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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
cliche after cliche after trope after trope. there’s nothing original about this. the banter is boring. the MCs are supposed to be powerful and smart and yet they make the dumbest decisions and don’t communicate with each other. they don’t train together and the fmc never learns how to use her power, but, SHOCKINGLY, in the final battle, she saves everyone by randomly trying to use her power. and it works!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
While there are definitely similarities to "Shield of Sparrows", I found this book to be much better written with more compelling characters and plot. Rhya has had some real hardship and villainous discrimination in her young life (early twenties, not bad) but she's held onto a moral compass and sense of right. Seeing more than her small corner of the world knocks her eyes wide open.
This is a slow burn with no consummation (two build-up scenes) and lots of back and forth. One step forward, he gets nobly/stubbornly spooked, two steps back. Some opposing magic and a possible love triangle develops at the end.
Yes, there's some slog when Rhya's still figuring out who's the enemy and the magic of it all (first quarter) and again when they're settled among the northern people (third quarter). But I do appreciate a passage of time...even if the pregnancy and birth stuff wasn't great for my first trimester self.
I've always loved stories with elemental magic and this tickled that fancy perfectly. Add in a prophecy or two and a loyal band of warriors and I'm hooked. Ready for book 2 and more of our charming water king please!
This is a slow burn with no consummation (two build-up scenes) and lots of back and forth. One step forward, he gets nobly/stubbornly spooked, two steps back. Some opposing magic and a possible love triangle develops at the end.
Yes, there's some slog when Rhya's still figuring out who's the enemy and the magic of it all (first quarter) and again when they're settled among the northern people (third quarter). But I do appreciate a passage of time...even if the pregnancy and birth stuff wasn't great for my first trimester self.
I've always loved stories with elemental magic and this tickled that fancy perfectly. Add in a prophecy or two and a loyal band of warriors and I'm hooked. Ready for book 2 and more of our charming water king please!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.75⭐️ | TikTok | IG |
Talk about starting off with a BANG! I loved that this book griped me from the start with action-packed scenes, lush imagery and beautiful prose. I am a HUGE fan of books that don’t give you all the details up front so it was a lot of fun to have that mystery/unknown aspect, as our FMC learns more about herself and her world. This was such an epic start to a new trilogy and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here.
ps This is the start of something great…
What I loved…
- action-packed, fast-paced, and great overall pacing
- lush imagery that made you feel like you were right there in the thick of it with the characters
- mystery/intrigue, single POV so you learn about the world as the FMC does
- the plot REVEALS and twists were heart pounding and epic!
- crazy beasts and magical creatures
- thorough world building with minimal info-dumps
- the romantic sub-plot was top notch, SLOW burn & high tension 10/10
- Found family, the side characters were A++
- Grade A++ banter (not just with the MMC, but with the side characters too!)
- elemental magic, chosen one, and an ancient prophecy
What I didn’t love…
- longer chapters (look I’m just not a fan ok)
- at times the romance veered a tiny itty bitty bit into the cheesy lane - but most will probably love it
- while the overall pacing was excellent there was a bit of a lull around the 60-80% mark - the longer chapters combined with the super fast paced beginning made the slow down (to do important things like finish fleshing out the world and character development) a bit more noticeable.
Talk about starting off with a BANG! I loved that this book griped me from the start with action-packed scenes, lush imagery and beautiful prose. I am a HUGE fan of books that don’t give you all the details up front so it was a lot of fun to have that mystery/unknown aspect, as our FMC learns more about herself and her world. This was such an epic start to a new trilogy and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here.
ps This is the start of something great…
What I loved…
- action-packed, fast-paced, and great overall pacing
- lush imagery that made you feel like you were right there in the thick of it with the characters
- mystery/intrigue, single POV so you learn about the world as the FMC does
- the plot REVEALS and twists were heart pounding and epic!
- crazy beasts and magical creatures
- thorough world building with minimal info-dumps
- the romantic sub-plot was top notch, SLOW burn & high tension 10/10
- Found family, the side characters were A++
- Grade A++ banter (not just with the MMC, but with the side characters too!)
- elemental magic, chosen one, and an ancient prophecy
What I didn’t love…
- longer chapters (look I’m just not a fan ok)
- at times the romance veered a tiny itty bitty bit into the cheesy lane - but most will probably love it
- while the overall pacing was excellent there was a bit of a lull around the 60-80% mark - the longer chapters combined with the super fast paced beginning made the slow down (to do important things like finish fleshing out the world and character development) a bit more noticeable.
Solid 3 stars- predictable but enjoyable, although at times it did feel like “Rhya figures it out herself while ignored and left to her own devices” which lost some points. I wish there were some training scenes or more mentorship. After a while the banter that was more flirty turned into willful misinterpretation. The fight scenes were interesting and I loved the world descriptions. If this turns into a love triangle, I know who I’m rooting for!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am not in love with this series, just a little curious. So much happened in this first book. There was a lot of information and characters introduced. More deaths of main characters than I like to see in the first book. I am not quite sure where this book is going. I hope it will not turn into a love triangle or a why choose situation. I’m not a fan of those tropes.
It’s seems that war might be the main premise of this series.
Also, they will probably seek out the earth remnant.
I’m still on the fence on whether I will continue with this series. Time will tell
It’s seems that war might be the main premise of this series.
Also, they will probably seek out the earth remnant.
I’m still on the fence on whether I will continue with this series. Time will tell
The beginning and end was good but most of the middle boring. I didn’t care for the characters and the plot was pretty basic. Also, the romance lacked chemistry. BUT the writing was pretty good. I could also see the next book being better by how this one ended. All in all it was a fine book but nothing really stood out.
Also super picky comment but the like 100 yr old queen acts like a 17 yr old girl bully. Like in what world does a grown old woman act like this. It really annoyed me.
Also super picky comment but the like 100 yr old queen acts like a 17 yr old girl bully. Like in what world does a grown old woman act like this. It really annoyed me.