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kb33's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
The book hints that Vienne has albinism, but then has to add that she has some sort of magical powers, like stereotyping a person with albinism isn’t a problem. It’s also the first in the series to include even a hint of magic, and it leans in hard. I couldn’t connect with the characters in this one, and I was disappointed that there were extremely limited interactions with very few side characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Physical abuse, Rape, Murder, Confinement, Toxic relationship, War, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hazelgirl21's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Rape
dxisymitch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Rape, and Death
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Vomit
baileyc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Zoey 😭😭😭 this is my absolute favorite book in what is genuinely one of my favorite series. I didn’t think that a series about alien hordes could be one of my all time faves, but it is. Read it in one sitting and I absorbed every moment. The writing??? Is so good??? And the plot??? This one for sure has my favorite dynamic with the romance and the characters have such interesting backgrounds. And that last big moment 👀 incredible. Too be honest the covers give a vibe of maybe more of a regular run of the mill alien romance but these are so much more, I cannot recommend enough
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Rape, War, Violence, Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Blood
noellelovesbooks's review
4.25
Content Warnings: Death [human and animal], slavery, murder, violence, explicit sexual scenes, and mention of rape and sexual assault.
Vienne is a human whose family was taken as slaves, by the Ghertun. Forced to serve a Ghertun master, below the mountain the Ghertun’s call home, Vienne hasn’t seen the sky in over a year. When tasked with a seemingly impossible mission, to not only get into the capital of Dakkar but meet the leader with a message, Vienne knows she needs to succeed if she ever wishes to see her family again.
Davik, along with all the other Horde Kings, is called to the capital by their leader in order to discuss the growing threat of the Ghertun. For years Davik has lived knowing others call him the Mad King, thinking he’s unstable with a thirst for blood. Returning to the capital, and being away from his Horde, brings back bad memories which makes it hard for Davik to control his emotions.
So far I’ve been enjoying this series and have loved, and empathized with, each couple that’s been introduced. So far we’ve had three humans who become the wives, and mates, of Dakkari men…I’m interested to see if we get any non-human makes for any of the Horde Kings, which I would love.
I enjoy how each book teaches us more about the Dakkari culture without any mass info dumps. Even though I have other books I need to get to…I’m tempted to just jump right into book four.
If you’re looking for a fun barbarian romance series, that features alien men…look no further!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Slavery, Murder, Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
emfass's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.5 stars rounded up.
Loooooved the emotions between these two and the way they grew to care for/need each other.
Did not likeboth of the main characters' sisters having been raped as fuel for their own stories, especially Davik's sister Devina. It's the basis of his origin story and once that was revealed (it's at the very end of the book) I was so incredibly disappointed, and it reduced my enjoyment a lot.
Loooooved the emotions between these two and the way they grew to care for/need each other.
Did not like
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
louise_lion's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don’t know exactly why I stopped reading this series back in 2020 (probably because I’m a mood reader and got the inking for an entirely different genre) but I’m very happy I picked this book up when I did! Zoey Draven’s writing style is a perfect blend of serious and adventurous, she crafts some lines that are all heart and easily relatable. I enjoyed reading the Mad Horde King and Vienne’s story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape
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