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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
bexsbookshelves94's review
4.0
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I love it when I read the first line of a book, and it has me hooked. This one was no exception.
This book is fabulous, my only downside, and the reason it didn't get 5 stars is because of the many points of view throughout this book. I would get into a character only to read a character that I wasn't 100% clicking with, which is fine because they were vital but sometimes wanted to be stuck with another character.
The magic system wasn't overly complicated, which is a good thing as sometimes I can get lost, whereas this one I understood completely what was happening with the magic.
People should give this book a go if they want an uncomplicated magic system, morally grey characters, and brilliant storytelling.
Thank you to the author for gifting me this book. All reviews are my own.
I love it when I read the first line of a book, and it has me hooked. This one was no exception.
This book is fabulous, my only downside, and the reason it didn't get 5 stars is because of the many points of view throughout this book. I would get into a character only to read a character that I wasn't 100% clicking with, which is fine because they were vital but sometimes wanted to be stuck with another character.
The magic system wasn't overly complicated, which is a good thing as sometimes I can get lost, whereas this one I understood completely what was happening with the magic.
People should give this book a go if they want an uncomplicated magic system, morally grey characters, and brilliant storytelling.
Thank you to the author for gifting me this book. All reviews are my own.
allyslibrary's review
3.0
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
I think that this is a really solid fantasy debut. Echoing some other readers, I’d definitely say it’s for fans of Six of Crows! I think it has a unique and interesting magic system that the author does a great job of fleshing out in the story. The character interactions are natural and Gabriel especially is so snarky.
I also loved the representation in this book and how naturally it’s included. It doesn’t feel thrown in for the sake of inclusion but it’s there because the author genuinely cared about it.
I think that this is a really solid fantasy debut. Echoing some other readers, I’d definitely say it’s for fans of Six of Crows! I think it has a unique and interesting magic system that the author does a great job of fleshing out in the story. The character interactions are natural and Gabriel especially is so snarky.
I also loved the representation in this book and how naturally it’s included. It doesn’t feel thrown in for the sake of inclusion but it’s there because the author genuinely cared about it.
kathi92's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nannersreads's review
5.0
Thank you to Sapphire Ink Press and SA Christianson for providing me with a copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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4.5 rounded up to 5
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What do you get when you mix a diverse cast full of morally grey characters, a heaping serving of LGBTQIA+ rep, magical hijinks, and sass up the fucking wall? This amazing NA fantasy debut, that’s what!
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4.5 rounded up to 5
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What do you get when you mix a diverse cast full of morally grey characters, a heaping serving of LGBTQIA+ rep, magical hijinks, and sass up the fucking wall? This amazing NA fantasy debut, that’s what!
obsessivebooklover's review
5.0
Right from the first chapter I was in love with this book and I got major Six Of Crows vibes due to the multiple POVs, political intrigue, fight scenes, morally grey characters, perfect pacing of a complex plot, intricate worldbuilding and an amazing magic system. This is an amazing debut novel and while it doesn't end on a major cliffhanger, there are some loose threads which hint at a sequel I am really hoping for.
Zoe and Gabriel are the Sun and Moon Incarnate of the kingdom of Verchiel, meaning they can summon magic either during the day or night. The pair have spent most of their lives preparing to rule the kingdom before a third Incarnate arrives to challenge them for their throne.
Niklas is also a moon Incarnate and the exiled prince of Bjordal, an icy kingdom that sees the Incarnate as cursed and seeks to remove them all. Now he wishes to rule Verchiel and is willing to fight Zoe and Gabriel to get that.
Silje, an assassin, sun Incarnate and Niklas' half-sister, wants to be adored by many and will do whatever it takes to get what she desires. She is by far the most morally grey character but she's still amazing.
This book has great queer representation as the main characters and many of the side characters are openly part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, but it didn't feel like it was deliberately done just to be able to say there's some representation (if that sentence makes any sense).
Thank you so much to the author and BookInfluencers.com for gifting me a copy of the book, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Zoe and Gabriel are the Sun and Moon Incarnate of the kingdom of Verchiel, meaning they can summon magic either during the day or night. The pair have spent most of their lives preparing to rule the kingdom before a third Incarnate arrives to challenge them for their throne.
Niklas is also a moon Incarnate and the exiled prince of Bjordal, an icy kingdom that sees the Incarnate as cursed and seeks to remove them all. Now he wishes to rule Verchiel and is willing to fight Zoe and Gabriel to get that.
Silje, an assassin, sun Incarnate and Niklas' half-sister, wants to be adored by many and will do whatever it takes to get what she desires. She is by far the most morally grey character but she's still amazing.
This book has great queer representation as the main characters and many of the side characters are openly part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, but it didn't feel like it was deliberately done just to be able to say there's some representation (if that sentence makes any sense).
Thank you so much to the author and BookInfluencers.com for gifting me a copy of the book, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
sailormoonreads's review
4.0
An Incarnation of Shadow and Light" by S. Christianson is an enthralling journey into a world filled with morally gray characters, intricate magic systems, and diverse representation.
You know that the two things I most love in this world are fantasy and queer books and this is the epitome of both.
The world-building is captivating. The sun and moon dichotomy, adds a unique and mesmerizing dimension to the story, which I personally loved. The magic system isn't just a background element; it's a central force in the political intrigue and this also adds depth and richness to the wb.
What I truly loved about this books is its morally gray and diverse cast of characters. The LGBTQIA+ representation, including bisexual, lesbian, and non-binary characters, is super well written in my opinion. and their complexity and development add layers to the story, making it all the more engaging.
"An Incarnation of Shadow and Light" is a solid debut, that offers a captivating blend of complex characters, a thoughtfully crafted magic system, and a world ripe for exploration. If you're a fan of morally gray characters, intricate world-building, and diverse representation, this book is a must-read!
You know that the two things I most love in this world are fantasy and queer books and this is the epitome of both.
The world-building is captivating. The sun and moon dichotomy, adds a unique and mesmerizing dimension to the story, which I personally loved. The magic system isn't just a background element; it's a central force in the political intrigue and this also adds depth and richness to the wb.
What I truly loved about this books is its morally gray and diverse cast of characters. The LGBTQIA+ representation, including bisexual, lesbian, and non-binary characters, is super well written in my opinion. and their complexity and development add layers to the story, making it all the more engaging.
"An Incarnation of Shadow and Light" is a solid debut, that offers a captivating blend of complex characters, a thoughtfully crafted magic system, and a world ripe for exploration. If you're a fan of morally gray characters, intricate world-building, and diverse representation, this book is a must-read!
erinsshelflove's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lambsbooks's review
4.25
I really enjoyed this! It had an interesting magic system and world and I liked each of the characters! There were funnies and sad parts and I'm hoping there's going to be a book 2!
This was pretty much a full queer cast which I didn't expect but really appreciated! Also, it was nice to read during Pride Month! The characters sexuality wasn't discussed in the book because it was accepted in their world, which was refreshing.
It gave me Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic vibes - which was super fun. I also didn't realize that this book was being pitched with Six of Crows vibes, so I felt pretty vindicated when I saw that 😂
Some things I didn't like:
🌞It's not that I didn't like the magic system, it's just I wish it was a little more fleshed out. It had the potential to be really good, but it fell flat in most parts.
🌞Gabriel - this guy was kinda an idiot.
🌞The errors. Normally, I can overlook grammatical or language errors, but there were a lot in this book and it sometimes took me out of the story 😅 But, it's indie, so I'm not going to hold it against the author (or my star rating)
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a physical copy for review 💛💛
This was pretty much a full queer cast which I didn't expect but really appreciated! Also, it was nice to read during Pride Month! The characters sexuality wasn't discussed in the book because it was accepted in their world, which was refreshing.
It gave me Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic vibes - which was super fun. I also didn't realize that this book was being pitched with Six of Crows vibes, so I felt pretty vindicated when I saw that 😂
Some things I didn't like:
🌞It's not that I didn't like the magic system, it's just I wish it was a little more fleshed out. It had the potential to be really good, but it fell flat in most parts.
🌞Gabriel - this guy was kinda an idiot.
🌞The errors. Normally, I can overlook grammatical or language errors, but there were a lot in this book and it sometimes took me out of the story 😅 But, it's indie, so I'm not going to hold it against the author (or my star rating)
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a physical copy for review 💛💛