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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book didn’t exactly impress me but it didn’t bore me either. The introduction was rather compelling and it was easy to understand the world because you only have the two groups; the Scholars and the Martials. Whilst it was creative, I do wish there was more conflict between them because to me, they’re only separated by ideals and it wasn’t exactly clear to me what those were, unless you inferred it by the names. In addition, I wished it to have more description of our world outside of Blackcliff academy.
Now, onto the characters’ themselves. My favourite one was Helene, I was immediately drawn into her. I was hoping throughout the book that Elias could’ve somewhat reciprocated her feelings and have the ‘more than friends, less than lovers’ troupe for some time but I guess I was wishing for too much. There was, however, a lot of growth with both the FMC and the MMC which is a surprise to read. Elias has his own goals, he feels guilt, when he thinks of violence, he immediately knows he shouldn’t because he actively tries to be better than his mother which I adore. I love males with personality and their flaws. Of course, he had to be different to the group but obviously was just justified in the difference of his upbringing (how predictable). I hate how he treated Helene though, so I don’t like him but I don’t hate him either.
Laia, you could see very clearly how much she’s changed and for the better! Her character shows that there’s strength in resistance and defiance but she didn’t stick out to me as much as Helene did. I don’t know, her character could’ve been handled better.
Laia’s and Elias’ story is definitely an instant love story and though they shared emotional moments, for some reason, they didn’t stick to me as a thing. I thought it would’ve been in the next book and it was just too fast for me. I feel like they needed more time to get know each other, and betrayal and then conflict AND THEN kiss and love lalalala.
Now, onto the characters’ themselves. My favourite one was Helene, I was immediately drawn into her. I was hoping throughout the book that Elias could’ve somewhat reciprocated her feelings and have the ‘more than friends, less than lovers’ troupe for some time but I guess I was wishing for too much. There was, however, a lot of growth with both the FMC and the MMC which is a surprise to read. Elias has his own goals, he feels guilt, when he thinks of violence, he immediately knows he shouldn’t because he actively tries to be better than his mother which I adore. I love males with personality and their flaws. Of course, he had to be different to the group but obviously was just justified in the difference of his upbringing (how predictable). I hate how he treated Helene though, so I don’t like him but I don’t hate him either.
Laia, you could see very clearly how much she’s changed and for the better! Her character shows that there’s strength in resistance and defiance but she didn’t stick out to me as much as Helene did. I don’t know, her character could’ve been handled better.
Laia’s and Elias’ story is definitely an instant love story and though they shared emotional moments, for some reason, they didn’t stick to me as a thing. I thought it would’ve been in the next book and it was just too fast for me. I feel like they needed more time to get know each other, and betrayal and then conflict AND THEN kiss and love lalalala.
REREAD REVIEW: Oh I've gotten older haven't I? Sweet baby Mia... I don't know how to feel about the fact that this does not feel as dark as it used to? Like it still is of course! But have I been desensitized LOL? Also I did not like Elias as much! Like boy make better choices! AND HELENE IS A QUEEN I'm obsessed with her why didn't I mention her? Laia is great as well, and the writing is just as beautiful as I remember it being! On to the next one!
Review from 2021: Oh my! I didn't expect it to end the way it did but wow, what a masterpiece. If you know me at all you know I'm not picky and I say this with pretty much every book but the beautiful writing, the heart-pumping action, the richly-developed world and characters, the romance! This book has it ALL. The one thing I'd say negatively about it-it's a looot darker than I usually read and mind you I loove Fantasy and Ancient Rome but yeah if you are younger I wouldn't recommend reading this until you're 14 or 15 because there is a lot of opression and all-around angst lool. It was soooo good though! Elias reminds me of one of my fave characters from one of my most favorite books (Kaladin from The Way of Kings if anyone's wondering) and that's 100% not a bad thing lool. Sometimes I found myself frustrated with Laia for various reasons but I can also really relate to her in the way that she feels weak and inadequate, I think we all feel that way sometimes and the way Sabaa painted it was so close to my heart. And I love myself some alternating POVs but sometimes I'm like "I don't WANT a history lesson I wanna know if this other character's dead!" But I think that was intentionally meant to torture me... The romance though?! Why do there have to be so many people I ship, how can I ever choose a team? Especially since my ships never ever work out... You know I'm just gonna stay neutral right now, for my own good.
