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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I understand that this duology happens after the events of the first trilogy in the Remnant Chronicles (I hope to read that someday) but that you don’t need to have read it. I love Kazi and Jase and all their adventuring. Kazi being the fierce and formidable street thief (queue Vin or Kaz Brekker but also she spat in the Queen’s face!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've heard a lot of good things about this book, but to me it felt very slow and boring
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is one gem of a find, i really really liked it. this is a tale of a love forged in the fire of duty and deception, and of two hearts caught in a dance as dangerous as it is irresistible. beautiful, just beautiful.
premise: from the moment Kazi, a former street thief, crosses paths with Jase, the heir to an outlaw dynasty, their fates entwine like the stars that burn brightest before dawn. she is fierce, sharp, and loyal to a mission that demands she betray him. he is strong, proud, and sworn to protect a legacy built on defying kings. their attraction is a slow, smoldering ember that flares with every glance, every challenge, every whispered confession in the dark. the world building is INTOXICATING, definitely a nail-biter. The Ballenger empire is a kingdom without a crown, a force that bows to no one, yet Jase finds himself unraveling in Kazi’s presence. and Kazi, who has spent her life fighting for every scrap of survival, finds herself in the arms of the one person she was meant to outmaneuver. their love is not gentle—it is a battle, a breathtaking collision of loyalty and longing, trust and treachery.
hence the romance, this is a story of survival too, of legacies written in blood, and of two people who should have been enemies but instead become something more. it's the kind of book that lingers, like the echo of a love story that was never meant to be—but somehow, against all odds, was. and is.
if you crave young adult romance that is high in fantasy, badass characters, and moments that has betrayal, unexpected twists, and events that will have you clutching your heart? this is the one.
4.5 ⭐️
premise: from the moment Kazi, a former street thief, crosses paths with Jase, the heir to an outlaw dynasty, their fates entwine like the stars that burn brightest before dawn. she is fierce, sharp, and loyal to a mission that demands she betray him. he is strong, proud, and sworn to protect a legacy built on defying kings. their attraction is a slow, smoldering ember that flares with every glance, every challenge, every whispered confession in the dark. the world building is INTOXICATING, definitely a nail-biter. The Ballenger empire is a kingdom without a crown, a force that bows to no one, yet Jase finds himself unraveling in Kazi’s presence. and Kazi, who has spent her life fighting for every scrap of survival, finds herself in the arms of the one person she was meant to outmaneuver. their love is not gentle—it is a battle, a breathtaking collision of loyalty and longing, trust and treachery.
hence the romance, this is a story of survival too, of legacies written in blood, and of two people who should have been enemies but instead become something more. it's the kind of book that lingers, like the echo of a love story that was never meant to be—but somehow, against all odds, was. and is.
if you crave young adult romance that is high in fantasy, badass characters, and moments that has betrayal, unexpected twists, and events that will have you clutching your heart? this is the one.
4.5 ⭐️
I really liked most of this book but the ending felt really rushed and strange.
I feel like there wasn’t enough world building and so it could be sometimes hard to follow. Good plot and fun writing though!
I feel like there wasn’t enough world building and so it could be sometimes hard to follow. Good plot and fun writing though!
jase and kazi has my soul <3 love the worldbuilding and the engaging story. the ballenger family will always have a special place in my heart. call me the patrei because im willing to do anything to protect them too.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Summary
Kazi, former street rat and thief, is a soldier ... an elite one at that ... and she's on a mission. Jase has recently been thrust into leadership after his father's unexpected death, which makes him part of her mission (unbeknownst to him and a surprise to her). Neither of them planned to be captured by slave traders and end up chained together, even after their escape. A tentative trust, friendship, and attraction grows between them, but it's built on a foundation of lies and deceits. Everything they're building is destined to crumble. But what if that's not the tomorrow they want? Is it too late to fix their broken foundation?
My Thoughts
Hands down, my favorite thing about this book is the way it undermines the typical way misunderstandings and deceptions destroy the characters' relationships. This story, more than most, gives Kazi and Jase reasons to distrust each other, turn on each other, and have dramatic fallings out ... and that certainly impacts the story and their relationship. Kazi pushed Jase away and Jase withholds information, for many reasons of which distrust is one. But I love the way they see the good in each other, even when they're angry, hurt, or have had their trust broken. Love the way Jase's protectiveness persists no matter what Kazi does to alienate him.
The story reads like a fantasy novel, but the world building carries a vaguely post-apocalyptic flavor and there's no real magic, mythical creatures, or other "other worldly" elements. The closest we get are some massive predatory birds, ghosts that flutter on the edges of both awareness and the story, and Death as tangible being.
Some of the writings from the Ballinger family histories carry hints or Biblical phrasing and themes, but it's minor enough that I'm not sure if it's an intentional parallel or happenstance.
Content Disclosure
Minimal swearing (all i can think of is one scene where Jase, without understanding the language, recognizes that he's been called an unpleasant name and voices it).
Violence and injury are present and moderately graphic.
Kissing, physical attraction, and undescribed touching are present. S*x is referenced euphemistically several times and once it's implied that characters desire to go all the way instead of stopping with making out, but lack of protection and imprudence of a potential pregnancy is a sufficiently dissuading factor.
Characters visit a temple, make both monetary and blood sacrifices, and support religious people including priestesses and seers. This is mostly treated as a setting detail, not a key element of plot or character.
Kazi, former street rat and thief, is a soldier ... an elite one at that ... and she's on a mission. Jase has recently been thrust into leadership after his father's unexpected death, which makes him part of her mission (unbeknownst to him and a surprise to her). Neither of them planned to be captured by slave traders and end up chained together, even after their escape. A tentative trust, friendship, and attraction grows between them, but it's built on a foundation of lies and deceits. Everything they're building is destined to crumble. But what if that's not the tomorrow they want? Is it too late to fix their broken foundation?
My Thoughts
Hands down, my favorite thing about this book is the way it undermines the typical way misunderstandings and deceptions destroy the characters' relationships. This story, more than most, gives Kazi and Jase reasons to distrust each other, turn on each other, and have dramatic fallings out ... and that certainly impacts the story and their relationship. Kazi pushed Jase away and Jase withholds information, for many reasons of which distrust is one. But I love the way they see the good in each other, even when they're angry, hurt, or have had their trust broken. Love the way Jase's protectiveness persists no matter what Kazi does to alienate him.
The story reads like a fantasy novel, but the world building carries a vaguely post-apocalyptic flavor and there's no real magic, mythical creatures, or other "other worldly" elements. The closest we get are some massive predatory birds, ghosts that flutter on the edges of both awareness and the story, and Death as tangible being.
Some of the writings from the Ballinger family histories carry hints or Biblical phrasing and themes, but it's minor enough that I'm not sure if it's an intentional parallel or happenstance.
Content Disclosure
Minimal swearing (all i can think of is one scene where Jase, without understanding the language, recognizes that he's been called an unpleasant name and voices it).
Violence and injury are present and moderately graphic.
Kissing, physical attraction, and undescribed touching are present. S*x is referenced euphemistically several times and once it's implied that characters desire to go all the way instead of stopping with making out, but lack of protection and imprudence of a potential pregnancy is a sufficiently dissuading factor.
Characters visit a temple, make both monetary and blood sacrifices, and support religious people including priestesses and seers. This is mostly treated as a setting detail, not a key element of plot or character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail