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adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Enjoyed it, will definitely be picking up the sequel. The beginning was good, I enjoyed the world building and the two main characters and their banter but I feel like it fell off when the promised political intrigue and continued world building got back burnered for romance.
It's not that the romance was bad, I did enjoy these two stupids pining for each other and I did appreciate that Talasyn never just ups and forgets the war that Alaric participated in in favor of said romance, but it started getting TOO back and forth. Same with the dual POV. It starts flipping back and forth per chapter then picks up and gets to a point where it flips back and forth within two or so pages which was jarring. At least I felt this was a TRUE enemies to lovers.
I hope the sequel brings more to the table for Talasyn, she got dealt a lot of shitting hands and was too quick to accept it. My girl needs to slap some people around. And I want more political intrigue! This world is primed for it.
I also can't speak to to Reylo-ness of it all. I know it started as a Reylo fic but I didn't pick up any of it but hey, I didn't watch SW 7-9 so I have no clue 🤷♀️ Maybe I got to enjoy it more because of that.
It's not that the romance was bad, I did enjoy these two stupids pining for each other and I did appreciate that Talasyn never just ups and forgets the war that Alaric participated in in favor of said romance, but it started getting TOO back and forth. Same with the dual POV. It starts flipping back and forth per chapter then picks up and gets to a point where it flips back and forth within two or so pages which was jarring. At least I felt this was a TRUE enemies to lovers.
I hope the sequel brings more to the table for Talasyn, she got dealt a lot of shitting hands and was too quick to accept it. My girl needs to slap some people around. And I want more political intrigue! This world is primed for it.
I also can't speak to to Reylo-ness of it all. I know it started as a Reylo fic but I didn't pick up any of it but hey, I didn't watch SW 7-9 so I have no clue 🤷♀️ Maybe I got to enjoy it more because of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a great read! It was easy to follow and so engaging. I love the tension and complex emotions between Alaric and Talasyn. The way they learn more about their roles and about each other is beautiful.i wish they would just tell each other how the really feel all the complex parts of it. I love Sevreem and Gia. They had me laughing a few times.
Throughout the book, I found myself giggling and smirking. I thought the world building was well done and I’m excited to read the rest of the series.
Throughout the book, I found myself giggling and smirking. I thought the world building was well done and I’m excited to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Cursing
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Abandonment
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Okay, admittedly it took me about 30% in to really begin to feel fully invested in the storyline (a lot of info-dumping/exposition and world-building)and the characters. However, once I was locked in, I was *LOCKED IN* !!!!! If you feel like you're going to DNF, keep going if you can. For me, it did pay off & I ended up really enjoying this!
I recognize many people think it is Star Wars/ReyLo fanfiction, but I still had an absolute blast and didn't mind that at all. Sure, there are absolutely parallels (enemies to lovers, the Night Empire, Talasyn's upbringing as an orphan & then reveal of her surprising identity & parentage), but it still felt unique enough to stand on its own, with its:
Okay, admittedly it took me about 30% in to really begin to feel fully invested in the storyline (a lot of info-dumping/exposition and world-building)and the characters. However, once I was locked in, I was *LOCKED IN* !!!!! If you feel like you're going to DNF, keep going if you can. For me, it did pay off & I ended up really enjoying this!
I recognize many people think it is Star Wars/ReyLo fanfiction, but I still had an absolute blast and didn't mind that at all. Sure, there are absolutely parallels (enemies to lovers, the Night Empire, Talasyn's upbringing as an orphan & then reveal of her surprising identity & parentage), but it still felt unique enough to stand on its own, with its:
- Philippines-inspired setting of Nenavar
- South Asian folklore-inspired dragons (hopefully more dragons in the next books!)
- wartime climate
- soft (not fully fleshed out, at least to me) but easy-to-follow magic system with light versus shadow
- diverse characters
- forced proximity/arranged marriage/marriage of convenience with so much romantic tension and a satisfying slow burn
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Alaric (Night Emperor Gaheris' son & the Master of the Shadowforged Legion & shadow magic) and Talasyn. Mostly, I think it's funny because they very much have the classic enemies-to-lovers tension of "I hate you/I so badly want to kiss you" energy, but I do recognize the problematic elements of essentially creating a colonizer/colonized storyline. Ultimately, I do think this will be a series about fighting for freedom and equality, and coming together to overcome greater evils. The current dynamics of Talasyn's home Sarodivia, struggling under the oppressive rule of Kesath, will likely change (I don't see how they can't? Hoping Sarodovia & everyone displaced will rise up from the ashes?!) and I'm excited to see where the series picks up next.
Sometimes, the pacing felt off, with random flash forwards/time jumps. However, I'm going to give the author a bit of grace because I still was able to follow and have a good time! Go into book one knowing that it is mostly character-driven (to me, there is essentially no plot yet lol); (I think) since this is the first book in the series, that this novel's main goal to introduce readers to the characters, the world, and to entice us to care for and root for them, as I expect we will get more action-packed plotlines later in the series.
steam rating: 2.5/5 - there is one open-door, on-page sex scene, but the sexual tension and pining is fantastic!
cw: War, Colonisation, Genocide, Sexual content, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Terminal illness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail