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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
I found a lot of the book quite slow, but around 50% really started to get into it and towards the end I couldn’t get enough but the frustration I felt in the first 50% was enough for me to only give 3 stars. I finished this book last night and didn’t think I would read the second one straight away, if at all but after dreaming about this book most of the night I’ve immediately bought it this morning to start tonight because I have to know what happens and as a big fan of happy endings I have to know that Raihn and Oraya end up together.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
SLAYY okay didn’t think I’d like this as much as I did?? I mean I knew I was going to like it but it GAVEEEE everything
1) love RAIHNNN love ORAYA also what a pretty name
2) I did like vincent, so sad when he died
3) enemies to lovers?? yes and no, shouldn’t have been marketed at that
4) slow burn YESSS, loved that the kiss was like 70% in, one smut scene in the whole book at 80% in!!
5) I really enjoyed the world building and just the fun time I had with this book. It’s been so long since I’ve read a proper fantasy, highly recommend!!
6) can’t wait for the shit to go down in the next few books
1) love RAIHNNN love ORAYA also what a pretty name
2) I did like vincent, so sad when he died
3) enemies to lovers?? yes and no, shouldn’t have been marketed at that
4) slow burn YESSS, loved that the kiss was like 70% in, one smut scene in the whole book at 80% in!!
5) I really enjoyed the world building and just the fun time I had with this book. It’s been so long since I’ve read a proper fantasy, highly recommend!!
6) can’t wait for the shit to go down in the next few books
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-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
I’m DNFing bc I read the last few chapters and was very outraged. This book was what I imagine crack to be like and not the good kind. It sucks you in and suddenly days have passed but all you know is the word filled pages about a girl you secretly want to end up with another women instead of the bland ass love interest you know will betray her. I refuse to finish it Im sick of straight romance. I’m also putting this on my read shelf bc that’s my emotional constipation.
TLDR: if you like romantasy books that are popular on TikTok, you'll probably love this. Otherwise, it's a mixed bag.
I think I set myself up for failure with this book. I had very high expectations for it, so to a certain extent I only have myself to blame for the fact that it didn't live up to them.
Let's start with the things I did like: Oraya's dynamic with her father was possibly the most compelling aspect of the book for me, and the contrast between her and Raihn as a human who doesn't know how to act like one and a vampire who desperately tries to was interesting. The last 50 pages were easily the best for me; I didn't see the ending coming and it sets up the sequel well.
Unfortunately, my list of complaints is a lot longer. The world building is fine, but I had the benefit of having already read two books in the Crowns Of Nyaxia universe. For someone going into this world completely fresh, I'm guessing it would be pretty confusing. Problem number two is that I don't think this book needed to be 500 pages long. I felt that there were too many trials and too much time in between them, especially since most of that time gets skipped over in the narrative.
Speaking of the Kejari - if all but one contestant is guaranteed to die 99% of the time, why did so many people enter with friends/loved ones? Possibly my biggest gripe is the constant swearing. I have no issue with swearing at all, except when it's forced and over-used. These characters swear constantly, but it only succeeds in making them sound as mature as 15 year-olds. The romance was a little lackluster in my opinion, but that's probably because I personally am very sick of the 'tiny woman, huge man' trope.
Overall, I would say it's fine. I'm a little confused as to how this has a 4.28 average - I've read much better books with much lower average ratings, so I'm not sure why the numbers are so inflated for this one.
I think I set myself up for failure with this book. I had very high expectations for it, so to a certain extent I only have myself to blame for the fact that it didn't live up to them.
Let's start with the things I did like: Oraya's dynamic with her father was possibly the most compelling aspect of the book for me, and the contrast between her and Raihn as a human who doesn't know how to act like one and a vampire who desperately tries to was interesting. The last 50 pages were easily the best for me; I didn't see the ending coming and it sets up the sequel well.
Unfortunately, my list of complaints is a lot longer. The world building is fine, but I had the benefit of having already read two books in the Crowns Of Nyaxia universe. For someone going into this world completely fresh, I'm guessing it would be pretty confusing. Problem number two is that I don't think this book needed to be 500 pages long. I felt that there were too many trials and too much time in between them, especially since most of that time gets skipped over in the narrative.
Speaking of the Kejari - if all but one contestant is guaranteed to die 99% of the time, why did so many people enter with friends/loved ones? Possibly my biggest gripe is the constant swearing. I have no issue with swearing at all, except when it's forced and over-used. These characters swear constantly, but it only succeeds in making them sound as mature as 15 year-olds. The romance was a little lackluster in my opinion, but that's probably because I personally am very sick of the 'tiny woman, huge man' trope.
Overall, I would say it's fine. I'm a little confused as to how this has a 4.28 average - I've read much better books with much lower average ratings, so I'm not sure why the numbers are so inflated for this one.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Devastating ending
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous