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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
DNF 2% was confused, didn't like the writing style and got the ick fairly quickly.
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book started off really strong, with Sadare (the FMC) waking up and not knowing who she is or how she got there. She has to rely on a blue-skinned daemon with horns for information, but he knows who she is and she swiftly learns she can't trust him. They have to travel together through a labyrinth, with dangers around every corner. They find magic mirrors that give Sadare memories of her past and how she and the daemon are linked.
However, they are the only characters in the book which means the action and plot development is limited. The plot gets repetitive and boring, with the two characters cycling through the same back-and-forth conversations over and over. There are chapters where Sadare gets flash-backs to before the maze, giving her insight into how she and the daemon are linked, but they aren't enough to provide relief from what becomes a repetitive plot. By the time I got to the end, and the big reveal, I just didn't care enough.
I think this would have made an amazing short story, but feel there really wasn't enough variety in plot and characters to make this a satisfying novel.
However, they are the only characters in the book which means the action and plot development is limited. The plot gets repetitive and boring, with the two characters cycling through the same back-and-forth conversations over and over. There are chapters where Sadare gets flash-backs to before the maze, giving her insight into how she and the daemon are linked, but they aren't enough to provide relief from what becomes a repetitive plot. By the time I got to the end, and the big reveal, I just didn't care enough.
I think this would have made an amazing short story, but feel there really wasn't enough variety in plot and characters to make this a satisfying novel.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book felt so unique to me. It follows a sorceress with no memory and a demon who are trapped together in a labyrinth, forced to work together to survive. As they journey through the maze, her memories slowly begin to return,and their complicated shared history is revealed piece by piece. It’s a dark romantasy with some intense themes, including self-inflicted pain as a source of power, and the spice is definitely darker.
There’s a lot of tension and chemistry between the main characters from the start and I loved the slow unraveling of their backstory. Second chance romance is one my favorite tropes so it was fun to experience it in a fantasy setting. The emotional undercurrent of this story surprised me—I definitely teared up at parts, especially as their betrayals and secrets were revealed. There was so much yearning between the two characters and while their reconnection felt a little sudden considering one character still didn’t have all her memories, I was still invested.
The world building was a bit confusing for me and I wonder if some of the details were completely necessary. But overall, I really enjoyed the story, especially the emotional journey of the characters. I was also happy to see the book wraps up in a satisfying way, even though it’s the first in a series. If you want a dark fantasy romance that’s equal parts angsty, spicy, and emotional, this is definitely one to check out.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted copy.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted copy.
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the idea of this but the execution fell flat. Pacing was off and character motivations didn’t feel compelling or fully fleshed out. Also: So the main character was actually not the main character? They switched places? It was an interesting idea but I’m still a bit confused.