Scan barcode
ladybug12793's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.25
The best romantasy I’ve read in a while
I don’t know why it took me this long to read this. To be honest, I’ve been disappointed with the romance and fantasy books I’ve been reading lately. Thanks booktok for most of those poor recommendations. This was a pleasant surprise. While I can’t say this is the best fantasy I’ve read, I was entertained the entire time. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The romance is slow burn, which is my favorite. I think there is one or two mild spicy scenes but even then the plot is good enough on its own without it. I can’t say that that’s the case for a majority of the books that I’ve read recently, unfortunately. So, again, this book was a pleasant surprise.
This book definitely needs more hype. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
1 🌶️
* please disregard grammatical errors due to voice texting
I don’t know why it took me this long to read this. To be honest, I’ve been disappointed with the romance and fantasy books I’ve been reading lately. Thanks booktok for most of those poor recommendations. This was a pleasant surprise. While I can’t say this is the best fantasy I’ve read, I was entertained the entire time. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The romance is slow burn, which is my favorite. I think there is one or two mild spicy scenes but even then the plot is good enough on its own without it. I can’t say that that’s the case for a majority of the books that I’ve read recently, unfortunately. So, again, this book was a pleasant surprise.
This book definitely needs more hype. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
1 🌶️
* please disregard grammatical errors due to voice texting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping
Sexual assault –wejdene_med's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness and Gaslighting
nikicrews's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
A Viking-inspired romantasy with a cut-throat band of thieves, a complex magic system, a bear god, and broody bearded warriors with nicknames? Literally say less.
I was so excited to get my hands on this arc, and rightfully so. Silla is being hunted by the Queen of Iseldur for reasons unknown, but which will soon change everything about the life she thought she knew.
This story unfolded so wonderfully in a way that made you forget it was world building. The first scene draws you in, and by the 3rd chapter you know you’re not putting this book down.
I absolutely love the camaraderie amongst the Bloodaxe Crew, I’m a sucker for a found family with trauma bonds. I’m hoping in the next book we get to explore those characters a little deeper.
Silla’s personal growth and the way she moves from being a girl whose every move is manipulated and controlled, to one who can hold her own and will not allow herself to be told who to be, is so wonderful to watch as it unfolds.
I rated it 4 stars simply because there was a moment or two where I wanted things to pick up the pace a bit, but it’s all for the character development and plot building. Plus, once Part 2 hit, I was simply not sleeping or eating until I finished this book.
The Road of Bones releases on November 5th!
🗡️ High Fantasy
🗡️ Magic System
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ Potential Love Triangle
🗡️ Nordic/Viking Influence
🗡️ Multiple POV
🗡️ Found Family
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ebook arc and the opportunity to review!
I was so excited to get my hands on this arc, and rightfully so. Silla is being hunted by the Queen of Iseldur for reasons unknown, but which will soon change everything about the life she thought she knew.
This story unfolded so wonderfully in a way that made you forget it was world building. The first scene draws you in, and by the 3rd chapter you know you’re not putting this book down.
I absolutely love the camaraderie amongst the Bloodaxe Crew, I’m a sucker for a found family with trauma bonds. I’m hoping in the next book we get to explore those characters a little deeper.
Silla’s personal growth and the way she moves from being a girl whose every move is manipulated and controlled, to one who can hold her own and will not allow herself to be told who to be, is so wonderful to watch as it unfolds.
I rated it 4 stars simply because there was a moment or two where I wanted things to pick up the pace a bit, but it’s all for the character development and plot building. Plus, once Part 2 hit, I was simply not sleeping or eating until I finished this book.
The Road of Bones releases on November 5th!
🗡️ High Fantasy
🗡️ Magic System
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
🗡️ Potential Love Triangle
🗡️ Nordic/Viking Influence
🗡️ Multiple POV
🗡️ Found Family
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ebook arc and the opportunity to review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
sam_appa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.75
This book was exactly what I was craving. Vikings, magic, action, romance, plus found family with great side characters (LOVE Hekla). Some of the middle dragged a bit for me since the day in day out routine of traveling on the road wasn’t the mOst interesting. It was carried by the bloodaxe crew and the romance, but I wasn’t in love with the main love interest, esp not at the end. Jonas went fucking crazy. I lowkey liked him bc of this one part where he was imagining his and silla’s future together and he said that he wanted to give her chickens. i ate that up, can’t lie. but the temper, the obsessiveness, the bETRAYAL? wild. team rey all the way ✊ the definition of grumpy sunshine. I really liked the few magic elements, multiple pov, and how these characters felt so real. Silla isn’t naturally adept at fighting, deals with addiction, ptsd, etc, and none of these things are glossed over. This was a great intro to the series and I can’t wait to pick up the next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual content
thissmoi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
-0.25 only because the beginning was so slow I nearly put it down but WOW
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and Kidnapping
wickeddelights's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There was a lot I really liked about this book. The story follows a woman named Silla on the run from a past she is far from certain of, toward a safehaven located at the end of a dangerous path known as the Road of Bones. Through a set of quick decisions and a small bit of deception she ends up traveling with a group known as the Bloodaxe Crew in hopes that they can get her safely to her destination. What happens along the way is a story you simply need to read for yourself.
~~**Spoilers Below**~~(Although not a lot of them)
The author did a good job of maintaining a voice throughout the whole story that helped with the immersion in the setting. Phrases were worded in such a way that it was easy to imagine it being spoken by someone in a fantasy nordic setting.
The power/magic systems were really interesting and easy to follow, and most of the flora and fauna was pretty unique.
Where the story has some pitfalls for me is in some of the pacing. For a while during the travels the days/chapters could be summed up with "Silla cooked the daymeal. Jonas and Rey brooded by the fire. The others played dice, with maybe a bit of training and fun banter with Hekla on the side. And while it is very clear that Silla is struggling with an addiction, sometimes the thoughs revolving leaves felt overwhelming to read. I'm not saying that as a bad thing neccisarily (I honestly think thats the point) but I thought it worth noting nonetheless.
And while one of the things I praise highly of this book happenes to be the immersive speech, sometimes it felt like it could make sections drag a tiny bit.
Alllll of that said. I really enjoyed this book, and I am excited to read book two.
~~**Spoilers Below**~~(Although not a lot of them)
The author did a good job of maintaining a voice throughout the whole story that helped with the immersion in the setting. Phrases were worded in such a way that it was easy to imagine it being spoken by someone in a fantasy nordic setting.
The power/magic systems were really interesting and easy to follow, and most of the flora and fauna was pretty unique.
Where the story has some pitfalls for me is in some of the pacing. For a while during the travels the days/chapters could be summed up with "Silla cooked the daymeal. Jonas and Rey brooded by the fire. The others played dice, with maybe a bit of training and fun banter with Hekla on the side. And while it is very clear that Silla is struggling with an addiction, sometimes the thoughs revolving leaves felt overwhelming to read. I'm not saying that as a bad thing neccisarily (I honestly think thats the point) but I thought it worth noting nonetheless.
And while one of the things I praise highly of this book happenes to be the immersive speech, sometimes it felt like it could make sections drag a tiny bit.
Alllll of that said. I really enjoyed this book, and I am excited to read book two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Norse inspired, slow burn, adventure, duologyjocogr's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Medical trauma
lexibex26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
If I could rate this book higher, I would. Good lord, I am hooked and I need all of it directly injected into my veins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
chelseanaylor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book! It was inventive and interesting--I had a hard time putting it down. I find it hard to be surprised by plot twists because I read so often, but Winters got me with not one but two plot twists, much to my delight. The character development was excellent and I enjoyed the way she shifted the narrative to give us different insights in the story. Even the side characters felt nuanced to me.
The one downside to this is some grammar issues I couldn't ignore. Notably, Winters often uses "which" when she should use "that."
The one downside to this is some grammar issues I couldn't ignore. Notably, Winters often uses "which" when she should use "that."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery
luckybookjunkie's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
One of my favorite booktok-er's raved about this book, and I am glad I read it! It made me feel, it made me think, and it kept me guessing. There were actually 2 things that happened that I didn't see coming AT ALL, but instead of them feeling out of place, they were laid out so expertly. I was really impressed. Part of what brought down the star rating for me was that I didn't like the FMC for a chunk of the book, or her love interest - but after finishing the book I can see what groundwork the author was laying. I am REALLY looking forward to book 2 in a few weeks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent