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momitch's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jennareadsmore's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
4.0
smolhousewitch's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm so glad I can start book 2 immediately. I love Aelis, Tun, and Maurelia and the world building is quite fun. The reveal at the very end made me laugh - a perfect little twist for our poor Warden.
miraclesnow's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
A truly wonderful book for people who want an oldschool fantasy world but with strong characters who hold a lot of promise. I do think there were some pacing issues by the last 10% that could have been moved into book 2 instead. Super excited to start on Necrobane!
lunaballz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lagnew15's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
witchywilds's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
A really great surprise, I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did! This isn't marketed as cozy or featuring found family vibes, but that's what I got from it, so if that's your cup of tea I think you'll love this book.
Aelis is surprisingly likeable, despite her noble background and inflated self image. If you like clever and capable women who love necromancy, wine, and kissing girls, this is the protagonist for you! I think fans of the Locked Tomb series will enjoy this one, though the atmosphere is different. She slowly grows throughout the story and kind of loses her standoffish, "I'm better than this" attitude and becomes quite likeable imo.
Aelis is also supported by a great cast of characters such as Maurenia the half-elf, Tun the half-orc, and Rus the innkeep. There's loads more that I enjoyed but I'll let you read to discover them.
I enjoyed Ford's writing style and especially his action scenes, not too drawn out but not so devoid of detail I couldn't picture what was happening well.
This is a nitpick, but I was off put in the beginning just how often Aelis spoke to herself out loud rather than just talking in her head, but this tapers off as the story progresses. Another nitpick is the romance. I'm not a big romance guy so feel free to ignore my unqualified opinion, but it just kinda happens, which is whatever to me, I don't mind. Sometimes all you need to date someone is to think they're pretty and if so, more power to you! I do enjoy the two together, I just wasn't convinced they'd hook up so quickly and would've liked more buildup. However, Necrobane is releasing in a matter of days and will pick up right where we left off and I see there's a third book in the works so plenty of time to flesh this relationship out!
Overall one of my favorite reads of the year so far and I'm super excited to get my hands on Necrobane in a few days time! Hats off to you Mr. Ford, you've got a new reader!
BTW, I think the cover art for these books is gorgeous and will be buying physical copies later for SURE!
Aelis is surprisingly likeable, despite her noble background and inflated self image. If you like clever and capable women who love necromancy, wine, and kissing girls, this is the protagonist for you! I think fans of the Locked Tomb series will enjoy this one, though the atmosphere is different. She slowly grows throughout the story and kind of loses her standoffish, "I'm better than this" attitude and becomes quite likeable imo.
Aelis is also supported by a great cast of characters such as Maurenia the half-elf, Tun the half-orc, and Rus the innkeep. There's loads more that I enjoyed but I'll let you read to discover them.
I enjoyed Ford's writing style and especially his action scenes, not too drawn out but not so devoid of detail I couldn't picture what was happening well.
This is a nitpick, but I was off put in the beginning just how often Aelis spoke to herself out loud rather than just talking in her head, but this tapers off as the story progresses. Another nitpick is the romance. I'm not a big romance guy so feel free to ignore my unqualified opinion, but it just kinda happens, which is whatever to me, I don't mind. Sometimes all you need to date someone is to think they're pretty and if so, more power to you! I do enjoy the two together, I just wasn't convinced they'd hook up so quickly and would've liked more buildup. However, Necrobane is releasing in a matter of days and will pick up right where we left off and I see there's a third book in the works so plenty of time to flesh this relationship out!
Overall one of my favorite reads of the year so far and I'm super excited to get my hands on Necrobane in a few days time! Hats off to you Mr. Ford, you've got a new reader!
BTW, I think the cover art for these books is gorgeous and will be buying physical copies later for SURE!
connora795's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Everyone who said this is a cozy fantasy LIED!!! The first quarter of this book was very cozy and I genuinely enjoyed it. The problem was that it then turned into an action-adventure fantasy with a mundane combat system.
Despite the fact there’s two characters on the title, one character is present maybe half the book if that. Very disappointed in the romance, it was surface level and rushed.
There was little character depth in this book and I found the MC infuriating in her choices and the way she spoke to other people
Despite the fact there’s two characters on the title, one character is present maybe half the book if that. Very disappointed in the romance, it was surface level and rushed.
There was little character depth in this book and I found the MC infuriating in her choices and the way she spoke to other people
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Animal death
addisongabe's review
2.0
Meh. Just meh.
Aelis is an annoying protagonist, the plot ambles on without any cohesion, the dialogue is a bit too cheeky at times and I’ll at others, world-building seems has potential but is never explored in interesting ways. Basically the whole thing is just a set up for a sequel that I certainly will not read. And not even a good set up.
The cover says it’s like Twin Peaks with wizards? That’s misleading. It was genuinely pretty boring. I’d expect more mystery - at least one that felt actually important. I only finished it (spitefully) so I could count it as one of my books for 2024.
I’m just glad I read it before my return window is up at the bookstore.
Aelis is an annoying protagonist, the plot ambles on without any cohesion, the dialogue is a bit too cheeky at times and I’ll at others, world-building seems has potential but is never explored in interesting ways. Basically the whole thing is just a set up for a sequel that I certainly will not read. And not even a good set up.
The cover says it’s like Twin Peaks with wizards? That’s misleading. It was genuinely pretty boring. I’d expect more mystery - at least one that felt actually important. I only finished it (spitefully) so I could count it as one of my books for 2024.
I’m just glad I read it before my return window is up at the bookstore.
emilyredwood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5