Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
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:
Yes
Everything makes SO MUCH more sense after reading this book. Wild that the 1st book was cut in half before being published to become book 1 and 2. After book one I was somewhat on the fence with this series. After book 2? Can’t wait for the 3rd.
Review: An Empire Built on Blood Oaths may be a better title. The equivalent of Harry Potter Unbreakable Vows are everywhere in this book, and it’s a wonder that anyone in this society actually survives - then again, maybe there’s a reason for the slow collapse of the Empire portrayed in this book. One girl who really just wants to chill and learn magic but has no magic and is now not allowed to chill (except when hanging out with her icy BF - except they can’t date because of, you guessed it, another blood vow/oath) has possibly the most of these break-and-die-or-SUFFER vows and has to navigate through all of them, while being targeted by a terrorist organization, protecting her sisters if-anyone-finds-out-DEATH secrets, fight for an engagement to a guy she really doesn’t even want to date, learn to be a soldier after a life of luxury, combat PTSD from pre-book events and more. It’s a wild ride of action, mystery, a tremendous amount of blood oaths, and a touch of enemies to lovers that turns into forbidden love.
Review: An Empire Built on Blood Oaths may be a better title. The equivalent of Harry Potter Unbreakable Vows are everywhere in this book, and it’s a wonder that anyone in this society actually survives - then again, maybe there’s a reason for the slow collapse of the Empire portrayed in this book. One girl who really just wants to chill and learn magic but has no magic and is now not allowed to chill (except when hanging out with her icy BF - except they can’t date because of, you guessed it, another blood vow/oath) has possibly the most of these break-and-die-or-SUFFER vows and has to navigate through all of them, while being targeted by a terrorist organization, protecting her sisters if-anyone-finds-out-DEATH secrets, fight for an engagement to a guy she really doesn’t even want to date, learn to be a soldier after a life of luxury, combat PTSD from pre-book events and more. It’s a wild ride of action, mystery, a tremendous amount of blood oaths, and a touch of enemies to lovers that turns into forbidden love.
adventurous
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:
Yes
Reading this book makes me feel like Trader Joe’s frozen orange chicken - it’s quick and easy, and it looks really good and makes me think I’m gonna like it; but at the end of the day, it’s kinda meh and also makes my stomach hurt? And yet I keep eating it.
This was still better than the first, and many more things were more clearly explained. But I definitely already knewshe was the goddess and that Rhyan could travel (I actually think he has all the vorakh; and he’s obvi the god that Asherah fell in love with) , so it was disappointing to be right. I also knew someone close to her had to be betraying them. So none of that felt like a good twist. My biggest problem is the amount of scenes that gave me the ick. Like why so cringey? Can we give a motivational speech or offer comfort in a way that doesn’t sound so rehearsed or unrealistic or therapeutic? I’m sorry, but this man is not regulated, and I don’t know where he’s getting this so-called maturity from. Also making out at the party was one of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever seen characters make. It feels YA because of the stupidity, and not in a fast-paced, emotionally-charged way.
I guess I’m ranting this much because I’m disappointed. I wanted to like it more and am just wondering at what point I quit this series when it’s probably gonna be about this quality the whole way through. Still read it in two days and ate up that tension, so that can’t be ignored.
This was still better than the first, and many more things were more clearly explained. But I definitely already knew
I guess I’m ranting this much because I’m disappointed. I wanted to like it more and am just wondering at what point I quit this series when it’s probably gonna be about this quality the whole way through. Still read it in two days and ate up that tension, so that can’t be ignored.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I KNEW it. Ugh, poor Lyriana. This whole situation freaking sucks.
Writing and pacing still bothered me at times, and the constant reminding the reader about everything that happened in the last book, but this one was a solid 4 stars for me.
Writing and pacing still bothered me at times, and the constant reminding the reader about everything that happened in the last book, but this one was a solid 4 stars for me.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
Did audio format
I like a good epic fantasy that lets you really go along on the journey. I’m still having struggling to find these. I wasn’t going to do this book because I was so annoyed with her from the first book. Got over my attitude and decided I was interested in the story enough to keep going, only for her to repeat the same darn line that got under my skin in the first place ! Ugh. In fact, she repeated several things from book 1. It was part of her recaps but I swear most of it felt verbatim.
I appreciate when authors find a way to refresh your memory with in the story, but this was too much. It really was heavy handed and a repeat. Outside of that I like the plot of the story. I did predict all of what was going to happen but that’s okay.
.
The author drew this story out too long and made you start kind of wanting it over with even though I was still interested. Like in the first one, she overly describes certain scenes /actions. Also, is it just me or has anyone else gotten a little jarred when the characters use more modern language. Like in the first book I’m pretty sure one said they were going to crash a party lol. Maybe that’s just a me thing.
Oh. And “tear the rope” and “partner” phew! I love me a good tag line. I even like for it to be used frequently enough to make it a thing. But umm…towards the end it started feeling a little forced and overly done. Still loved the message though.
Anyways, again, decent plot. Good world building. Love that I’m in a journey with the characters. I’m invested in Ryan more than Lyr. But getting a reader to invest in characters means you’re winning right ? Did I mention I really like Ryan lol. V
Favorite scene was the verbal smack down with Tristen. That one really made me smile. I was here for it ! lol
I don’t think I’ll continue to book 3 immediately. This one went on too long and I need a break. But I see me finishing the story at some point, especially since my library has them all. I think if she gets picked up by a major publisher and a good editor fixes some of these repeat paragraphs and overly drawn out scenes this books will be pretty big. It really is a unique plot, at least to me. I just hope in the future her writing doesn’t feel like she is checking off a checklist by having a couple “black as night” soldiers thrown in randomly and heavy use of nicknames.
I like a good epic fantasy that lets you really go along on the journey. I’m still having struggling to find these. I wasn’t going to do this book because I was so annoyed with her from the first book. Got over my attitude and decided I was interested in the story enough to keep going, only for her to repeat the same darn line that got under my skin in the first place ! Ugh. In fact, she repeated several things from book 1. It was part of her recaps but I swear most of it felt verbatim.
I appreciate when authors find a way to refresh your memory with in the story, but this was too much. It really was heavy handed and a repeat. Outside of that I like the plot of the story. I did predict all of what was going to happen but that’s okay.
.
The author drew this story out too long and made you start kind of wanting it over with even though I was still interested. Like in the first one, she overly describes certain scenes /actions. Also, is it just me or has anyone else gotten a little jarred when the characters use more modern language. Like in the first book I’m pretty sure one said they were going to crash a party lol. Maybe that’s just a me thing.
Oh. And “tear the rope” and “partner” phew! I love me a good tag line. I even like for it to be used frequently enough to make it a thing. But umm…towards the end it started feeling a little forced and overly done. Still loved the message though.
Anyways, again, decent plot. Good world building. Love that I’m in a journey with the characters. I’m invested in Ryan more than Lyr. But getting a reader to invest in characters means you’re winning right ? Did I mention I really like Ryan lol. V
Favorite scene was the verbal smack down with Tristen. That one really made me smile. I was here for it ! lol
I don’t think I’ll continue to book 3 immediately. This one went on too long and I need a break. But I see me finishing the story at some point, especially since my library has them all. I think if she gets picked up by a major publisher and a good editor fixes some of these repeat paragraphs and overly drawn out scenes this books will be pretty big. It really is a unique plot, at least to me. I just hope in the future her writing doesn’t feel like she is checking off a checklist by having a couple “black as night” soldiers thrown in randomly and heavy use of nicknames.
*Sings in the voice of that woman from the greatest showman*
NEVER ENOUGH, NEVER, NEVER!
I will never get enough of Rhyan and Lyr against the entire world. Frankie please never stop writing about these two. I want to read about their mundane lives when this is all over when they’re both just living happily ever after together.
Because they WILL get their HEA together right?!
NEVER ENOUGH, NEVER, NEVER!
I will never get enough of Rhyan and Lyr against the entire world. Frankie please never stop writing about these two. I want to read about their mundane lives when this is all over when they’re both just living happily ever after together.
Because they WILL get their HEA together right?!