Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli

5 reviews

ddnreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful fast-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

4.5

I enjoy this more than I thought I would!!! Imo, this BOOK DESERVES MORE HYPE. WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK?!
It has such a gorgeous cover and the story inside lived up the expectation.

The story followed Shin'ra who died in her first life due to treachery. However, magic took over and she has given a second chance in life. Going back to her past two years prior, she tried to make it right at whatever it takes 

Will she be able to alter her destiny? What will the consequences be of having such a great magical power? Will she be ever feel safe???

I love how fast paced and straightforward this book is. The plot is solid and the characters are well written. 

I love the character's development also. I root the clever cunning FMC who knows what to do. 

I didn't expect I will be swoon by the romance but oh man.... The ✨kisses✨are so well written and sweet and tender yet passionate.

I kinda need Kate Chenli adult fantasy lol 😭😭😭😭

If you're into kingdom fantasy, with black magic and spirit, princes and princesses, seizing throne, brothers who tried to outdo each other, romance, and kingdom politic ladden with betrayal, give this book a go

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abby_can_read's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

📖
I had a wonderful time reading this. I'm very excited for the sequel. The characters were good and the relationships were solid. The plot was good though predictable and the writing style kept me interested.  

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daniellestarredpages's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

While I didn't outright dislike this book, I was disappointed reading it. In fact, I almost DNFed it after the first few chapters. The writing style was this book's biggest downfall; the writing was amateurish and sometimes felt very awkward to read. I liked Mingshin for the most part, she made smart decisions and didn't annoy me. Eventually, I started rooting for the romance between Mingshin and Jieh and I liked all the friendships.

The pacing of the story was fine but the world-building could have used a little more work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union & Co. for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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tatyana_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and Kate Chenli for an advanced copy of the book! All opinions are my own. Audiobook available as of November 14, 2023. 

"Grant me another chance and I'll do anything to make it right."

Mingshin used her cleverness to help her ex-fiancé secure the position of crown prince over his three other brothers in her past life. However, it is too late when she figures out she is being used. While dying she promises to correct her wrongs if given a second chance. So when she wakes up two years in the past, she makes sure to make good on her promise. 

"When a kind heart is directed at the right people, it's strength, not weakness."

I loved that Mingshin started acting towards revenge immediately, and made sure she protected herself and her family early on. I also liked that her desire to make those who harmed her and her family pay did not erase her personality or what she stood for. The narration probably really enhanced my reading experience, so I am glad I was able to listen to the audiobook. I wonder if there will be a second book based on the ending, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for confirmation. 

"When a kind heart is directed at the right people, it's strength, not weakness."

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lastblossom's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Court drama and romance with a touch of magic in a tasty revenge plot.

Thoughts
I love a good "I was wronged and murdered and have been sent back in time to get my revenge before I'm wronged again" plot. A prevenge plot? Sure! I love a good prevenge plot. And this certainly is a fun one. The story wastes no time dropping us into the plot, and Mingshin wastes no time making different choices. She also stays pretty firmly locked into her goal, even with the distractions of romance and a sudden alteration in the timeline. That's not to say she ignores romance entirely. Jieh is a pretty big part of the storyline, and he checks all the boxes as far as love interests go: hot, strong, totally arrogant, and eventually incredibly soft. I confess, I prefer his sister, though. She's probably my favorite character in the whole thing, and would make a great lead character in her own drama. The political maneuvering is top notch, with the MC and her opponents all cleverly matched against each other. Anyone looking for machinations and plot twists will find lots of tasty moments here. The ending ties up several threads in a satisfying manner, but revenge is a long process, and there are definitely more questions that need answers. I hope we get future installments!

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

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