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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Was kicking my feet the whole time, it was such an addicting comfort read for me
medium-paced
Have you ever just read a book that was just made for you? For me, this is one of those.
If only I had known that I would love this book so much, I wouldn’t have put it off as many times as I did. I picked it up and put it down so many times that I just want to smack myself with this book.
This was PERFECT and everything I needed. I was shocked at how easily I fell into it, seeing as I’d already tried to read it so many times (but ended up putting it down). This is so much like Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, and since I loved that book so much, I’m not surprised that I feel just as hard for this book.
Okay. So I know how many times I talk about my crazyyy love for strong girl protagonists, like Mare and Celaena. That’s the ONE thing I would improve about this book. I honestly wish Theo had more confidence in herself. It would’ve made the story much more enticing, seeing a fallen queen bite back her tears and not give in so easily to the Kaiser. I understand her circumstances and everything she’s been through, but I really don’t like how submissive she was to Corbinian when the only thing on the line was her life. She should’ve stood proud and tall and showed the Kalouvaxians that her and Astrea weren’t afraid to stand up.
That was really the only problem I had with this book. It’s not enough to make me give it four stars, though, because this book just kept my eyes glued the entire time, so that makes up for it. I mainly didn’t like the fact that she always had so many doubts. Obviously it’s natural to have them, but that girl straight up questioned everything she did and it kind of annoyed me a little, to say the least.
But omgg Elpis though... She should literally have been the protagonist of this entire trilogy. She deserves that 104%. That 13-year-old girl should’ve been queen, not Theo. She did not deserve to die in the first book. The BRAVERY? The LOYALTY? THIS is what I crave in my main character girls. The traits Epnis had, every girl main character should have. She was a brave soul, and I wish she hadn’t died so soon. She’s so motherfucking brave to finish the rest of the poison before Theo could keep spilling the tea. So freaking brave, even when it burned her insides painfully. So brave. This child will always be my favorite character (along with Erik, Blaise, Kaiserin).
Obviously I motherchucking love Blaise and I ship him and Theo WAYYYY more than Theo and Søren. GUYS IF BLAISE DIES I DIE LETS JUST MAKE THAT CLEAR RN
Another thing that bothered me a little was how quick the romance spiraled between Theo and Søren. First they weren’t acquainted at all and Søren was already interested in her (for whatever reason, most likely attraction). And then Theo meets Blaise who tells her to seduce Søren and suddenly Theo falls in love with him? Uh uh. Not smooth at all, Ms. Sebastian. It was too quick for me. I liked how the romance unraveled between Theo and Blaise. That was beautiful. But the romance between Theo and Søren seems really fake and superficial somehow, and maybe that’s part of the reason I don’t ship them.
Okay I don’t know what the fffffff people are saying about Crescentia but that bitch has GOT TO GO.
LIKE NOW.
If I was Theo, I would’ve been the one to come up with the plan to kill Cress instead of Blaise. I would’ve poisoned that bitch up myself. Okay hardee-har-har, she was blahblahblah such a good friend to Theo and they spent their childhood together, and yes, they are each other’s heart sisters or whatever. But that’s part of the reason why I sometimes wanted to push my ass into this book and smack Theo because she keeps fucking doubting herself. She really needs to stop. Cress is in your past and things aren’t as they always were.Things will never be the same between you and you need to remember that. I hate that she kept questioning whether she should kill the bitch or not. POISON HER, I SAY. The person Cress was is no more, and the way she felt for you before is no more. STOP DOUBTING. GOSH
Overall, I really loved this book and I am really excited for the sequel.
If only I had known that I would love this book so much, I wouldn’t have put it off as many times as I did. I picked it up and put it down so many times that I just want to smack myself with this book.
This was PERFECT and everything I needed. I was shocked at how easily I fell into it, seeing as I’d already tried to read it so many times (but ended up putting it down). This is so much like Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, and since I loved that book so much, I’m not surprised that I feel just as hard for this book.
Okay. So I know how many times I talk about my crazyyy love for strong girl protagonists, like Mare and Celaena. That’s the ONE thing I would improve about this book. I honestly wish Theo had more confidence in herself. It would’ve made the story much more enticing, seeing a fallen queen bite back her tears and not give in so easily to the Kaiser. I understand her circumstances and everything she’s been through, but I really don’t like how submissive she was to Corbinian when the only thing on the line was her life. She should’ve stood proud and tall and showed the Kalouvaxians that her and Astrea weren’t afraid to stand up.
That was really the only problem I had with this book. It’s not enough to make me give it four stars, though, because this book just kept my eyes glued the entire time, so that makes up for it. I mainly didn’t like the fact that she always had so many doubts. Obviously it’s natural to have them, but that girl straight up questioned everything she did and it kind of annoyed me a little, to say the least.
But omgg Elpis though... She should literally have been the protagonist of this entire trilogy. She deserves that 104%. That 13-year-old girl should’ve been queen, not Theo. She did not deserve to die in the first book. The BRAVERY? The LOYALTY? THIS is what I crave in my main character girls. The traits Epnis had, every girl main character should have. She was a brave soul, and I wish she hadn’t died so soon. She’s so motherfucking brave to finish the rest of the poison before Theo could keep spilling the tea. So freaking brave, even when it burned her insides painfully. So brave. This child will always be my favorite character (along with Erik, Blaise, Kaiserin).
Obviously I motherchucking love Blaise and I ship him and Theo WAYYYY more than Theo and Søren. GUYS IF BLAISE DIES I DIE LETS JUST MAKE THAT CLEAR RN
Another thing that bothered me a little was how quick the romance spiraled between Theo and Søren. First they weren’t acquainted at all and Søren was already interested in her (for whatever reason, most likely attraction). And then Theo meets Blaise who tells her to seduce Søren and suddenly Theo falls in love with him? Uh uh. Not smooth at all, Ms. Sebastian. It was too quick for me. I liked how the romance unraveled between Theo and Blaise. That was beautiful. But the romance between Theo and Søren seems really fake and superficial somehow, and maybe that’s part of the reason I don’t ship them.
Okay I don’t know what the fffffff people are saying about Crescentia but that bitch has GOT TO GO.
LIKE NOW.
If I was Theo, I would’ve been the one to come up with the plan to kill Cress instead of Blaise. I would’ve poisoned that bitch up myself. Okay hardee-har-har, she was blahblahblah such a good friend to Theo and they spent their childhood together, and yes, they are each other’s heart sisters or whatever. But that’s part of the reason why I sometimes wanted to push my ass into this book and smack Theo because she keeps fucking doubting herself. She really needs to stop. Cress is in your past and things aren’t as they always were.Things will never be the same between you and you need to remember that. I hate that she kept questioning whether she should kill the bitch or not. POISON HER, I SAY. The person Cress was is no more, and the way she felt for you before is no more. STOP DOUBTING. GOSH
Overall, I really loved this book and I am really excited for the sequel.
I listened to this as an audiobook and it was fantastic! The narrator was really great!
mc carried this book on her BACK AND NO ONE ELSE GAVE ANYTHING
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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:
No
This story is quite enjoyable and definitely tripped along at a good pace. I am sure it will be enjoyed by many YA readers. I did find the formula a bit samey though - captured princess fall for enemy prince has been done a few times before! It will be interesting to see how the story develops. Perhaps this may turn out to be something more? I will wait and see.
An enjoyable book about court, rulers, and a bit of magic. Lots of political intrigue and interesting plot lines.