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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
What a fantastic debut!! I LOVED this friends to lovers story filled with elemental magic and the world building that will keep you turning page after page. The friendship between the main characters is so sweet and so much fun to read, it was such a nice change from the typical enemies to lovers trope that I’ve been reading back to back. Their banter is fantastic and how they get a bit jealous of each others little one night hookups - b/c they did agree to keep things platonic - had me giggling and wanting more! You can obviously see how they are drawn to each other but bc of their secrets they decide not to cross that line but they can’t stay away from each other either. So friends it is. Best friends actually. But after a near death experience that line gets crossed and they are beautiful together. Until they are not for reasons I won’t spoil. It was so heartbreaking I couldn’t take it. Their secrets and the prophecy that is foretold is what breaks them apart and even though it was done to protect the other, I wanted nothing more than for them to fight it together.
I think this book did a great job setting us up for what’s to come. And buckle in guys bc this will be a 7 book series - heard it from Harper Hawthorne herself! I can’t wait for more!!
I think this book did a great job setting us up for what’s to come. And buckle in guys bc this will be a 7 book series - heard it from Harper Hawthorne herself! I can’t wait for more!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
girl i wanted to like this so bad because the premise / setting / magic system was so intriguing, but this is the actual epitome of telling and not showing. i don't understand why so many fantasy romance books spend so much gd time with the characters inner monologue about their inner feelings and thoughts and questions. PLEASE LET ME THINK FOR MYSELF AND TELL THE STORY. it's boring when the thoughts the author wants me to have are being shoved down my throat, and it takes the fun and experience out of reading. also makes for excessively long books where nothing happens.
however, do i want to read the second? idk probably.
however, do i want to read the second? idk probably.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm so angry.
This is the most brutal ending I've ever read and I once read one where the FMC dies at the end.
This is the most brutal ending I've ever read and I once read one where the FMC dies at the end.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The main male character had a personality transplant at the end. It was wild. No plot for most of the book. Where are the children? I don’t know. Stellar epilogue and prologue but a lot of fluff in the middle
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had high hopes going into this one and I did enjoy the first chapters and the premise of the book. However, half the amount of pages would have been more than sufficient to cover what happens, which really isn't much.
I did enjoy the main characters and their chemistry, but their inner monologues were very drawn out sometimes and I just got bored after a while.
Apparently there are four more books to come in this series and if they're all this slow, I don't think I have it in me to read them. I do think I'll give the second book a try to see if the pacing changes.
I did enjoy the main characters and their chemistry, but their inner monologues were very drawn out sometimes and I just got bored after a while.
Apparently there are four more books to come in this series and if they're all this slow, I don't think I have it in me to read them. I do think I'll give the second book a try to see if the pacing changes.
First of all, I would like to thank Harper and NerdFam for giving me the opportunity to read and review the ARC.
Of Blood and Aether by Harper Hawthorne is Book 1 of her Harbingers series. This is her debut novel, even though it doesn't seem like one. I was intrigued by the book's blurb and was excited when I was given the ARC.
Of Blood and Aether is a dark fantasy with intricate world-building and an interesting and complex magic system. The author really took her time to explore and show the depths of the world she has created, and I admire her for it. I was hooked from the prologue. It was dark and intriguing, and it made me want to know more. There is a dark prophecy set to tear the world apart, a prince not willing to succumb to his predestined path, a kingdom of shadows veiled in secret, a world divided into smaller territories ruled by beings older than humans, a girl with hidden powers trying to understand her past, present, and future, a mystery of missing children, an academy for the gifted, etc.
As I've said, the world-building is exquisite, and I really enjoyed this part of the book. However, the pace could have been a bit faster, and some events could've taken place sooner. There is a dual POV, and we follow both Arken, the FMC, and Kieran, the MMC. I wished there was less inner monologue, less description of people and their inventions, and more showing what they did and why. I wanted to know more about the characters, both main and side ones, to know them on a deeper level. The story has a slow-burn romance, and the two of them have some great banter, but I was somehow left lacking for more.
The last 10 percent of the book is filled with events that really speed up the story and open doors for other intriguing scenarios. There is betrayal, secrets, and heartbreak, but I feel a lot will be mended and put into perspective in Book 2.
This was a great debut novel, a good introduction to a new dark fantasy series and I'm excited to see what will happen next.
What can you expect to find in Of Blood and Aether?
❤️ Dual POV dark fantasy romance
❤️ Slow-burn romance with great banter
❤️ Tention, angst & yearning
❤️ Dark prophecy, dangerous secrets
❤️ Hidden identities
❤️ Elemental magic
❤️ Arcane university
If you enjoy these tropes, be sure to give Of Blood and Aether a try!
Of Blood and Aether by Harper Hawthorne is Book 1 of her Harbingers series. This is her debut novel, even though it doesn't seem like one. I was intrigued by the book's blurb and was excited when I was given the ARC.
Of Blood and Aether is a dark fantasy with intricate world-building and an interesting and complex magic system. The author really took her time to explore and show the depths of the world she has created, and I admire her for it. I was hooked from the prologue. It was dark and intriguing, and it made me want to know more. There is a dark prophecy set to tear the world apart, a prince not willing to succumb to his predestined path, a kingdom of shadows veiled in secret, a world divided into smaller territories ruled by beings older than humans, a girl with hidden powers trying to understand her past, present, and future, a mystery of missing children, an academy for the gifted, etc.
As I've said, the world-building is exquisite, and I really enjoyed this part of the book. However, the pace could have been a bit faster, and some events could've taken place sooner. There is a dual POV, and we follow both Arken, the FMC, and Kieran, the MMC. I wished there was less inner monologue, less description of people and their inventions, and more showing what they did and why. I wanted to know more about the characters, both main and side ones, to know them on a deeper level. The story has a slow-burn romance, and the two of them have some great banter, but I was somehow left lacking for more.
The last 10 percent of the book is filled with events that really speed up the story and open doors for other intriguing scenarios. There is betrayal, secrets, and heartbreak, but I feel a lot will be mended and put into perspective in Book 2.
This was a great debut novel, a good introduction to a new dark fantasy series and I'm excited to see what will happen next.
What can you expect to find in Of Blood and Aether?
❤️ Dual POV dark fantasy romance
❤️ Slow-burn romance with great banter
❤️ Tention, angst & yearning
❤️ Dark prophecy, dangerous secrets
❤️ Hidden identities
❤️ Elemental magic
❤️ Arcane university
If you enjoy these tropes, be sure to give Of Blood and Aether a try!