Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Kemmerer’s adult debut is a fun twist on the arranged marriage, childhood friends-to-lovers, and the “who hurt you?” tropes. All three main characters have secrets and past traumas and strong moral compasses, and come together (tehe) beautifully. Perfect if you’re looking for a Romantasy strong on the relationship-building!
I started August with a bang with this book!
In a funny but welcome twist, I thought this book was about a warrior princess assassin, and when I started reading it, I quickly realized it was about a warrior, a princess, and an assassin. More importantly, this is NOT a love triangle! While I didn't anticipate this romantasy being a polyamory love story, I was the very opposite of disappointed.
Honestly, I just loved this book. The world building was done well and in a way that was not confusing. Every character has depth, even minor characters. And the three main characters all have issues they are working through and are able to help each other with.
We get a three POVs in this book, which helps the reader not only with having more knowledge, but with the character development and how each character is reacting real time to the things that are happening. Brigid does a great job of knowing when we should be in each character's head for certain sequences.
Lastly, while it ends with a clear opening for book 2, I didn't feel like I was left hanging off a cliff. Can't wait for this book to come out and other people to get the chance to read it and I can't wait for the rest of the series!!!!
*Thank you, Brigid Kemmerer and Harper Collins for the paperback ARC*
In a funny but welcome twist, I thought this book was about a warrior princess assassin, and when I started reading it, I quickly realized it was about a warrior, a princess, and an assassin. More importantly, this is NOT a love triangle! While I didn't anticipate this romantasy being a polyamory love story, I was the very opposite of disappointed.
Honestly, I just loved this book. The world building was done well and in a way that was not confusing. Every character has depth, even minor characters. And the three main characters all have issues they are working through and are able to help each other with.
We get a three POVs in this book, which helps the reader not only with having more knowledge, but with the character development and how each character is reacting real time to the things that are happening. Brigid does a great job of knowing when we should be in each character's head for certain sequences.
Lastly, while it ends with a clear opening for book 2, I didn't feel like I was left hanging off a cliff. Can't wait for this book to come out and other people to get the chance to read it and I can't wait for the rest of the series!!!!
*Thank you, Brigid Kemmerer and Harper Collins for the paperback ARC*
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
medium-paced
I wasn't prepared just how much this book would become a new obsession, it is very much a character driven story with just enough plot to keep you intrigued and the fantasy is very low but what this story gives is heavy on the romance that is filled with so much tension and yearning and as someone who hasn't read very many Why Choose books I enjoyed it so much and I felt like the author held your hand and slowly took the time to introduce you to the dynamics that each of the characters bring to this slow burn of a story and the way it plays out.
Having the three PoVs really helped me to feel connected and understand each of them a lot more when it came to certain moments and aspects of the story and how it progresses especially when it came to all three dealing with their own trauma and how they handled each others to finally learn to open up and start to try and heal, the character depth was amazing so much so you will find it hard not fall head over heels for each of them.
Asher's storyline aka the Assassin was so utterly heartbreaking and my heart hurt for him as I learned more about his story and it was handled with such care and attention when it came to his trauma and the slow path to his healing. While I enjoyed the relationship between him and The Princess Jory and the love they have for each other, it was the dynamic between him and Ky (The Warrior) that was my favourite their slow burn was so beautifully written. There is spice towards the end of the book and again this was written exceptionally well.
I've always enjoyed Brigid Kemmerers' writing and her adult debut didn't disappoint, once I started I just couldn't put it down it became so addictive and I'm excited to see where the story goes in book two.
Thank you so much to the Publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Having the three PoVs really helped me to feel connected and understand each of them a lot more when it came to certain moments and aspects of the story and how it progresses especially when it came to all three dealing with their own trauma and how they handled each others to finally learn to open up and start to try and heal, the character depth was amazing so much so you will find it hard not fall head over heels for each of them.
Asher's storyline aka the Assassin was so utterly heartbreaking and my heart hurt for him as I learned more about his story and it was handled with such care and attention when it came to his trauma and the slow path to his healing. While I enjoyed the relationship between him and The Princess Jory and the love they have for each other, it was the dynamic between him and Ky (The Warrior) that was my favourite their slow burn was so beautifully written. There is spice towards the end of the book and again this was written exceptionally well.
I've always enjoyed Brigid Kemmerers' writing and her adult debut didn't disappoint, once I started I just couldn't put it down it became so addictive and I'm excited to see where the story goes in book two.
