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aestass's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
3.25
The spook is across between A Darker Shade of Magic and Six of Crows. However, it lacks the crispness of either book and borrows a tad too many elements from each plotline for my taste. While this is not in the realm of plagiarism by any mean, as someone whoโs previously read both ADSOM & SOC, the similarity was distracting. I did enjoy the moral grayness of the characters, and the concept of the Incarnate. I think that the ending of the book is where the author really shined, but I feel like we were missing some backstory about what led to the death of the previous rulers of Verchiรฉl. I also thought that Dabrua and Siljeโs characters were intriguing but could have been executed better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
hladelano's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fun, fast-paced fantasy that kept me hooked with its intricate world building and intriguing magic system. The four Incarnate are humans gifted with powers, revered in some kingdoms and shunned in others. I loved the juxtaposition of Sun and Moon magic, where Sun Incarnate can use their powers in the day and Moon Incarnate can use their powers in the night.
As the story unfolds, the Incarnate fight and plot for power. The author did an excellent job of writing morally grey characters, as I often went back and forth between liking and loathing the Incarnates. The side characters were well-developed and I especially liked Dabria and Ada.
The novel wraps up the plot points quite nicely, but also plants some seeds that would potentially allow the story to continue n
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ: morally grey characters, shadow and light magic (moon and sun magic), found family, grumpy & sunshine, knife to the throat, power struggles & political intrigue, diverse representation
๐๐ถ๐ต ๐ช๐ต ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ญ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ.
๐๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ข ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ.
Thank you to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.
As the story unfolds, the Incarnate fight and plot for power. The author did an excellent job of writing morally grey characters, as I often went back and forth between liking and loathing the Incarnates. The side characters were well-developed and I especially liked Dabria and Ada.
The novel wraps up the plot points quite nicely, but also plants some seeds that would potentially allow the story to continue n
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ: morally grey characters, shadow and light magic (moon and sun magic), found family, grumpy & sunshine, knife to the throat, power struggles & political intrigue, diverse representation
๐๐ถ๐ต ๐ช๐ต ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ญ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฌ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ.
๐๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ข ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ.
Thank you to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.
teastarsandbooks's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Hidden Hollow Book Tours and the author for my #gifted copy of AN INCARNATION OF SHADOW AND LIGHT. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions.
*เฉโฉโงโหเผบโเผป*เฉโฉโงโห
An Incarnation of Shadow and Light is a character-centric fantasy full of political machinations, power struggles, unique world building and grey morality. Gabriel and Zoe are the Moon and Sun Incarnates of their city and prepped to step into the roles of ruling, which they've prepared most of their lives for. Until Niklas, an exiled Moon Incarnate from an enemy kingdom, interrupts their coronation to usurp their thronesโthrowing their lives into utter chaos, sending them on a journey to seek help and find darker answers.
*เฉโฉโงโหเผบโเผป*เฉโฉโงโห
MY THOUGHTS:
This is definitely one of those books I thought I would enjoy more but ended up feeling "meh" about it through most of the read. The world building is simple and easy to follow. The author does a good job at creating a detailed world while keeping it easy to follow. The pacing was pretty solid, keeping a moderate pace throughout the tale. The characters were all unique with their own faults and complications.
Gabriel is a socialite with a rotten past who will do anything to keep his easy going life of being worshipped. Zoe is the level headed best friend who takes her responsibilities of ruling and going by the book seriously. Niklas is a warm hearted bear of a man who just wants his father's acceptance and love. Silje is an assassin starved of love and will manipulate, kill, and abuse to force people to love and adore her.
While I started with liking Zoe and not really caring for Gabriel, by the end of the book, that switched. While the conclusion to Gabriel's story made sense with his character and storyline, Zoe's not so much to me. Silje reminded me of Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender, just not as well written. Niklas was a solid character for me. There was an additional POV of Dabria, a soldier who turned traitor to save her skin the night of the usurpation. And honestly, I'm not sure what service her story had to the overarching tale? You could remove all her POVs and it wouldn't change much.
Overall, this was a mediocre read for me that took me a bit too long to finish, so 3 stars.
*เฉโฉโงโหเผบโเผป*เฉโฉโงโห
An Incarnation of Shadow and Light is a character-centric fantasy full of political machinations, power struggles, unique world building and grey morality. Gabriel and Zoe are the Moon and Sun Incarnates of their city and prepped to step into the roles of ruling, which they've prepared most of their lives for. Until Niklas, an exiled Moon Incarnate from an enemy kingdom, interrupts their coronation to usurp their thronesโthrowing their lives into utter chaos, sending them on a journey to seek help and find darker answers.
*เฉโฉโงโหเผบโเผป*เฉโฉโงโห
MY THOUGHTS:
This is definitely one of those books I thought I would enjoy more but ended up feeling "meh" about it through most of the read. The world building is simple and easy to follow. The author does a good job at creating a detailed world while keeping it easy to follow. The pacing was pretty solid, keeping a moderate pace throughout the tale. The characters were all unique with their own faults and complications.
Gabriel is a socialite with a rotten past who will do anything to keep his easy going life of being worshipped. Zoe is the level headed best friend who takes her responsibilities of ruling and going by the book seriously. Niklas is a warm hearted bear of a man who just wants his father's acceptance and love. Silje is an assassin starved of love and will manipulate, kill, and abuse to force people to love and adore her.
While I started with liking Zoe and not really caring for Gabriel, by the end of the book, that switched. While the conclusion to Gabriel's story made sense with his character and storyline, Zoe's not so much to me. Silje reminded me of Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender, just not as well written. Niklas was a solid character for me. There was an additional POV of Dabria, a soldier who turned traitor to save her skin the night of the usurpation. And honestly, I'm not sure what service her story had to the overarching tale? You could remove all her POVs and it wouldn't change much.
Overall, this was a mediocre read for me that took me a bit too long to finish, so 3 stars.
goatsinspace's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Thanks to Hidden Hollow Book Tours, the publisher, and the author for the review copy. This review is honest and voluntary.
This is a story set in a corrupt and power-hungry Victorian-inspired world, where magic is both revered and feared in equal parts. At the heart of the story are four intricately crafted characters, each wielding magic and navigating their own moral complexities. Christianson masterfully explores the complexities of morality and the shades of grey that define each character's journey. They are all equally unlikeable and loveable in varied amounts. I really loved this aspect of the story.
Gabriel is a charismatic and hedonistic socialite who embodies the allure of power and indulgence, willing to tread darker paths to maintain his influence and control. His platonic life partner is Zoe. She is driven by a desire to forge her own destiny despite the constraints of her role. Niklas is looking to take power that was taken from him. He is haunted by his past but seeks purpose. Silje, his dangerous assassin and half-sister navigates the precarious balance between her desire for love and acceptance and her penchant for violence and revenge. Also - Silje is basically Villanelle from Killing Eve and I WAS HERE for it.
The richly imagined world-building adds depth the story, offering readers a varied tapestry of different kingdoms and cultures to immerse themselves in. This is a compelling exploration of ambition, populated by flawed yet compelling characters who grapple with their own demons and desires. With its intricate plot and morally ambiguous protagonists, this book is sure to captivate readers!
This is a story set in a corrupt and power-hungry Victorian-inspired world, where magic is both revered and feared in equal parts. At the heart of the story are four intricately crafted characters, each wielding magic and navigating their own moral complexities. Christianson masterfully explores the complexities of morality and the shades of grey that define each character's journey. They are all equally unlikeable and loveable in varied amounts. I really loved this aspect of the story.
Gabriel is a charismatic and hedonistic socialite who embodies the allure of power and indulgence, willing to tread darker paths to maintain his influence and control. His platonic life partner is Zoe. She is driven by a desire to forge her own destiny despite the constraints of her role. Niklas is looking to take power that was taken from him. He is haunted by his past but seeks purpose. Silje, his dangerous assassin and half-sister navigates the precarious balance between her desire for love and acceptance and her penchant for violence and revenge. Also - Silje is basically Villanelle from Killing Eve and I WAS HERE for it.
The richly imagined world-building adds depth the story, offering readers a varied tapestry of different kingdoms and cultures to immerse themselves in. This is a compelling exploration of ambition, populated by flawed yet compelling characters who grapple with their own demons and desires. With its intricate plot and morally ambiguous protagonists, this book is sure to captivate readers!
jlreadstoperpetuity's review
5.0
I am in love with this book. If there is one technical aspects that I always look for, its characterization and this book was so skillfully written
courtneystrong's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
I really enjoyed this book!! It was such a fun, fast-paced read and honestly not the typical fantasy Iโm used to which was a great change of pace!
Zoe and Gabriel are the Sun and Moon Incarnate of Verchiel, two beings gifted magical powers, and are set to take the throne after their predecessors died - or so they thought. In preparation for their coronation, the throne is challenged by the Moon Incarnate of Bjordal, Niklas, and he wins the throne through power and persuasion.
Zoe and Gabriel must flee to avoid being taken as prisoners of the new king of Verchiel, and make a suspicious ally with Silje, Sun Incarnate of Bjordal. The 3 of them must set off on a mission to try to gain support from the other territories to help take back their rightful throne from Niklas as they try to figure out who they can actually trust.
My thoughts on the four Incarnate:
Silje - delulu
Niklas - coward
Gabriel - cocky
Zoe - boring
But the dynamics of the 4 of them together made for an incredibly enjoyable read! The side characters were also great additions to the story line.
This book has a great mix of morally great characters, LGBTQ representation (bisexual, lesbian, and non binary characters), and a super unique magic system based on the sun and the moon. Definitely recommend picking this one up!
Zoe and Gabriel are the Sun and Moon Incarnate of Verchiel, two beings gifted magical powers, and are set to take the throne after their predecessors died - or so they thought. In preparation for their coronation, the throne is challenged by the Moon Incarnate of Bjordal, Niklas, and he wins the throne through power and persuasion.
Zoe and Gabriel must flee to avoid being taken as prisoners of the new king of Verchiel, and make a suspicious ally with Silje, Sun Incarnate of Bjordal. The 3 of them must set off on a mission to try to gain support from the other territories to help take back their rightful throne from Niklas as they try to figure out who they can actually trust.
My thoughts on the four Incarnate:
Silje - delulu
Niklas - coward
Gabriel - cocky
Zoe - boring
But the dynamics of the 4 of them together made for an incredibly enjoyable read! The side characters were also great additions to the story line.
This book has a great mix of morally great characters, LGBTQ representation (bisexual, lesbian, and non binary characters), and a super unique magic system based on the sun and the moon. Definitely recommend picking this one up!
super_shawnna81's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
charlxoxo's review
3.75
I heard that this was six of crows meets a darker shade of magic and I was immediately sold.
The magic system in this book is both fresh and yet familiar which was great as I didnโt feel myself getting lost whilst trying to understand it. I really enjoyed the sun and the moon duality. This book is also full of political intrigue and power struggles which isnโt something I usually adore in a book but I really enjoyed it here. Also this book has such an array of representation that felt natural not like it was just put there to check boxes. There is definitely a lack of romance in this book but honestly I didnโt even notice because I was so hooked throughout.
I would have rated this book a full 4 stars however I did feel at times that the characters felt a little childish even though I think the youngest character is like early 20s. I also found one of the characters extremely infuriating which I think was the point but it was so frustrating. (In a way though this is a good thing because it means the author did their job) I would of loved to have seen more development for niklas as I feel like he was a bit forgotten about but I loved Gabriel and Zoe and the friendship between them.
The magic system in this book is both fresh and yet familiar which was great as I didnโt feel myself getting lost whilst trying to understand it. I really enjoyed the sun and the moon duality. This book is also full of political intrigue and power struggles which isnโt something I usually adore in a book but I really enjoyed it here. Also this book has such an array of representation that felt natural not like it was just put there to check boxes. There is definitely a lack of romance in this book but honestly I didnโt even notice because I was so hooked throughout.
I would have rated this book a full 4 stars however I did feel at times that the characters felt a little childish even though I think the youngest character is like early 20s. I also found one of the characters extremely infuriating which I think was the point but it was so frustrating. (In a way though this is a good thing because it means the author did their job) I would of loved to have seen more development for niklas as I feel like he was a bit forgotten about but I loved Gabriel and Zoe and the friendship between them.
addr_07's review
5.0
if you asked what happened in this book i could not tell you a damn thing except that i had a damn good time
4.5/5 purely on vibes
4.5/5 purely on vibes