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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
This was a decent read. There was a lot going on, and I was bored at points, but it was a good story. Kali grows a lot in this first novel alone, and I look forward to reading the next ones in the series. Good find 🤗
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly this is a DNF for me, which is a real shame because on the surface it is everything I love in a book: badass female lead, magic, angst romance....
Sadly though I found the story had no depth and the characters were 2 dimensional. And that insta-love? No thanks!
Sadly though I found the story had no depth and the characters were 2 dimensional. And that insta-love? No thanks!
This book has been on my shelf for a long, long time, and I quickly found myself immersed in it. The world building and characters are great, with Kalinda being a powerful and easy to relate to girl who is both out of her depth yet strong. There were plenty of excellent action scenes and some tender romance moments.
While I do wish there had been a little more space between certain plot points and the romance didn't rush as quickly as it did, I truly loved everything else I read. The plot and story were solid, the characters understandable and complex, even the villains, and the side characters were wonderful. I really enjoyed every character's development and the drama that unfolded near the end.
I really loved the magic and the way it connected to Kalinda and her backstory. She truly is a wonderful character and I look forward to seeing her grow and advance in later books, since she is such a powerful figure by the end.
This book was definitely worth the wait and I look forward to seeing it, and Kalinda, carry on!
While I do wish there had been a little more space between certain plot points and the romance didn't rush as quickly as it did, I truly loved everything else I read. The plot and story were solid, the characters understandable and complex, even the villains, and the side characters were wonderful. I really enjoyed every character's development and the drama that unfolded near the end.
I really loved the magic and the way it connected to Kalinda and her backstory. She truly is a wonderful character and I look forward to seeing her grow and advance in later books, since she is such a powerful figure by the end.
This book was definitely worth the wait and I look forward to seeing it, and Kalinda, carry on!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
3.5 A strong first fantasy novel, one that draws on Sumerian mythology for its secondary fantasy world. Kalinda has been trained as an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, young women/girls who are trained as fighters and who can be claimed by wealthy men as wives, concubines, or servants after they participate in a tournament in front of their potential patrons. Kalinda's been sickly all her life, though, plagued by fevers, and so doesn't expect to win a tournament, or even capture the attention of any man's eye. But through a series of mishaps and emotional reactions, Kalinda ends up winning a round in the tournament, and draws the eye of the Rajah Tarek, who vows to take Kalinda as his 100th wife (his last, for it is decreed that no man may have more than 100).
Traveling to the Rajah's city, Kalinda is accompanied by a small band of soldiers, headed by Captain Deven Naik. Deven and Kalinda form a friendship, and then, once Kalinda is installed in the harem and Deven becomes her personal guard, something more. But will Deven's devotion to his country prevent him from helping Kalinda overset the Rajah's nefarious plans?
I enjoyed the feel and flavor of the secondary world King creates, as well as her characterization of Kalinda. The big secret was pretty easy to guess, and the climax and denoument went by a little too quickly, without a big emotional impact, so I didn't think this deserved a full four-stars. Still, an author worth watching.
Traveling to the Rajah's city, Kalinda is accompanied by a small band of soldiers, headed by Captain Deven Naik. Deven and Kalinda form a friendship, and then, once Kalinda is installed in the harem and Deven becomes her personal guard, something more. But will Deven's devotion to his country prevent him from helping Kalinda overset the Rajah's nefarious plans?
I enjoyed the feel and flavor of the secondary world King creates, as well as her characterization of Kalinda. The big secret was pretty easy to guess, and the climax and denoument went by a little too quickly, without a big emotional impact, so I didn't think this deserved a full four-stars. Still, an author worth watching.
The level of world building outside of a medieval European setting was more than welcome and richly drawn without being heavy on info dumps. It was woven in well. Enjoyed sinking into the world and the the story. Looking forward to reading more. The main character was compelling.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes