Scan barcode
megreads12's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
abicaro17's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book starts off so strong. Alessandra is the second daughter of an earl looking to gain power and acknowledgement by marrying the Shadow King, Kallias. The problem? She plans to kill him right after. Alessandra is cunning, vicious, manipulative, and talented in many ways. I think the general plot was so fun! I love a good murderess and mystery. Alessandra is fun to read as well with all her inner monologue and complex feelings about people. My issues with this book stem from development (or lack thereof). To me, Alessandra and the world building feel underdeveloped. Alessandra is supposed to be this devious murderess with this plot, but her idea is quite literally just to poison him and hope the blame gets placed on a neighboring kingdom. Also past the first few chapters she doesn't seem very murder prone. I think her initial characterization was much more interesting than what we were left with. My other issue stems from world building. In terms of kingdoms and the country laws we are never given any explanations. This leaves me at a loss at times for why things are the way they are politically. I think this book could definitely benefit from some elaboration and possibly a different ending?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Sexism, Violence, War, Alcohol, Gun violence, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
fannehsm's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence
2blueshoes's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Look, starting off your book with a quote from Vampire Diaries is a bold choice. Perhaps it should also have been a red flag.
Somewhere along the recent journey of reading fantasy romances about “morally ambiguous shadow zaddies…” I have come to the conclusion that I do in fact require SOME morality to be present in order to root for characters.
In so many ways this book aligns with very typical fantasy tropes:
1. A “feminist for her time” heroine is thrust into a situation where she is competing for power, and finds love along the way.
2. A psychologically tortured hero in a position of political power finds himself captivated by the heroine who originally wont give him the time of day.
3. They are both attractive. Various plot points keep them apart. Lots of longing glances occur. They slowly reveal their true selves to each other. Meanwhile, larger forces threaten their lives and happiness. Happy ending.
Yes, great, sign me up. 👍🏻
Here’s where the tropes end: these characters do not abide by (traditional western) morality. They do not root for the underdogs. They do not seek fairness. They actively pursue injustice to benefit themselves. They are unrepentant in murder and celebrate their success in silencing anyone who questions the monarchy. There is a “Robin Hood” type character who is trying to help poor people, and they happilyput him in jail for life . When they get vulnerable with each other, the hopes and dreams they share are to “conquer all people and kingdoms” and “have ultimate power”.
I mean, at least they are aligned in their shared values… I guess?
There are a few things to love about this book.
- The author has chosen to write a heroine who is liberated in her body and sexuality, and who knows her own worth, which I applaud. (Side note: despite this, this book is fully fade-to-black when it comes to intimacy scenes.)
- While being an absolute dick to everyone else, the heroine does champion her two closest friends (while also kind of making fun of them in her head).
- There is only a very small element of magic in the story, but it’s a new take. There is some interesting fashion stuff if you are into that, and I only saw half of the surprise twist ending in advance.
If you love stories about really unusual characters, perhaps you’ll love this.
For me, this love story was believable - but I simply didn’t want to believe in it.
Somewhere along the recent journey of reading fantasy romances about “morally ambiguous shadow zaddies…” I have come to the conclusion that I do in fact require SOME morality to be present in order to root for characters.
In so many ways this book aligns with very typical fantasy tropes:
1. A “feminist for her time” heroine is thrust into a situation where she is competing for power, and finds love along the way.
2. A psychologically tortured hero in a position of political power finds himself captivated by the heroine who originally wont give him the time of day.
3. They are both attractive. Various plot points keep them apart. Lots of longing glances occur. They slowly reveal their true selves to each other. Meanwhile, larger forces threaten their lives and happiness. Happy ending.
Yes, great, sign me up. 👍🏻
Here’s where the tropes end: these characters do not abide by (traditional western) morality. They do not root for the underdogs. They do not seek fairness. They actively pursue injustice to benefit themselves. They are unrepentant in murder and celebrate their success in silencing anyone who questions the monarchy. There is a “Robin Hood” type character who is trying to help poor people, and they happily
I mean, at least they are aligned in their shared values… I guess?
There are a few things to love about this book.
- The author has chosen to write a heroine who is liberated in her body and sexuality, and who knows her own worth, which I applaud. (Side note: despite this, this book is fully fade-to-black when it comes to intimacy scenes.)
- While being an absolute dick to everyone else, the heroine does champion her two closest friends (while also kind of making fun of them in her head).
- There is only a very small element of magic in the story, but it’s a new take. There is some interesting fashion stuff if you are into that, and I only saw half of the surprise twist ending in advance.
If you love stories about really unusual characters, perhaps you’ll love this.
For me, this love story was believable - but I simply didn’t want to believe in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
Minor: Violence and Sexual harassment
allisonsmith120's review
dark
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Death of parent, and Violence
stllyltc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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
4.5
It's an easy read that catapults with a strong heroine, who considers herself sexually empowered. She is on a mission to rule the kingdom by seducing the shadow king and killing him to gain control and power. The planning it took for her and overall resolve were there. Although she seemed to be a villainess type, she had principles that didn't make you hate her in a way. I'm not a big fan of some parts, especially the peak of the plot, but the little twist saved it, and it's fast to finish if you're in for a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Abandonment, Blood, and Child death
mengzhenreads's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The best part of this book was the synopsis.
The characters’ motivations were completely half-baked, there was no tension in the story, and the vaugely problematic white-woman feminism added nothing to the story. The ‘fantasy’ part of the book is non-existent and the romance in theory would’ve been intriguing if the story had an ounce of conflict or tension.
The characters’ motivations were completely half-baked, there was no tension in the story, and the vaugely problematic white-woman feminism added nothing to the story. The ‘fantasy’ part of the book is non-existent and the romance in theory would’ve been intriguing if the story had an ounce of conflict or tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Blood
baksaydora's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a bit slow for me at the beginning, but then the pace picked up and I really enjoyed it. I love the characters and their relationsips, the plot wasn't too complicated, but the twist at the end had me shooked. The audiobook was phenomenal, I really enjoyed the narrator's voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
dasha_musa's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book gets the credit for getting me out of a reading slump and for introducing me to a new genre. However, I found the writing to be flat/not imersive enough and the characters were one dimensional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
vjlp22_reader's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Grief