You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
fast-paced
This was a really great YA dystopian fantasy straight from the start I found myself so invested in the characters storyline that I devoured it rather quickly as I just couldn't put it down.
I loved that it had a unique magic system based on bonds between two people and I feel like this helped the insta love feeling you see developing between Tristan and Isolde though as the story unfolds it becomes a little more easier to understand and except.
Some parts did feel a little too repetitive and I would of liked just a little more world building at the start as I found it a little hard to fully understand the world and how it became like it was until the end, though I will say it has one of the best endings I've read in a very long time.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read that was so easy to get lost in.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I loved that it had a unique magic system based on bonds between two people and I feel like this helped the insta love feeling you see developing between Tristan and Isolde though as the story unfolds it becomes a little more easier to understand and except.
Some parts did feel a little too repetitive and I would of liked just a little more world building at the start as I found it a little hard to fully understand the world and how it became like it was until the end, though I will say it has one of the best endings I've read in a very long time.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read that was so easy to get lost in.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
What an ending! I don't what to give spoilers but I loved the end!
I loved the relationship between the main characters and the build up from her side.
Some parts felt repetitive in the middle. She kept leaving her room to escape but then would get distracted by something. This happens a few times!
I needed a bit more would building at the beginning. I couldn't fully understand the world until the end of the book.
I loved the way they connected through marriage via magic
I loved the relationship between the main characters and the build up from her side.
Some parts felt repetitive in the middle. She kept leaving her room to escape but then would get distracted by something. This happens a few times!
I needed a bit more would building at the beginning. I couldn't fully understand the world until the end of the book.
I loved the way they connected through marriage via magic
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but look at that stunner! It’s absolutely striking. And when I found out the story was an enemies-to-lovers dystopian romance inspired by Tristan and Isolde, I knew I had to read it. I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed. This was a fantastic debut novel that was very easy to fall into, and I loved the characters, romance, and messages.
The setting of The Enemy’s Daughter is vivid and atmospheric, and has a dark and dangerous feel from the start. A fractured world where two settlements are locked in a struggle for survival, the power has the potential to shift when one leader is slain. Isadora, a healer and a clan leader’s daughter, tries to help wounded soldiers during battle even though her clan forbids women from war. She’s strong and resilient, and her growth over the course of the story was one of my favorite parts. And then there’s Tristan, the enemy assassin whose life she saves, which creates an unexpected bond that changes everything. Ooof, I adored him! He exudes dark, mysterious, bad-boy energy at first, but as more of his layers are revealed, it becomes clear there’s so much more beneath the surface. Once his backstory comes into play, it’s impossible not to love him and his feelings for Isadora.
Tristan and Isadora’s bond, both magical and emotional, is at the heart of the story. It pushes them to face the painful truths about their pasts, their people, and themselves. There’s real tension between them, but it’s not just romantic tension. (Though the romantic tension is fabulous!) It’s the kind born of shared guilt, clashing loyalties, fear, and vulnerability, and it makes their connection feel tender, defiant, and intimate. Living in Tristan’s world flips everything upside down for Isadora. She has to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her clan, her family, and even herself. It’s intriguing to see her supposed enemy become the one person who truly sees her. To most, she’s a symbol or a tool, but she’s so much more to Tristan. I love this dynamic because Isadora has never really had that kind of understanding before. And after seeing her horrific treatment, his feelings for her seem even more poignant.
I’d definitely recommend The Enemy’s Daughter to fans of YA romantasy. It’s a gripping read with compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and strong messages about love, loyalty, equality, and identity.
The setting of The Enemy’s Daughter is vivid and atmospheric, and has a dark and dangerous feel from the start. A fractured world where two settlements are locked in a struggle for survival, the power has the potential to shift when one leader is slain. Isadora, a healer and a clan leader’s daughter, tries to help wounded soldiers during battle even though her clan forbids women from war. She’s strong and resilient, and her growth over the course of the story was one of my favorite parts. And then there’s Tristan, the enemy assassin whose life she saves, which creates an unexpected bond that changes everything. Ooof, I adored him! He exudes dark, mysterious, bad-boy energy at first, but as more of his layers are revealed, it becomes clear there’s so much more beneath the surface. Once his backstory comes into play, it’s impossible not to love him and his feelings for Isadora.
Tristan and Isadora’s bond, both magical and emotional, is at the heart of the story. It pushes them to face the painful truths about their pasts, their people, and themselves. There’s real tension between them, but it’s not just romantic tension. (Though the romantic tension is fabulous!) It’s the kind born of shared guilt, clashing loyalties, fear, and vulnerability, and it makes their connection feel tender, defiant, and intimate. Living in Tristan’s world flips everything upside down for Isadora. She has to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her clan, her family, and even herself. It’s intriguing to see her supposed enemy become the one person who truly sees her. To most, she’s a symbol or a tool, but she’s so much more to Tristan. I love this dynamic because Isadora has never really had that kind of understanding before. And after seeing her horrific treatment, his feelings for her seem even more poignant.
I’d definitely recommend The Enemy’s Daughter to fans of YA romantasy. It’s a gripping read with compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and strong messages about love, loyalty, equality, and identity.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
This dystopian setting illustrates that fact that progress isn't linear. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if our society crumbled. But The Enemy's Daughter offers a vision of the world where our progressive society could crumble alongside the world we know. The Enemy's Daughter is a Tristan and Isolde retelling - think mortal enemy to lovers - in a world where she lives in a sexist society after some sort of cataclysmic event which ends the world we know today. It's a world of war, retribution, and laws decided upon by our own cruelty hardened by loss.
This dystopian setting illustrates that fact that progress isn't linear. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if our society crumbled. But The Enemy's Daughter offers a vision of the world where our progressive society could crumble alongside the world we know. The Enemy's Daughter is a Tristan and Isolde retelling - think mortal enemy to lovers - in a world where she lives in a sexist society after some sort of cataclysmic event which ends the world we know today. It's a world of war, retribution, and laws decided upon by our own cruelty hardened by loss.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The Enemy’s Daughter drops you into a crumbling world filled with warring clans and people struggling to survive. A dystopian Tristan & Isolde reimagining that feels more like medieval fantasy than sci-fi, and honestly? That genre mash-up works beautifully.
The beginning hooked me. Isadora is such a compelling lead. She's practical, conflicted with her lot in life, and vulnerable but quietly fierce in a way that immediately caught my attention. Her struggle to accept her place in the world was handled and defying the life laid out for her is really interesting. And when she meets Tristen? I was all in. Their first meeting is electric, dangerous, and layered. The setup for their relationship had me fully invested.
Now, I wasn’t sold on the “he’s instantly drawn to her” angle. It felt like classic insta-love at first, which made me hesitant. But the clever thing is—it’s not. Isadora’s reluctance grounds the story, and her wariness toward Tristen makes the romance feel more earned over time. The full picture of why he acts the way he does doesn’t come together until much later, and I really appreciated that payoff. Some of the typical underlying tropes are definitely present, but they are handled with nuance and aren't afraid to stretch within their confines. I really liked that. The idea of marriage magic was fun and it was an interesting way to have these two drawn together. It adds real stakes and weight to emotional choices. Isadora tethering herself to someone she doesn’t trust, just to survive? That desperation made sense. She never felt like a YA heroine making naive choices for love; she felt like a survivor making ones to stay alive.
That said, the book loses some of its sharpness in the second half. The early tension—rooted in fear, distrust, and political danger—gives way to a more standard romantic rhythm. It’s still enjoyable, but it’s safer. The slow burn works mostly because she’s trying to run from him, not because the emotional bond is growing, which means that once the chase is over, the heat cools. The twists are good, the pacing moves, but I did miss the bite.
Still, this was a really fun, easy read. Great world-building, creative magic, interesting story. If you liked The Hurricane Wars, Belladonna, or Defy the Night, this one fits right alongside them. Just don’t expect it to stay dark or angsty all the way through—its edge softens, but the ride is still worth it.
Thanks so much to Epic Reads and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The beginning hooked me. Isadora is such a compelling lead. She's practical, conflicted with her lot in life, and vulnerable but quietly fierce in a way that immediately caught my attention. Her struggle to accept her place in the world was handled and defying the life laid out for her is really interesting. And when she meets Tristen? I was all in. Their first meeting is electric, dangerous, and layered. The setup for their relationship had me fully invested.
Now, I wasn’t sold on the “he’s instantly drawn to her” angle. It felt like classic insta-love at first, which made me hesitant. But the clever thing is—it’s not. Isadora’s reluctance grounds the story, and her wariness toward Tristen makes the romance feel more earned over time. The full picture of why he acts the way he does doesn’t come together until much later, and I really appreciated that payoff. Some of the typical underlying tropes are definitely present, but they are handled with nuance and aren't afraid to stretch within their confines. I really liked that. The idea of marriage magic was fun and it was an interesting way to have these two drawn together. It adds real stakes and weight to emotional choices. Isadora tethering herself to someone she doesn’t trust, just to survive? That desperation made sense. She never felt like a YA heroine making naive choices for love; she felt like a survivor making ones to stay alive.
That said, the book loses some of its sharpness in the second half. The early tension—rooted in fear, distrust, and political danger—gives way to a more standard romantic rhythm. It’s still enjoyable, but it’s safer. The slow burn works mostly because she’s trying to run from him, not because the emotional bond is growing, which means that once the chase is over, the heat cools. The twists are good, the pacing moves, but I did miss the bite.
Still, this was a really fun, easy read. Great world-building, creative magic, interesting story. If you liked The Hurricane Wars, Belladonna, or Defy the Night, this one fits right alongside them. Just don’t expect it to stay dark or angsty all the way through—its edge softens, but the ride is still worth it.
Thanks so much to Epic Reads and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes