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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Had to reread this bad boy in preparation for the sequel being released this week.
Officially bumping it up to 5 stars. You never quite know what is going to happen in this book. And minus the one big fat liar- everyone is wickedly honest and makes no apologies for what they say or do. Which is really freaking fun.
Officially bumping it up to 5 stars. You never quite know what is going to happen in this book. And minus the one big fat liar- everyone is wickedly honest and makes no apologies for what they say or do. Which is really freaking fun.
Not the best of her books
The beginning was confusing as we jumped right into post-sex romp followed by a wedding crash. I’m a huge fan of dark romance and fantasy genres, but this was a miss for me. The Cold Queen by K. Webster is along a similar vein of a strong, dark heroine set in a fantasy world. The Bird And The Sword Chronicles by Amy Harmon isn’t dark romance, but the world building and main character development are fantastic.
The beginning was confusing as we jumped right into post-sex romp followed by a wedding crash. I’m a huge fan of dark romance and fantasy genres, but this was a miss for me. The Cold Queen by K. Webster is along a similar vein of a strong, dark heroine set in a fantasy world. The Bird And The Sword Chronicles by Amy Harmon isn’t dark romance, but the world building and main character development are fantastic.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is like Cersei Lannister's memoir if Cersei was an...elf? Vampire? I'm not actually sure what these characters are...? They're magical near immortal humanoid things that aren't(?) fae, and there's at least one instance of feeding via jugular. Make of that what you will.
The first half is edited to high hell, but not in a good way. It's overly wordy, and it doesn't pick up until 60% in.
Yet for how many words there are, there weren't a whole lot of descriptors. I couldn't make a clear picture of what I was reading. See above: I don't even know what these characters are.
This book has a lot of similar plot beats to her other book The Wolf & The Wildflower, but it's more grey. There's some intense relationship turmoil between royals in which everybody is fucking somebody but in love with nobody. Until they are...or the think they are? And then there's a love triangle? And it's complicated? Also throw a dash of male entitlement to womens' bodies in there. There's a lot of pride and little communication. Yay, royalty! Everyone sucks here.
At no point did I know where this book was going. I think it helped me because the back and forth of the love triangle that the main character was struggling with was believable from the outside of the book. I wasn't on the outside looking in being like "PICK THAT ONE, YOU SILLY GOOSE" until the very end. Maybe I just didn't like the love interests? I feel like I just took the main character's word for it. This man ain't shit? Cool. You still love your husband, and it pains you? Cool. Wait jk I like my fuck buddy? COOL. But my husband...! GIRL.
If you need your main character to be likeable and unproblematic, this is not the book for you. I personally like a cold ripe bitch on a throne, especially if the world building is steeped in misogyny (it is here).
I'll probably read the next one. I enjoy how the author writes really complicated (and sometimes shitty) female characters.
The first half is edited to high hell, but not in a good way. It's overly wordy, and it doesn't pick up until 60% in.
Yet for how many words there are, there weren't a whole lot of descriptors. I couldn't make a clear picture of what I was reading. See above: I don't even know what these characters are.
This book has a lot of similar plot beats to her other book The Wolf & The Wildflower, but it's more grey. There's some intense relationship turmoil between royals in which everybody is fucking somebody but in love with nobody. Until they are...or the think they are? And then there's a love triangle? And it's complicated? Also throw a dash of male entitlement to womens' bodies in there. There's a lot of pride and little communication. Yay, royalty! Everyone sucks here.
At no point did I know where this book was going. I think it helped me because the back and forth of the love triangle that the main character was struggling with was believable from the outside of the book. I wasn't on the outside looking in being like "PICK THAT ONE, YOU SILLY GOOSE" until the very end. Maybe I just didn't like the love interests? I feel like I just took the main character's word for it. This man ain't shit? Cool. You still love your husband, and it pains you? Cool. Wait jk I like my fuck buddy? COOL. But my husband...! GIRL.
If you need your main character to be likeable and unproblematic, this is not the book for you. I personally like a cold ripe bitch on a throne, especially if the world building is steeped in misogyny (it is here).
I'll probably read the next one. I enjoy how the author writes really complicated (and sometimes shitty) female characters.
my god way better than her old ones
didn’t even see the word mate once
didn’t even see the word mate once
lighthearted
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some brief thoughts. I might do a full review later, but I might not. It all depends on my mood, and she can be a finicky bitch.
This book started off quite slow for me, and I had to really push myself to get past the first third of the story. Part of the reason for this is because I struggled to connect to Audra. She’s a cold-hearted bitch of a queen, and while I actually love some feminine rage and a true anti-heroine, I didn’t connect with her until later in the story when I really understood her history.
I don’t want to say much about this book because it is FILLED with OP drama and is love-triangle-esque? Like Ella’s other books, it’s a character-based romantasy, but with some more world building than I’ve seen in the other two books of hers that I’ve read. I will say that I love Audra’s love interest and who I think her final choice will be in the final book of the duet.
I want to make it really clear that this story really will not be for everyone. It’s chock-full of OP drama, messy and complicated relationships, and imperfect characters that make repetitive mistakes. I, however, ate it up after that first 30%. Ella’s writing is beautiful, and I love stories that aren’t cut and dry. This one kept me on my toes!
If you’re in your anti-heroine and feminine rage era, give this one a try!
This book started off quite slow for me, and I had to really push myself to get past the first third of the story. Part of the reason for this is because I struggled to connect to Audra. She’s a cold-hearted bitch of a queen, and while I actually love some feminine rage and a true anti-heroine, I didn’t connect with her until later in the story when I really understood her history.
I don’t want to say much about this book because it is FILLED with OP drama and is love-triangle-esque? Like Ella’s other books, it’s a character-based romantasy, but with some more world building than I’ve seen in the other two books of hers that I’ve read. I will say that I love Audra’s love interest and who I think her final choice will be in the final book of the duet.
I want to make it really clear that this story really will not be for everyone. It’s chock-full of OP drama, messy and complicated relationships, and imperfect characters that make repetitive mistakes. I, however, ate it up after that first 30%. Ella’s writing is beautiful, and I love stories that aren’t cut and dry. This one kept me on my toes!
If you’re in your anti-heroine and feminine rage era, give this one a try!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me start by saying: give Audra a chance. She may start off as a cold hearted bitch and honestly proceed like that for most of the book but give her a chance. I did. I almost gave up on her and I’m so glad I didn’t. I hated her and grew to love her. Once you get the back story you’ll understand.
I didn’t think I’d like this book after starting it. I’m not big on fantasy but this book rocked it. This is such a twist on fantasy and dark and suspense that you won’t know which way is up. If you like Game of Thrones you’ll love this book! I can’t wait to see what else is to come!
I didn’t think I’d like this book after starting it. I’m not big on fantasy but this book rocked it. This is such a twist on fantasy and dark and suspense that you won’t know which way is up. If you like Game of Thrones you’ll love this book! I can’t wait to see what else is to come!