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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really lovely story. I felt warm and fuzzy at the end. The premise and writing was original and fresh.
I do wish Martise had had more "use" than to be a slave and give her power to someone else. she felt too weak. I wanted her to be strong.
Otherwise, really good book.
I do wish Martise had
Otherwise, really good book.
While it has fantasy elements, this is a romance first and foremost. In the fluff I read immediately prior to this, the romance was lust-fueled: Man wants woman and must possess her, but eventually realizes she has a good mind and heart as well; woman is so desperate for it she falls in love based on fervor and virility alone. This book, however, had more of a Jane Eyre, slow burn quality: Man’s not too impressed by the “drab” creature inhabiting his house, until he realizes she’s smart and funny and a hard worker, and of course when he finds out her frumpy clothes are hiding a beautiful body, it’s all downhill from there.
So yeah, I totally bought the friendship/mutual respect basis for their relationship. And I appreciated that the heroine dove into the sexual relationship headfirst (not literally, if I recall correctly—but she didn’t have terrible insecurities about not being beautiful or her slave status or anything [don't worry, she wasn’t his slave—that would be icky!]). Then the sex got to be a little too much; the author had been doing so well creating likable characters, and that kind of went out the window for a while so they could give each other rugburns day and night.
And then the “plot” really took over, and that was a little sparse, though there were some good moments there as well. Anytime the god Corruption manifests, it’s pretty creepy. And anytime the heroine and the servant and the dog are in the same room, I just want to nestle in there with them. Pretty awesome for a self-published author (I think—that's what I read someplace, anyway!). Only $2.99 for the ebook. I definitely can see myself reading this book a second time and watching for more by Grace Draven.
So yeah, I totally bought the friendship/mutual respect basis for their relationship. And I appreciated that the heroine dove into the sexual relationship headfirst (not literally, if I recall correctly—but she didn’t have terrible insecurities about not being beautiful or her slave status or anything [don't worry, she wasn’t his slave—that would be icky!]). Then the sex got to be a little too much; the author had been doing so well creating likable characters, and that kind of went out the window for a while so they could give each other rugburns day and night.
And then the “plot” really took over, and that was a little sparse, though there were some good moments there as well. Anytime the god Corruption manifests, it’s pretty creepy. And anytime the heroine and the servant and the dog are in the same room, I just want to nestle in there with them. Pretty awesome for a self-published author (I think—that's what I read someplace, anyway!). Only $2.99 for the ebook. I definitely can see myself reading this book a second time and watching for more by Grace Draven.
mysterious
medium-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:
No
adventurous
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Liked
*Gurn and Martiese friendship
*Not finding her attractive upon first sight
*Slow burn
Disliked
*Silhara using a prostitute as a substitute for Martiese was gross and not romantic
*Lack of chemistry, it felt very physical
*Story felt too long
*Gurn and Martiese friendship
*Not finding her attractive upon first sight
*Slow burn
Disliked
*Silhara using a prostitute as a substitute for Martiese was gross and not romantic
*Lack of chemistry, it felt very physical
*Story felt too long
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A slave is sent to spy on dark sorceror Silhara to earn her freedom. He thinks she is plain and annoying and she thinks he is awful. They then grow feelings and fall for each other whilst trying to defeat the big bad.
Overall I really enjoyed it, the writing and world building was 👌
I just wanted a bit more from the main romance and couple. It was slow burn enough to keep me entertained but it also felt rushed when they did get together. The elements I love were all there but it didn't quite hit the mark for me
Overall I really enjoyed it, the writing and world building was 👌
I just wanted a bit more from the main romance and couple. It was slow burn enough to keep me entertained but it also felt rushed when they did get together. The elements I love were all there but it didn't quite hit the mark for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Minor: Slavery
This book had a lot of potential, but I just wasn't into it.
The fact that the hero, Silhara of Neith, was a dark mage and the influence the god/demon Corruption had on him was really interesting, but apart from that, nothing stood out for me.
But read it. Maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes