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kmkasiner's review
Not rating because it’s my own damn fault I didn’t read the words “horror” and “feasting on flesh” in the description and then I almost threw up at the cannibal/vampire scene
readinggirllie7's review
5.0
"You fought for me,"
"When I find another way, I come for you,"
"Thank you for seeing me, Kiara,"
Ohhh, my God. In the beginning, I was skeptical of reading this book because the main female character also kiara named. But I'm great full of my choice. Like I love the story, the friendships that are built. Kiara is a bad ass, you can think like how aelin galathynius is.
I cried during this book. The pain those characters felt I felt it to. The last couple of chapters it hurt a lot.
I can't wait until the second book is out. This book is worth your time, and you don't regret it.
"When I find another way, I come for you,"
"Thank you for seeing me, Kiara,"
Ohhh, my God. In the beginning, I was skeptical of reading this book because the main female character also kiara named. But I'm great full of my choice. Like I love the story, the friendships that are built. Kiara is a bad ass, you can think like how aelin galathynius is.
I cried during this book. The pain those characters felt I felt it to. The last couple of chapters it hurt a lot.
I can't wait until the second book is out. This book is worth your time, and you don't regret it.
annineamundsen's review
3.0
Entertaining enough but I didn't really click with the plot, and I thought it got worse throughout the book
CW: bullying, murder, forced enlistment, suicide
CW: bullying, murder, forced enlistment, suicide
ofhernerdywayzz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
5.0
embroi's review
Just not in the mood anymore, will pick up again later cause it sounds interesting
anyssasmith1's review
3.0
It took me a really long time to finish this but I finally did. This was hard for me to read and for me to get through. It didn’t really pick up until the last like 100 to 150 pages. I kind of guessed quite a few things. In a kingdom on the verge of collapse, the Knights must now venture into the darkest heart of land called the mist, where evil will prey upon their minds and is hellbent on killing them. Kiara and Jude are a part of the Knights and are sent into the mist. They are attracted to each other from the very beginning. They get into the mist where secrets are revealed and many things happen. There is “shouldn’t happen” love, a found family, and a traitor. It was good. I just wasn’t in love it. I liked Kiara and Jude’s banter and how they were really attracted to each other. Jake and Nic were nice friends and I loved their banter back and forth. I honestly was always off about Patrick but he played them well. It does end in a cliff hanger so most likely will be reading the second one and I hope it is better than this one. It is set up like Fourth Wing with like a quote or blurb before the chapter starts and I like that. It does switch between Jude and Kiara’s perspective as well. I give it 3/5 ⭐️ no spice just hot kissing
livvthepig's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In the beginning, this book was REALLY struggling to impress me. It seemed incredibly basic, with the whole “kingdom in darkness”, “dainty girl who is actually strong”, and my god the insta-love. It annoyed me so badly. I get that they have this connection due to story reasons, but it felt really out of character for Kiara to immediately be in love with him. She even says “I thought I hated him” girl no you didn’t, you’ve never once shown that despite him literally forcing you from your home to be sent on a death mission. She didn’t seem to care about that at all, she just goes without a complaint!! Honestly all of the characters felt really weak and I wasn’t attached to any of them, so when they started dying off I just kind of shrugged.
The saving grace was the second half of the book- I found where the story was going to be at least fairly interesting, and Kiara and Jude’s relationship was… sweet..? Despite only knowing each other for like 2 weeks and they’re like “I would destroy the entire world for this person” girl calm down. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger so we’ll see if I decide to read the sequel whenever it’s made.
The saving grace was the second half of the book- I found where the story was going to be at least fairly interesting, and Kiara and Jude’s relationship was… sweet..? Despite only knowing each other for like 2 weeks and they’re like “I would destroy the entire world for this person” girl calm down. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger so we’ll see if I decide to read the sequel whenever it’s made.
alysepalsulich's review against another edition
2.0
4/10 stars
I liked the cover and sprayed edges…that’s about it. I gave it four stars for the premise and design of the book, but there wasn’t anything else I enjoyed. Every single character fell flat as the author tried to rely upon tropes (ie, I’m not like other girls, overly friendly best friend, shadow daddy, chosen one…there wasn’t a single original character). Likewise, the story itself tried to play off of other hit romantacy novels (just reread Fourth Wing or pick up Once Upon a Broken Heart over this one for your own sanity). I think I’m even more upset about this book because I had been so excited to read it.
The premise is that there is a cursed land with knights (sick right?? We should get TONS of world building and plot development and magic system info). Our main character Kiara steps in to save her brother and becomes a knight herself even though the knights are all male (ooohhh so we’ll maybe get some She’s the Man Vibes). Starting off, the author throws you in the midst of things as though you’re joining a lecture for which you’re halfway late-I don’t have a problem with this as it can aid to an interesting middle of action start. However that info you feel like you’re missing? You never get it. That world building? Ignored. Character relationships? You’re TOLD how much everyone means to each other, but it’s never shown. Sadly, 90% of this book is telling not showing. It feels as though the author wanted every line to be quote worthy and wanted it to be as dramatic as possible, but in doing so made every sentence fall flat.
