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whatrhireads22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.5
Wow, I’m actually speechless. This was incredible. From the beginning of the book I was completely hooked, captured by these characters and the story. I loved seeing Deming grow and develop as a character genuinely brought tears to my eyes, I don’t think I’ve been this moved by a character for a while. I loved Kit and his companions, I think they brought such a witty element to the plot. I also loved the dance scene, ifykyk. The ending was phenomenal, I could not put it down, I felt a whirlwind of emotions. I need the sequel like now!
fossilreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had a great time with this book!
"I did not mean to offend. The duality of your spirit was a surprise, we in Laey so rarely have interactions with those who walk both paths.”
The writing style is very descriptive and beautiful, every once in a while, it was a bit much for me, but that's completely a personal preference. There are quite a few gory scenes, with detailed descriptions and they were so well written it almost made me sick.
The pacing is somewhat slow for a long time, but absolute mayhem ensues for the last few chapters. This is not necessarily my favorite way of pacing, but it works well for this story.
The plot twists are intriguing, I managed to guess a few along the way, but I still got surprised! The ending is a rollercoaster of emotions and I was so stressed for them. The betrayal and secrets had me hooked, I definitely want to know where this goes next!
I loved the setting and mystery behind the fog. Deming's growth was great, and I liked how her trauma was handled. And our dark and mysterious fae prince? I might be in love.
I loved the casual bisexuality and beautiful nonbinary character rep!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gore
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Stalking and Vomit
enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
"'Those who hunger for power are never the ones who should have it... Power is a drug, I have seen good men and women succumb to its attraction. To be lusting after it before you’ve even had a true taste would be to put yourself in a situation you could never win.'”
There isn’t enough space to adequately rave about this book. The reluctant heroine, who has to work hard before she accepts her role as a leader while reckoning with her own traumatic past, is someone to fall in love with. Plus, the entire world celebrating the power of women is awe-inspiring (hearing “by the Goddess,” “blessed with first-born daughters,” and “a long line of powerful Queens” make my heart swell). The author’s atmospheric writing is simply magnificent, while her world is rich, yet easy to understand, isn’t overly violent or spicy, but is super entertaining. You will fall in love with her characters, cling to the mystery weaving in and out of the story, and you are guaranteed to swoon. And the last 5-6 chapters will keep you up reading well into the wee hours of the morning in shock.
"The years may have dulled the sharp bite of loss, but grief still swam in their veins, still clouded their senses. Instead of the deaths feeling like daggers sinking into their skin and vices constricting the air from their lungs, they felt like being submerged underwater. Senses and emotions muffled. Smothered under the weight of reality."
I didn't know what to expect when picking up this story, but I knew I was in for a beautiful fantasy story. That is the understatement of the century! The writing in this debut novel is magnificent and the world Jessica creates feels like the royally beautiful fantasy we all had when we were little. The world-building is explained well so you can follow along with ease, but the story is rich in detail and sets up the future series brilliantly. Plus, the female empowerment in this book is well-earned and I love the character development of our main character, Deming. I really liked the world created in this book and I hope everyone who picks it up appreciates Jessica's talent as an author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Kidnapping
The main character's parents die in a tragic fire after rescuing her from that same fire. Much of her growth stems from dealing with the trauma from that event, which still gives her nightmares.shelves_by_sim's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
I am still trying to digest the fact that this book is a debut! @authorjessicasanti had a vision for her first ever novel and she hit it out of the park. This book is so well developed in every sense, the world building is immersive, the writing is lyrical and decadent and the plot is flawless. The author is an exceptional writer who knows exactly how to capture her audience, lead them through a new and exciting world and make then feel like they are right there with her extremely well-developed characters for every step of the way.
Deming is the definition of a product of one's environment. She is loyal and sincere and good. She suffers from so much guilt and past trauma and avoids her rightful place on the throne because of this but she has faith in her uncle and how he runs the kingdom and believes that their laws work and are in place for a reason. That is until a mysterious fog descends upon the kingdom, surrounding them and preventing anyone from leaving or entering Arsaela. And when this happens, I absolutely love the transformation that Deming goes through. Because she finally gets a sense of wanting to protect and lead her kingdom, and she fights tooth and nail for her people.
I loved Prince Nikita from his introduction, I mean he's Fae with wings so who wouldn't, right? I love how Deming is so drawn to his presence and how, for some unknown reason, she trusts him. He definitely gives the story a mysterious feel, seeing as he and his entourage refuse to divulge the reason they are truly in Laey and not their own kingdom. I love his character, his vulnerability with Deming and the connection they have (I have some guesses as to why they have such a strong connection of course!). I love how the world includes Fae, mages and humans and how intricate the magic system is. The ending blew me away and I cannot wait to see how much Deming grows into herself in book two! Hopefully we get some answers and a little more romamce between the two! 😉
Deming is the definition of a product of one's environment. She is loyal and sincere and good. She suffers from so much guilt and past trauma and avoids her rightful place on the throne because of this but she has faith in her uncle and how he runs the kingdom and believes that their laws work and are in place for a reason. That is until a mysterious fog descends upon the kingdom, surrounding them and preventing anyone from leaving or entering Arsaela. And when this happens, I absolutely love the transformation that Deming goes through. Because she finally gets a sense of wanting to protect and lead her kingdom, and she fights tooth and nail for her people.
I loved Prince Nikita from his introduction, I mean he's Fae with wings so who wouldn't, right? I love how Deming is so drawn to his presence and how, for some unknown reason, she trusts him. He definitely gives the story a mysterious feel, seeing as he and his entourage refuse to divulge the reason they are truly in Laey and not their own kingdom. I love his character, his vulnerability with Deming and the connection they have (I have some guesses as to why they have such a strong connection of course!). I love how the world includes Fae, mages and humans and how intricate the magic system is. The ending blew me away and I cannot wait to see how much Deming grows into herself in book two! Hopefully we get some answers and a little more romamce between the two! 😉
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