So right now I'd give it like 4.5 but I'm rounding up cuz I'm nice that way, I think it was a really action-packed read, pretty dark but the writing is beautiful and the plot? Amazing. I'd hightly recommend for fans of Ancient Rome, action, romance and YA (yeah that was a terrible way to describe it, you know what just read it, it's good.)
Review from 2021: Oh my! I didn't expect it to end the way it did but wow, what a masterpiece. If you know me at all you know I'm not picky and I say this with pretty much every book but the beautiful writing, the heart-pumping action, the richly-developed world and characters, the romance! This book has it ALL. The one thing I'd say negatively about it-it's a looot darker than I usually read and mind you I loove Fantasy and Ancient Rome but yeah if you are younger I wouldn't recommend reading this until you're 14 or 15 because there is a lot of opression and all-around angst lool. It was soooo good though! Elias reminds me of one of my fave characters from one of my most favorite books (Kaladin from The Way of Kings if anyone's wondering) and that's 100% not a bad thing lool. Sometimes I found myself frustrated with Laia for various reasons but I can also really relate to her in the way that she feels weak and inadequate, I think we all feel that way sometimes and the way Sabaa painted it was so close to my heart. And I love myself some alternating POVs but sometimes I'm like "I don't WANT a history lesson I wanna know if this other character's dead!" But I think that was intentionally meant to torture me... The romance though?! Why do there have to be so many people I ship, how can I ever choose a team? Especially since my ships never ever work out... You know I'm just gonna stay neutral right now, for my own good.
So right now I'd give it like 4.5 but I'm rounding up cuz I'm nice that way, I think it was a really action-packed read, pretty dark but the writing is beautiful and the plot? Amazing. I'd hightly recommend for fans of Ancient Rome, action, romance and YA (yeah that was a terrible way to describe it, you know what just read it, it's good.)
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
This book is so good it’s rich as hell it’s smart the magic the CHARACTERs the PLOT lord it’s been years my love has never faded but to be re introduced to great writing of saba is a gift intresting to see how I’ve changed I didn’t even think of helene as an important character before HOW ?! I love all of this except I still hate commander/ Marcus . What a gift to re vist old haunts and find they are better than you remember AND see how you’re changed and grown .
2.5/5
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I was disappointed in this book. I had heard that a lot of people really liked it, so I was hopeful, but it just wasn't for me. The first chapter of the book was intense, but after that it was slow moving and boring to me. The second half of the book definitely picked up, and I was glad to have continued reading because I did enjoy the second half, I just had to really push myself through the first half. I wasn't a fan of the dual perspective. I get why it's necessary for this book, but I was much more interested in Laia's side of the story and found myself not wanting to read Elias's point of view.
The ending of the book was really intense, but I don't think for me it was enough to make me want to continue with the series. I would say that if you generally like fantasy, then you should give this book a try because you will probably enjoy it.
CHARACTERS: Like I said before, I was much more interested in Laia's story than in Elias's. I'm not really sure why that is. I like the character of "Cook" and "Kitchen Girl."
COVER: The cover is alright. I guess it fits in with the story, but it's nothing that blows me away.
**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review. My thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way.**
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I was disappointed in this book. I had heard that a lot of people really liked it, so I was hopeful, but it just wasn't for me. The first chapter of the book was intense, but after that it was slow moving and boring to me. The second half of the book definitely picked up, and I was glad to have continued reading because I did enjoy the second half, I just had to really push myself through the first half. I wasn't a fan of the dual perspective. I get why it's necessary for this book, but I was much more interested in Laia's side of the story and found myself not wanting to read Elias's point of view.
The ending of the book was really intense, but I don't think for me it was enough to make me want to continue with the series. I would say that if you generally like fantasy, then you should give this book a try because you will probably enjoy it.
CHARACTERS: Like I said before, I was much more interested in Laia's story than in Elias's. I'm not really sure why that is. I like the character of "Cook" and "Kitchen Girl."
COVER: The cover is alright. I guess it fits in with the story, but it's nothing that blows me away.
**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review. My thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way.**
** spoiler alert ** HELENEEEEE my baby I hope she’s ok in the next book I’m sorry I doubted u even for a second
elias (and laia) ain’t shit man
elias (and laia) ain’t shit man
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes