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ignitemedarling's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mila_readsmm's review against another edition
4.0
***4.0 rating***
āA free lesson, from me to you. Call it a gift. Iām always one step ahead.ā
Well, this book was interesting. My first book that I have read by Ariana Nash. With new authors I read, I don't know what to expect from them.
This one had glowing reviews so I was persuaded to read it. If the Witcher (the gay version) and the Captive Prince had a love child it would be this.
The slow-burn gay fantasy "romance", with a hint of enemy to lovers trope was enough to hook me in.
The characters in this book are very well written and complex, especially Vasili. You don't know whether to love him or hate him. He is portrayed as a cruel, calculating and ruthless prince. Always two steps ahead of everyone else. The circumstances in his life have made him out to be who he is, the product of his environment. I think he was what I really liked about this book. His cunning intelligence, and manipulative tactics to fool everyone that he is a weak royal is in my opinion his lethal weapon. I applaud the author for writing this character that way, because you cannot help but be fascinated by him.
Niko, the "butcher" ex-soldier was too trusting in my opinion. I hate what happened between him and Julian, whom I knew was sketch from the beginning. That betrayal hit deep
āA free lesson, from me to you. Call it a gift. Iām always one step ahead.ā
Well, this book was interesting. My first book that I have read by Ariana Nash. With new authors I read, I don't know what to expect from them.
This one had glowing reviews so I was persuaded to read it. If the Witcher (the gay version) and the Captive Prince had a love child it would be this.
The slow-burn gay fantasy "romance", with a hint of enemy to lovers trope was enough to hook me in.
The characters in this book are very well written and complex, especially Vasili. You don't know whether to love him or hate him. He is portrayed as a cruel, calculating and ruthless prince. Always two steps ahead of everyone else. The circumstances in his life have made him out to be who he is, the product of his environment. I think he was what I really liked about this book. His cunning intelligence, and manipulative tactics to fool everyone that he is a weak royal is in my opinion his lethal weapon. I applaud the author for writing this character that way, because you cannot help but be fascinated by him.
Niko, the "butcher" ex-soldier was too trusting in my opinion. I hate what happened between him and Julian, whom I knew was sketch from the beginning. That betrayal hit deep
nikki_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have an enemies-to-lovers relationship with this series. (The plot + characters make me mad and I like it!!!! š¤)
I love how messy and dumb these characters are (in a very human "making quick, emotionally-charged decisions with none of the necessary information" way, not in a "I am worried this character has a brain-eating parasite" way). Niko is angry š” all the time and that does get a bit tiring by later books but... he's got reasons so I let it slide. He's young and f'ed up.
I don't get the Witcher vibes here (aside from white hair) that other people have mentioned. Feels more like a mashup of Game of Thrones and Captive Prince with a sprinkle of orcs + magic from LOTR.
I did see some twists coming but not all of them... and that automatically grants an author some extra stars from me even if I might burn my Kindle reading about someone's "cheeks flickering/fluttering" every two pages. (facial cheeks not š cheeks, unfortunately LOL.)
DEFINITELY mind trigger/content warnings.
I love how messy and dumb these characters are (in a very human "making quick, emotionally-charged decisions with none of the necessary information" way, not in a "I am worried this character has a brain-eating parasite" way). Niko is angry š” all the time and that does get a bit tiring by later books but... he's got reasons so I let it slide. He's young and f'ed up.
I don't get the Witcher vibes here (aside from white hair) that other people have mentioned. Feels more like a mashup of Game of Thrones and Captive Prince with a sprinkle of orcs + magic from LOTR.
I did see some twists coming but not all of them... and that automatically grants an author some extra stars from me even if I might burn my Kindle reading about someone's "cheeks flickering/fluttering" every two pages. (facial cheeks not š cheeks, unfortunately LOL.)
DEFINITELY mind trigger/content warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Torture, Confinement, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape
Minor: Animal cruelty and Blood
athenian_frog's review
I couldn't really get into the perspective of the MC, not feeling very engaged Q_Q. I feel like the author could have done a bit more to show us his feelings of loss without having all of it just...told to me. I wanted to see more of the other aspects of his personality, too. IDK. I feel pretty removed from his grief and anger.
Might come back to it but it's unlikely.
Might come back to it but it's unlikely.
maddogmadi's review
dark
another Ariana Nash so mind your triggers, title conveys the energy, enemies to lovers, magic, pirates and elves and dopeness
yamuna_rai's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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? Yes
4.0
aileen03's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
geethr75's review against another edition
5.0
I started this after finishing Twisted Pretty Things because I wanted more from the author and decided to read something else before the second book in the Shadows of London. To say this book sucked me in would be an understatement. It took my soul, and I am still dealing. I pulled an allnighter to finish it, and am half way through the second book.
How dare you, book and author.
The story is told from the POV of an ex soldier named Nikolas Yazdan who is angry and bitter after eight years of war, and what he perceives as the King's betrayal when he decides to sue for peace when they finally had the upper hand. Nikolas has seen his family, and comrades including the man he was in love with, die in the war, and he hates the royals for it.
When a royal approaches him in a brothel and offers him money to assassinate someone, Niko is angry enough to break his wrist, and he's thrown into prison. From there he is caught up in a world of intrigue, magic and secrets, with Julian, the bodyguard of Prince Vasily, his tormentor, the only bright spot.
To be honest, I was so intrigued by the character of Vasily who's as morally grey as they come and proud of it. Niko is both attracted and repelled by him, which is a counterpoint to the sweer romance that he has with Julian.
I don't want to spoil, but soon the three find themselves on the run, and from there on, it's all downhill, and everytime things seem to settle down, something goes wrong.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes high and grimdark fantasy, but be warned that there are some very disturbing themes including r**e.
How dare you, book and author.
The story is told from the POV of an ex soldier named Nikolas Yazdan who is angry and bitter after eight years of war, and what he perceives as the King's betrayal when he decides to sue for peace when they finally had the upper hand. Nikolas has seen his family, and comrades including the man he was in love with, die in the war, and he hates the royals for it.
When a royal approaches him in a brothel and offers him money to assassinate someone, Niko is angry enough to break his wrist, and he's thrown into prison. From there he is caught up in a world of intrigue, magic and secrets, with Julian, the bodyguard of Prince Vasily, his tormentor, the only bright spot.
To be honest, I was so intrigued by the character of Vasily who's as morally grey as they come and proud of it. Niko is both attracted and repelled by him, which is a counterpoint to the sweer romance that he has with Julian.
I don't want to spoil, but soon the three find themselves on the run, and from there on, it's all downhill, and everytime things seem to settle down, something goes wrong.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes high and grimdark fantasy, but be warned that there are some very disturbing themes including r**e.
elementory's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.3
This was WILD
Every character in this book was morally grey. Although Nico was supposed to be so dark and serious, and he literally was nicknamed "The Butcher" he was SO CUTE and kinda soft and a good person.
Vasili was so very annoying with his manipulation and his secret plans I just wanted to smack some empathy onto him. But honestly I don't take it up on him too much bc of his past and what he endured.
The story was good, fast pacing, good although you can deduct the plot twists really easily.
This was WILD
Every character in this book was morally grey. Although Nico was supposed to be so dark and serious, and he literally was nicknamed "The Butcher" he was SO CUTE and kinda soft and a good person.
Vasili was so very annoying with his manipulation and his secret plans I just wanted to smack some empathy onto him. But honestly I don't take it up on him too much bc of his past and what he endured.
The story was good, fast pacing, good although you can deduct the plot twists really easily.