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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
3.5 stars rounded up. For everyone who loves the world-building and war college vibes that you get from [b:Fourth Wing|61431922|Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)|Rebecca Yarros|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1701980900l/61431922._SY75_.jpg|96945623] or even [b:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone|42844155|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter, #1)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1598823299l/42844155._SX50_.jpg|4640799], this was an enticing read. This book is in the same universe as [b:The Awakening|46261182|The Awakening (Zodiac Academy, #1)|Caroline Peckham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560277389l/46261182._SY75_.jpg|71248761], which I have not read, but is supposedly separate. I will say that the mechanics of the world and how magic works was sufficiently explained but it didn’t feel organic to me. It felt like I was being thrown a study sheet instead of learning it through lore. Regardless, the magic was cool and even though I’m not into astrology, the zodiac aspect was cool. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that it didn’t sequester itself into one niche of magic. Everyone has an element (water, fire, earth, air) determined by their birthdate but they also have Orders which correspond to what kind of shifter they are. There were lions, werewolves, and bears – oh my. Also, sea creatures, leopards, Vampires, essentially demons, et cetera.
This book follows two female protagonists, Vesper and Everest. They are not romantic interests in this book but become somewhat grudging allies/friends working toward a similar near-term goal. While this book gets credit for breaking the mold in romance fantasy by not having the second POV be the male love interest, I actually didn’t love it. The problem at the beginning is that I had no idea how these two characters are connected and with only two of them, there was no doubt in my mind that they were. Further, stories that switch between different POVs (especially outside of two love interests) make it hard for me to really become invested in either plot line.
Lastly, I wouldn’t call this a romance fantasy – it leans much more heavily into the fantasy aspect. Only one of the POVs has any romance in it and I’d argue that was more of a casual thing than an actual romance. It’s certainly not the enemies to lovers , forced proximity story that this was marketed to me as. Despite that, this book set itself up nicely for the second book. I think the second book will have all of those tropes in droves and I’m looking forward to reading it..
This book follows two female protagonists, Vesper and Everest. They are not romantic interests in this book but become somewhat grudging allies/friends working toward a similar near-term goal. While this book gets credit for breaking the mold in romance fantasy by not having the second POV be the male love interest, I actually didn’t love it. The problem at the beginning is that I had no idea how these two characters are connected and with only two of them, there was no doubt in my mind that they were. Further, stories that switch between different POVs (especially outside of two love interests) make it hard for me to really become invested in either plot line.
Lastly, I wouldn’t call this a romance fantasy – it leans much more heavily into the fantasy aspect. Only one of the POVs has any romance in it and I’d argue that was more of a casual thing than an actual romance. It’s certainly not the enemies to lovers , forced proximity story that this was marketed to me as. Despite that, this book set itself up nicely for the second book. I think the second book will have all of those tropes in droves and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Spoiler
I can’t wait to read about Everest and Kaiser’s fearsire situation in the next book and I definitely want her to fall for the villain
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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
adventurous
dark
tense
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:
Yes
I looooveee the twisted sisters. So good to be back in solaria! A badass - the sky witch! Everests ending has me wanting to read the next book asap. These books are long and filled with so much information, so so nearly a 5 star read. Maybe Echo Fort will be ❤️🔥❤️🔥
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced