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tempest_reign's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐: โญโญโญ๐ซ (3.5 rounded to 4 on review sites)
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐: ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
I enjoyed the worldbuilding and overall plot of this book, as well as the forbidden love aspect.
But, I did struggle with a few things โ the first half felt slow and I didn't really get into it easily, and I'm not sure if missed it, but I didn't find the characters features were described overly well early on (the most obvious example is Elva the FMC, who is dark skinned, but I don't recall actually knowing that until 40ish%. Again, maybe I missed it, but it made it hard to visualise her properly).
The ending was great, and it leads nicely into the next book, but can definately be read as a standalone as Elva and Nathan have their HEA.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: Steamy romance, forbidden love, dual POV, powerful & fierce FMC, world-building, ending
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐: ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
I enjoyed the worldbuilding and overall plot of this book, as well as the forbidden love aspect.
But, I did struggle with a few things โ the first half felt slow and I didn't really get into it easily, and I'm not sure if missed it, but I didn't find the characters features were described overly well early on (the most obvious example is Elva the FMC, who is dark skinned, but I don't recall actually knowing that until 40ish%. Again, maybe I missed it, but it made it hard to visualise her properly).
The ending was great, and it leads nicely into the next book, but can definately be read as a standalone as Elva and Nathan have their HEA.
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: Steamy romance, forbidden love, dual POV, powerful & fierce FMC, world-building, ending
elvia_a's review
2.0
*2.5/5*
I wanted to love this SO much and I'm ashamed I didn't because I received it as an ARC that I wanted. The vibe sounded amazing, romeo and juliet retelling, but I don't believe it was executed as well as it could have done and it's all fault to the pacing.
Here's some stuff based on the instagram tour:
Fae? Check.
Only one igloo? Check but short scene and 0 spice.
Hidden heir? Check but not very exciting.
Forbidden love? I guess? Not emphasised much.
Milo and Kira vibes? He could have been more Milo.
Romeo and Juliet retelling? Check.
Dual POV? Check.
Bird shifters? Check.
Grumpy-Sunshine? Check but the pacing ruined it.
I DNF'd this technically but I was bought a kindle and decided to give it another go. I skimmed quite a bit and just didn't read the last three chapters. My favourite part was what I thought to be the climax...and then got like five-six more chapters of un-energetic, un-climatic conflict and LOTS of fluff. Even Elayna R. Gallea's Tethered book didn't have so much unnecessary romantic fluff (yes, it's a romantasy but keep it relevant and interesting? I didn't connect or enjoy the characters enough to care).
Also, wanted WAY MORE SPICE. Pretty sure it was marketed as a spicy romantasy at one point but it did not deliver
I wanted to love this SO much and I'm ashamed I didn't because I received it as an ARC that I wanted. The vibe sounded amazing, romeo and juliet retelling, but I don't believe it was executed as well as it could have done and it's all fault to the pacing.
Here's some stuff based on the instagram tour:
Fae? Check.
Only one igloo? Check but short scene and 0 spice.
Hidden heir? Check but not very exciting.
Forbidden love? I guess? Not emphasised much.
Milo and Kira vibes? He could have been more Milo.
Romeo and Juliet retelling? Check.
Dual POV? Check.
Bird shifters? Check.
Grumpy-Sunshine? Check but the pacing ruined it.
I DNF'd this technically but I was bought a kindle and decided to give it another go. I skimmed quite a bit and just didn't read the last three chapters. My favourite part was what I thought to be the climax...and then got like five-six more chapters of un-energetic, un-climatic conflict and LOTS of fluff. Even Elayna R. Gallea's Tethered book didn't have so much unnecessary romantic fluff (yes, it's a romantasy but keep it relevant and interesting? I didn't connect or enjoy the characters enough to care).
Also, wanted WAY MORE SPICE. Pretty sure it was marketed as a spicy romantasy at one point but it did not deliver
mx_t_books's review
4.0
โจARC REVIEWโจ
โญโญโญ.5
This book is an interesting mix of fantasy and paranormal romance. It blends a contemporary setting with a fantasy worldbuilding. We get Fae, werepeople, mer people, vampires, warlocks... We also get a combination of tech and magic.
It has a few time jumps and I feel they weren't totally necessary, but I get that it was done as to make us feel how different time perception is for immortals.
It is Romeo and Juliet retelling with these tropes: reverse grumpy-sunshine, star crossed lovers / fated mates, she's the badass, she trains him, burn the world for each other, Fae binding magic.
I did like both MC, Nathan was soft and feeling and overall a funny guy. Elva was a kickass heroine with huge trust issues.
What I didn't especially like was that it seemed like there was a succession of events happening instead of a solid plot.
There are mentions of parental abuse, so if it's triggering for you, beware.
โญโญโญ.5
This book is an interesting mix of fantasy and paranormal romance. It blends a contemporary setting with a fantasy worldbuilding. We get Fae, werepeople, mer people, vampires, warlocks... We also get a combination of tech and magic.
