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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I beta read a VERY early copy of this book, and it was just as good then as it is now. Every character is easy to fall in love with—even (especially?) himbo Ranka and her failure to feel any emotion like a normal witch.
This book is angsty and delightful and horrific and tender. Everything about it makes me smile. I CANNOT WAIT to set Ranka on my shelves in November to join all of my other favorite heroines (don’t tell Ranka I called her a hero…and especially don’t tell Percy.)
If you haven’t put this on your TBR, what are you even waiting for??
This book is angsty and delightful and horrific and tender. Everything about it makes me smile. I CANNOT WAIT to set Ranka on my shelves in November to join all of my other favorite heroines (don’t tell Ranka I called her a hero…and especially don’t tell Percy.)
If you haven’t put this on your TBR, what are you even waiting for??
I beta read a VERY early copy of this book, and it was just as good then as it is now. Every character is easy to fall in love with—even (especially?) himbo Ranka and her failure to feel any emotion like a normal witch.
This book is angsty and delightful and horrific and tender. Everything about it makes me smile. I CANNOT WAIT to set Ranka on my shelves in November to join all of my other favorite heroines (don’t tell Ranka I called her a hero…and especially don’t tell Percy.)
If you haven’t put this on your TBR, what are you even waiting for??
This book is angsty and delightful and horrific and tender. Everything about it makes me smile. I CANNOT WAIT to set Ranka on my shelves in November to join all of my other favorite heroines (don’t tell Ranka I called her a hero…and especially don’t tell Percy.)
If you haven’t put this on your TBR, what are you even waiting for??
I watched this author’s process via social media sporadically as her videos were fed to my explore page and always was interested. My library finally got a copy and I must say that this book was incredible. Emotional, intriguing, and kept me guessing the entire time. Loved it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I have listened to this via Audiobook and ebook with both ARC and ALC provided by NetGalley.
Disclaimer: I’m reviewing this book in the context of having read it. I can’t pretend to be blind to previous criticism, however, I do disagree with it.
⭐️The magic is called blood magic in this case because the magic lives within her blood, it’s described almost the same as the Berserkers in Norse Mythology but a little more magical. It gives her a lust for blood but not in the ‘I need to drink it’ sense but the bloodlust of a warrior who needs to kill. Magic in this world is within someone from the day they are born, blood magic is born from murder (think Vampire Diaries when Tyler doesn’t become a werewolf until he kills someone). Humans also have magic but it is described as being external so doesn’t come from any part of their body I suppose would be kind of how we’d expect magic in a fantasy to be (controlling the wind, controlling animals that sort of thing).
Quote: “All witches came from humans, And the lines between them were blurred at best. The marked difference was their power: human magic manifested externally, granting the ability to stir a breeze with the twitch of a hand or bend the mind of an animal with a whisper. But witchery was in the bones, the blood, the breath. With it came a tougher body, a longer life, sharper senses, and a turn of the nails’
I don’t feel comfortable speaking to the notion of a ‘reverse racism’ fantasy, as I feel there are previous reviews on here written by POC whose voices matter more on the subject, however, I will say that the colour of someone’s skin isn’t an issue for the characters in the world Mix has created. On both the side of the Skraa witches and the humans a variety of skin colours are mentioned. ⭐️
On to the actual review
As a debut fantasy novel this book is great, not amazing, but good. The main character Ranka is an incredibly villainous and unreliable narrator, she makes absolutely terrible choices and at times you as the reader find yourself hating her. The book is written from her perspective and shows that she has been brainwashed into believing so much that isn’t true at all. I love the twins, Princess Aramis and Prince Galen, they’re sibling relationship is so adorably realistic.
This book can be heavy at times, it deals with childhood trauma and trauma bonds.
Trigger warnings ⚠️ :
Body gore
Death
Child abuse
Disease
Disclaimer: I’m reviewing this book in the context of having read it. I can’t pretend to be blind to previous criticism, however, I do disagree with it.
⭐️The magic is called blood magic in this case because the magic lives within her blood, it’s described almost the same as the Berserkers in Norse Mythology but a little more magical. It gives her a lust for blood but not in the ‘I need to drink it’ sense but the bloodlust of a warrior who needs to kill. Magic in this world is within someone from the day they are born, blood magic is born from murder (think Vampire Diaries when Tyler doesn’t become a werewolf until he kills someone). Humans also have magic but it is described as being external so doesn’t come from any part of their body I suppose would be kind of how we’d expect magic in a fantasy to be (controlling the wind, controlling animals that sort of thing).
Quote: “All witches came from humans, And the lines between them were blurred at best. The marked difference was their power: human magic manifested externally, granting the ability to stir a breeze with the twitch of a hand or bend the mind of an animal with a whisper. But witchery was in the bones, the blood, the breath. With it came a tougher body, a longer life, sharper senses, and a turn of the nails’
I don’t feel comfortable speaking to the notion of a ‘reverse racism’ fantasy, as I feel there are previous reviews on here written by POC whose voices matter more on the subject, however, I will say that the colour of someone’s skin isn’t an issue for the characters in the world Mix has created. On both the side of the Skraa witches and the humans a variety of skin colours are mentioned. ⭐️
On to the actual review
As a debut fantasy novel this book is great, not amazing, but good. The main character Ranka is an incredibly villainous and unreliable narrator, she makes absolutely terrible choices and at times you as the reader find yourself hating her. The book is written from her perspective and shows that she has been brainwashed into believing so much that isn’t true at all. I love the twins, Princess Aramis and Prince Galen, they’re sibling relationship is so adorably realistic.
This book can be heavy at times, it deals with childhood trauma and trauma bonds.
Trigger warnings ⚠️ :
Body gore
Death
Child abuse
Disease
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Warning spoilers ******
I went into this book unsure due to the many reviews and concerns about poor representation and a need for sensitivity reading. But after reading this book I can say that many of the concerns people have aired feel over dramatized. The core story of this book is beautiful. It’s about being raised by abusers and the fallout that leads into adulthood. Ranka’s journey through recognizing the abuse in several of her relationships felt like hearing about the life of a close friend who refuses to acknowledge an unhealthy relationship, so fucking frustrating, and I loved it. I admit I didn’t get invented into the book until the later chapter and I feel as though the first half of the book was very slow and hard to invest in. but the second half sucked me right in and im so happy I stuck with it.
I went into this book unsure due to the many reviews and concerns about poor representation and a need for sensitivity reading. But after reading this book I can say that many of the concerns people have aired feel over dramatized. The core story of this book is beautiful. It’s about being raised by abusers and the fallout that leads into adulthood. Ranka’s journey through recognizing the abuse in several of her relationships felt like hearing about the life of a close friend who refuses to acknowledge an unhealthy relationship, so fucking frustrating, and I loved it. I admit I didn’t get invented into the book until the later chapter and I feel as though the first half of the book was very slow and hard to invest in. but the second half sucked me right in and im so happy I stuck with it.
This book was so good. There was character development and healing, decent world building that I really would've liked expanded on, and cool magic.
A prequel or sequel I feel would add to the world building, I want to know more about the magic and the difference between magic humans and witches other than some increased stamina, nails, etc. I'm curious about what will happen to the Star Isles along with the plague.
Overall I would like to see what happens next.
A prequel or sequel I feel would add to the world building, I want to know more about the magic and the difference between magic humans and witches other than some increased stamina, nails, etc. I'm curious about what will happen to the Star Isles along with the plague.
Overall I would like to see what happens next.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated