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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I don't think this book does anything super crazy with plot or characterization, but the formula really worked for me. I enjoyed the lack of insta-lust, the naturally growing romance, and the acceptably crafted story. The sex scenes were written in a way that snuggled perfectly up against my preferences.
Nit-picks: There were a lack of active examples showcasing the animosity between Silhara and Conclave; it was mostly just talked about and not really shown. I also feel like Corruption's actual threat level was downplayed a bit and not enough history or emphasis was given about WHY this being was so feared. It definitely felt like the romance was the main plot, being pushed along by a decently-crafted side plot. But it pushed all the stakes to the background until I was essentially forced to pay attention to them by having them pushed in my face.
Nit-picks: There were a lack of active examples showcasing the animosity between Silhara and Conclave; it was mostly just talked about and not really shown. I also feel like Corruption's actual threat level was downplayed a bit and not enough history or emphasis was given about WHY this being was so feared. It definitely felt like the romance was the main plot, being pushed along by a decently-crafted side plot. But it pushed all the stakes to the background until I was essentially forced to pay attention to them by having them pushed in my face.
tense
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:
Yes
This was really intriguing. I think Draven managed to create amazingly complex characters that take you on a journey with them and you don't want it to end. The world building was great, though sometimes it felt as if a lot of background was missing. Like you just have to accept that there is a god who's Corruption and he tries to possess Silhara because he is an avatar but while you get a beautiful world filled with magic, I at least, was kind of left wondering what all this Corruption and the Conclave was really about. There's not a coherent backbone to the story.
But that was only a marginal problem. I think Martise is extremely likable. Sometimes, I wanted her to give Silhara a piece of her mind when he was a jerk again, but she was just too timid and soft spoken. But then again, she's lived her entire life as a slave, so this was understandable.
Gurn was brilliant. I loved him as a character. I loved the way Draven managed to portray him as a soft, kind-hearted giant, however, even he has a dark past.
Silhara, however, was a bit problematic at times. While I loved the Lord of the Castle being just as hands on with the orange picking as the slave, he was, especially at the beginning, just a foul-mouthed, ill-tempered jerk who didn't really seem interested in solving any mysteries of the Corruption. Also, for being such a powerful mage, he sure has no idea how to work the magic in other circumstances. If Martise's gift hadn't manifested by accident, he would have never been able to get to the bottom of her troubles calling for magic. He only knows how to frighten and intimidate people.
But he gradually changes throughout the story, and you get to see a softer side to him, that he still hides very well, but it shines through.
I also enjoyed that Draven made sure she had no perfect heroes in her tale. Perfection is boring and unrealistic. Her characters are flawed and struggle to rise to the challenge set before them. That was what really had me hooked to this story, besides the wonderful interactions between the characters.
It was also incredibly funny at times. Who knew that a woman with a voice that "can make a man come" can sing so horribly? It was appropriate humor to relief some of the darkness of the story, and it just worked brilliantly.
¨
All in all, I definitely recommend this book. It's a great read. The writing is effortlessly and flows easily and the plot moves along at a good pace without it ever being boring or too much too fast.
But that was only a marginal problem. I think Martise is extremely likable. Sometimes, I wanted her to give Silhara a piece of her mind when he was a jerk again, but she was just too timid and soft spoken. But then again, she's lived her entire life as a slave, so this was understandable.
Gurn was brilliant. I loved him as a character. I loved the way Draven managed to portray him as a soft, kind-hearted giant, however, even he has a dark past.
Silhara, however, was a bit problematic at times. While I loved the Lord of the Castle being just as hands on with the orange picking as the slave, he was, especially at the beginning, just a foul-mouthed, ill-tempered jerk who didn't really seem interested in solving any mysteries of the Corruption. Also, for being such a powerful mage, he sure has no idea how to work the magic in other circumstances. If Martise's gift hadn't manifested by accident, he would have never been able to get to the bottom of her troubles calling for magic. He only knows how to frighten and intimidate people.
But he gradually changes throughout the story, and you get to see a softer side to him, that he still hides very well, but it shines through.
I also enjoyed that Draven made sure she had no perfect heroes in her tale. Perfection is boring and unrealistic. Her characters are flawed and struggle to rise to the challenge set before them. That was what really had me hooked to this story, besides the wonderful interactions between the characters.
It was also incredibly funny at times. Who knew that a woman with a voice that "can make a man come" can sing so horribly? It was appropriate humor to relief some of the darkness of the story, and it just worked brilliantly.
¨
All in all, I definitely recommend this book. It's a great read. The writing is effortlessly and flows easily and the plot moves along at a good pace without it ever being boring or too much too fast.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OK! So I'm giving this 5 stars even though it should be 4 for the following reasons: the first 20% is a little slow, and the last chapter is kinda weirdly put together. BUT I will say I LOVED THIS and it's only 2.99 self-published, I picked it up randomly, so my expectations weren't that high and I was forced to obsessively read this so wow, pardon me while I add an extra star for those reasons! :D
This is a VERY SIMILAR book plot-wise to one of my VERY favorite books, Darkangel by Meredith Pierce:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92717.The_Darkangel (Which is still one of my fave all-time, more YA leaning than this though, so this is kinda the sexy-time version of that)
And it's pretty much the same-ish plot as a recent book by Nalini Singh "Lord of the Abyss":
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10802904-lord-of-the-abyss Which I didn't enjoy that much (3 stars pretty much).
Girl who is plain and unconfident is apprenticed/enslaved to a powerful, dangerous and outcast uber-dude who falls for him against all sense. OK so I love this plot so I was already a sucker for it, and I loved the way it played out in this book! There was interesting world-building, there were GREAT characters (which is the most important thing). I dunno, I was so surprised that I loved this so much and bravo for it getting out there, and WOW there were yummy scenes everywhere and I kind of loved the main heroine a ton. SOOO I'd say if you want a great vaginal fantasy try it out!!! WOOT
This is a VERY SIMILAR book plot-wise to one of my VERY favorite books, Darkangel by Meredith Pierce:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92717.The_Darkangel (Which is still one of my fave all-time, more YA leaning than this though, so this is kinda the sexy-time version of that)
And it's pretty much the same-ish plot as a recent book by Nalini Singh "Lord of the Abyss":
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10802904-lord-of-the-abyss Which I didn't enjoy that much (3 stars pretty much).
Girl who is plain and unconfident is apprenticed/enslaved to a powerful, dangerous and outcast uber-dude who falls for him against all sense. OK so I love this plot so I was already a sucker for it, and I loved the way it played out in this book! There was interesting world-building, there were GREAT characters (which is the most important thing). I dunno, I was so surprised that I loved this so much and bravo for it getting out there, and WOW there were yummy scenes everywhere and I kind of loved the main heroine a ton. SOOO I'd say if you want a great vaginal fantasy try it out!!! WOOT
I went into this after reading “Radiance” by the same author and was a little wary- Radiance has such an enthusiastic following and was recommended SO MUCH that the actual book wound up being a bit of a letdown. But I was pleasantly surprised with this one! All the things that worked for me in Radiance were here, as well, plus a lot of new strengths. The author does a really good job world building in BOTH books and she also does a phenomenal job constructing an interesting plot that strikes the perfect middle ground between too simple and too convoluted. It’s just right for an accessible fantasy romance.
This book differs from Radiance in the complexity of its characters- Radiance is friends to lovers, simple, cinnamon roll level relationship, with no real internal conflict inside or between the two main characters. This book has gorgeously drawn out characters with really well done depiction of conflict (both between them, and surrounding them). It’s interesting without being challenging- a really accessible book that doesn’t sacrifice plot or characters in order to be so.
This book differs from Radiance in the complexity of its characters- Radiance is friends to lovers, simple, cinnamon roll level relationship, with no real internal conflict inside or between the two main characters. This book has gorgeously drawn out characters with really well done depiction of conflict (both between them, and surrounding them). It’s interesting without being challenging- a really accessible book that doesn’t sacrifice plot or characters in order to be so.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
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