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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I think this was more of a three and a half stars for me, and more enjoyable than that implies. I will be looking out the sequel when that comes out at least :)
I liked the basic concept and the characters. What I didn't love was the fact that everything you're told about Kali isn't really true. She's not pretty, or like the others, but somehow gets two guys after her and others call her beautiful. She's not a good fighter, or at least not as well trained, but wins all her fights pretty much. Though I get that some is luck there. And then she's suddenly a bhuta and has powers. It just feels over done at this point. Having said all that, I think it's well done for what it is.
I sort of liked Jaya being brought in as the general's wife, and while I was sad to see her die it does feed the story. I do feel her escaping would have as well though! And on that note, I was sad to see Deven come back from the dead! That feels so mean to say, but I think it would have been a better story. His character is definitely the weakest, and I never like the whole "I saw you and immediately wanted you" BS.
I liked Natesa's development. And the backstory for Deven and his family.
I also think the story handled the complicated story of the courtesans, domestic violence and non consensual sexual fairly well. I'd have like to see it a bit more explicitly, but given it's a controversial topic the contempt Kali and other characters had for it, and discussions of how to weather it, was reasonably good.
Overall not the strongest, but very enjoyable and a very easy read.
I liked the basic concept and the characters. What I didn't love was the fact that everything you're told about Kali isn't really true. She's not pretty, or like the others, but somehow gets two guys after her and others call her beautiful. She's not a good fighter, or at least not as well trained, but wins all her fights pretty much. Though I get that some is luck there. And then she's suddenly a bhuta and has powers. It just feels over done at this point. Having said all that, I think it's well done for what it is.
I sort of liked Jaya being brought in as the general's wife, and while I was sad to see her die it does feed the story. I do feel her escaping would have as well though! And on that note, I was sad to see Deven come back from the dead! That feels so mean to say, but I think it would have been a better story. His character is definitely the weakest, and I never like the whole "I saw you and immediately wanted you" BS.
I liked Natesa's development. And the backstory for Deven and his family.
I also think the story handled the complicated story of the courtesans, domestic violence and non consensual sexual fairly well. I'd have like to see it a bit more explicitly, but given it's a controversial topic the contempt Kali and other characters had for it, and discussions of how to weather it, was reasonably good.
Overall not the strongest, but very enjoyable and a very easy read.
adventurous
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:
Yes
Mediocre
Predictable plot & one dimensional characters
Predictable plot & one dimensional characters
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I am sooo conflicted by this book, I don't even know what to say. I did really enjoy it on the one hand, but on the other hand I had lots of problems with it.
So I decided I'd compile a short list of pros and cons I noticed while reading for anyone who's trying to decide whether to read this book. Here goes:
Pros:
+ It was really very entertaining, the plot was pretty interesting to me and kept me turning the pages super fast.
+ I did like the writing very much, some quotes really resonated with me and the way the author describes the setting seemed very vivid.
+ I did like the way the book set up for expansion (which I really hope will be part of the other three books of the series). I know some people might see it as a lack of world building and intricacy but I enjoy that it leaves room for all kinds of possibilities.
+ Natesa - she was such an interesting and layered character, I loved all of her scenes!
Cons:
- Right of the bat - the insta love. The romance really wasn't very well done, the MC and the love interest meet and within 40 pages or so they're absolutely infatuated with each other. What the heck.
- Tying into that, the MC keeps talking about how she's oh so unattractive while everyone else thinks shes super hot. But that's just a pet peeve of mine.
- A majority of the characters, especially the MC Kalinda and the first wife Lakia, were so inconsistent to me in their actions and thoughts.
- Deven - he just fell sooo flat for me, there was so much potential but his character was so generic and dull, which a, made the insta love thing even less believable and b, just bored me.
Overall there were also a number of problematic scenes and views as well as some very awkardly and weirdly handled situations () which threw me off quite a bit.
Will I continue with the series? Probably, because I do want to see if the author expands on the world and where the story goes.
So I decided I'd compile a short list of pros and cons I noticed while reading for anyone who's trying to decide whether to read this book. Here goes:
Pros:
+ It was really very entertaining, the plot was pretty interesting to me and kept me turning the pages super fast.
+ I did like the writing very much, some quotes really resonated with me and the way the author describes the setting seemed very vivid.
+ I did like the way the book set up for expansion (which I really hope will be part of the other three books of the series). I know some people might see it as a lack of world building and intricacy but I enjoy that it leaves room for all kinds of possibilities.
