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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
A solid 4/5 stars! So I fully did not read any reviews before finishing the book, so these thoughts are entirely my own. Now looking over other reviews, it seems that there’s a mixed consensus on whether or not this book was enjoyable. Imo, I really enjoyed it so I’ll go into what I liked and what I didn’t! (Should be pretty spoiler free rn)
What I liked:
1. Elowen! Seems like some people did not find her to be a good main character, but I flipping loved her. She was strong, brutal, vengeful, and yet so human. Her past riddled in abuse has made her into the vengeful person she is today and honestly? All the power to her. I just loved how depraved she could be, it’s something I don’t see an author often do with their main characters so it was almost…refreshing? But thing is I could still sympathize with her cause, with her pain. I didn’t find her to be insufferable or anything. I also just loved her strength, physically and mentally. It was so nice to not have a “oh my bones break in the wind but I’m still seen as the best soldier” female main character (*cough* Violet *cough*). Like Elowen was genuinely badass.
2. Found family! I’m a sucker for found family. I do wish the bond between Elowen, Ryder, Saskia, Finnian, and Cayden was a little less rushed? But I still loved the five of them regardless, it was very sweet.
3. FINNIAN FINNIAN FINNIAN!!! You don’t understand how much I love this fucking guy, he’s so babygirl. And love when female/male relationships do not become inherently romantic. He’s such a good brother figure to Elowen, I love them and the deep care they have for each other.
4. Did not hate the romance! Cayden and Elowen is what I wanted from Violet and Xaden from Fourth Wing tbh. Like how they were both annoyed at each other from the start but still had witty banter and strong chemistry. Not just incessant arguing and tongue lashing at each other. I was totally rooting for them like the author indented. I did start disliking some of Cayden’s possessive dialogue, but other than that I liked their relationship.
Now what I disliked:
1. Ik I can’t complain about sex scenes for books I get into that Ik are spicy buuuut idc, I’m gonna complain. Honestly goddamn, this book was so low spice at the beginning and I was totally vibing. Then Cayden and Elowen finally get together and allllll of a sudden it’s sex scene after sex scene like omfg can y’all stay off each other for one second? I did skip them, but still I guess I was hoping there would be like 1 or 2, not 4 to 5
What I liked:
1. Elowen! Seems like some people did not find her to be a good main character, but I flipping loved her. She was strong, brutal, vengeful, and yet so human. Her past riddled in abuse has made her into the vengeful person she is today and honestly? All the power to her. I just loved how depraved she could be, it’s something I don’t see an author often do with their main characters so it was almost…refreshing? But thing is I could still sympathize with her cause, with her pain. I didn’t find her to be insufferable or anything. I also just loved her strength, physically and mentally. It was so nice to not have a “oh my bones break in the wind but I’m still seen as the best soldier” female main character (*cough* Violet *cough*). Like Elowen was genuinely badass.
2. Found family! I’m a sucker for found family. I do wish the bond between Elowen, Ryder, Saskia, Finnian, and Cayden was a little less rushed? But I still loved the five of them regardless, it was very sweet.
3. FINNIAN FINNIAN FINNIAN!!! You don’t understand how much I love this fucking guy, he’s so babygirl. And love when female/male relationships do not become inherently romantic. He’s such a good brother figure to Elowen, I love them and the deep care they have for each other.
4. Did not hate the romance! Cayden and Elowen is what I wanted from Violet and Xaden from Fourth Wing tbh. Like how they were both annoyed at each other from the start but still had witty banter and strong chemistry. Not just incessant arguing and tongue lashing at each other. I was totally rooting for them like the author indented. I did start disliking some of Cayden’s possessive dialogue, but other than that I liked their relationship.
Now what I disliked:
1. Ik I can’t complain about sex scenes for books I get into that Ik are spicy buuuut idc, I’m gonna complain. Honestly goddamn, this book was so low spice at the beginning and I was totally vibing. Then Cayden and Elowen finally get together and allllll of a sudden it’s sex scene after sex scene like omfg can y’all stay off each other for one second? I did skip them, but still I guess I was hoping there would be like 1 or 2, not 4 to 5
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
Yeah little confusing here and there and some scenes were odd and quick. But I loved the MMC and the banter.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It gets worse every chapter. Towards the end I only read every other page, that's all that was needed to know what's happening.
Slow moving book that feels like it's never going to get to the point. I got lost and confused so many times as the author skips on writing details and descriptions and just jumps into the next scene, at times it feels like the author is loosely describing a tv show rather than writing a book.
The characters feel quite childish to me, and there's no attempt to build the relationships. The romance between the main characters feels shallow, rushed and cringy, and it made the book really difficult to finish.
Slow moving book that feels like it's never going to get to the point. I got lost and confused so many times as the author skips on writing details and descriptions and just jumps into the next scene, at times it feels like the author is loosely describing a tv show rather than writing a book.
The characters feel quite childish to me, and there's no attempt to build the relationships. The romance between the main characters feels shallow, rushed and cringy, and it made the book really difficult to finish.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
the plot seemed rushed and things happened (romance, heist) too fast and too easy for my personal reading taste. The writing for me was very tell-not-show which cheapened the story. However it was a good book to pass the time and overall I enjoyed it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
slow-paced