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renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
4,5 stars
Marduk and Solveig's arc story already stole my attention from Tormund's book "Storm of Fury" and to said I can't wait to read their story is an understatement. Do Bec McMaster do them justice? Sure, she is! I can feel how she want to write the story of the brat and rascal dreki princes and the scorned dreki Queen in the making, and yes, she deliver.
Well...maybe the cliffie ending kinda lower my rating (just a bit, haha). Because I must wait..like what? A year again? AGAINNN? WHYYYY??? I wait (im)patiently for Marduk-Solveig's story and now I must wait for the next book, Queen of Lightning??
Back to the book, Marduk-Solveig arc story is pretty much filled with angst, anger, hurt and pain. Pretty much I had expected because both of MCs had bad history. I also realize that this is the first book that feature full dreki pairing. Sirius and Malin ofc didn't cound because Malin is drekling and I won't said further because, lel, spoiler. So the thing with mated pair thingie not only just the male that know it, the females also can feel it too although McMaster write the male always know first (heh, mated pair trope y'all!). McMaster really fleshed out both Marduk and Solveig characters. That despite Marduk's rakish charming persona, his heart was guarded and he also have family issues although he already reunited with Rurik and Ardis. His bond with Ishtar are explored further, show that he really care about his twin so much.
In the other side, we get to know why Solveig is so hostile to Marduk, even from the first time she met him. Why she fight him until the bitter end and how is hard for her to accept her own feeling. Lol, Solveig is what I called as "tsundere" aka hot and cold type, although she is lean to the cold more. But like Marduk, Solveig has her own reason, and why she don't want to be mated aka shackled to Marduk. McMaster kinda address about fated mated pair trope here, with although it considered as blessing, sometimes it can be a curse too. I liked that even Solveig written as cold, unapologetic woman, kinda high and mighty, she also has weakness. And even she doesn't want to admit it first, she slowly learn to cooperate with another, learn that's it's okay to show a moment of weakness and let another take her responsibilities while she recover.
The first part is pretty much filled with Marduk and Solveig's fight that for me...both are like teenager that try to throw punch to each other. But to my delight, I like that Marduk grovel first. He said that he sorry and not that the defensive kind of sorry. He's truly sorry to hurt Solveig at the past. But I liked that Solveig also didn't go easy to him. Yes, she forgive him, but didn't mean she will accept Marduk fully. Imagine how relieve I am when reading the part that Solveig finally open her heart. I'll be like..well about time. In romance books I read, I usually lean more to the heroine journey, but Master of Storms is about both Solveig and Marduk. I liked that McMaster fleshed them both, make them as equal, although I liked Marduk better. Sigh, McMaster sure can write dreamy heroes (except Kincaid. I don't know why some readers like him, lol!!!), and the way Marduk try to win Solveig's heart is the best part. I mean, he woo her with all his heart, so shameless, so pervert, but also show that he care a lot. He also confess first (although at first have his heart guarded). I always have weakness for a hero that confess his love first, lol.
For steamy part, IMO..I'm happy and well-spent (lol, I sound like pervert). It's steamy, sexy, but also full of tender moment. There's angry foreplay, sword-play as foreplay, angry kisses, teasing kisses, wow-this-is-so-hot kisses and foreplay, submission-roleplay-but-errr-not-really sex scene, tender love making, and well...I think I already got my fill, hahaha. McMaster sure can write a good sexual tension moment
The entire plot and worldbuilding is good like usual. McMaster now introduced us to another dreki clan, the Zillitu. The way she named the current Zillitu king,by Draco and his estranged twin with Scorpius kinda make me wondering if this somehow related to Harry Potter, lol. Also, the stake is now higher since the dreki archenemies, the alfar attack them. To make matter worse, surprise, surprise, dearest mother Amadea is still wreak havoc and ready to ruin Marduk and his families life once more. Not too much deus ex machinae ending and well Spoiler finally Amadea gone for good , but then, boom! Cliffhanger ending!! Spoiler in which Rurik got his bond with Freyja severed since Freyja go to Alfheim, the land of the alfar. Also, it's seems that Freyja have alfar blood in her. Wow I can feel the DRAMA coming already. Since alfar is dreki's sworn enemy, but Freyja is Rurik's mate, imagine how the angst will come, lel. To make matter complicated, Freyja is pregnant and she doesn't tell Rurik, because "timing". Lol, another "secret baby" trope. I really wish McMaster doesn't go there, because like, really? Baby is another handicap and a fuel to make thing "more complicated". Well, we will see how she will write about that :P
Master of Storms again show how McMaster can masterfully write fantasy romance full with action, world building, some angst, fleshed out and well-develop characters. I just hope she's not that cruel with another cliffhanger ending, although Marduk and Solveig got their guaranteed HEA. (and the way how Solveig's oath to bring Marduk's heart to her court so she can be accepted solved is clever, not to said...amusing, lel).
Marduk and Solveig's arc story already stole my attention from Tormund's book "Storm of Fury" and to said I can't wait to read their story is an understatement. Do Bec McMaster do them justice? Sure, she is! I can feel how she want to write the story of the brat and rascal dreki princes and the scorned dreki Queen in the making, and yes, she deliver.
Well...maybe the cliffie ending kinda lower my rating (just a bit, haha). Because I must wait..like what? A year again? AGAINNN? WHYYYY??? I wait (im)patiently for Marduk-Solveig's story and now I must wait for the next book, Queen of Lightning??
Back to the book, Marduk-Solveig arc story is pretty much filled with angst, anger, hurt and pain. Pretty much I had expected because both of MCs had bad history. I also realize that this is the first book that feature full dreki pairing. Sirius and Malin ofc didn't cound because Malin is drekling and I won't said further because, lel, spoiler. So the thing with mated pair thingie not only just the male that know it, the females also can feel it too although McMaster write the male always know first (heh, mated pair trope y'all!). McMaster really fleshed out both Marduk and Solveig characters. That despite Marduk's rakish charming persona, his heart was guarded and he also have family issues although he already reunited with Rurik and Ardis. His bond with Ishtar are explored further, show that he really care about his twin so much.
In the other side, we get to know why Solveig is so hostile to Marduk, even from the first time she met him. Why she fight him until the bitter end and how is hard for her to accept her own feeling. Lol, Solveig is what I called as "tsundere" aka hot and cold type, although she is lean to the cold more. But like Marduk, Solveig has her own reason, and why she don't want to be mated aka shackled to Marduk. McMaster kinda address about fated mated pair trope here, with although it considered as blessing, sometimes it can be a curse too. I liked that even Solveig written as cold, unapologetic woman, kinda high and mighty, she also has weakness. And even she doesn't want to admit it first, she slowly learn to cooperate with another, learn that's it's okay to show a moment of weakness and let another take her responsibilities while she recover.
The first part is pretty much filled with Marduk and Solveig's fight that for me...both are like teenager that try to throw punch to each other. But to my delight, I like that Marduk grovel first. He said that he sorry and not that the defensive kind of sorry. He's truly sorry to hurt Solveig at the past. But I liked that Solveig also didn't go easy to him. Yes, she forgive him, but didn't mean she will accept Marduk fully. Imagine how relieve I am when reading the part that Solveig finally open her heart. I'll be like..well about time. In romance books I read, I usually lean more to the heroine journey, but Master of Storms is about both Solveig and Marduk. I liked that McMaster fleshed them both, make them as equal, although I liked Marduk better. Sigh, McMaster sure can write dreamy heroes (except Kincaid. I don't know why some readers like him, lol!!!), and the way Marduk try to win Solveig's heart is the best part. I mean, he woo her with all his heart, so shameless, so pervert, but also show that he care a lot. He also confess first (although at first have his heart guarded). I always have weakness for a hero that confess his love first, lol.
For steamy part, IMO..I'm happy and well-spent (lol, I sound like pervert). It's steamy, sexy, but also full of tender moment. There's angry foreplay, sword-play as foreplay, angry kisses, teasing kisses, wow-this-is-so-hot kisses and foreplay, submission-roleplay-but-errr-not-really sex scene, tender love making, and well...I think I already got my fill, hahaha. McMaster sure can write a good sexual tension moment
The entire plot and worldbuilding is good like usual. McMaster now introduced us to another dreki clan, the Zillitu. The way she named the current Zillitu king,by Draco and his estranged twin with Scorpius kinda make me wondering if this somehow related to Harry Potter, lol. Also, the stake is now higher since the dreki archenemies, the alfar attack them. To make matter worse, surprise, surprise, dearest mother Amadea is still wreak havoc and ready to ruin Marduk and his families life once more. Not too much deus ex machinae ending and well Spoiler finally Amadea gone for good , but then, boom! Cliffhanger ending!! Spoiler in which Rurik got his bond with Freyja severed since Freyja go to Alfheim, the land of the alfar. Also, it's seems that Freyja have alfar blood in her. Wow I can feel the DRAMA coming already. Since alfar is dreki's sworn enemy, but Freyja is Rurik's mate, imagine how the angst will come, lel. To make matter complicated, Freyja is pregnant and she doesn't tell Rurik, because "timing". Lol, another "secret baby" trope. I really wish McMaster doesn't go there, because like, really? Baby is another handicap and a fuel to make thing "more complicated". Well, we will see how she will write about that :P
Master of Storms again show how McMaster can masterfully write fantasy romance full with action, world building, some angst, fleshed out and well-develop characters. I just hope she's not that cruel with another cliffhanger ending, although Marduk and Solveig got their guaranteed HEA. (and the way how Solveig's oath to bring Marduk's heart to her court so she can be accepted solved is clever, not to said...amusing, lel).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
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