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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
!@!$&@ I need book 3, now!!.
This book!! I’m really shocked this hasn’t picked up more on TikTok. I stumbled upon the authors TikTok before the release for the 1st book. I am so happy I did. I was fortunate enough to receive an arc for the 2nd installment. I am blown away. The way Frankie weaves in little details and how they come to light is perfection. The forbidden love vibes, bodyguard trope, taking care while one of the characters is injured…so many tropes to love. I am already chomping at the bit for book 3. I cannot stop thinking about this series. Rhyan and Lyr have my whole heart! “Hello, partner” *swoon*
This book!! I’m really shocked this hasn’t picked up more on TikTok. I stumbled upon the authors TikTok before the release for the 1st book. I am so happy I did. I was fortunate enough to receive an arc for the 2nd installment. I am blown away. The way Frankie weaves in little details and how they come to light is perfection. The forbidden love vibes, bodyguard trope, taking care while one of the characters is injured…so many tropes to love. I am already chomping at the bit for book 3. I cannot stop thinking about this series. Rhyan and Lyr have my whole heart! “Hello, partner” *swoon*
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
OH. MY. GOODNESS!!
I loved it. I think it was on par with the first book and left me waiting for the 3rd book! I have to know what happens next.
The slow burn in this was *chefs kiss*!!
The emotional rollercoaster this takes you on… I highly recommend!
I loved it. I think it was on par with the first book and left me waiting for the 3rd book! I have to know what happens next.
The slow burn in this was *chefs kiss*!!
The emotional rollercoaster this takes you on… I highly recommend!
Enjoyed this book enough that I read it in a single day. But goddamn can she just break up with Tristen already??? There were so many points in the book that she realized their relationship wasn’t serving her anymore, but just hung onto it for the sake of plot. I was REALLY over it and the cheating angle of this book.
I honestly had to take a few days after finishing GotDE because I needed to digest and gather my thoughts.
***This review does contain potential spoilers. Read at your own discretion.***
Some things I loved about this story:
-There is so much culture!! I love the Egyptian-inspired aspect of this series. It’s so refreshing and unique.
-The world-building is well-developed and interesting. In this book, it was much easier to follow the names of figureheads and their positions than it was in DotDE.
-The relationship building between Rhyan and Lyr left more to be desired. Talk about a SLOW BURN! But that’s what people love, ya know?
-We got more of Mercurial’s character, and I love picturing how he looks and acts and the genie-kin kind of creature he is.
Some things I wanted more from this story:
-I felt really disconnected from Rhyan’s feelings. He confesses his love to Lyr, but I never interpreted that he felt more than attracted to or protective of her in DotDE or this book. I feel much of this will be resolved in the Mallis’s novella, which will be from Rhyan’s POV. (Good call on her part to include that!)
-I wanted more interaction between Lyr and her sisters. There was ~some~ but not enough. I loved their characters and their struggles in DotDE and really feeling Lyr’s bond to her sisters.
-The pacing was much better in this book than the first, in my opinion, but I found the imagery left something to be desired. I couldn’t picture some of the settings described or I felt some of the descriptions were rushed through or afterthoughts. For example, when the Emperor arrived, lots of time was spent describing Lyr’s dress, but on the night of Darkness celebration, I wanted more of Rhyan. Yes, he looked nice, but what kind of emotion was behind those green eyes???
-A lot of the emotions, feelings, doubt, inner dialogue was extremely repetitive, even carrying over from DotDE. It read easily enough, but I wanted more action, like the almost falling out of the Seraphim carriage scene or Rhyan battling in the habidellum (sp, ik).
Overall, I’d have to rate between 3 and 4 stars, rounding up to a 4. I am loving the storyline, and am hoping for more character development and NO MORE DOORS FLINGING OPEN in sequels.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
***This review does contain potential spoilers. Read at your own discretion.***
Some things I loved about this story:
-There is so much culture!! I love the Egyptian-inspired aspect of this series. It’s so refreshing and unique.
-The world-building is well-developed and interesting. In this book, it was much easier to follow the names of figureheads and their positions than it was in DotDE.
-The relationship building between Rhyan and Lyr left more to be desired. Talk about a SLOW BURN! But that’s what people love, ya know?
