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adventurous
emotional
tense
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
Trigger warning on this book of SH specifically carving.
This book started out a bit slow for me but once I was invested I enjoyed it. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending though. I enjoyed getting to know keera and her struggles and felt that made the book strong. I felt like the romance side plot withRiven was a bit forced.
This book started out a bit slow for me but once I was invested I enjoyed it. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending though. I enjoyed getting to know keera and her struggles and felt that made the book strong. I felt like the romance side plot with
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like nothing really happened for a loooong time. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t a DNF!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
5/5 stars
1.5/5 spice
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Morally grey MCs
Magical system
Political intrigue
Slow burn
LGBTQIA rep
Single POV
Cliffhanger
I really enjoyed the pace of this story. You're not spending a good portion of the book wondering "who, what, when, and where," which tends to happen with a lot of fantasy romance books. Keera is fierce and guarded, but it's nice to see her open up as the story progresses. I have a feeling there's more to her lineage since it's hinted at more than once and why she feels a connection to Riven so strongly... I have my theories.
This is a slow burn romance, and we do get a hint of spice, but it works with the storyline. The cliffhanger got me good, but I'm sure we'll get a breakdown of what the hell is happening in the next book. I'm excited to keep reading the series.
I highly recommend this book for fans of enemies to lovers in a fantasy setting and more diverse characters. Please check trigger warnings before starting this book.
1.5/5 spice
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Morally grey MCs
Magical system
Political intrigue
Slow burn
LGBTQIA rep
Single POV
Cliffhanger
I really enjoyed the pace of this story. You're not spending a good portion of the book wondering "who, what, when, and where," which tends to happen with a lot of fantasy romance books. Keera is fierce and guarded, but it's nice to see her open up as the story progresses. I have a feeling there's more to her lineage since it's hinted at more than once and why she feels a connection to Riven so strongly... I have my theories.
This is a slow burn romance, and we do get a hint of spice, but it works with the storyline. The cliffhanger got me good, but I'm sure we'll get a breakdown of what the hell is happening in the next book. I'm excited to keep reading the series.
I highly recommend this book for fans of enemies to lovers in a fantasy setting and more diverse characters. Please check trigger warnings before starting this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm
Minor: Sexual assault
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this one but god it was a slog to get through. In the first 10 chapters I swear the author was just trying to put the word "wine" on the page as many times as she could.
I still don't understand what the difference between an elf and a fae is.
A lot of the prose was repetitive, the MC mentions her scars so many times I DID NOT CARE about the big reveal with them at the end.
I did like that Keera was flawed, but it really felt like every one that got brought up suddenly had a magical fix, especiallyher alcoholism. You're gonna spend 3 chapters telling me how much of a drunk she is and then drop a magic elixir that basically cures her?
This book explored a lot of topics i was really interested in reading about like colonialism and trying to hold on to pieces of your heritage but at the end of it I just found myself not interested in the world or the characters. I'm sure other people liked this one but it wasn't for me.
I still don't understand what the difference between an elf and a fae is.
A lot of the prose was repetitive, the MC mentions her scars so many times I DID NOT CARE about the big reveal with them at the end.
I did like that Keera was flawed, but it really felt like every one that got brought up suddenly had a magical fix, especially
This book explored a lot of topics i was really interested in reading about like colonialism and trying to hold on to pieces of your heritage but at the end of it I just found myself not interested in the world or the characters. I'm sure other people liked this one but it wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
adventurous
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
A really solid fantasy novel with just a tad of romance. If you like a predominantly plot based fantasy book with a lighter focus on romance (enemies to lovers), you’ll enjoy this. Honestly I’m not sure the romance was absolutely necessary for the plot but it wasn’t that out of place for the genre. Keera is a really great female protagonist who is fierce and fighting the good fight; a bit cliche at times but overall very well motivated and detailed character. I can’t wait to see her journey through the rest of the saga. The side characters are absolutely amazing too- I ‘love to hate’ Damien and the king, and I love sweet ones like Gwyn too. Overall a great book and looking forward to the next one, but it’s nothing extremely memorable for me personally (that sounds mean but just imo). (Also this book reminds me of the hunger games vaguely with its theme of converting the heroine to overthrowing the government)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Slavery, Torture
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I first learned about this book series from @fromthemixedupdesk on Instagram. Luckily my library had a copy of this audiobook so I could listen and see if I agreed with the positive reviews. Unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. This story has political intrigue, romance, morally grey characters and eat-the-rich vibes. Blair has created a complex world with layered dynamics between complicated characters. The tension and drama had me devouring this book and excited me for the next three installments.
Due to Blair's vivid writing, I bonded with Keera throughout the story and the more I learned about her the more endearing she became. I am emotionally invested in her as a character and will greedily read the entire series emotionally invested in the outcome. I also enjoyed the romance subplot that Keera was a part of. The care that Keera's love interest has for her and their emphasis on consent was refreshing.
I picked up on enough context clues beforehand to see a few of the plot twists coming, so they did not shock me. That being said I am intrigued about how Blair is going to bring all the threads of the plot together. It is clear that Blair has a vision for the world and Keera and I am intrigued to see where this is all going.
I will say it was a little confusing keeping track of how old each of the characters was. Overall I do not think this distracts from the plot of the story, but it keeps coming up so I think that it might be important. The importance of age concerns the potential revelations about Keera. I hope it's more fleshed out in the next book.
Overall, this is what I want from a series starter, something that is exciting to read and makes me emotionally invested as a reader. Blair has accomplished that with this book and I look forward to reading more.
Due to Blair's vivid writing, I bonded with Keera throughout the story and the more I learned about her the more endearing she became. I am emotionally invested in her as a character and will greedily read the entire series emotionally invested in the outcome. I also enjoyed the romance subplot that Keera was a part of. The care that Keera's love interest has for her and their emphasis on consent was refreshing.
I picked up on enough context clues beforehand to see a few of the plot twists coming, so they did not shock me. That being said I am intrigued about how Blair is going to bring all the threads of the plot together. It is clear that Blair has a vision for the world and Keera and I am intrigued to see where this is all going.
I will say it was a little confusing keeping track of how old each of the characters was. Overall I do not think this distracts from the plot of the story, but it keeps coming up so I think that it might be important. The importance of age concerns the potential revelations about Keera. I hope it's more fleshed out in the next book.
Overall, this is what I want from a series starter, something that is exciting to read and makes me emotionally invested as a reader. Blair has accomplished that with this book and I look forward to reading more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual violence
adventurous
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:
Yes
I have mixed feelings about this book. I know it's incredibly popular on social media, but I feel like it had such potential but ultimately fell into tropes or mirrored other popular books. Towards the end of the book I kept on wondering when it would end, as the plot for the first book had wrapped up, but it kept on going.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail