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adventurous
funny
sad
tense
fast-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
I enjoyed this read even if it was largely predictable. I don't think any of the prophecies were actually a huge surprise, but I still enjoyed them, though the last 100 pages or so definitely caught me off guard.
I would argue that if the handful of more explicit (barely) scenes were removed, it would be firmly YA. It's fast-paced, easy to get lost in, and overall just fun. I love the novelty of the magic system, the obeahs, the dramatics of them all.
I would argue that if the handful of more explicit (barely) scenes were removed, it would be firmly YA. It's fast-paced, easy to get lost in, and overall just fun. I love the novelty of the magic system, the obeahs, the dramatics of them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, War
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the story of two elven sisters, Yeeran and Lettle. Yeeran is a colonel in the army and Lettle is training to become a diviner (someone who can read the future). When Yeeran disobeys orders and ends up causing a huge defeat, she is exiled, leaving her sister to follow her (along with Yeeran's captain, Rayan). The three of them reunite, only to be discovered by a group of fae (who are thought to be fairytales) after committing a huge crime in the eyes of the fae.
Now they need to manage the politics of a new place, while trying to figure out a way to get home. And without getting executed ideally.
I really liked parts of this story, and others I found a bit annoying. Overall, this was an interesting fantasy with a lot of cool worldbuilding.
Things I enjoyed:
Now they need to manage the politics of a new place, while trying to figure out a way to get home. And without getting executed ideally.
I really liked parts of this story, and others I found a bit annoying. Overall, this was an interesting fantasy with a lot of cool worldbuilding.
Things I enjoyed:
- Loved the queernormative world - its really important to have good representation like this, especially in fantasy
- I really enjoyed the world building - the creation myth with the three gods and the humans, fae and elves I thought was really interesting. That story created the basis for the story which I enjoyed.
- I liked the struggles that the main characters faced -
Yeeran wasn't suddenly able to control her fae magic, despite literally only getting it. She had to work hard and figure it out, and it made it feel real. - The obeahs and their relationship to the fae -
I liked how well respected they were, the fact that houses are built to accommodate them was really cool. That line about only lovers touching another’s obeah also showed that there is a lot of respect for them, that they are an extension of another person whilst also being their own person. Was cool. Also big kitties. I liked the hierarchy of the fae - how those without obeahs are treated differently. I think it was good to show that even a utopia in the eyes of some can be flawed. - I liked how our main characters are flawed - they both had a rough upbringing and that's reflected in their characters. They're both done things they're not proud of, but they did it to survive. Their characterisation is still in line with their past and present.
- Loved how Lettle was not helpless - it wouldn't make sense for her to have served in the army and survived and yet still been helpless, but a lot of stories like this I've read, the little sister character is helpless and constantly needs rescuing and can't handle herself at all.
Even when Lettle was put in situations where she was in danger, she would try and fight back, and I appreciated that.
Things I didn't enjoy:
- The prophecies - I think prophecies can an interesting addition to a story, but this was a bit of a let-down.
I found most of the prophecies pretty easy to understand, and it felt like i spent most of the book knowing what was going to happen with the characters not knowing, which was quite frustrating. - Because of the prophecies, twists were predictable.
I guessed that Najima had fathered one of them (though will say i thought it would be Yeeran, though glad they didn't do that), I guessed that Golan had a hand in the murder of the queens (the only poison is mentioned by him, then they're poisoned?, its too obvious), I knew it was the queens who would be murdered as soon as we met them (one gilded, one pearl was far too obvious imo) and I guessed Komi was the other chieftain as soon as that prophecy was read because it was too obvious. Other than a general sense of wanting to be home, I don't quite get why they were so hell-bent on escaping. I get that they are trapped here, and that would add to the sense of not belonging, but I didn't really get an idea that their lives back home were all that good. Yes Yeeran was rich and a colonel, but she had been exiled - she isn't going back to that life. She wouldn't be allowed back in the army surely? Or not at her old position anyway? Lettle struggled with money (and we didn't hear much about her life other than that) so i don't get why the mad rush to escape.
Overall, I didn't hate this. I will probably read the next one, as I am a bit invested in this story.
Note on CV: talk of executions and capital punishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
adventurous
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I needed something light, and this was an enjoyable read, albeit flawed.
Pros: Cool political dynamics, fast-paced, Black sapphic lead, and a unique magic system.
Cons: simple prose that felt immature at times, mostly predictable plot, and the romance felt rushed. characters also fell flat for me.
Will I read the sequel? Eh, I dunno. I think this just isn’t the type of book for me. I just kept hoping for more and better from it.
Pros: Cool political dynamics, fast-paced, Black sapphic lead, and a unique magic system.
Cons: simple prose that felt immature at times, mostly predictable plot, and the romance felt rushed. characters also fell flat for me.
Will I read the sequel? Eh, I dunno. I think this just isn’t the type of book for me. I just kept hoping for more and better from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i really tried to like this but it was deeply boring, the sex felt entirely superfluous, and the worldbuilding was interesting but not enough to make me want to read more about it
I’m sad bc i really wanted to love a book with a sapphic black lead but what a snooze of a read :(
the twists were more annoying than they were interesting, and I didn’t feel that I knew much about the characters by the end besides Lettle being deeply annoying, Yeeran being a simp of the highest order, and Rayan being… a guy.
I’m sad bc i really wanted to love a book with a sapphic black lead but what a snooze of a read :(
the twists were more annoying than they were interesting, and I didn’t feel that I knew much about the characters by the end besides Lettle being deeply annoying, Yeeran being a simp of the highest order, and Rayan being… a guy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the book was so mid tbh. the romance felt really forced and out of place because it seemed to just develop from nowhere; it seemed to be rather to fill a checkbox of a trope rather than to develop any meaningful connection between characters.
the writing was also… not great. still don’t really get the whole magic system or worldbuilding but i fr might just be stupid. the whole thing about the obeah and stuff?? don’t get it LMFAO. it also did bring in a lot of anachronisms (existence of leggings and a few other things) that i felt was really forced or out of place for a fantasy book; yes i know ‘suspend your disbelief’ but my immersion </3
that being said i am invested now because i am 100% rooting for these characters now ajd will buy the next book when it drops
the writing was also… not great. still don’t really get the whole magic system or worldbuilding but i fr might just be stupid. the whole thing about the obeah and stuff?? don’t get it LMFAO. it also did bring in a lot of anachronisms (existence of leggings and a few other things) that i felt was really forced or out of place for a fantasy book; yes i know ‘suspend your disbelief’ but my immersion </3
that being said i am invested now because i am 100% rooting for these characters now ajd will buy the next book when it drops
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Medical content, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My issue with reading is that I expect every book to be a masterpiece, like the select few I’ve read. This book was pretty good, it just didn’t live up to my standards.
The writing style was good and the author did a great job at invoking emotions. I quickly became attached to the characters, and I feel they had a lot of personality. Though I will say, the romances did feel slightly forced and moved quickly for the characters (in my opinion.) Despite this, I did enjoy the couples together, so I can overlook the lack in development for them.
Overall, it was a good book. Some plot twists were expected, but I think the more important ones caught me so off-guard. I was pleasantly shocked at the end, and I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
The writing style was good and the author did a great job at invoking emotions. I quickly became attached to the characters, and I feel they had a lot of personality. Though I will say, the romances did feel slightly forced and moved quickly for the characters (in my opinion.) Despite this, I did enjoy the couples together, so I can overlook the lack in development for them.
Overall, it was a good book. Some plot twists were expected, but I think the more important ones caught me so off-guard. I was pleasantly shocked at the end, and I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, War
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Predictable plot, plus the writing was not very good at times. I think for prophecies to work they need to be vaguer. I had fun with the characters and the plot though!
Extra half star for the big cats with antlers that’s awesome I want one so badly.
Extra half star for the big cats with antlers that’s awesome I want one so badly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, this was not good. Very disappointing. Before I get into the plot, the writing is just plain bad at times. It wasn't the kind of writing I'd expect from an adult novel but more than that, I'm surprised some of this writing passed final edits.
The plot is intensely predictable to the extent where the book felt a little pointless to read. I don't think its bad to write a story where the reader knows what will inevitably happen in the plot, but the whole prophecy thing took the joy out of figuring out what will happen on my own and instead I was just waiting for plot points to fall into place.
This novel is also advertised as being a romantasy. Please do not read this book if that is what you are seeking. The romance has very little build up between MC's and love interests, they are just suddenly totally all over each other with what felt like very little relationship building. I'm all for characters having instant chemistry but it just doesn't feel very romantic to me when you do away with showing me why I should even care about the relationship.
World building seems cool at first glance but if you poke it even a little it falls apart. I am not sure why the duo MCs were elves when they had no characteristics of why being an elf set them apart from the other races except for prophecy telling, which actually made the plot actively worse, as stated previously.
Ultimately, the book is easily readable, so 2 stars it is. I wish this read had gone better for me and I honestly think you should probably read something else instead of picking this up.
The plot is intensely predictable to the extent where the book felt a little pointless to read. I don't think its bad to write a story where the reader knows what will inevitably happen in the plot, but the whole prophecy thing took the joy out of figuring out what will happen on my own and instead I was just waiting for plot points to fall into place.
This novel is also advertised as being a romantasy. Please do not read this book if that is what you are seeking. The romance has very little build up between MC's and love interests, they are just suddenly totally all over each other with what felt like very little relationship building. I'm all for characters having instant chemistry but it just doesn't feel very romantic to me when you do away with showing me why I should even care about the relationship.
World building seems cool at first glance but if you poke it even a little it falls apart. I am not sure why the duo MCs were elves when they had no characteristics of why being an elf set them apart from the other races except for prophecy telling, which actually made the plot actively worse, as stated previously.
Ultimately, the book is easily readable, so 2 stars it is. I wish this read had gone better for me and I honestly think you should probably read something else instead of picking this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Dementia, Alcohol