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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
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
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great magic system and world building, would definitely read again.
dark
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
OMFG you don’t even know how annoyed I was by this book all the time.
First of all, this was definitely translated by AI, but that’s not the author’s fault, so it didn’t lower my rating. However, neither did it improve my reading experience which was already pretty bad.
Now that I properly expressed my annoyance with the artificial translation, it’s time for my issues with the actual book.
1. The world building was very poor. We only get to know one city, but that’s also not really true, because we never really discover it properly. We are only introduced to the ruling class and the entirety of the novel takes place within aristocratic circles. The only non-royal or privileged in any way people we meet are the servants. I’m not saying that a story is bad if it only features one class in the society, but I can’t call world building good, if we are never presented with even the tiniest bit of information about social dynamics.
Also, we know nothing about the land the story is taking place in. We know about one city, which is the capital, and one forest, wich is the home to a dangerous deity and is filled with a magical mist. That’s about it when it comes to our surroundings. I guess that’s why there isn’t a map for this book, since we wouldn’t even need one; there are just so few places we ever visit. Once again, I’m not saying all books need to have full blown maps, but not telling us about any place outside of the capital is just lazy writing.
While we’re at it, since the magical, dangerous mist is surrounding the city, how does the king rule over his country? Do his servants and messengers risk a horrible death every time they leave to deliver king’s orders?
2. The whole thing with having to alarm the authorities when a child catches the infection. Are you telling me, that all parents, with only very few exceptions, are willing to sentence their own children to captivity, torture and death??? The one family, that tried to keep it secret, that their son was ill, was treated like it’s a very big deal, so I assume, that it doesn’t happen very often. Then why were the reactions of the crowd so disapproving? If they are brainwashed enough to freely report their sick children, why are they so opposed to the punishment of those who committed that crime?
3. The main character was soooo weak and honestly, boring. Please, name one character trait Elspeth has, other than being unable to do anything on her own. She literally NEVER does anything without ending up asking for help of either her love interest or the creepy demon-guy in her head.
We are never told wether she has any hobbies or special interests. Her relationships with her family are never explored deeper than surface level. Her newly formed relationships aren’t explored either. Almost no scenes of bonding between her and Jaspyr or Elm. Which leads me to:
4. The only relationship we ever spend some time focusing on is her romantic one; but that’s also just insta love with no chemistry. SORRY, there was really none. They just found each other really good-looking and suddenly BAM they’re deeply in love.
The fake-dating trope was supposed to bring some tension into that plot line, but they started to date for real so soon, that there was no time for any. Even when Elspeth and Ravyn were still in the „fake” era, they weren’t doing any of the pretend courtship and just crushing over each other for real.
Also, why were they together ALL THE TIME? Any period of time, when Ravyn is not physically close to the main character, is never longer than a chapter. Just give me a break, I don’t want to read about „his handsome face” all the time! ALSO THE NUMBER OF TIMES „HIS GAZE STOPPED AT HER LIPS” WAS USED??? Like seven separate times! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but really, it’s so overused.
5. This was badly written. I’m sorry. It’s my opinion.
And I’m not talking about the language itself - I cannot judge that, I read the translation. I’m talking about continuity problems. Some examples:
- when Elspeth is eavesdropping through the door and barely hears anyone, but then suddenly is able to tell what Ravyn murmurs to himself.
- during the sex scene the characters somehow are suddenly naked?? Just a sentence ago they were at least partially dressed.
- Elspeth wandering what brought prince Elm to treason, when literally a few pages earlier it was explained that he hated his brother and father. And honestly, that’s also such a bad reason, like, so lazy of the author.
- when Elspeth is trying to escape from Hauth, but she can’t, because he’s holding her by the throat. And then it is said, that he tears the sheets to use them to tie her to a chair. HOW DOES HE TEAR THE SHEETS IF HE’S HOLDING HER BY THE THROAT? And if he stopped holding her, why didn’t she at least try to run???
- when the king Rowan comes down to see Elspeth in the prison cell and asks the guards why she isn’t in chains. The guards respond, that trying to bind her would be too dangerous. The king then asks „what risk is there? She’s only a girl”. SIR, IT IS YOU, WHO JUST ASKED WHY THIS „JUST GIRL” WHO WAS ALREADY BEHIND BARS (measures perfectly sufficient for a normal girl) WASN’T ALSO IN CHAINS.
6. The „plot twist” was soooo predictable. I guessed it at the very beginning of chapter two. I have proof, I’ve written it down.
7. WHY was Elspeth hiding the Nightmare from her friends? It literally didn’t make any sense?
8. I am CERTAIN, ok? CERTAIN that it will turn out, that the Yews are the actual descendants of King Shepard. Which means that when Elspeth and Ravyn were doing all these romantic things together, Ravyn’s literal ANCESTOR was present and witnessing it in Elspeth’s perspective. Ewwwwwww.
9. Those names. Why? Random letters switched in real world names, how creative.
And now, the only reason, why I’m giving it half a star more: the ending. I actually really like the idea with Elspeth becoming completely possessed. Very exciting. But that’s about it.
