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sillyfroggy's review
3.0
I'm not sure what book genre this is supposed to be in but given the multiple sex references I assume it's not YA. Ironically, while I enjoyed a story featuring a heroine who is not a blushing virgin, I think it would have been stronger had the sexual references been removed and marketed as a YA fantasy.
I enjoyed the story of this one, but the characters felt a little flat with connections between them feeling very superficial. A number of disturbing events occur in the book but because I didn't really have an emotional investment in the world or any of the characters they weren't as impactful as they should have been.
The magic system was a little confusing. If you're using an elemental magic system, why are there no fire or water magicians?
Neve, the FMC, often was able to do things that should be impossible - e.g. accessing magic she shouldn't be able to - sometimes with consequences, mostly without. Fighting off multiple stronger, quicker enemies with just a sword she hasn't been trained to use. Surviving situations that should have gotten her killed. Magical recovery abilities.
The whole 'marked' situation also felt very underdeveloped, and the FMC never really seems to face any consequences of being marked. Things are described in relation to her situation and the opportunities she has, but there are no direct effects of it throughout the book.
There also seemed to be a number of errors in descriptions of things that make you go "huh"? One of the weirdest plot points for me was the fact that
Overall, I enjoyed this well enough, but it hasn't motivated me to race out and buy more books from this author.
I enjoyed the story of this one, but the characters felt a little flat with connections between them feeling very superficial. A number of disturbing events occur in the book but because I didn't really have an emotional investment in the world or any of the characters they weren't as impactful as they should have been.
The magic system was a little confusing. If you're using an elemental magic system, why are there no fire or water magicians?
Neve, the FMC, often was able to do things that should be impossible - e.g. accessing magic she shouldn't be able to - sometimes with consequences, mostly without. Fighting off multiple stronger, quicker enemies with just a sword she hasn't been trained to use. Surviving situations that should have gotten her killed. Magical recovery abilities.
The whole 'marked' situation also felt very underdeveloped, and the FMC never really seems to face any consequences of being marked. Things are described in relation to her situation and the opportunities she has, but there are no direct effects of it throughout the book.
There also seemed to be a number of errors in descriptions of things that make you go "huh"? One of the weirdest plot points for me was the fact that
Spoiler
the FMC was the only one who could break into the enemy's stronghold because of her shared DNA with her twin sister - as twins the DNA would be virtually identical and would confuse the Queen. However, quite obviously they were fraternal twins since the FMC had no idea the woman she saved was her sister - so the DNA similarity wouldn't be that strong.Overall, I enjoyed this well enough, but it hasn't motivated me to race out and buy more books from this author.
zoi_ew's review against another edition
3.5
Interesting, the series is actually 3 standalone books, but I enjoyed them all.
boneist's review
4.0
This book started off with a massive brain dump of names (places, characters, alien races, etc), along with some overly flowery writing, which was initially off-putting. However, it improved after that; the story was fast-paced and I liked the character growth of our protagonist.
marxamod's review
I think I liked this book but somehow my attention kept waning. Probably just life rather than the writing.
gonza_basta's review
2.0
Perhaps the idea was good, but the development too long and boring, the characters were not interesting at all and for the couple there was no chemistry to speak of.
Forse l'idea era anche buona, ma lo svolgimento troppo lungo e noioso, i personaggi non mi hanno "preso" per niente e nella coppia la chimica era inesistente.
Forse l'idea era anche buona, ma lo svolgimento troppo lungo e noioso, i personaggi non mi hanno "preso" per niente e nella coppia la chimica era inesistente.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
4.0
Love the world-build here. Crap-ton of non-con, though I've come to expect that from Arthur at this point.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
I have seen some call this fantasy romance, but I do not really want to call it that. She has grenades and assault riffles. Yes to sci.fi romance. I could even imagine this being a future from earth where settlers lost a lot of their history and tech in wars. Who knows! But it sure is interesting.
Neve grew up a soldier. It's a class society. We have those with magic and those without, unlit. We have those that are stained (like Neve), bearing patches of skin belonging to an enemy of a long ago war. Though she can speak with the wind, but that is something she does not tell. She would only end up being a breeder (yes this world can be pretty horrid that way.) Like all societies it has its good parts and its bad parts. Like how they are very sexually. But yes then there is the whole breeder thing. And the whole stained was killed at birth in the old days.
In this world there are bad guys roaming the wastelands, another race that eats the flesh of humans and are stronger and faster.
I am loosing my train of thought. You know what, I really enjoyed this book. There is a mystery as a woman lost for 12 years is found in the desert. There is a conspiracy going on. There is a hunky guy she meets who needs her help. There is lots of fighting since well, baddies outside the walls! And there are such creepy bad guys with their plot. That is beyond cruel.
I am intrigued by this world, I do want more. Now it's like they do not really know more because of those long ago wars.
Book 2 is to be about someone else so yes there is an ending and I was happy with it. It worked out very well.
Great new start to a series!
Narrator
Oh it is Justine Eyre! I do like her so of course I liked everything about how she narrated this book!
Neve grew up a soldier. It's a class society. We have those with magic and those without, unlit. We have those that are stained (like Neve), bearing patches of skin belonging to an enemy of a long ago war. Though she can speak with the wind, but that is something she does not tell. She would only end up being a breeder (yes this world can be pretty horrid that way.) Like all societies it has its good parts and its bad parts. Like how they are very sexually. But yes then there is the whole breeder thing. And the whole stained was killed at birth in the old days.
In this world there are bad guys roaming the wastelands, another race that eats the flesh of humans and are stronger and faster.
I am loosing my train of thought. You know what, I really enjoyed this book. There is a mystery as a woman lost for 12 years is found in the desert. There is a conspiracy going on. There is a hunky guy she meets who needs her help. There is lots of fighting since well, baddies outside the walls! And there are such creepy bad guys with their plot. That is beyond cruel.
I am intrigued by this world, I do want more. Now it's like they do not really know more because of those long ago wars.
Book 2 is to be about someone else so yes there is an ending and I was happy with it. It worked out very well.
Great new start to a series!
Narrator
Oh it is Justine Eyre! I do like her so of course I liked everything about how she narrated this book!