+ Natesa - she was such an interesting and layered character, I loved all of her scenes!
Cons:
- Right of the bat - the insta love. The romance really wasn't very well done, the MC and the love interest meet and within 40 pages or so they're absolutely infatuated with each other. What the heck.
- Tying into that, the MC keeps talking about how she's oh so unattractive while everyone else thinks shes super hot. But that's just a pet peeve of mine.
- A majority of the characters, especially the MC Kalinda and the first wife Lakia, were so inconsistent to me in their actions and thoughts.
- Deven - he just fell sooo flat for me, there was so much potential but his character was so generic and dull, which a, made the insta love thing even less believable and b, just bored me.
Overall there were also a number of problematic scenes and views as well as some very awkardly and weirdly handled situations (
Spoiler
the Deven and Brac reunion for example, I was so confusedWill I continue with the series? Probably, because I do want to see if the author expands on the world and where the story goes.
A quick read, good for what it is. It got it for free on Amazon so I can't be upset. It was interesting enough that I'll likely read the next book, which I also got for free.
It has all the elements of your favs...
• Commoner/Royalty interaction
• Falling in love with someone you're not supposed to
• Finding out about hidden plots or powers
• At least one person is a good fighter
• There's a girl (or two) who is hating on the main character
• Daring escapes or plans where you think they're going to get caught
•Betrayal, etc
But the story is kind of rushed and squeezed into a couple hundred pages.
It has all the elements of your favs...
• Commoner/Royalty interaction
• Falling in love with someone you're not supposed to
• Finding out about hidden plots or powers
• At least one person is a good fighter
• There's a girl (or two) who is hating on the main character
• Daring escapes or plans where you think they're going to get caught
•Betrayal, etc
But the story is kind of rushed and squeezed into a couple hundred pages.
Really everything I have thought about this book has been explained in full detail by Emily May. So definitely read her review but I do not loathe it the way she does. It wasn't anything new and exciting the way a lot of people made it sound like but it wasn't one star horrid. I really was frustrated with the love between the main characters. There really was no reason for their supposed love for each other. Yes I get instant attraction but literally everyone says she's not pretty or attractive but for some reason deven finds her "beautiful" to point of risking his job and life from the first moment they meet.
As many dystopia books these days come out, they all are starting to roll together in my mind: Competing for a prime position, backstabbing, love triangles (or misplaced), and a spiky heroine, all in first person.
Give this book a couple chapters, the beginning is ridiculously fast, giving little to the background of the character, the world, and the history. After the pace goes from lightening to a more reasonable speed, it becomes enjoyable and hard to put down.
The character's past does get revealed to the reader, but a good portion of her past, of the surrounding lands and empires and history are just shy of being a blank slate. I would have enjoyed reading more about the world, of others backstories, and the theology of this realm.
Give this book a couple chapters, the beginning is ridiculously fast, giving little to the background of the character, the world, and the history. After the pace goes from lightening to a more reasonable speed, it becomes enjoyable and hard to put down.
The character's past does get revealed to the reader, but a good portion of her past, of the surrounding lands and empires and history are just shy of being a blank slate. I would have enjoyed reading more about the world, of others backstories, and the theology of this realm.
3.5 stars.
I doubt I will continue this series on.
Although this was a nice read, I read it in a few hours today I haven't wanted to read this. I literally started it because I had nothing else to read that I could read on my phone while waiting for it to be a good time to get up.
I didn't really understand the whole love interest. It was a bit weird. I also didn't like the whole "I'm weak and feeble" but then she beats the crap out of every opponent she has...
It was a fine read just not a story I want to continue on. I just don't care.
I doubt I will continue this series on.
Although this was a nice read, I read it in a few hours today I haven't wanted to read this. I literally started it because I had nothing else to read that I could read on my phone while waiting for it to be a good time to get up.
I didn't really understand the whole love interest. It was a bit weird. I also didn't like the whole "I'm weak and feeble" but then she beats the crap out of every opponent she has...
It was a fine read just not a story I want to continue on. I just don't care.
Had high expectations for this book given summary and cover art. Unfortunately did not deliver. Story was an accumulation of multiple YA plot cliches, leading to a sort of Hunger-Games-Arabian-Nights feel. Even the character deaths felt forced and out of place. Few plot twists you didn't see coming from a mile off.