Thank you so much to the Publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
☆ stars — Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager & Netgalley for this eARC!
WOW WOW WOW. The chokehold this book had me in (and honestly still has me in) is insane! I LOVED every minute of this. An exciting political fantasy with an underlying polyamorous romance plot that has lovable characters that will both break your heart and make you fall in love? Sign me up! I quite literally had to force myself to space out how much I read this book because I was in too deep and didn’t want it to end.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes. You can bet I will be waiting eagerly for the next book.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a book! I read the whole 398 pages in one session, I just couldn't quite bring myself to stop (despite the time ticking from PM to AM and I had work in the morning!).
The characters were what really made this book for me. Asher, Ky and Jory were wonderfully distinct and equally well formed. I think the three POVs really helped with that - getting an insight into how they are thinking, feeling and mostly importantly how they are interpreting the events around them.
This relationship type is somewhat unusual in fantasy romance which is one reason I was dying to read it. I tend to not read many 'why choose' books, not because I have any issue with it, but because i like to see the relationship as a whole, how the dynamics work between people in love. I had my fingers crossed that it would pay off and it really did. When Asher is struggling, Ky grounds him, giving him stability, whereas Jory gives him passion and life, which inspires him. Without one of them, the emotional scale would tip - it needs all three for it to work.
Asher reminded me of Fenris from DragonAge - the world has tried to beat him down and though he feels like it has broken him, there's a hidden strength based in his love for first Jory and then Ky also. Jory is very different though, she has led a sheltered life without ever really knowing it, but she loves her people and is willing to do whatever she has to in order to protect them. As she realises how much she has been kept from the harsh realities of life, instead of crumpling or getting defensive, Jory takes it as a push to do better, a challenge she is ready to conquer.
Ky has such a duality between the two sides of him - the warlord and the paternal king; yet it never feels like a split personality. The two elements of his personality flow into each other to create a three dimensional person with real depth. His journey falling in love, is so smooth you almost fall with him. It feels like the only natural thing for him to do.
We only have glimpses of much of their world, so I am looking forward to learning more now that the story and characters are established. I fell head over heels for 'Warrior Princess Assassin' and I pre-ordered the special edition straight away as I need it on my bookshelf. I will be watching like a hawk for book 2 of the series!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was very interesting. I was entirely gripped and could not put it down and read the ENTIRE book in a day. We followed three main characters:
-the Warrior, Maddox "Ky" Kyronan, King of Incendar. Brought into war at too young of an age, known to be cruel and immensely powerful not only in his war strategy but also in fire magic.
-the Princess, Marjoriana "Jory", of Astranza. The discarded spare heir, forgotten about, naive, lonely, and pretentious.
-the Assassin, Asher, the Hunter. An exiled child of a former lady of the Queen of Astranza who was sold into slavery when the Queen was murdered. He is madly in love with the princess.
-the Warrior, Maddox "Ky" Kyronan, King of Incendar. Brought into war at too young of an age, known to be cruel and immensely powerful not only in his war strategy but also in fire magic.
-the Princess, Marjoriana "Jory", of Astranza. The discarded spare heir, forgotten about, naive, lonely, and pretentious.
-the Assassin, Asher, the Hunter. An exiled child of a former lady of the Queen of Astranza who was sold into slavery when the Queen was murdered. He is madly in love with the princess.
This book follows their POVs as Jory and Ky are to be married through a political alliance to better both their countries for military protection for Jory's and food and weather protection for Ky's. Until Asher is given orders through his Assassin's Guild to kill both of them and he is forced to save them. This sets off a chain reaction of events that the three of them can never take back. They uncover secrets within each other, their own kingdoms, and neighboring ones that they cannot unsee.
This is book is a true romantasy and the story very much is built around the romance portion. I am curious where the next book will take this series, and I am struggling to judge a first book because without the rest of the context of the series it is hard to do that. I wish there was more time in the book to see their relationship develop, I do feel like we spent a lot of time around others and that their growth was stifled because they were on the road a lot, but I will most definitely be reading the next book to see what will happened next.
The only reason this was rated so low for me was because I could not stand Jory. She was 25 years old, and I felt like I was reading a child. It felt wrong and I felt like if you were going to write an adult book you could write an adult woman. I am tired of the same old "I have been sheltered and never had s*x before" trope and she acts like she is 12. It is weird and it is weird and almost rubbed me the wrong way. If she does not grow and mature and the men "dating" her keep parenting her so to speak the rest of book two I will not continue the series. It will be creepy to me at that point.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Thank you to Avon for the advanced copy of this title. All opinions are my own.
