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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually like her characters more than this, they all just fell kinda flat. Eric Bloodsinger was way more villain than this mmc (I can’t even remember his name) but fun Vikings.
Okay I'm not gonna lie at first i struggled a bit mostly because of lige getting in yhe way and generally not having much mood tonread so it wasn't my first choice when I did actually had time to read. Abd the reason behind it is the intricate but amazing world building. It has a lot of details that need attention.
Once I really got into it I was hooked. I oove Viking history and kythology so this ticked that. Enemies to lovers, check. Dark romantasy YES. I don't like slow burn but I know a lot of do so if you're one of them then there's slow burn as well.
And don't think that this is just romance with an amazing world building because you're absolutely wrong. We have mysteries and political conspiracies that just nake this worod even more great.
And the ending just let you want more NOW.
Thank you to PRHI for providing me with an ARC.
Once I really got into it I was hooked. I oove Viking history and kythology so this ticked that. Enemies to lovers, check. Dark romantasy YES. I don't like slow burn but I know a lot of do so if you're one of them then there's slow burn as well.
And don't think that this is just romance with an amazing world building because you're absolutely wrong. We have mysteries and political conspiracies that just nake this worod even more great.
And the ending just let you want more NOW.
Thank you to PRHI for providing me with an ARC.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The magic system and worldbuilding in this book had me immediately intrigued, not to mention the politics and found family bonds.
The plot and romance really go together and I loved seeing both develop right until the last sentence, which has me now wanting to read the next book!
The dual PoV adds so much to the plot with inner turmoils, more insights and their character development.
This book definitely shows that actions can in fact speak louder than words, especially with Roak being mute and using his hands to communicate, plus the three taps had me kicking my feet.
The first half is a bit slow as there is a lot of worldbuilding and characters to be introduced but that last half went so quick, I could not put it down.
4 stars.
This was a pretty good read. The world building was excellent, and the magic system of the craft was very cool and unique.
This story is sort of like if A Fate Inked in Blood and A Court of Blood and Bindings had an angsty book baby together. If you love the brooding bodyguard trope, then this is a read for you. There is also some excellent sign language rep in this novel.
While the story was great, I did find the way it was drafted to be a bit hard to read at some points (there were a few sections I had to re-read to understand what the author was trying to impart). The last 15% of the book also piled on a few more twists and turns than may have been practical or necessary (while some were predictable, it was still a lot), but it's clearly been done to set up the next book in the series.
I will still be reading the next book in the series. I am looking forward to learning more about the craft, the curses, and the backstory for Lyra and Roark.
This was a pretty good read. The world building was excellent, and the magic system of the craft was very cool and unique.
This story is sort of like if A Fate Inked in Blood and A Court of Blood and Bindings had an angsty book baby together. If you love the brooding bodyguard trope, then this is a read for you. There is also some excellent sign language rep in this novel.
While the story was great, I did find the way it was drafted to be a bit hard to read at some points (there were a few sections I had to re-read to understand what the author was trying to impart). The last 15% of the book also piled on a few more twists and turns than may have been practical or necessary (while some were predictable, it was still a lot), but it's clearly been done to set up the next book in the series.
I will still be reading the next book in the series. I am looking forward to learning more about the craft, the curses, and the backstory for Lyra and Roark.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
Almost a 5 star read for me. LJ did it again with this one! She has a way of pulling you into the world she builds. You can always count on amazing found family too. I loved this book. The concept of this story is very reminiscent of Valen and Elise. Cursed MMC, secret identity, and the FMC is the one to break the curse. But it’s still completely unique and stands on its own. If Valen and Elise are your favs from TBK you’ll love this!
I really liked how this series really takes on a Viking world in comparison to TBK and TES where it’s loosely inspired. I also liked that this series isn’t going the fae route. You can still have a fantasy world with a robust magic system without needing characters to be fae and it was done well here.
I liked the slow burn. You could feel the tension and the pull of these two and their reluctance to give in. Little by little they broke down those walls for each other and they exploded when they did!
The reason this did not get 5 stars is because it was very info dumpy at the end. I don’t know if it could have been avoided because I don’t know where the knowledge would fit in the plot any earlier, but there was such a long build up of mystery and very little of figuring anything out until it was all told to the FMC in the last 15%. I think I would have preferred our FMC to figure some of it out on her own rather than it all he laid out for her by one of the characters.
I will say one of the reveals at the end I did not see coming. The other big reveal I had figured out much earlier in the book. And I think because one was so easy to put together I think it’s plausible for the FMC to put pieces together on her own if pushed in the right direction via plot device.
These are small critiques and still overall a fantastically written book and I can’t wait to see what’s happens next.
I really liked how this series really takes on a Viking world in comparison to TBK and TES where it’s loosely inspired. I also liked that this series isn’t going the fae route. You can still have a fantasy world with a robust magic system without needing characters to be fae and it was done well here.
I liked the slow burn. You could feel the tension and the pull of these two and their reluctance to give in. Little by little they broke down those walls for each other and they exploded when they did!
The reason this did not get 5 stars is because it was very info dumpy at the end. I don’t know if it could have been avoided because I don’t know where the knowledge would fit in the plot any earlier, but there was such a long build up of mystery and very little of figuring anything out until it was all told to the FMC in the last 15%. I think I would have preferred our FMC to figure some of it out on her own rather than it all he laid out for her by one of the characters.
I will say one of the reveals at the end I did not see coming. The other big reveal I had figured out much earlier in the book. And I think because one was so easy to put together I think it’s plausible for the FMC to put pieces together on her own if pushed in the right direction via plot device.
These are small critiques and still overall a fantastically written book and I can’t wait to see what’s happens next.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thanks to PRHaudio for the free copy. All options are my own.
Was I underwhelmed or whelmed? Hard to say. I can absolutely see why people are and will love this book. Roark is by far the best thing about this book. And Will Thorne’s narration of his chapters was WHEW 🔥🥵
If you’re a fan of Fate Inked in Blood, or another Norse inspired romantasy books, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. There’s some nice found family along with the bodyguard romance, and there are several great characters. There’s also lots of action.
But I found the world-building and magic pretty confusing. I absolutely guessed the twist early on (though the mechanics of it still confuse me). I found myself easily distracted and bored at times too. So unfortunately it was a mid experience for me.
But I think it will find tons of fans.
Was I underwhelmed or whelmed? Hard to say. I can absolutely see why people are and will love this book. Roark is by far the best thing about this book. And Will Thorne’s narration of his chapters was WHEW 🔥🥵
If you’re a fan of Fate Inked in Blood, or another Norse inspired romantasy books, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. There’s some nice found family along with the bodyguard romance, and there are several great characters. There’s also lots of action.
But I found the world-building and magic pretty confusing. I absolutely guessed the twist early on (though the mechanics of it still confuse me). I found myself easily distracted and bored at times too. So unfortunately it was a mid experience for me.
But I think it will find tons of fans.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced