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mals_reads's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
arc from kensington!
i’m not as hugely into mythology/romantasy as someone who is going for this book probably would be, but for what it is i think this is a very strong fantasy debut by the author!
a little trope-y which i find most romantasy is, so if you enjoy that just take my rating w/ a grain of salt. i’m veryyy confused by folks saying it’s not a sapphic romance because it… quite literally is? there is so much sapphic longing and paragraphs dedicated to sapphic love + bisexual women exist sorry 😔 like did we not read the same final chapter?? anyway
i think the language paired w/ this specific magic system was very strong — rath conveyed exactly what she was trying to convey and she did a fantastic job with the environment imo
i wish i wish i wish there was just a more established relationship between Siiri and Aina prior to the first conflict — a lot of longing on both ends and reminiscing while they were separated, but this is something we are told rather than shown. perhaps this will be different by the time the book comes out, but i just personally love characters > plot so that was a little disappointing for me and i would have been more hooked if i could have seen more of their relationship in the beginning! also some of the language/dialogue in Aina’s pov as her character develops is a little repetitive — i think some chapters could have been condensed or cut (again, perhaps this is adjusted once the book releases!)
but if you love a strong hero’s journey + intense mythology (mortals vs. gods & goddesses? hellooo) with some romantic backdrop, this one is for you!
i’m not as hugely into mythology/romantasy as someone who is going for this book probably would be, but for what it is i think this is a very strong fantasy debut by the author!
a little trope-y which i find most romantasy is, so if you enjoy that just take my rating w/ a grain of salt. i’m veryyy confused by folks saying it’s not a sapphic romance because it… quite literally is? there is so much sapphic longing and paragraphs dedicated to sapphic love + bisexual women exist sorry 😔 like did we not read the same final chapter?? anyway
i think the language paired w/ this specific magic system was very strong — rath conveyed exactly what she was trying to convey and she did a fantastic job with the environment imo
i wish i wish i wish there was just a more established relationship between Siiri and Aina prior to the first conflict — a lot of longing on both ends and reminiscing while they were separated, but this is something we are told rather than shown. perhaps this will be different by the time the book comes out, but i just personally love characters > plot so that was a little disappointing for me and i would have been more hooked if i could have seen more of their relationship in the beginning! also some of the language/dialogue in Aina’s pov as her character develops is a little repetitive — i think some chapters could have been condensed or cut (again, perhaps this is adjusted once the book releases!)
but if you love a strong hero’s journey + intense mythology (mortals vs. gods & goddesses? hellooo) with some romantic backdrop, this one is for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Blood, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual violence
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