It has a few time jumps and I feel they weren't totally necessary, but I get that it was done as to make us feel how different time perception is for immortals.
It is Romeo and Juliet retelling with these tropes: reverse grumpy-sunshine, star crossed lovers / fated mates, she's the badass, she trains him, burn the world for each other, Fae binding magic.
I did like both MC, Nathan was soft and feeling and overall a funny guy. Elva was a kickass heroine with huge trust issues.
What I didn't especially like was that it seemed like there was a succession of events happening instead of a solid plot.
There are mentions of parental abuse, so if it's triggering for you, beware.
aliasaurora's review
2.0
A just-okay story rife with pacing issues
The book gets off to a sluggish start, with the MCs basically seeing anyone but one another. The author seems almost afraid to put them together at first, and all of their brief little conversations happen off-screen. Weโre told that thereโs a connection, but not really shown to be such.
They have more chemistry and humanity than any of the side characters, but itโs not saying much, because every other character is so one-note.
Months and years pass by with โone month laterโ badges that couldโve been condensed, they donโt see each other, and then when the time comes for them to reunite, their connection seems lackluster and segues into an offscreen training montage.
By comparison, the action in the latter half of the book picks up the pace, but each emotional gut-punch seems to lack weight as we jump from location to location, and trauma to trauma. It doesnโt feel like the author was able to quite dig out the real feelings behind traumatic experiences.
Betrayals, character deaths, and big reveals fly by at breakneck speed. Still, by the time we got to the HEA, I found myself skimming through it, wondering why it didnโt satisfy.
The book gets off to a sluggish start, with the MCs basically seeing anyone but one another. The author seems almost afraid to put them together at first, and all of their brief little conversations happen off-screen. Weโre told that thereโs a connection, but not really shown to be such.
They have more chemistry and humanity than any of the side characters, but itโs not saying much, because every other character is so one-note.
Months and years pass by with โone month laterโ badges that couldโve been condensed, they donโt see each other, and then when the time comes for them to reunite, their connection seems lackluster and segues into an offscreen training montage.
By comparison, the action in the latter half of the book picks up the pace, but each emotional gut-punch seems to lack weight as we jump from location to location, and trauma to trauma. It doesnโt feel like the author was able to quite dig out the real feelings behind traumatic experiences.
Betrayals, character deaths, and big reveals fly by at breakneck speed. Still, by the time we got to the HEA, I found myself skimming through it, wondering why it didnโt satisfy.
authorkirstyarcher's review
4.0
This is an urban high fantasy romance Romeo and Juliet retelling with a happy ending - by the time Iโd read that I was sold! This book gets straight into the action and we quickly gain an understanding of the differences between our badass FMC (grumpy) and our MMC (sunshine). It has a little spice, but thereโs so much tension, you donโt miss it. The story is fast-paced and is easy to get lost in. I also enjoyed the way the world building was sprinkled throughout the book rather than info dumping which was great. Daniela and Elayna are clearly competent authors and it shows in the way in which they deliver this fun retelling. I was given an arc in exchange for an honest review.
carternc_1's review
3.0
I really wanted to love this book, since I enjoyed the Gilded survivor series. While it was an easy read - I wished that there was more to it. The world building was both too light (give me more about the various courts, the magic system, etc) and seemed to drag in the first half. Things fell into place tidily at the end, but didnโt have me gasping and waiting for what comes next. I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review of this title.
nathgarza's review
5.0
One of the best romantasies I've read. It made my heart throb! The love between Nathan and Elva was so pure and passionate that it had me crying at times when things didn't appear to be going well. The writing is gorgeous, the world-building and its political intricacies is magnificent. I just can't wait for the next book in the series! This book is definitely a new favorite of mine! โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
booksandbroncs's review
4.0
I was given an ARC copy of this to rate and reviewโฆso here goes!
Where do I even begin- this book sucked me in from page 1. The world building is easy to follow and the story itself is just lovely. Spice is very minimal, and itโs definitely more of a slow burn, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
To be honest, probably my favorite thing about this book is the representation of adult children with emotionally/physically abusive parents. As someone who has their own fair share of trauma with an abusive parent, this resonated hard with me and helped spur the story in a positive way. Very excited for this book to officially hit shelves!
Where do I even begin- this book sucked me in from page 1. The world building is easy to follow and the story itself is just lovely. Spice is very minimal, and itโs definitely more of a slow burn, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
To be honest, probably my favorite thing about this book is the representation of adult children with emotionally/physically abusive parents. As someone who has their own fair share of trauma with an abusive parent, this resonated hard with me and helped spur the story in a positive way. Very excited for this book to officially hit shelves!
littlebarnbooknook's review
4.0
I found the book very easy to read and I enjoyed it! Usually with fantasy books the world building is complicated and sometimes difficult to understand but with this book it was not complicated and it was very easy to understand! It was really refreshing!
I really liked the relationship between the two main characters- they were so lovable and I really enjoyed reading about them!
I really liked the relationship between the two main characters- they were so lovable and I really enjoyed reading about them!