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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
✨Tropes/vibes:
💫 Political rivals to lovers
🗡 Forced proximity
👑 Nobility vs. outcast
🔥 Hidden powers awakening
⏳ Timed ultimatum for survival
🌑 Encroaching dark forces
🏹 Rebellion aftermath
🖤 Morally grey love interest
⚔ Found family potential within a warrior unit
✨ Magic meets military politics
💔 Slow-burn romantic tension
✍🏽 Summary:
Twenty years after being branded an outcast for a rebellion she didn’t start, Fia Riftborne keeps her head down in a city steeped in deadly prejudice. But a dangerous secret stirs within her—an untamed power that could destroy everything she’s built. When her magic erupts in the midst of a deadly attack, she’s thrust into the path of General Laryk Ashford, a cold and calculating leader assembling a powerful unit to fight a growing darkness threatening the Isle. Given the choice between joining his Sidhe Guard or facing execution, Fia must decide if she’ll surrender to the chaos or become a weapon for the very people who wronged her. Caught between survival, rebellion, and a dangerous attraction to the General, she’s forced to confront a shattering truth that could change everything.
💭 My thoughts:
This was my first read from Grenwich and Lennox, and a friend told me I had to move it up on my TBR 📚. Naturally, as any good BookTok girly would, I did. And wow… I’m so glad I was introduced to this series.
The writing was incredibly easy to sink into. Even though the first 40% moved at a slower pace, I didn’t mind one bit because I was just vibing 🎶, exploring the world, and getting to know these characters. Then, all of a sudden, things within the Guard started heating up. Secrets were surfacing 🕵️♀️, powers were being discovered, and new revelations kept pulling me deeper into the story.
And that slow burn romance? Oh, it had been teasing me the whole book, but when it finally decided to arrive, it showed up and showed out 🥵💫. The tension, the glances, the little moments… all worth the wait.
I also found so many great lines worth highlighting ✍️💖, the kind that make you pause just to soak them in.
Then came the ending… and wow 😱. Completely blindsided me. Now I’m left wondering if I’ve been caught in a Tamlin/Rhysand-type twist 👑🪽 and didn’t even see it coming 😏.
———
📍Fav lines:
How delicious it was to feel the power break the confines of my skin. To be rid of it, even for a fleeting moment. I hated myself for the pleasure that radiated through me.
He was striking in a cold-blooded kind of way, like his beauty was tinged with poison. Unassuming, alluring even.
“Just follow my lead. I would never let you make a fool of me.”
“I’m done playing these little games with you,”
“Nonsense. It’s a gift. Black suits you,”
"You have no idea the absolute fucking wreck I've been since I met you, Fia."
I yearned to see the mask break, to witness his barely contained desire and anger rush out all at once.
“I can’t allow myself a distraction like you,”
Right now, I had a Blood Clot to deal with.
“Well, I wasn’t looking for it. I could see you. Just as you are right now. I mean, it was dark with all of the shadows, but I saw you fighting. It's why I ran over here,”
It was like a caged beast trying to break out through my skin.
We’ve been waiting for you to find us. We’ve called out to you from the darkness, but you weren’t ready to see us yet.
“Believe what you want, Princess. I don’t have time for this. I have a realm to save from those monsters you seem so fond of.”
It was as if ink had been dropped into my eyes.
He had called me a shadow wielder.
💫 Political rivals to lovers
🗡 Forced proximity
👑 Nobility vs. outcast
🔥 Hidden powers awakening
⏳ Timed ultimatum for survival
🌑 Encroaching dark forces
🏹 Rebellion aftermath
🖤 Morally grey love interest
⚔ Found family potential within a warrior unit
✨ Magic meets military politics
💔 Slow-burn romantic tension
✍🏽 Summary:
Twenty years after being branded an outcast for a rebellion she didn’t start, Fia Riftborne keeps her head down in a city steeped in deadly prejudice. But a dangerous secret stirs within her—an untamed power that could destroy everything she’s built. When her magic erupts in the midst of a deadly attack, she’s thrust into the path of General Laryk Ashford, a cold and calculating leader assembling a powerful unit to fight a growing darkness threatening the Isle. Given the choice between joining his Sidhe Guard or facing execution, Fia must decide if she’ll surrender to the chaos or become a weapon for the very people who wronged her. Caught between survival, rebellion, and a dangerous attraction to the General, she’s forced to confront a shattering truth that could change everything.
💭 My thoughts:
This was my first read from Grenwich and Lennox, and a friend told me I had to move it up on my TBR 📚. Naturally, as any good BookTok girly would, I did. And wow… I’m so glad I was introduced to this series.
The writing was incredibly easy to sink into. Even though the first 40% moved at a slower pace, I didn’t mind one bit because I was just vibing 🎶, exploring the world, and getting to know these characters. Then, all of a sudden, things within the Guard started heating up. Secrets were surfacing 🕵️♀️, powers were being discovered, and new revelations kept pulling me deeper into the story.
And that slow burn romance? Oh, it had been teasing me the whole book, but when it finally decided to arrive, it showed up and showed out 🥵💫. The tension, the glances, the little moments… all worth the wait.
I also found so many great lines worth highlighting ✍️💖, the kind that make you pause just to soak them in.
Then came the ending… and wow 😱. Completely blindsided me. Now I’m left wondering if I’ve been caught in a Tamlin/Rhysand-type twist 👑🪽 and didn’t even see it coming 😏.
———
📍Fav lines:
How delicious it was to feel the power break the confines of my skin. To be rid of it, even for a fleeting moment. I hated myself for the pleasure that radiated through me.
He was striking in a cold-blooded kind of way, like his beauty was tinged with poison. Unassuming, alluring even.
“Just follow my lead. I would never let you make a fool of me.”
“I’m done playing these little games with you,”
“Nonsense. It’s a gift. Black suits you,”
"You have no idea the absolute fucking wreck I've been since I met you, Fia."
I yearned to see the mask break, to witness his barely contained desire and anger rush out all at once.
“I can’t allow myself a distraction like you,”
Right now, I had a Blood Clot to deal with.
“Well, I wasn’t looking for it. I could see you. Just as you are right now. I mean, it was dark with all of the shadows, but I saw you fighting. It's why I ran over here,”
It was like a caged beast trying to break out through my skin.
We’ve been waiting for you to find us. We’ve called out to you from the darkness, but you weren’t ready to see us yet.
“Believe what you want, Princess. I don’t have time for this. I have a realm to save from those monsters you seem so fond of.”
It was as if ink had been dropped into my eyes.
He had called me a shadow wielder.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This read like YA except for the spicy scenes. Some of the wiring and word choices took me out of the story. Interesting world building though. 🎧 📱
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
it’s annoying because the plot of this could be really good, but it just fell slightly flat.
all the characters lacked depth and felt very one dimensional, I didn’t feel like I knew the motivations for why they are how they are.
The final fight scene was pretty poorly written in my opinion, i found myself rereading the same sections multiple times to try and make sense of what was going on and in the end i just gave up and went with the vibes.
I will continue the series because the plot does have potential, hoping for more character growth in the next instalment.
all the characters lacked depth and felt very one dimensional, I didn’t feel like I knew the motivations for why they are how they are.
The final fight scene was pretty poorly written in my opinion, i found myself rereading the same sections multiple times to try and make sense of what was going on and in the end i just gave up and went with the vibes.
I will continue the series because the plot does have potential, hoping for more character growth in the next instalment.
adventurous
slow-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was a real surprise for me, after reading some comments I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I really enjoyed this book, I found the FMC Fia very interesting and I enjoyed how more confident she became throughout the book. I loved the found family in this book. General Laryk for me is a sexy mysterious character. He drives me insane because we really don’t know what goes through his head yet. On one hand he seems to really care in his own way for Fia and on the other hand can be cold and calculating. One thing I know for sure is Narissa makes me want to punch her in the face! Big twist at the end and I cannot wait to read book 2 to see what happens with all these characters! 🌟🌟🌟🌟.75 strong start for me in this series
Did I read an entirely different book to everyone else?
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.95 rounded up
Very slow pace, picks up about 60%
Invested enough to keep going. Will see how the 2nd book goes.
Very slow pace, picks up about 60%
Invested enough to keep going. Will see how the 2nd book goes.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated