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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So, this is a tough one for me. I went back forth between a 3 star and a 4 star rating.
On one hand it had some beautiful imagery. I mean, I loved the setting. Cursed wooded paths, derelict mansions, walled orange groves teeming with crows, all topped off with a sorcerer known as Master of Crows. How cool is that? Master of Crows. A carrion mage. It was just such a beautiful idea. I could see it. I could FEEL it. The ambiance at times was just really well portrayed. Grace Draven really knows how to use her words, there's no doubt about it.
BUT....
the story line didn't quite hold my attention. I read about 75% and almost called it quits because I just knew how the story ended. It's all very formulaic. And I think I may be alone in this by saying I was not a fan of Silhara and Martise's relationship. There was something just off about both of them. I'm not talking off in the cute, quirky sense but off in the discordant sense.
Overall, it's basically a fantasy/romance that's just a little too heavy on the romance and angst without enough plot to drive it forward.
However, even with that being said because some parts were just so beautifully written (even if it was a tad prosey) this one gets 4 stars.
On one hand it had some beautiful imagery. I mean, I loved the setting. Cursed wooded paths, derelict mansions, walled orange groves teeming with crows, all topped off with a sorcerer known as Master of Crows. How cool is that? Master of Crows. A carrion mage. It was just such a beautiful idea. I could see it. I could FEEL it. The ambiance at times was just really well portrayed. Grace Draven really knows how to use her words, there's no doubt about it.
BUT....
the story line didn't quite hold my attention. I read about 75% and almost called it quits because I just knew how the story ended. It's all very formulaic. And I think I may be alone in this by saying I was not a fan of Silhara and Martise's relationship. There was something just off about both of them. I'm not talking off in the cute, quirky sense but off in the discordant sense.
Overall, it's basically a fantasy/romance that's just a little too heavy on the romance and angst without enough plot to drive it forward.
However, even with that being said because some parts were just so beautifully written (even if it was a tad prosey) this one gets 4 stars.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
This is an absolute five star read in every way. Grace Draven is a massive writing talent and her prose and world building sucks you right in.
If you like a bit of enemies-to-lovers, an MMC who is a bit rough around the edges, and a quietly strong FMC, this will be your jam.
The FMC, Martise, is such a fantastic contrast to the MMC, Silhara, and they both grow a lot over the course of the book. It’s also quite steamy - the build up is very, very good and Grace’s writing is just superb.
A reread, for sure!
If you like a bit of enemies-to-lovers, an MMC who is a bit rough around the edges, and a quietly strong FMC, this will be your jam.
The FMC, Martise, is such a fantastic contrast to the MMC, Silhara, and they both grow a lot over the course of the book. It’s also quite steamy - the build up is very, very good and Grace’s writing is just superb.
A reread, for sure!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While a bit slow to pick up, the world building was excellent. The secondary characters were very lovable too. I loved the mutual respect the MC’s held for one another. They had great chemistry.
The only thing that bothered me a bit was the soul stone—what hold did it really have over Martise and what impact did it have on her to finally be reunited with the rest of her soul? I hate that the book didn’t show us that.
The only thing that bothered me a bit was the soul stone—what hold did it really have over Martise and what impact did it have on her to finally be reunited with the rest of her soul? I hate that the book didn’t show us that.
Trust Grace Draven to break my reading slump - I haven't been able to finish any book the past week but then I started Master of Crows and got sucked into it.
[CW: enslavement (heroine sold her soul to a priest and she was bound to do his bidding), mentions of prostitution (hero's mother was a prostitute), mentions of torture/abuse (hero was tortured/abused as a student)]
[CW: enslavement (heroine sold her soul to a priest and she was bound to do his bidding), mentions of prostitution (hero's mother was a prostitute), mentions of torture/abuse (hero was tortured/abused as a student)]
You know, sometimes your girl needs some romance to break up her entirely highly educated and well rounded diet of literary fiction (utter trash, more romance and magical stories). And so here we have a perfectly delightful and enjoyable tale of sorcery and yearning love. Grace Draven effortlessly whips up a world where the God of Corruption watches above from a star in the sky, as our two main characters, a dark sorcerer and his spying apprentice, circle each other in with suspicion and fascination. A true enemies to lovers, what I adored about this book was the time and dedication that Draven had when writing these two characters. Every action was deliberate, it had meaning, it wielded conflict and torment. When they eventually fell in love, I believed it. Initially what started out as mild discontentment and disregard for one another, slowly turned into understanding, friendship and then something else. I like that Draven didn’t shower her readers with boring and predictable descriptions like, “she was beautiful,” or “he was stunning,” instead the characters initially believe the other to be savage or dull, before they learned to love each other’s faults and physical appearances, both becoming something more in the process.
Some drawbacks for me was the slow start, which took a while for me to get into, and it did initially feel a little predictable. This book, whilst it did have a plot it was mostly secondary to the romance and the relationships that blossomed. I don’t think this was to the story’s detriment but it did make for a slower paced book that was mostly focused on character driven actions, rather than external factors. I also didn’t really understand, or rather would have liked more context around, the God of Corruption as he served as the main antagonist of the story. I felt this was a little underdeveloped and I didn’t really get his purpose and his true goals. It’s always a let down for me when books have underbaked villains.
Overall it was an enjoyable read, and I do love me some broody male love interests so that do be a plus. 3/5 stars.
Some drawbacks for me was the slow start, which took a while for me to get into, and it did initially feel a little predictable. This book, whilst it did have a plot it was mostly secondary to the romance and the relationships that blossomed. I don’t think this was to the story’s detriment but it did make for a slower paced book that was mostly focused on character driven actions, rather than external factors. I also didn’t really understand, or rather would have liked more context around, the God of Corruption as he served as the main antagonist of the story. I felt this was a little underdeveloped and I didn’t really get his purpose and his true goals. It’s always a let down for me when books have underbaked villains.
Overall it was an enjoyable read, and I do love me some broody male love interests so that do be a plus. 3/5 stars.
adventurous
medium-paced
Was this the best Grace Draven book I've ever read? No, but I can definitely see how this was the proving ground for so many of her other books that I've absolutely loved. I really enjoy her unique main characters and immersive worlds. This book delivered on that in spades. However, I wasn't really that invested in the central love story. I can't really put my finger on why it didn't work for me as well as some of her other central couples, but honestly, I think it might've just been a chemistry thing. I much preferred Martise's relationship with Gurn. Overall, a fun read and I'm excited to pick up the next one.
emotional
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