And then there is the romance. Have you ever heard of insta-love? Yeah check out this one. MOMENTS after first seeing her our supposed dark, cold, unfeeling assassin is in love and willing to give up the world for her. He reminded me of one of those guys you meet in college who has no social skills and ends up stalking you to your dorm and dining until you call campus police. Luckily, Kiara reciprocates his feelings so it’s not creepy (it still is to me, but we’ll ignore that). Kiara is the female equivalent so I guess it evens out. Only, she is determined to make every one of the knights her “brother.” I don’t remember the exact timeline, but within a few weeks she is commenting on how they are all as close knit as any family if not closer (mind you she came to take her brother’s place, but forget him am I right? Just replace him with these new guys). It is brought up MANY times how they are like family. You know how in SOC you love that found family as it grows and develops? Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait and read through any development here because you’ll be told over and over again how much they’re like family after instantly bonding.
In the midst of all of this Kiara and the knights are supposed to be training (again, we still don’t really know the knights’ purpose…they’re meant to fight, but what is that? The curse?) but it really reads more of Kiara and Jude trying to banter (this was copy paste cringe lines from every book) and both flirting and pretending to hate each other between their few meetings. This section is also Kiara reminding you she’s strong, unlike all those other girls who are weak and could never handle an environment like she is. Oh, and Jude (male love interest) growling every time a guy touches her…mind you she is the only female and she is sparring and friends with the guys…I think one time he managed to hold his growl back.
Eventually they head off into the cursed forest where there’s a lot of death, monsters, and confused feelings. The end was supposed to be a big plot twist, but realistically I think everyone will see some part of it coming (not from foreshadowing but because there isn’t any other option for the ending). Also, slight spoiler alert, but IMO the ending doesn’t make sense. The character that turns could have done what he did at any time so why wait? Why risk it? THERE IS NO LOGIC IN THIS BOOK. We never learn about the world or magic system and only gain an info dump on lore in the last few chapters.
Overall, I think the author was coerced into writing a romantacy in the Fourth Wing era and there’s nothing more there.
I liked the cover and sprayed edges…that’s about it. I gave it four stars for the premise and design of the book, but there wasn’t anything else I enjoyed. Every single character fell flat as the author tried to rely upon tropes (ie, I’m not like other girls, overly friendly best friend, shadow daddy, chosen one…there wasn’t a single original character). Likewise, the story itself tried to play off of other hit romantacy novels (just reread Fourth Wing or pick up Once Upon a Broken Heart over this one for your own sanity). I think I’m even more upset about this book because I had been so excited to read it.
The premise is that there is a cursed land with knights (sick right?? We should get TONS of world building and plot development and magic system info). Our main character Kiara steps in to save her brother and becomes a knight herself even though the knights are all male (ooohhh so we’ll maybe get some She’s the Man Vibes). Starting off, the author throws you in the midst of things as though you’re joining a lecture for which you’re halfway late-I don’t have a problem with this as it can aid to an interesting middle of action start. However that info you feel like you’re missing? You never get it. That world building? Ignored. Character relationships? You’re TOLD how much everyone means to each other, but it’s never shown. Sadly, 90% of this book is telling not showing. It feels as though the author wanted every line to be quote worthy and wanted it to be as dramatic as possible, but in doing so made every sentence fall flat.
And then there is the romance. Have you ever heard of insta-love? Yeah check out this one. MOMENTS after first seeing her our supposed dark, cold, unfeeling assassin is in love and willing to give up the world for her. He reminded me of one of those guys you meet in college who has no social skills and ends up stalking you to your dorm and dining until you call campus police. Luckily, Kiara reciprocates his feelings so it’s not creepy (it still is to me, but we’ll ignore that). Kiara is the female equivalent so I guess it evens out. Only, she is determined to make every one of the knights her “brother.” I don’t remember the exact timeline, but within a few weeks she is commenting on how they are all as close knit as any family if not closer (mind you she came to take her brother’s place, but forget him am I right? Just replace him with these new guys). It is brought up MANY times how they are like family. You know how in SOC you love that found family as it grows and develops? Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait and read through any development here because you’ll be told over and over again how much they’re like family after instantly bonding.
In the midst of all of this Kiara and the knights are supposed to be training (again, we still don’t really know the knights’ purpose…they’re meant to fight, but what is that? The curse?) but it really reads more of Kiara and Jude trying to banter (this was copy paste cringe lines from every book) and both flirting and pretending to hate each other between their few meetings. This section is also Kiara reminding you she’s strong, unlike all those other girls who are weak and could never handle an environment like she is. Oh, and Jude (male love interest) growling every time a guy touches her…mind you she is the only female and she is sparring and friends with the guys…I think one time he managed to hold his growl back.
Eventually they head off into the cursed forest where there’s a lot of death, monsters, and confused feelings. The end was supposed to be a big plot twist, but realistically I think everyone will see some part of it coming (not from foreshadowing but because there isn’t any other option for the ending). Also, slight spoiler alert, but IMO the ending doesn’t make sense. The character that turns could have done what he did at any time so why wait? Why risk it? THERE IS NO LOGIC IN THIS BOOK. We never learn about the world or magic system and only gain an info dump on lore in the last few chapters.
Overall, I think the author was coerced into writing a romantacy in the Fourth Wing era and there’s nothing more there.
espurrr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
The readers for this audiobook are fantastic.
The characters feel well developed and consistent. The action is good.
The characters feel well developed and consistent. The action is good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder