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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once again I am unfamiliar with myths so I can't tell if this accurate to Tristan and Isolde, but this book was mid either way.
The beginning had promise, but the issues they're facing seem extremely non urgent. We know clans are battling for resources, but we never see it because the story is primarily told from Isadora's pov and she's in the castle the whole story.
The romance between her and Tristan had the foundations to be a decent enemies to lovers based on how they meet, but it turns into instalove due to the forced marriage. Correct, it doesn't make sense. Forced marriage should keep the enemies vibe going but they're both basically in love with each other halfway through even though they don't have that many meaningful interactions to validate this love or fulfill the trope requirements.
Isadora coming from a red-pill alpha male society is interesting but it's not really talked about until the end and that point, why bring it up. That couldve been discussed at the beginning and given us background for why she's out healing people and why she's so okay with being away from her clan(s).
Speaking of the clans, could just be me, but it's unclear if all the 5 clans are working toward the same goal of stopping the Kingsland from getting all the resources or if they're fighting each other as well..
Idk. Overall, meh. Weird choice to make it a single novel and not at least a duology. That would've given the romance and lore the time it needed to grow. The whole thing felt both rushed and partially fleshed out at the same time. Not terrible, easy to get through, but ultimately not that engaging either.
The beginning had promise, but the issues they're facing seem extremely non urgent. We know clans are battling for resources, but we never see it because the story is primarily told from Isadora's pov and she's in the castle the whole story.
The romance between her and Tristan had the foundations to be a decent enemies to lovers based on how they meet, but it turns into instalove due to the forced marriage. Correct, it doesn't make sense. Forced marriage should keep the enemies vibe going but they're both basically in love with each other halfway through even though they don't have that many meaningful interactions to validate this love or fulfill the trope requirements.
Isadora coming from a red-pill alpha male society is interesting but it's not really talked about until the end and that point, why bring it up. That couldve been discussed at the beginning and given us background for why she's out healing people and why she's so okay with being away from her clan(s).
Speaking of the clans, could just be me, but it's unclear if all the 5 clans are working toward the same goal of stopping the Kingsland from getting all the resources or if they're fighting each other as well..
Idk. Overall, meh. Weird choice to make it a single novel and not at least a duology. That would've given the romance and lore the time it needed to grow. The whole thing felt both rushed and partially fleshed out at the same time. Not terrible, easy to get through, but ultimately not that engaging either.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
“And although I’d argue that we need to study the old world to save lives, these books also hint at a different way of thinking, something that could be considered a slippery slope into the perversions and corruption that led to our continen’s demise. Or at least that was the reason given when a good portion of our books were burned.”
I had a very lovely time while reading The Enemy’s Daughter. I have to admit that I was sold by the Tristan and Isolt’s retelling aspect… But this book manages to free itself from the original story as much as it narrates it.
I loved this world between fantasy and something else, between post-apocalyptic and dystopian –even though I wish the dystopian aspect was a bit more developed.
Isadora is the most central character, and in a world in which women are kept away from almost everything, in the middle of a battle for power in the clans (in which she is the prize), she aspires for more. This is her main motivation in the book, and I love how it evolves a bit during the story, but how she doesn’t completely become someone else for/ because of love. From her loyalty to her clan to her own interests, between what she was taught and what she really wants, she is torn and her impromptu (and necessary) marriage to one of her clan’s enemies in Kingsland doesn’t help (or, does it?).
I loved her path to find freedom, how she understands how her education –and her restricted access to information– built who she is on uneven fundations, preventing her from being able to make enlightened choices. Because, in the end, no matter if a wall keeps us prisoners, without an open mind we can’t ever be completely free.
I ADORED the magical aspect in this story. This is the second book I read this year with a very interesting take about the marital bond, and I enjoyed it more than a lot, as much as I loved the action scenes peppered all around the pages, keeping me entertained, as much as the mystery I wanted to solve, never knowing who I could trust. But in addition to the lovely love story between Isadora and Tristan, I loved the recurring pattern about duty that was so present in the original story too.
All of this made of The Enemy’s Daughter a multifaceted novel, and I loved every single second of this experience.
Thank you to the author and to Harper Fire for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
I had a very lovely time while reading The Enemy’s Daughter. I have to admit that I was sold by the Tristan and Isolt’s retelling aspect… But this book manages to free itself from the original story as much as it narrates it.
I loved this world between fantasy and something else, between post-apocalyptic and dystopian –even though I wish the dystopian aspect was a bit more developed.
