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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
dark
tense
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
So I do want to preface this review and acknowledge that I loved this short read, and will absolutely be reading the second book and any other book there if this becomes a series. I did find Princess Verena (Nyra) really annoying and unlikable at times. I don’t know if I have too much masculinity coursing through my birth chart and veins, but I found a lot of the sexual tension extremely condescending and one-sided. I know Nyra was regarded as “traitor“, but I found the way Dacre spoke to her disrespectful and annoying. How is little traitor the best you can do, and I don’t care how incredibly handsome the guy is, what Princess or strong woman for that matter allows a man to call them that? She asks a few times not to, and he completely dismisses and disregards her.
Look, I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers trope and power differential but I found it annoying in this book because it did not have to be at all. I know power and sex does sell, so perhaps I just found it lazy writing in a few scenes. At first, I thought the masculine possessiveness would be the most annoying flaw of this book but I did enjoy it and found it to be the least of Dacre’s character flaws. As the MMC, he came off as idiotic with no expansive vocabulary [instead of seductive and sexy]. Dacre definitely gives me the same vibes as Flawless by Elsie Silver’s MMC did (although Dacre is better). I did like that starting with the first book, Renee gives us both Nyra and Dacre POV chapters. Without it, I do not think Dacre would be redeeming in the least. His chapters are necessary to any sense of character development and growth. Overall, I did enjoy this rather satisfying short read despite the ultimate cliffhanger at the end. Will book 2 become a trope of enemies to lovers back to enemies? Will Dacre and Verena just get together to bring peace and stability to the realm, ending the rebellion? Kill both fathers and you have yourself freedom and a solution.
Look, I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers trope and power differential but I found it annoying in this book because it did not have to be at all. I know power and sex does sell, so perhaps I just found it lazy writing in a few scenes. At first, I thought the masculine possessiveness would be the most annoying flaw of this book but I did enjoy it and found it to be the least of Dacre’s character flaws. As the MMC, he came off as idiotic with no expansive vocabulary [instead of seductive and sexy]. Dacre definitely gives me the same vibes as Flawless by Elsie Silver’s MMC did (although Dacre is better). I did like that starting with the first book, Renee gives us both Nyra and Dacre POV chapters. Without it, I do not think Dacre would be redeeming in the least. His chapters are necessary to any sense of character development and growth. Overall, I did enjoy this rather satisfying short read despite the ultimate cliffhanger at the end. Will book 2 become a trope of enemies to lovers back to enemies? Will Dacre and Verena just get together to bring peace and stability to the realm, ending the rebellion? Kill both fathers and you have yourself freedom and a solution.
adventurous
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
fast-paced
not going to continue this series because wtf is this relationship
none of these people are likable in anyway
none of these people are likable in anyway
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
This was such a strong start to the series. It might not be groundbreaking, but it really worked for me. From the very beginning, the plot had me hooked, and I found myself fully immersed in both the story and the world.
The characters were definitely a highlight—main and side alike. Their dynamics felt natural and compelling, and I’m especially intrigued by the political undertones and the way the world is slowly being revealed. The romance was just what I was hoping for: emotional, a little messy, and with just the right amount of steam.
If you’re looking for a fantasy romance that’s easy to get into, with engaging characters, and a plot that keeps things moving, this is a great pick.
At face value, this book was lacking in almost all the areas that make a fantasy romance worthwhile, and yet it was still somewhat unputdownable.
World building? 404 Error. No where to be found. I honestly would’ve never known that the characters are fae had it not been mentioned randomly once in the story 25% in. The world was built only to the extent it was needed to move the plot along, which was not much at all considering the plot itself is weak. The entire book was a montage of training scenes, not a whole lot happened otherwise.
The romance? Insta lust. No real reason to make us believe in a true connection here, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt since this was a very short first installment with more to come.
howEVER! The smut!!! Steeeeamy af. 10/10. Dacre had me in a chokehold
World building? 404 Error. No where to be found. I honestly would’ve never known that the characters are fae had it not been mentioned randomly once in the story 25% in. The world was built only to the extent it was needed to move the plot along, which was not much at all considering the plot itself is weak. The entire book was a montage of training scenes, not a whole lot happened otherwise.
The romance? Insta lust. No real reason to make us believe in a true connection here, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt since this was a very short first installment with more to come.
howEVER! The smut!!! Steeeeamy af. 10/10. Dacre had me in a chokehold
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced