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adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Was this high art? No. Was this even the best romantasy/spicy book I’ve read? No. Did I still have fun and enjoy it? Yes absolutely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m so sad to say that I was just kinda disappointed by this book. I went into it expecting to love it but just didn’t really vibe with a lot of it? I really enjoyed the premise overall but didn’t like the execution in some places.
Pros:
Cool magic system
Great setting
Liked the ships (the literal boats, not the romance) a lot
Cons:
Pretty slow
A lot more royal politics than I had bargained for
Didn’t love either of the main characters
Very much felt like reading a YA book
Will probably still try the sequel at some point cause the ending did have me intrigued, but overall a bit of a miss for me sadly.
Pros:
Cool magic system
Great setting
Liked the ships (the literal boats, not the romance) a lot
Cons:
Pretty slow
A lot more royal politics than I had bargained for
Didn’t love either of the main characters
Very much felt like reading a YA book
Will probably still try the sequel at some point cause the ending did have me intrigued, but overall a bit of a miss for me sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
With exquisitely rich prose and a sizzlingly, slow-burn romance (and I DO mean slow-burn) that’s brimming with emotional intensity— epic romantasy lovers are almost guaranteed to be as obsessed with this as I was.
The world building and magic system were phenomenally well crafted; intricately weaving the unique magical elements into the high stakes action and political conflict. Which I felt really brought a sense of depth to the world and to our complex, morally grey protagonists (Talasyn and Alaric) both trying to understand where they fit, in the cycle of violence and war that has dominated soo much of their world (and lives.)
But, it was the decisions made, particularly by Talasyn, in the wake of a brutal, colonialist take over which I found the most interesting. Even at its most heartbreakingly poignant, I couldn’t put it down!
Given the darker themes (Death, War & Colonialism) it’s difficult at first to see how Talasyn could ever grow to like Alaric —especially when his presence is a constant reminder of all that she’s lost.
But Thea Guanzon delivers those answers with a confidence that had me thoroughly impressed. Exploring both characters’ (quite emotional) pasts and the complicated inner thought processes, it definitely helped to thaw my initial skepticism, without downplaying the horror (and pain) of the destruction and violence that takes place.
I was on the edge of my seat (and holding my breath) through pretty much every single one their interactions. That, I’m still not sure if it was the lack of oxygen or the on-page chemistry that had me practically swooning.
It does end on a cliffhanger (which can always be a bit hit and miss for me) but this one was good—and the sequel is now out, so thankfully I won’t have to wait ages to continue reading. Though, I do suggest checking the TWs before going into this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Classism
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As someone who read LWABOC back when Thea/Diasterisms/Kylorenvevo was still posting chapters on AO3 it's embarrassing that it took me so long to sit down and actually read the published work.
I've actually reread The Sacred Text™️ since this has been published and that was honestly just because I'm so bad at getting into rich new worlds when I'm comfy in fanfic but good gods do I regret waiting so long. I actually pre-ordered the audiobook last year and tried to get into it but had a lot of stuff going on to where I couldn't.
That bring said this version of the story is so achingly familiar but different enough I was SCREAMING and kicking my feet at certain changes that were made.
Yes I'm talking about the wedding night AHHH 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I'm pining for the sequel half as bad as Tala and Alaric are for one another. I'm down bad. The banter and humor have the same feel as the original but have me on the edge of my seat because these two idiots are their own kind of beast to be delt with.
I've actually reread The Sacred Text™️ since this has been published and that was honestly just because I'm so bad at getting into rich new worlds when I'm comfy in fanfic but good gods do I regret waiting so long. I actually pre-ordered the audiobook last year and tried to get into it but had a lot of stuff going on to where I couldn't.
That bring said this version of the story is so achingly familiar but different enough I was SCREAMING and kicking my feet at certain changes that were made.
Yes I'm talking about the wedding night AHHH 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I'm pining for the sequel half as bad as Tala and Alaric are for one another. I'm down bad. The banter and humor have the same feel as the original but have me on the edge of my seat because these two idiots are their own kind of beast to be delt with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this book, the writing was enticing and it has a very intricate magic system which was immersive and it was easy to get invested in the war. There was some disconnect between what happened between the two MCs and the intense war that was supposedly happening, however.
The romance kind of fell flat, which is a shame because the narration was very captivating. Just not a lot of substance and also just mostly physical attraction, if one can get over the colonisation-romance aspect of it.
The romance kind of fell flat, which is a shame because the narration was very captivating. Just not a lot of substance and also just mostly physical attraction, if one can get over the colonisation-romance aspect of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Genocide, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content