-We got more of Mercurial’s character, and I love picturing how he looks and acts and the genie-kin kind of creature he is.
Some things I wanted more from this story:
-I felt really disconnected from Rhyan’s feelings. He confesses his love to Lyr, but I never interpreted that he felt more than attracted to or protective of her in DotDE or this book. I feel much of this will be resolved in the Mallis’s novella, which will be from Rhyan’s POV. (Good call on her part to include that!)
-I wanted more interaction between Lyr and her sisters. There was ~some~ but not enough. I loved their characters and their struggles in DotDE and really feeling Lyr’s bond to her sisters.
-The pacing was much better in this book than the first, in my opinion, but I found the imagery left something to be desired. I couldn’t picture some of the settings described or I felt some of the descriptions were rushed through or afterthoughts. For example, when the Emperor arrived, lots of time was spent describing Lyr’s dress, but on the night of Darkness celebration, I wanted more of Rhyan. Yes, he looked nice, but what kind of emotion was behind those green eyes???
-A lot of the emotions, feelings, doubt, inner dialogue was extremely repetitive, even carrying over from DotDE. It read easily enough, but I wanted more action, like the almost falling out of the Seraphim carriage scene or Rhyan battling in the habidellum (sp, ik).
Overall, I’d have to rate between 3 and 4 stars, rounding up to a 4. I am loving the storyline, and am hoping for more character development and NO MORE DOORS FLINGING OPEN in sequels.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They way I will go feral when Lyr finally get to be a badass and unless her strength. I will be SCREAMING.
“You want to eat the lemon cake first, do it, f*ck what anyone else thinks.”
When I read the first book in this series, I thought it would be in the running for book of the year. However, author Frankie Diane Mills upped the ante and now Guardian of the Drowned Empire sits firmly atop my 2022 book list.
With forbidden romance, bodyguard action, political intrigue, and secrets galore, this book will single-handedly clear your schedule because you wouldn’t dare to put it down.
I’ve been evangelizing this series all year and will continue to do so. This is a can’t-miss series that I highly recommend.
Go ahead, just like with lemon cake, indulge yourself with this fantastic read.
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
When I read the first book in this series, I thought it would be in the running for book of the year. However, author Frankie Diane Mills upped the ante and now Guardian of the Drowned Empire sits firmly atop my 2022 book list.
With forbidden romance, bodyguard action, political intrigue, and secrets galore, this book will single-handedly clear your schedule because you wouldn’t dare to put it down.
I’ve been evangelizing this series all year and will continue to do so. This is a can’t-miss series that I highly recommend.
Go ahead, just like with lemon cake, indulge yourself with this fantastic read.
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
Oh wow…oh wow, oh wow!! I’m speechless! The steam! The tension! AGH. The forbidden romance trope was 10 outta 10, bodyguard guard trope while tending to her wounds is chefs kiss. God gimme it all and more pls! I’m feening for the sequel after the ending, ima need it ASAP pls and thank you. Peace and love, and def recommend!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
I love it when the second book is even better than the first!
Lyr has incredible character growth in this book. She transforms into a warrior of both body and mind.
Rhyan is, of course, perfect. While struggling with his guilt, his feelings for Lyr, and his duties, he still is such an incredible character. And the freaking KING of consent. We love that.
The action in this story ebbs and flows perfectly, and doing my reread made me see how many times Franki left us breadcrumbs for the big reveals at the end.
Freaking Mercurial had me cackling. I love his chaos.
The romantic tension is just perfect. The suspense and betrayal left me staying up late into the night to keep reading.
The ending sets book 3 up perfectly. Seriously, if you haven't read this series... DO it!
Spice is 1.5🌶
Lyr has incredible character growth in this book. She transforms into a warrior of both body and mind.
Rhyan is, of course, perfect. While struggling with his guilt, his feelings for Lyr, and his duties, he still is such an incredible character. And the freaking KING of consent. We love that.
The action in this story ebbs and flows perfectly, and doing my reread made me see how many times Franki left us breadcrumbs for the big reveals at the end.
Freaking Mercurial had me cackling. I love his chaos.
The romantic tension is just perfect. The suspense and betrayal left me staying up late into the night to keep reading.
The ending sets book 3 up perfectly. Seriously, if you haven't read this series... DO it!
Spice is 1.5🌶