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syaower's review
2.0
[Review based on an ARC] Goodreads has been down all day...trying to stop me from writing this review.
I actually don't have a lot to say except I was severely underwhelmed. It has a lot I don't like: mary sue (she's good at everything, guys!! everyone likes her!!), insta-love (yuck), way too many plot conveniences (hmmm).
I was promised a horror fantasy...where?? Some of the horror aspects were interesting but the vibes weren't there. I barely knew any of the characters Kiara supposedly had a close bond to. Jude was forgettable and also acted really weird for being a literal military commander. Some of the decisions made in this book
I actually don't have a lot to say except I was severely underwhelmed. It has a lot I don't like: mary sue (she's good at everything, guys!! everyone likes her!!), insta-love (yuck), way too many plot conveniences (hmmm).
I was promised a horror fantasy...where?? Some of the horror aspects were interesting but the vibes weren't there. I barely knew any of the characters Kiara supposedly had a close bond to. Jude was forgettable and also acted really weird for being a literal military commander. Some of the decisions made in this book
aurorasky2025's review
1.0
DNF’d at 20 pages
I’m already icked out with the she’s small but she’s tough! Microtrope which leads onto pick me attitude and I’m already feeling the vibes
Looked at some other reviews about some further tropes towards the insta love IM GOOD
Also the way that is a knock off of Shadow and Bone???? HELLO
I’m already icked out with the she’s small but she’s tough! Microtrope which leads onto pick me attitude and I’m already feeling the vibes
Looked at some other reviews about some further tropes towards the insta love IM GOOD
Also the way that is a knock off of Shadow and Bone???? HELLO
secretdearest's review
4.0
4/5
So, this book was definitely different, than the usual YA adventure book. I also see that there are mixed reviews.
There's a 50 year long Curse of night, I mean, so far it's been 50y, and their food and crops are running low. And they need to find 3 objects or artifacts of the Sun Goddess to break the Curse of eternal night
It has religion in it, but it's made up, to be the book's plot's gods and goddesses, so none from real life.
Meanwhile, there are soldiers and recruits for the mission, and Kiara is the only girl there. Her brother is weak and has breathing problems, and she got recruited in his place.
She falls for the commander, who also falls for her, but she's got this friend, Patrick, who likes her too.
And she has a way with the boys, bc she's a good fighter and she's got a brother, so she's a bit cocky, know card games and such.
Her brother is back home, and the mission is supposed to be very dangerous, the commander doesn't believe he'll make it out alive a second time, and Ki has doubts, whether she'll see her brother again.
There are supposed to be wolves and bears the size of 5 grown men, in the Cursed lands, amongst other monstrosities.
She followed the group of 5 boys, in secret, who the commander took to the Cursed lands, and now all of them are to go there.
That's about how it begins, so it's up to you whether you want to read it or not, but if you're seeking my advice, I say, definitely do.
So, this book was definitely different, than the usual YA adventure book. I also see that there are mixed reviews.
There's a 50 year long Curse of night, I mean, so far it's been 50y, and their food and crops are running low. And they need to find 3 objects or artifacts of the Sun Goddess to break the Curse of eternal night
It has religion in it, but it's made up, to be the book's plot's gods and goddesses, so none from real life.
Meanwhile, there are soldiers and recruits for the mission, and Kiara is the only girl there. Her brother is weak and has breathing problems, and she got recruited in his place.
She falls for the commander, who also falls for her, but she's got this friend, Patrick, who likes her too.
And she has a way with the boys, bc she's a good fighter and she's got a brother, so she's a bit cocky, know card games and such.
Her brother is back home, and the mission is supposed to be very dangerous, the commander doesn't believe he'll make it out alive a second time, and Ki has doubts, whether she'll see her brother again.
There are supposed to be wolves and bears the size of 5 grown men, in the Cursed lands, amongst other monstrosities.
She followed the group of 5 boys, in secret, who the commander took to the Cursed lands, and now all of them are to go there.
That's about how it begins, so it's up to you whether you want to read it or not, but if you're seeking my advice, I say, definitely do.
travis_92's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
jace_is_aces's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed the story and the world, but it was pretty predictable.
faeport's review against another edition
Learn the difference between poisonous and venomous PLEASE I BEG. I was already uninterested but that was the last straw.
smblanc1793's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
If you are looking for fantasy, excitement, and adventure this may work for you as long as you don’t mind the majority of the male characters being a tad milquetoast and generally indistinguishable from each other, and the female protagonist being brooding and ”not like other girls” in a YA-fiction-circa-2012 kind of way
castomb13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paulinehs01's review
It was time. I started this book back in April I got to 100 pages. I think this is the point where I have to admit to myself that I will not finish this book. The reason I simple: It is a fantasy enemies-to-lovers book but it has a dual PoV. The problem is that it is so clear that they are not enemies and that he is not the villain and those things just really annoy me. In my opinion an enemies to lovers either needs true enemies or not a dual PoV. Both would be ideal. But if they are not true enemies the dual PoV gives it away right away and there is not tension and it gets boring.