Isadora is the most central character, and in a world in which women are kept away from almost everything, in the middle of a battle for power in the clans (in which she is the prize), she aspires for more. This is her main motivation in the book, and I love how it evolves a bit during the story, but how she doesn’t completely become someone else for/ because of love. From her loyalty to her clan to her own interests, between what she was taught and what she really wants, she is torn and her impromptu (and necessary) marriage to one of her clan’s enemies in Kingsland doesn’t help (or, does it?).
I loved her path to find freedom, how she understands how her education –and her restricted access to information– built who she is on uneven fundations, preventing her from being able to make enlightened choices. Because, in the end, no matter if a wall keeps us prisoners, without an open mind we can’t ever be completely free.
I ADORED the magical aspect in this story. This is the second book I read this year with a very interesting take about the marital bond, and I enjoyed it more than a lot, as much as I loved the action scenes peppered all around the pages, keeping me entertained, as much as the mystery I wanted to solve, never knowing who I could trust. But in addition to the lovely love story between Isadora and Tristan, I loved the recurring pattern about duty that was so present in the original story too.
All of this made of The Enemy’s Daughter a multifaceted novel, and I loved every single second of this experience.
Thank you to the author and to Harper Fire for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
This was intriguing up until it wasn't... This is why the romantasy genre is so unpealing... The moment the characters fall in love there isnt any plot, and the way they fall in love is so BORING.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eArc! I’ve never been so excited for an arc because I’ve been anticipating this book since I first heard about it back in October!
The Enemy’s Daughter is a debut novel reimagining the story of Tristan and Isolde. It’s set in a dystopian world with magic and centres around the feud going on between the five clans and the Kingsland.
This book was a ride. I never knew where it was going despite being familiar with the original source material. It was twisted and unpredictable and honestly what more could you want from a romantasy?
I loved the characters of Tristan and Isadora and I loved how their romance developed. Despite the circumstances it didn’t feel rushed although I did think a lot of the beginning and the end was dragged slightly more than I would have liked. Saying that, the ending was very tense so it did kind of work.
If you love an enemies to lovers romance with a unique magic system and a mix of characters to love and characters to hate (oh, and it’s he falls first) then you’ll love this book!
The Enemy’s Daughter comes out August 14th in the UK and is already available in the US!
Terribly boring and poorly written. This book made me feel absolutely nothing.
first of all, the cover? GORGEOUS. both the US & UK versions. already a great selling point.
but then there’s the content of course. i was unsure at the beginning, because Isadora isn’t an appealing MC for me. she sound petulant, stubborn, and reckless. not a great combination if you ask me. she reminded me of Liyen from Immortal (Sue Lynn Tan) and Ying from The Girl with No Reflection (Keshe Chow) and I disliked them both. but the narrator was good and suddenly i got carried away and couldn’t stop listening.
the setting is futuristic dystopian but it might as well set in medieval era because human’s living situation has regressed back to zero (at least where Isadora lives), all technologies and advanced knowledge lost and/or inaccessible. this irked me because i didn’t need the detailing wonder of plumbing system and electricity??? like ok so Isadora just experienced those for the first time now move on please!!
then the romance… what in the insta-love stockholm syndrome was this? 😭 it’s not sitting right with me but it’s still tolerable i guess. and later they’re growing on me a liiiitle bit.
the peak event & ending was good at least, glad to see Isadora’s character development! i was surprised that i ended up enjoying this despite my complaints. credits to the narrator for making the narration very compelling, because if it weren’t for her i think i’d DNF this.
but then there’s the content of course. i was unsure at the beginning, because Isadora isn’t an appealing MC for me. she sound petulant, stubborn, and reckless. not a great combination if you ask me. she reminded me of Liyen from Immortal (Sue Lynn Tan) and Ying from The Girl with No Reflection (Keshe Chow) and I disliked them both. but the narrator was good and suddenly i got carried away and couldn’t stop listening.
the setting is futuristic dystopian but it might as well set in medieval era because human’s living situation has regressed back to zero (at least where Isadora lives), all technologies and advanced knowledge lost and/or inaccessible. this irked me because i didn’t need the detailing wonder of plumbing system and electricity??? like ok so Isadora just experienced those for the first time now move on please!!
then the romance… what in the insta-love stockholm syndrome was this? 😭 it’s not sitting right with me but it’s still tolerable i guess. and later they’re growing on me a liiiitle bit.
the peak event & ending was good at least, glad to see Isadora’s character development! i was surprised that i ended up enjoying this despite my complaints. credits to the narrator for making the narration very compelling, because if it weren’t for her i think i’d DNF this.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No