First of all, this was definitely translated by AI, but that’s not the author’s fault, so it didn’t lower my rating. However, neither did it improve my reading experience which was already pretty bad.
Now that I properly expressed my annoyance with the artificial translation, it’s time for my issues with the actual book.
1. The world building was very poor. We only get to know one city, but that’s also not really true, because we never really discover it properly. We are only introduced to the ruling class and the entirety of the novel takes place within aristocratic circles. The only non-royal or privileged in any way people we meet are the servants. I’m not saying that a story is bad if it only features one class in the society, but I can’t call world building good, if we are never presented with even the tiniest bit of information about social dynamics.
Also, we know nothing about the land the story is taking place in. We know about one city, which is the capital, and one forest, wich is the home to a dangerous deity and is filled with a magical mist. That’s about it when it comes to our surroundings. I guess that’s why there isn’t a map for this book, since we wouldn’t even need one; there are just so few places we ever visit. Once again, I’m not saying all books need to have full blown maps, but not telling us about any place outside of the capital is just lazy writing.
While we’re at it, since the magical, dangerous mist is surrounding the city, how does the king rule over his country? Do his servants and messengers risk a horrible death every time they leave to deliver king’s orders?
2. The whole thing with having to alarm the authorities when a child catches the infection. Are you telling me, that all parents, with only very few exceptions, are willing to sentence their own children to captivity, torture and death??? The one family, that tried to keep it secret, that their son was ill, was treated like it’s a very big deal, so I assume, that it doesn’t happen very often. Then why were the reactions of the crowd so disapproving? If they are brainwashed enough to freely report their sick children, why are they so opposed to the punishment of those who committed that crime?
3. The main character was soooo weak and honestly, boring. Please, name one character trait Elspeth has, other than being unable to do anything on her own. She literally NEVER does anything without ending up asking for help of either her love interest or the creepy demon-guy in her head.
We are never told wether she has any hobbies or special interests. Her relationships with her family are never explored deeper than surface level. Her newly formed relationships aren’t explored either. Almost no scenes of bonding between her and Jaspyr or Elm. Which leads me to:
4. The only relationship we ever spend some time focusing on is her romantic one; but that’s also just insta love with no chemistry. SORRY, there was really none. They just found each other really good-looking and suddenly BAM they’re deeply in love.
The fake-dating trope was supposed to bring some tension into that plot line, but they started to date for real so soon, that there was no time for any. Even when Elspeth and Ravyn were still in the „fake” era, they weren’t doing any of the pretend courtship and just crushing over each other for real.
Also, why were they together ALL THE TIME? Any period of time, when Ravyn is not physically close to the main character, is never longer than a chapter. Just give me a break, I don’t want to read about „his handsome face” all the time! ALSO THE NUMBER OF TIMES „HIS GAZE STOPPED AT HER LIPS” WAS USED??? Like seven separate times! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but really, it’s so overused.
5. This was badly written. I’m sorry. It’s my opinion.
And I’m not talking about the language itself - I cannot judge that, I read the translation. I’m talking about continuity problems. Some examples:
- when Elspeth is eavesdropping through the door and barely hears anyone, but then suddenly is able to tell what Ravyn murmurs to himself.
- during the sex scene the characters somehow are suddenly naked?? Just a sentence ago they were at least partially dressed.
- Elspeth wandering what brought prince Elm to treason, when literally a few pages earlier it was explained that he hated his brother and father. And honestly, that’s also such a bad reason, like, so lazy of the author.
- when Elspeth is trying to escape from Hauth, but she can’t, because he’s holding her by the throat. And then it is said, that he tears the sheets to use them to tie her to a chair. HOW DOES HE TEAR THE SHEETS IF HE’S HOLDING HER BY THE THROAT? And if he stopped holding her, why didn’t she at least try to run???
- when the king Rowan comes down to see Elspeth in the prison cell and asks the guards why she isn’t in chains. The guards respond, that trying to bind her would be too dangerous. The king then asks „what risk is there? She’s only a girl”. SIR, IT IS YOU, WHO JUST ASKED WHY THIS „JUST GIRL” WHO WAS ALREADY BEHIND BARS (measures perfectly sufficient for a normal girl) WASN’T ALSO IN CHAINS.
6. The „plot twist” was soooo predictable. I guessed it at the very beginning of chapter two. I have proof, I’ve written it down.
7. WHY was Elspeth hiding the Nightmare from her friends? It literally didn’t make any sense?
8. I am CERTAIN, ok? CERTAIN that it will turn out, that the Yews are the actual descendants of King Shepard. Which means that when Elspeth and Ravyn were doing all these romantic things together, Ravyn’s literal ANCESTOR was present and witnessing it in Elspeth’s perspective. Ewwwwwww.
9. Those names. Why? Random letters switched in real world names, how creative.
And now, the only reason, why I’m giving it half a star more: the ending. I actually really like the idea with Elspeth becoming completely possessed. Very exciting. But that’s about it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not bad but definitely seems over-hyped. The world and story could be super interesting - if anything the romance just gets in the way. Elspeth is annoyingly weak and the book just goes on about how terrified she is of everything.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes