musgrovej's review

4.5
adventurous challenging dark 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
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scorks's review

2.0
adventurous dark lighthearted 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

lorj's review

5.0
adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Really captivating. The way the author wrote the scenes with the imperator were excellent - a real sense of creepiness and violation. I also loved every single scene with Rhyan. A great slow burn.

The world is built well and makes much more sense in book 2. I feel like the author put more effort into exposition in book 2. I enjoyed it very much. Felt very original.
adventurous slow-paced

I want to say I love it... But after reading the second book in this series in a single day... It's slow as shit and you are constantly trying to read faster to make something happen. I think the author has expanded a very good duology into a very mediocre 4,5,6 book series. 

The sense it is constantly holding out on you keeps you reading like an abusive relationship. Plenty of people reading romance are into that kind of thing but slow burn doesn't have to mean the book itself is slow but it does here.
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classicbrittany's review

4.0
adventurous challenging tense 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
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what_rachel_reads's review

5.0

I love Rhyan so much! This boy is powerful and so sweet and only wants Lyr’s safety while also training g her and recognizing her strength! Swoon!

I’m so excited to read the novella from his POV!!

The plot during this book has to not thickened and has been a fulfilling fantasy read with just enough tension and pining while maintaining the forbidden aspect to keep things interesting and intense.

Also, all hail Rhyan, the King of Consent!
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pirateyoho's review

5.0

This series is everything. I'm completely obsessed with these characters. I love the brutal, militaristic world that feels like a cross between Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. The action sequences never fail to get my heart racing. The slow-burn forbidden romance subplot is excruciating and exhilarating all at the same time.

This one definitely started a bit slower than the first, mostly rehashing a lot of the same political and interpersonal conflicts we saw in the first book. But once it picked up, it didn't let up -- and the last 20% of this book was so explosive, I don't think I unclenched my jaw once while reading it.

This series is fantasy romance at its best, so if you're a fan of the genre, it's not one to miss!
ekeane's profile picture

ekeane's review

4.0
adventurous challenging mysterious 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

stacieface88's review

4.0
adventurous dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
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chaithra's review

2.5
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i strongly believe this book and book 1 could’ve been one book with the right editing and it’s annoying me because the idea? interesting? seeing someone say this series is going to be 8 books that most likely could have been condensed into fewer books? i strongly dislike that especially! since half of this books was spent recalling or over explaining elements we read in book 1!