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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
I LOVED THIS. The characters, the poison, the world, the slow-burn. I was so impressed! This is what a book trying to read like a fairy tale should be. I love how it wrapped up at the end but I also wish there was a second book with the same characters. I am excited to see what happens in the sequel!
This was a really moving story focused on healing, self-acceptance, and love. As a young teen, Selene is forced to poison her king by her mother, and when the poison fails to kill him, her mother and father flee... leaving Selene to pick up the pieces alone. What follows is an unexpected friendship with the man she tried to end, and a beautiful love story that unfolds in the wake of tragedy. This is not a very plot heavy book, but very character driven and is truly the story of Selene's journey.
"But oh, that smile. It was as pure as summer sun, a true smile, the first of his I had ever seen."
The relationship between Selene and Elias was beautifully handled and never felt forced or inappropriate. The fantasy world that they live in felt fresh and full, and I can't wait to read other stories that take place in the same universe.
I really loved how the main characters were so connected to the fictional story within a story, and I LOVE that the author has it available for readers to experience and really immerse ourselves into the world. I can't wait to pick that up.
A few tropes and themes you can expect are:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
Friends to lovers
Age gap
Royalty
Magic (I loved how her magic was nature/herb based)
Disability and self-acceptance
Check for your own personal TW; a few main ones to be aware of are attempted suicide, attempted SA, and the death of an unborn child.
"But oh, that smile. It was as pure as summer sun, a true smile, the first of his I had ever seen."
The relationship between Selene and Elias was beautifully handled and never felt forced or inappropriate. The fantasy world that they live in felt fresh and full, and I can't wait to read other stories that take place in the same universe.
I really loved how the main characters were so connected to the fictional story within a story, and I LOVE that the author has it available for readers to experience and really immerse ourselves into the world. I can't wait to pick that up.
A few tropes and themes you can expect are:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
Friends to lovers
Age gap
Royalty
Magic (I loved how her magic was nature/herb based)
Disability and self-acceptance
Check for your own personal TW; a few main ones to be aware of are attempted suicide, attempted SA, and the death of an unborn child.
This book is hands down the best book I have read this year. It is beautiful and it hurts and it is magic. It touched my soul. I was there with Selene and I felt all of it and I didn’t want it to end.
The character development was incredible. It’s subtle and beautiful and honest. The journey we go on in this world and with these characters is something I’ve never experienced in a book. I want reread it right this second.
I cried when it ended.
I’m so grateful to have received an ARC and I can’t wait to read book 2.
Do check trigger warnings. There’s suicide, attempted sa, violence, and gore.
The character development was incredible. It’s subtle and beautiful and honest. The journey we go on in this world and with these characters is something I’ve never experienced in a book. I want reread it right this second.
I cried when it ended.
I’m so grateful to have received an ARC and I can’t wait to read book 2.
Do check trigger warnings. There’s suicide, attempted sa, violence, and gore.
A good YA fantasy, with coming-of-age and romance subplots.
The slower, introspective pace with more focus on characters than plot was nice. I like stories that race along, but I also like slower reads. However, the beginning was glacial... a slow pace is fine, but I don't need chapters upon chapters of waiting. Also, I felt like a little more.... well, anything.... would have rounded Selene out better as a character. Perhaps more interactions with other characters (except one of her characteristics is she's very content to be alone??), or traveling into town or interactions with the guards or servants or really anything happening except sitting in the room with the king.
I had very typical reservations about the plot, finding it rather straightforward and predictable, not unusual for YA novels.
I think the disability rep in this was okay. It certainly was very nice to have a character who relies on a wheelchair in the book, that's really quite rare in fiction. And even some of the challenges faced in everyday life were addressed. There were a few things I felt could have been handled with a bit more sensitivity, but nothing too glaring.
In the end- if you like YA fantasy that focuses more on characters than plot, you will probably enjoy this book.
Content: Probably better for more mature teens. Closed-door scene, sexual assault, suicide, disability are all discussed in the book.
The slower, introspective pace with more focus on characters than plot was nice. I like stories that race along, but I also like slower reads. However, the beginning was glacial... a slow pace is fine, but I don't need chapters upon chapters of waiting. Also, I felt like a little more.... well, anything.... would have rounded Selene out better as a character. Perhaps more interactions with other characters (except one of her characteristics is she's very content to be alone??), or traveling into town or interactions with the guards or servants or really anything happening except sitting in the room with the king.
I had very typical reservations about the plot, finding it rather straightforward and predictable, not unusual for YA novels.
I think the disability rep in this was okay. It certainly was very nice to have a character who relies on a wheelchair in the book, that's really quite rare in fiction. And even some of the challenges faced in everyday life were addressed. There were a few things I felt could have been handled with a bit more sensitivity, but nothing too glaring.
In the end- if you like YA fantasy that focuses more on characters than plot, you will probably enjoy this book.
Content: Probably better for more mature teens. Closed-door scene, sexual assault, suicide, disability are all discussed in the book.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i learned from this book that i hate first person past tense. it infuriated me. the writing was decent but. no.
A review said this book was for reader’s who enjoy Madeline Miller and Katherine Arden books, which is very true. I love a strong female lead, especially a witch and the longing between enemies to lovers.
I honestly don't have words to describe how I feel. This book took me by suprise and I was swept away effortlessly.
It's so beautifully written and I fell in love with the FMC Selene and S.G's writing. It was giving old fairytale vibes.
It's really fast paced but also easy to follow both the characters and the plot. I read it within 24 hours and felt every emotion in my entire body.
I'm a firm believer that you should go into books blind, this is no exception. Trust me when I say, it was immaculate.
So if you want a fantasy book that's quick, has an ominous vibe and a slow burn – then this is it!
It's so beautifully written and I fell in love with the FMC Selene and S.G's writing. It was giving old fairytale vibes.
It's really fast paced but also easy to follow both the characters and the plot. I read it within 24 hours and felt every emotion in my entire body.
I'm a firm believer that you should go into books blind, this is no exception. Trust me when I say, it was immaculate.
So if you want a fantasy book that's quick, has an ominous vibe and a slow burn – then this is it!
This was a really nice standalone. Honestly, I think I’ve only read one other fantasy standalone that I’ve truly enjoyed. I liked the direction this book took, though I felt some of the subplots were introduced too late in the story.
I loved the slow burn, but I did have an issue with the age gap. It felt unnecessary and didn’t add anything meaningful to the plot. I pushed past it to finish the book, but it still made me uncomfortable. They meet when she’s 14 and he’s 23, and while nothing happens, until she’s considered “of age” in the context of kingdoms—17 (which still feels icky to me)—it was hard to overlook. Just to preface there wasn’t any age gap trope or meaningful discussion about their ages, which made it feel even more out of place. I knew I’d have to take a star off because of this.
I loved the slow burn, but I did have an issue with the age gap. It felt unnecessary and didn’t add anything meaningful to the plot. I pushed past it to finish the book, but it still made me uncomfortable. They meet when she’s 14 and he’s 23, and while nothing happens, until she’s considered “of age” in the context of kingdoms—17 (which still feels icky to me)—it was hard to overlook. Just to preface there wasn’t any age gap trope or meaningful discussion about their ages, which made it feel even more out of place. I knew I’d have to take a star off because of this.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes