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ayeitsdaye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took longer than I expected to get into this story, considering I came into it knowing it’s a reylo fic. The author’s rich vocabulary bordered on purple prose at times, but overall added depth.
My biggest complaint would be that Talasyn and Alaric’s POVs, while executed in a way that disrupted continuity the least, I felt like the depth on each side was out of sync? Overall it was worth a read, and I’ll be looking out for the sequel!
My biggest complaint would be that Talasyn and Alaric’s POVs, while executed in a way that disrupted continuity the least, I felt like the depth on each side was out of sync? Overall it was worth a read, and I’ll be looking out for the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, War, and Colonisation
Minor: Pregnancy, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia
kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very trope-y but enjoyable slow burn romantasy with good worldbuilding and magic system.
Could easily have been a longer book to develop the magic system a bit better but hopefully the next book will manage that. Gives more of a sci-fi vibe with the worldbuilding including spaceships.
Romance was very slow-burn and I appreciated that.
At times I found it very topical and hard to read as a form of escapism with everything that's going on in the world. This book handles land invasion and genocide and the villains acting like they are the righteous heroes liberating a rogue state.
Could easily have been a longer book to develop the magic system a bit better but hopefully the next book will manage that. Gives more of a sci-fi vibe with the worldbuilding including spaceships.
Romance was very slow-burn and I appreciated that.
At times I found it very topical and hard to read as a form of escapism with everything that's going on in the world. This book handles land invasion and genocide and the villains acting like they are the righteous heroes liberating a rogue state.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a solid read for me and I really enjoyed it overall. I wasn't sure going in how much Guanzon's fanfic might play into it and having never read it can say that other than some of the character descriptions and descriptions of the magic system at times I would not have realized that it originated from that.
What I liked: the ambition of the plot. There was a lot happening but it felt cohesive and like it was progressing in a way that made sense. The political aspects were more enjoyable than I would have expected. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was very well written also. Early in the book I was looking forward to scenes where they interacted. I also really liked listening to this on audiobook. I read some of it in book format but the writing and dialogue really lend themselves well to an audio format.
What I didn't like: sometimes the angst and arguments between Talasyn and Alaric were a little too much for me. And maybe this was because I wasn't quite in the mood to read about that type of relationship.Also, the earlier parts of the book during the war felt very abrupt and didn't allow us to develop much connection to the events and the side characters. However, none of this detracted enough from the book to be a big issue enough.
Overall this was an entertaining read and I will be continuing the series with the next book.
What I liked: the ambition of the plot. There was a lot happening but it felt cohesive and like it was progressing in a way that made sense. The political aspects were more enjoyable than I would have expected. The tension between Talasyn and Alaric was very well written also. Early in the book I was looking forward to scenes where they interacted. I also really liked listening to this on audiobook. I read some of it in book format but the writing and dialogue really lend themselves well to an audio format.
What I didn't like: sometimes the angst and arguments between Talasyn and Alaric were a little too much for me. And maybe this was because I wasn't quite in the mood to read about that type of relationship.
Overall this was an entertaining read and I will be continuing the series with the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Emotional abuse
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a romantacy book about two shoulders from waring lands. He has shadow powers and she has light powers, they could each be the other’s downfall. But for some reason they can’t convince themselves to cast the death blow. And then they realize they need each other, but can they truly trust each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Child abuse
maregred's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Colonisation, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.75
It’s a little Star Wars derivative and I could have done with a bit more yearning in the first half BUT the second half was very fun, very spicy! I feel very invested in the political and personal dramas unfolding and will eager await the next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Death of parent, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
luluht's review against another edition
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, War, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Colonisation
cryosphinx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
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, War, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Genocide, Death, Death of parent, War, Confinement, Cursing, Animal death, and Sexism
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
DNF at 46%
I could not get through the dialogue, felt no real chemistry between the MCs. I knew going in that this was a Reylo fic and while I don’t care too much for Reylo, I do love Rey. Unfortunately the FMC in this is absolutely insufferable and very un-Rey-like.
But I did go and start reading the fic that it’s based on and I probably would recommend reading the original fic over this. Some of the dialogue and phrasing is even picked straight out of the fic.
I could not get through the dialogue, felt no real chemistry between the MCs. I knew going in that this was a Reylo fic and while I don’t care too much for Reylo, I do love Rey. Unfortunately the FMC in this is absolutely insufferable and very un-Rey-like.
But I did go and start reading the fic that it’s based on and I probably would recommend reading the original fic over this. Some of the dialogue and phrasing is even picked straight out of the fic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy