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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(SPOILERS)
I’m in two minds about this book.
Firstly it was a good debut novel by this author and I liked the summary of it which intrigued me to go ahead and read it. I loved the trigger warnings at the beginning and the index of pronunciations of names and places. I think that really helps, as a reader, going into a fantasy novel with all these new people to read about and you know going straight in how to say them. It helps you connect more to the characters as well.
A couple things I wasn’t a fan of was the twist. I pretty much guessed it from the get go and wasn’t surprised by it at all. I think if said character was put as more likeable from the start it would have came as more of a shock. I wish the trials were harder. It felt far to easy for anyone to go and do them despite them being banned and I just wished they were more of a challenge that a person themself would have to go through to come out a fully fledged warrior, that wasn’t all mental tasks. There was a character that was brought up that we hadn’t previously read about or even knew existed and they were a key part of the “plan” which I feel didn’t make sense. If they had been brought up earlier in the book or if we met them even once then I feel like there would be more of a connect and understanding of motives and reasoning as to why. It just felt like it was their for shock value.
I will definitely still continue with the series as I do still like the premise and am curious how things will go. I do have a few suspicions about certain characters and I do like our little circle of found family. But I too would constantly be remembering Toleks highlighted hair and eyes too 🤭
I’m in two minds about this book.
Firstly it was a good debut novel by this author and I liked the summary of it which intrigued me to go ahead and read it. I loved the trigger warnings at the beginning and the index of pronunciations of names and places. I think that really helps, as a reader, going into a fantasy novel with all these new people to read about and you know going straight in how to say them. It helps you connect more to the characters as well.
A couple things I wasn’t a fan of was the twist. I pretty much guessed it from the get go and wasn’t surprised by it at all. I think if said character was put as more likeable from the start it would have came as more of a shock. I wish the trials were harder. It felt far to easy for anyone to go and do them despite them being banned and I just wished they were more of a challenge that a person themself would have to go through to come out a fully fledged warrior, that wasn’t all mental tasks. There was a character that was brought up that we hadn’t previously read about or even knew existed and they were a key part of the “plan” which I feel didn’t make sense. If they had been brought up earlier in the book or if we met them even once then I feel like there would be more of a connect and understanding of motives and reasoning as to why. It just felt like it was their for shock value.
I will definitely still continue with the series as I do still like the premise and am curious how things will go. I do have a few suspicions about certain characters and I do like our little circle of found family. But I too would constantly be remembering Toleks highlighted hair and eyes too 🤭
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
was pleasantly surprised at how good the book was - the plot was refreshing and interesting and honestly had me on my toes wondering what was going to happen next. am a sucker for romance so the relationship between the FMC and MMC satisfied my sappy heart (but also the mixed emotions FMC faced? A+ for not just skipping over that for a happily ever after). loved the friendship in the group - a great mix of friends with different personalities which was realistic?? i might be wrong but im sensing a tolek vs malachi kinda situation and IM NOT FOR IT. AT ALL. i hate it when people cant just be friends and theres some terrible third party action forced into the timeline. like god if tolek remains a gentlemen (specially knowing ophelia loves malachi) i fucking swear if malachi becomes cowardly and ego trips on his friend i’ll give up on the series. otherwise will continue the series!!
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
I started this book for a book club, theirs is nothing wrong with what I read ( just the first chapter) it just didn’t hook me.
I think normally this would be a 3.5 stars for me but it gets an extra 0.5 stars for breaking me out of my month-long slump. I have to reward a book that makes reading feel easy again and makes me excited to pick up more books. One of the best indie fantasy debuts I’ve read, it’s up there with Air Awakens and Daughter of No Worlds. I have a special place in my heart for these 3 books because I feel like it’s so hard in fantasy to do something new. I have so much respect for indie authors who try to do this and I think The Curse of Ophelia, along with the other two I mentioned, really pull it off. I related to Ophelia a lot, kind of the same way I relate to Darcy in Zodiac Academy. It’s very easy for me to read about Ophelia and I can just totally imagine myself acting this way in these circumstances.
I loved the friend group. They felt so authentic, you know the kind you mess around with but when you need each other they’re there for you, you feel very comfortable with them but you still keep secrets until there’s circumstances that force you closer together.
It’s a really simple magic system but sometimes I got lost with all the names. The first 100 pages was more learning the characters rather than the magic which I liked because sometimes I just like I’m too tired for world like intense world building.
I really loved the sister bond. I liked how each of the female characters were strong in different ways and the men weren’t really alpha males, they were strong but they were still very kind and supportive.
I feel like it’s finally acceptable, since I’ve written a nice coherent review, to finally gush about Tolek!! I’m absolutely obsessed with him. He pops in here and there but I feel like he’s always just so sweet every time. He is so grounding. I just need more of him.
I loved the friend group. They felt so authentic, you know the kind you mess around with but when you need each other they’re there for you, you feel very comfortable with them but you still keep secrets until there’s circumstances that force you closer together.
It’s a really simple magic system but sometimes I got lost with all the names. The first 100 pages was more learning the characters rather than the magic which I liked because sometimes I just like I’m too tired for world like intense world building.
I really loved the sister bond. I liked how each of the female characters were strong in different ways and the men weren’t really alpha males, they were strong but they were still very kind and supportive.
I feel like it’s finally acceptable, since I’ve written a nice coherent review, to finally gush about Tolek!! I’m absolutely obsessed with him. He pops in here and there but I feel like he’s always just so sweet every time. He is so grounding. I just need more of him.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated