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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I rate this around 3.25
It’s an romantasy and it’s written good. The plot is not original at all but that’s not what I seek in a romance. It has some weak side plots that try but for me distract from the romance.
It’s an romantasy and it’s written good. The plot is not original at all but that’s not what I seek in a romance. It has some weak side plots that try but for me distract from the romance.
Grace Draven has created an interesting niche for herself by writing fantasy-romance cross-bred novels that are a little more erotic than Harlequin's Luna line. This had shades of Naomi Novak's [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730], Charlie Holmberg's[b:The Paper Magician Series|40650339|The Paper Magician Series (4 Book Series)|Charlie N. Holmberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1530039802s/40650339.jpg|63171137], and Maria Snyder's [b:Poison Study|60510|Poison Study (Study, #1)|Maria V. Snyder|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388519019s/60510.jpg|1180409]. Master of Crows relies a bit more on traditional high-fantasy and romantic tropes than those books and is overall a bit more formulaic. However, if you are looking for a more erotic version of those novels with extended sex scenes this is the book for you.
Although this book was recommended to me as a master-apprentice romance, it didn't have an uncomfortable power dynamic between the two characters. Both characters are playing a cat and mouse game using each other to further their own ends. Martise has been sent to spy on Silhara and expose his secrets to the Conclave, a council-like circle of mages. In exchange, she will be granted freedom from her life as a slave. However, Silhara is fighting a dangerous enemy, a God that the Conclave doesn't believe has returned. He needs a translator to help him search for and decode a way to defeat the God Corruption. The romance is slow building and both characters have to confront how their past experiences and insecurities have made them reluctant to become involved with anyone.
The world building of the novel was a highlight for me especially the way Draven used scent to describe the setting of the novel. The hero, Silhara lives on a manor and raises oranges. The scent of oranges plays a major role in the book as the characters spend time harvesting oranges to take to market and trade, have important conversations over meals while eating oranges, and the main characters begin to associate the scent with each other in romantic interludes.
I was drawn more to the world-building aspects of the story and the slow-burn romance between the characters than the extended sex scenes. I prefer the less detailed and shorter scenes in traditional fantasy, and I prefer my romance a bit more on the understated side. However, I found this book unique in its combination of a darker more erotic romance and fantasy.
Although this book was recommended to me as a master-apprentice romance, it didn't have an uncomfortable power dynamic between the two characters. Both characters are playing a cat and mouse game using each other to further their own ends. Martise has been sent to spy on Silhara and expose his secrets to the Conclave, a council-like circle of mages. In exchange, she will be granted freedom from her life as a slave. However, Silhara is fighting a dangerous enemy, a God that the Conclave doesn't believe has returned. He needs a translator to help him search for and decode a way to defeat the God Corruption. The romance is slow building and both characters have to confront how their past experiences and insecurities have made them reluctant to become involved with anyone.
The world building of the novel was a highlight for me especially the way Draven used scent to describe the setting of the novel. The hero, Silhara lives on a manor and raises oranges. The scent of oranges plays a major role in the book as the characters spend time harvesting oranges to take to market and trade, have important conversations over meals while eating oranges, and the main characters begin to associate the scent with each other in romantic interludes.
I was drawn more to the world-building aspects of the story and the slow-burn romance between the characters than the extended sex scenes. I prefer the less detailed and shorter scenes in traditional fantasy, and I prefer my romance a bit more on the understated side. However, I found this book unique in its combination of a darker more erotic romance and fantasy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
I couldn't get into the writing. I enjoyed Radiance and Eidolon but I could very obviously tell that this was written before those. It was harder to sludge through it all whereas everything flowed so much better in Wraith Kings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
I just did not like the hero and so I couldn't enough the eventual romance AT ALL.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The language was too flowery and descriptive for my taste. Loved the slow build, but ultimately the story didn't draw me in.