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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 3 stars
Spice: đśď¸đśď¸
Tropes:
âď¸Stabby FMC
âď¸Second chance
âď¸Found family
âď¸Riddles/Trials
âď¸Love triangle in the works?
âď¸Multiple POV
âď¸Past/present time shifts
âď¸Betrayal
Trigger Warnings:
â ď¸Violence/Torture
â ď¸Substance abuse
â ď¸Loss/Grieving
Iâm conflicted. I really didnât mesh with the FMC, Ophelia, here, but I have that mostly down to her grief, substance abuse, and bad coping mechanisms. Iâm hoping for more from her in future books. I also really disliked the ending and where this series seems to be heading, but weâll get into that. I did, however, greatly enjoy the found family and the healing aspects of this book.
Two years after the end of her world, Ophelia is struggling to accept the loss of the life sheâd planned. Sheâs meant to be an ascended warrior of her people, but that practice has been banned. Sheâs meant to be married to the love of her young life, but heâs missing and believed dead. She wonât let others force her into accepting his demise, however. No matter what it takes, sheâs determined to find both him and a way to complete the Undertaking and take her place as an ascended.
Thereâs tons of ground to cover just from that basic summary. Ophelia has many demons to conquer, but she has even more friends that will always have her back no matter what. The found family element they create is lovely and funny and entertaining to read, with some highly interesting side characters that I canât wait to read more about. The world-building felt a bit clunky and confusing at first, but you do get into the spiritâno pun intendedâof things and the latter half of the book goes much faster than that hellaciously slow beginning.
So letâs get into the big problem of this book for me: the difference between healing and growing, and plot convenience. While I donât normally mind predictability in books so long as the journey is entertaining, this one might prove an exception to that rule. You do see every single âtwistâ coming from miles aheadâunless youâre Ophelia, supposedly the strongest and smartest warrior of her generation, as she loves to remind peopleâand itâs clear what the author is trying to set up. Malakai and Ophelia had a beautiful relationship growing as childhood sweethearts, but first relationships almost never last. Theyâve changed, their experiences have reshaped them, and they no longer mesh. I get all that, and I like to see it, I wanted these characters to get to the same destination as the author. But I donât like the means by which the author is triggering their downfall as a couple. Ophelia is clinging to this irrational, absurd anger that Malakai âbetrayedâ her, when she admits she would have done exactly the same thing (and HAS to her so-called friends!!!), but itâs enough that she wonders if she can ever trust him again? Bffr. Itâs so contrived and stupid.
The trials that are built up for like the first 80% of the book are over in a matter of paragraphs, ridiculously easy. So underwhelming. The one spicy scene was ruined for me because all I could think about was the fact that heâs been stuck under a volcano being tortured for the last two years, and sheâs been traipsing about a volcanic tundra in leather for the past, what? Week? No bathing. Literally the scene before their little tryst had them both kneeling and covered in the blood of their enemies and I donât think either of them even washed their hands.
Iâll still be checking out the rest of the series, because the bones are there for this to be an epic romantasy. I just hope itâs not another Booktok let-down.
Spice: đśď¸đśď¸
Tropes:
âď¸Stabby FMC
âď¸Second chance
âď¸Found family
âď¸Riddles/Trials
âď¸Love triangle in the works?
âď¸Multiple POV
âď¸Past/present time shifts
âď¸Betrayal
Trigger Warnings:
â ď¸Violence/Torture
â ď¸Substance abuse
â ď¸Loss/Grieving
Iâm conflicted. I really didnât mesh with the FMC, Ophelia, here, but I have that mostly down to her grief, substance abuse, and bad coping mechanisms. Iâm hoping for more from her in future books. I also really disliked the ending and where this series seems to be heading, but weâll get into that. I did, however, greatly enjoy the found family and the healing aspects of this book.
Two years after the end of her world, Ophelia is struggling to accept the loss of the life sheâd planned. Sheâs meant to be an ascended warrior of her people, but that practice has been banned. Sheâs meant to be married to the love of her young life, but heâs missing and believed dead. She wonât let others force her into accepting his demise, however. No matter what it takes, sheâs determined to find both him and a way to complete the Undertaking and take her place as an ascended.
Thereâs tons of ground to cover just from that basic summary. Ophelia has many demons to conquer, but she has even more friends that will always have her back no matter what. The found family element they create is lovely and funny and entertaining to read, with some highly interesting side characters that I canât wait to read more about. The world-building felt a bit clunky and confusing at first, but you do get into the spiritâno pun intendedâof things and the latter half of the book goes much faster than that hellaciously slow beginning.
So letâs get into the big problem of this book for me: the difference between healing and growing, and plot convenience. While I donât normally mind predictability in books so long as the journey is entertaining, this one might prove an exception to that rule. You do see every single âtwistâ coming from miles aheadâunless youâre Ophelia, supposedly the strongest and smartest warrior of her generation, as she loves to remind peopleâand itâs clear what the author is trying to set up. Malakai and Ophelia had a beautiful relationship growing as childhood sweethearts, but first relationships almost never last. Theyâve changed, their experiences have reshaped them, and they no longer mesh. I get all that, and I like to see it, I wanted these characters to get to the same destination as the author. But I donât like the means by which the author is triggering their downfall as a couple. Ophelia is clinging to this irrational, absurd anger that Malakai âbetrayedâ her, when she admits she would have done exactly the same thing (and HAS to her so-called friends!!!), but itâs enough that she wonders if she can ever trust him again? Bffr. Itâs so contrived and stupid.
The trials that are built up for like the first 80% of the book are over in a matter of paragraphs, ridiculously easy. So underwhelming. The one spicy scene was ruined for me because all I could think about was the fact that heâs been stuck under a volcano being tortured for the last two years, and sheâs been traipsing about a volcanic tundra in leather for the past, what? Week? No bathing. Literally the scene before their little tryst had them both kneeling and covered in the blood of their enemies and I donât think either of them even washed their hands.
Iâll still be checking out the rest of the series, because the bones are there for this to be an epic romantasy. I just hope itâs not another Booktok let-down.
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 rounded up to 4 because i really really love the found family and character building in this book!! it felt a little slow at times, and each conflict was resolved fairly quick, but i had a great time reading it and i can see the potential for the series to be incredibly rewarding to read!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Okay, please donât attack me for this review (Iâm so sorry
Great start to the series and definitely encouraged me to continue. I donât love the romance but the other aspects of the book are amazing and Iâm left wanting to read more about Ophelia and this world
Didnât love the writing style and wasnât connecting to the protagonist
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I did like this but it was a little predictable and I didnât feel strongly connected to the characters (aside from Tolek
The gasps I gusped and the tears I shed. This book was incredible. Read it now.