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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The beginning got me hooked right away and I was super intrigued by Rhya and her powers that she wasn’t even aware of or able to control or understand.
About halfway through the book the pacing went super slow and although I enjoy world building and have to say I LOVE the side characters and found family aspect of this book, I did wonder where the story was going. That was a theme through a lot of the book where I was enjoying the characters and their conversations but also at the same time had no sense of where the story was actually going to… like what are we doing here because Rhya isn’t being encouraged to develop her powers beyond controlling them and pushing them down and the war aspect seemed to have gone very silent. The main focus seemed to be somewhat petty royal court politics.
Towards the end of the book the pacing suddenly increased right back up again and added back in some other main players in the wider plot and helped me get a better sense of where the story is being taken and the longer term direction which helped me get right back into it and invest emotionally into the characters.
Excited for the next one!
About halfway through the book the pacing went super slow and although I enjoy world building and have to say I LOVE the side characters and found family aspect of this book, I did wonder where the story was going. That was a theme through a lot of the book where I was enjoying the characters and their conversations but also at the same time had no sense of where the story was actually going to… like what are we doing here because Rhya isn’t being encouraged to develop her powers beyond controlling them and pushing them down and the war aspect seemed to have gone very silent. The main focus seemed to be somewhat petty royal court politics.
Towards the end of the book the pacing suddenly increased right back up again and added back in some other main players in the wider plot and helped me get a better sense of where the story is being taken and the longer term direction which helped me get right back into it and invest emotionally into the characters.
Excited for the next one!
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
"He is burning for me, too.
A wildfire in his blood, in his body -- one I sparked. One I want, with sudden wild longing, to stroke until we are both utterly consumed by it. Until the past burns away, leaving space for something new to grow between us." (Ch 25)
Rhya was a hunted fae halfling. She thought herself a nobody, though she knew deep down that she was different. She had a mark on her chest, one that swirled and churned and had been there since birth. One that she was taught to cover and hide. But those that hated her kind caught her. Beaten and strung up, death was eminent. Then he showed up, more a curse than a blessing. Commander Scythe... deadly, menacing, unrepentantly brutal.
I came to hate Scythe so very much! Ugh, he pissed me off. He was an utter monster, treating Rhya so callously and brutishly. And then... he was a contradiction, but still very annoying.
As hard as I tried to keep my attention rooted to reading this book, it took me way longer than it should have to get through. The romance aspect was disconnected. Interactions between Rhya and "Scythe" were limited, but when there was, it was a whole lot of bickering, personality clashes, and belittling. Maybe she developed Stockholm syndrome? Toward the 2nd half of the book, he eased up a bit, was a little more likable, perhaps the helm he wore in the 1st half was pinching his brain *snicker*. Then he was over-protective like she was some special precious treasure, a caged bird, to protect, despite dragging her by the hair and throwing her around like a sack of potatoes in the beginning. But he had a past that made him wary.
She seemed to have an easy comraderie with his men, though. Easy onerous banter.
I would ship Rhya with the other guy instead of the MMC. I'm totally team other guy LOL.
Overall, this story fell and read a little flat and aimless for me, which was disappointing since I was so excited to read it and even more so when I got accepted to review it. The last 10% was the best of it.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley. Voluntary review.
A wildfire in his blood, in his body -- one I sparked. One I want, with sudden wild longing, to stroke until we are both utterly consumed by it. Until the past burns away, leaving space for something new to grow between us." (Ch 25)
Rhya was a hunted fae halfling. She thought herself a nobody, though she knew deep down that she was different. She had a mark on her chest, one that swirled and churned and had been there since birth. One that she was taught to cover and hide. But those that hated her kind caught her. Beaten and strung up, death was eminent. Then he showed up, more a curse than a blessing. Commander Scythe... deadly, menacing, unrepentantly brutal.
I came to hate Scythe so very much! Ugh, he pissed me off. He was an utter monster, treating Rhya so callously and brutishly. And then... he was a contradiction, but still very annoying.
As hard as I tried to keep my attention rooted to reading this book, it took me way longer than it should have to get through. The romance aspect was disconnected. Interactions between Rhya and "Scythe" were limited, but when there was, it was a whole lot of bickering, personality clashes, and belittling. Maybe she developed Stockholm syndrome? Toward the 2nd half of the book, he eased up a bit, was a little more likable, perhaps the helm he wore in the 1st half was pinching his brain *snicker*. Then he was over-protective like she was some special precious treasure, a caged bird, to protect, despite dragging her by the hair and throwing her around like a sack of potatoes in the beginning. But he had a past that made him wary.
She seemed to have an easy comraderie with his men, though. Easy onerous banter.
I would ship Rhya with the other guy instead of the MMC. I'm totally team other guy LOL.
Overall, this story fell and read a little flat and aimless for me, which was disappointing since I was so excited to read it and even more so when I got accepted to review it. The last 10% was the best of it.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley. Voluntary review.