BRIGID COME OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW! I need answers. I need a hug. I need book two. 😂 I have a been a long time fan of Brigid so getting read her adult debut early was such a treat! And honestly, I’m so glad I got the privilege, because it’s now living rent free in my head.
I don’t think I will ever get over how well-crafted Ky, Asher, and Jory are as characters. The pain. The heartache. The growth. It’s spectacular. The plot was well done, and crafted in such a way that the ending punches you in the face, but in the best way.
I have not been this sucked into a story in such a long time. I’ve read a lot of romantasy in the last few years, and this one easily tops them all. It’s complex, but understandable. It’s what romantasy should be. This was stellar. Even the side characters felt like friends by the end. I loved the setting and getting to see how the magic worked. I loved the romance. And that SLOOOOOOW burn was so satisfying. I loved it. The payoff for the yearning? Chefs kiss. 10/10 no notes.
If there’s a single book you need to read this year, it’s this one.
BRIGID COME OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW! I need answers. I need a hug. I need book two. 😂 I have a been a long time fan of Brigid so getting read her adult debut early was such a treat! And honestly, I’m so glad I got the privilege, because it’s now living rent free in my head.
I don’t think I will ever get over how well-crafted Ky, Asher, and Jory are as characters. The pain. The heartache. The growth. It’s spectacular. The plot was well done, and crafted in such a way that the ending punches you in the face, but in the best way.
I have not been this sucked into a story in such a long time. I’ve read a lot of romantasy in the last few years, and this one easily tops them all. It’s complex, but understandable. It’s what romantasy should be. This was stellar. Even the side characters felt like friends by the end. I loved the setting and getting to see how the magic worked. I loved the romance. And that SLOOOOOOW burn was so satisfying. I loved it. The payoff for the yearning? Chefs kiss. 10/10 no notes.
If there’s a single book you need to read this year, it’s this one.
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
To say I was excited for Kemmerer to be releasing an adult fantasy title is an understatement. I'm a huge fan of Kemmerer's book and have been reading her since the first book she published. I had very high expectations for this book as I know I usually love Kemmerer's writing and her story lines. Unfortunately, this book just did not meet those expectations at all.
Let's start with the things I did enjoy. First, the cover and stenciled edges are just gorgeous. Yes, I do judge a book by it's cover and I judged that I would love this one.The book started off well, with the characters each having their own chapters. It's three points of view. I love books with different points of view as it shows the story through more than one set of eyes and makes it more interesting to me. The set up for the story was there, with the bones starting from page one, but that was where it fell off for me.
The world building in this book is thoroughly lacking. While the magic is somewhat explained, even by half way through the book I had no idea where it came from or how it truly worked. All I knew where there were countries (maybe territories) that were enemies but needed each other to try and defeat a common enemy. I didn't truly understand how their alliance would help do this even by 50% in. The book is very focused on character interaction, which would be fine if it were a romance, but this was billed as a fantasy, so where was that part of the story line? By the end I didn't understand the political relationships or why there was conflict between the different territories.
The characters were very flat for me. I didn't like any of them. I didn't feel like they were all that reliable. I think out of the three, the Warrior POV seemed most realistic. However, it was hard to distinguish between the POVs, I found myself flipping back to make sure I knew which POV I was reading on many an occasion. I'm wondering if the audio might help with this. I saw Teddy Hamilton was one of the narrators and I truly love him. But I don't love the characters enough to go back and try this on audio. And the chemistry between the characters was just not there. If you're going to build a throuple, there really needs to be a lot of chemistry and engagement between the characters. A build up so we understand the why choose. Early on in the book there is a scene where the two male characters are interacting and one of them notes the other might be hard. But it just did not fit into that part of the story. There was nothing organic about the romance and it was more uncomfortable than anything else.
And the writing definitely skewed YA to me, even though this is an adult title. I just didn't believe the characters were the ages they were billed to be. They all seemed very young and naive despite being told the two male characters have some life experience.
Overall I am just very disappointed in this title. I spent much of the time while reading it bored and forced myself to keep turning the pages in the hopes that something, anything, interesting and exciting would happen. I kept waiting for it to ramp up and give me a great plot but it never did. I needed swooning, intrigue, higher stakes, and much more yearning. I got none of this. And the cliffhanger was predictable. I wanted to love it, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I won't be pursuing the future books in this series and this saddens me.