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darklight_julez's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Starlight Jewel @lyons_pen
"πΎπππ π π πππ ππππ πππππππππ ππππ πππππ ππππ ππ πππ πππ ππππππππ πππ - ππππ πππ πππ π-πππππ πππ'ππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππ? π©ππ ππππ πππππ πππ πππ π ππ'π πππππππππ?"
Before starting this review I have you give a huge thankyou to the author for sending me this BEAUTIFUL hardback copy of the book.
I have to say, I found it quite hard to read in the beginning because there is alot of world building. I had the same experience with SJM crescent city and after a few chapters I was totally sucked into Axlys world and how much we needed that world building in the beginning!
Our MC- Axly- The Starlight Jewel, raised by the Starlight Company to be an assassin come seductress who inherits gifts such as sharper hearing, soundless footsteps etc from her father- Roarik, king of the sprygans, will stop at nothing to protect the one she loves the most. Even if it means killing her company brothers. But falling in love with her mark is the last thing she expects to do, especially when he gets effaced (memories of her wiped)... Again.
Grim, Axlys mark, is such an incredible character and even though he isnt the main character, I believe he stole the book for me. He is very straight talking, stand offish and prim and proper. Making him and Axly the most unlikely of couples.
I also love Gregs power to look into the glass and the connection between the glass from Axlys shoes! Gregs growth through the book is great as he starts to use his power in new ways and starts to live in a world where he isn't running all the time-he finally has a home. Until it gets taken away suddenly.
My other most favorite characters are Henry,Baj and Cira'lav!
The whole books is incredibly well written, well thought out and well structured. It's such an intricately woven story that I couldn't help but get lost in it! It did take alot of concentration as there is such alot going on under the surface but I loved it!
There are so many underlying little Easter eggs of cinderella in this book but with a much much darker side!
ββββ. 5/βββββ
"πΎπππ π π πππ ππππ πππππππππ ππππ πππππ ππππ ππ πππ πππ ππππππππ πππ - ππππ πππ πππ π-πππππ πππ'ππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππ? π©ππ ππππ πππππ πππ πππ π ππ'π πππππππππ?"
Before starting this review I have you give a huge thankyou to the author for sending me this BEAUTIFUL hardback copy of the book.
I have to say, I found it quite hard to read in the beginning because there is alot of world building. I had the same experience with SJM crescent city and after a few chapters I was totally sucked into Axlys world and how much we needed that world building in the beginning!
Our MC- Axly- The Starlight Jewel, raised by the Starlight Company to be an assassin come seductress who inherits gifts such as sharper hearing, soundless footsteps etc from her father- Roarik, king of the sprygans, will stop at nothing to protect the one she loves the most. Even if it means killing her company brothers. But falling in love with her mark is the last thing she expects to do, especially when he gets effaced (memories of her wiped)... Again.
Grim, Axlys mark, is such an incredible character and even though he isnt the main character, I believe he stole the book for me. He is very straight talking, stand offish and prim and proper. Making him and Axly the most unlikely of couples.
I also love Gregs power to look into the glass and the connection between the glass from Axlys shoes! Gregs growth through the book is great as he starts to use his power in new ways and starts to live in a world where he isn't running all the time-he finally has a home. Until it gets taken away suddenly.
My other most favorite characters are Henry,Baj and Cira'lav!
The whole books is incredibly well written, well thought out and well structured. It's such an intricately woven story that I couldn't help but get lost in it! It did take alot of concentration as there is such alot going on under the surface but I loved it!
There are so many underlying little Easter eggs of cinderella in this book but with a much much darker side!
ββββ. 5/βββββ
mathy_coffees_n_midnightreads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fellumhistane's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really fun read, full of very unique world building and exciting plot twists.
I liked the chapter titles, the author's witty style and the imagery conveyed.
Axly as a main character was a bit incompatible with me. She has all the unique gifts and is the exception to every rule. Every conversation about Axly without her present mentions how beautiful she is. She is the the exposition delivery device, as well as the majority POV, which gives the impression sometimes that she has read the author's plot notes. Luckily, characters I really enjoyed made up for it, including Jory, Henry and Cira'lav.
I am very likely to read the rest of this series when available.
I liked the chapter titles, the author's witty style and the imagery conveyed.
Axly as a main character was a bit incompatible with me. She has all the unique gifts and is the exception to every rule. Every conversation about Axly without her present mentions how beautiful she is. She is the the exposition delivery device, as well as the majority POV, which gives the impression sometimes that she has read the author's plot notes. Luckily, characters I really enjoyed made up for it, including Jory, Henry and Cira'lav.
I am very likely to read the rest of this series when available.
thogek's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Classism, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Torture
ayearinbookswithzoe's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Cursing, Ableism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Torture
jagoda_readsbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
E.L. Lyons wrote a fantasy novel in a world that makes you want more!
If I didn't know that this was a first novel - and self published on top of that - I never would've guessed. The writing is top notch and leaves you forgetting time while reading it.
What I liked:
- Not romance focused (although there is romance and it is relevant to the plot)
- The world, with it's many quirks and differences from our world
- The social structure the hybrids have built for themselves and how they have their own set of moral codes and rules
- The main character, who's badass, morally grey and vulnerable at the same time
- Many different loveable characters, and although the point of view is focused on the MC mostly, we also get other POVs, which for me personally really added to the story
- unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing
- The political intrigues and motivations that hint at much more to come
The book and the World it's set in also felt very unique to me, or at least I can't think of a series to compare it with.
Loved this book and can't wait for the second one! Let's see if it has me nearly throwing my phone at the wall as well π€£
If I didn't know that this was a first novel - and self published on top of that - I never would've guessed. The writing is top notch and leaves you forgetting time while reading it.
What I liked:
- Not romance focused (although there is romance and it is relevant to the plot)
- The world, with it's many quirks and differences from our world
- The social structure the hybrids have built for themselves and how they have their own set of moral codes and rules
- The main character, who's badass, morally grey and vulnerable at the same time
- Many different loveable characters, and although the point of view is focused on the MC mostly, we also get other POVs, which for me personally really added to the story
- unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing
- The political intrigues and motivations that hint at much more to come
The book and the World it's set in also felt very unique to me, or at least I can't think of a series to compare it with.
Loved this book and can't wait for the second one! Let's see if it has me nearly throwing my phone at the wall as well π€£
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