everything about this book! No, really I did.
Third, I kind of want to reread it again.. right now.
Before I dive into this review: I really REALLY want/need the next book ASAP!
This book will probably most likely remind you of other books like, [b:An Ember in the Ashes|27774758|An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)|Sabaa Tahir|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449158871s/27774758.jpg|39113604] or I guess in some ways [b:Three Dark Crowns|28374007|Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1)|Kendare Blake|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469265712s/28374007.jpg|42750582] (because it deals with twins going for the crown).
I also have a love/hate relationship with the twins. Loved Cary's character and hated the shit out of her brother, Andreus. Okay, hold up, what kind of name is Andreus. Like why give the girl such a god damn normal ass name and then him this snotty kind of name?!?! I don't know but I guess that's why I like the sister more. No, not because of their names but their personalities. God, Cary cared so much about her brother and protecting him at all cost. Whereas, he was just a little dipshit who I hated so much.
Besides the twins, you will probably end up loving or liking Larkin, Errik, and Garret. They are all pretty interesting characters that will make the book more intriguing. Anyone else you could probably forget - because I definitely did.
Even though I love this book I feel like I should warn people about the first half of the book. Yes, it's kind of boring. Don't DNF it because, trust me, it get's way freaking better. If you really want to DNF it then who am I to judge?
Other than that, some things were kind of predictable. For example, who the "bad guy" was in this book. Yeah, I kind of figured it out/guessed it pretty early on. It definitely helped that I didn't like the person to begin with so it didn't really change my opinion on that certain character.
Overall, I liked it. I wish the first half would have been better.
Would I reread it? Heck yeah because I can't wait for the next book! Also I really need to read the novella too! UGH! so many freaking books I need to read!
Okay, first I finished this book like 6 days ago and I'm just now getting to this review.
Second, I loved everything about this book! No, really I did.
Third, I kind of want to reread it again.. right now.
Before I dive into this review: I really REALLY want/need the next book ASAP!
This book will probably most likely remind you of other books like, [b:An Ember in the Ashes|27774758|An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)|Sabaa Tahir|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449158871s/27774758.jpg|39113604] or I guess in some ways [b:Three Dark Crowns|28374007|Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1)|Kendare Blake|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469265712s/28374007.jpg|42750582] (because it deals with twins going for the crown).
I also have a love/hate relationship with the twins. Loved Cary's character and hated the shit out of her brother, Andreus. Okay, hold up, what kind of name is Andreus. Like why give the girl such a god damn normal ass name and then him this snotty kind of name?!?! I don't know but I guess that's why I like the sister more. No, not because of their names but their personalities. God, Cary cared so much about her brother and protecting him at all cost. Whereas, he was just a little dipshit who I hated so much.
Besides the twins, you will probably end up loving or liking Larkin, Errik, and Garret. They are all pretty interesting characters that will make the book more intriguing. Anyone else you could probably forget - because I definitely did.
Even though I love this book I feel like I should warn people about the first half of the book. Yes, it's kind of boring. Don't DNF it because, trust me, it get's way freaking better. If you really want to DNF it then who am I to judge?
Other than that, some things were kind of predictable. For example, who the "bad guy" was in this book. Yeah, I kind of figured it out/guessed it pretty early on. It definitely helped that I didn't like the person to begin with so it didn't really change my opinion on that certain character.
Overall, I liked it. I wish the first half would have been better.
Would I reread it? Heck yeah because I can't wait for the next book! Also I really need to read the novella too! UGH! so many freaking books I need to read!