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stw07's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I’ve been disappointed by most of the new YA fantasy books I’ve read lately, but this was a really pleasant surprise!! Some of the plot was forseeable and it had its fair share of tropes, but it also managed to surprise me a few times.
The best part though was definitely the two love interests, both as individual characters and the way they interacted with each other. Their first kiss situation was genuinely so funny, I’m still laughing about it. And the way he makes soup for her??? And it tastes really bad??? But it’s his mothers recipe and he loves researching healthy food so she eats it to make him happy??? And the way he insists on feeding! her! the soup! when she’s injured! This is the kind of tropey YA shit that makes me feel YOUNG AGAIN.
I also like that this was a complete story in one book, because I can definitely see how it could have been dragged out into a trilogy if the author has chosen to add more filler, and I’m really glad they didn’t do that. And the ending kept me ON MY TOES til the last second.
Anyway TL;DR this book made me feel like a Gordon Ramsey meme, finally consuming some good fucking YA fantasy food.
The best part though was definitely the two love interests, both as individual characters and the way they interacted with each other. Their first kiss situation was genuinely so funny, I’m still laughing about it. And the way he
I also like that this was a complete story in one book, because I can definitely see how it could have been dragged out into a trilogy if the author has chosen to add more filler, and I’m really glad they didn’t do that. And the ending kept me ON MY TOES til the last second.
Anyway TL;DR this book made me feel like a Gordon Ramsey meme, finally consuming some good fucking YA fantasy food.
bizaleth's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abigail_lo's review
5.0
thanks netgalley and wednesday books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
4.75 stars, rounded up to 5
summary -- i am absolutely shaking, screaming, crying, and throwing up. here's the list of my only qualms with the book:
1) i think mehrotra mentioned (or meant to mention) depression, and it was a bit funny how quickly that got wrapped up within a few pages.
2) women should be allowed to make out for real, especially when the bond between the queen and katyani was so homoerotic.
3) the ending felt a bit sudden? i wanted some sort of epilogue or closure, even if it was a few more sentences just rounding out the book.
other than that? astounding. perfection. incredible. absolutely obsessed. (i'll use more words and phrases that are actually descriptive now.) again: i deeply admire when authors can put their characters through unimaginable shit, and let's just say that happens a lot here. the exact phrase from my notes around the 50% mark is "absolutely shitting screaming pissing myself that was fucking bold to do y'all just fucked [them] over," if that says anything about my real-time thoughts. i did start literally screaming before i realized it was 9am, and i do mean the actual definition of literally in this case. i'm obsessed with slow burn romances (and i also don't like much romance in my fantasy anyway), so the pacing of the romance was perfect for me. the world-building hit just the right balance between not enough and too much. and i loved how much indian culture & values played into katya's moral system, only because i feel like fantasy can be all about individualism and glory and all those western ideas. slight spoiler: so yes: everyone should read this book, i am slightly obsessed with it, and i will be absolutely on my hands and knees until i get a sequel.
4.75 stars, rounded up to 5
summary -- i am absolutely shaking, screaming, crying, and throwing up. here's the list of my only qualms with the book:
1) i think mehrotra mentioned (or meant to mention) depression, and it was a bit funny how quickly that got wrapped up within a few pages.
2) women should be allowed to make out for real, especially when the bond between the queen and katyani was so homoerotic.
3) the ending felt a bit sudden? i wanted some sort of epilogue or closure, even if it was a few more sentences just rounding out the book.
other than that? astounding. perfection. incredible. absolutely obsessed. (i'll use more words and phrases that are actually descriptive now.) again: i deeply admire when authors can put their characters through unimaginable shit, and let's just say that happens a lot here. the exact phrase from my notes around the 50% mark is "absolutely shitting screaming pissing myself that was fucking bold to do y'all just fucked [them] over," if that says anything about my real-time thoughts. i did start literally screaming before i realized it was 9am, and i do mean the actual definition of literally in this case. i'm obsessed with slow burn romances (and i also don't like much romance in my fantasy anyway), so the pacing of the romance was perfect for me. the world-building hit just the right balance between not enough and too much. and i loved how much indian culture & values played into katya's moral system, only because i feel like fantasy can be all about individualism and glory and all those western ideas. slight spoiler:
Spoiler
explicitly defeating an enemy through solely meditation is ballsy, and i really admired that choice.sandsing7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
storiedadventures's review
3.0
*Received an e-arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I am really struggling with the rating here. There were elements I liked and elements I didn't like.
It might be a "not for me" type of thing because everyone else seems to be raving about this one. It's likened to An Ember in the Ashes series (which is one of my all time favorite series) and I didn't get those vibes at all.
Here's what I liked: The idea of the FMC being the guardswoman to the princes. The monsters/ monster hunting/ Indian mythology. The magic system seems cool. And the big reveal/ big ending
Here's what I didn't like: By the time we get to the fast paced big ending stuff, I still wasn't connected to any of the characters. I didn't feel for any of them. I just had feelings of indifference. I honestly almost DNF'd it several times because I didn't care for the characters.
This book just didn't pull me in as much as I wanted it to.
I am really struggling with the rating here. There were elements I liked and elements I didn't like.
It might be a "not for me" type of thing because everyone else seems to be raving about this one. It's likened to An Ember in the Ashes series (which is one of my all time favorite series) and I didn't get those vibes at all.
Here's what I liked: The idea of the FMC being the guardswoman to the princes. The monsters/ monster hunting/ Indian mythology. The magic system seems cool. And the big reveal/ big ending
Here's what I didn't like: By the time we get to the fast paced big ending stuff, I still wasn't connected to any of the characters. I didn't feel for any of them. I just had feelings of indifference. I honestly almost DNF'd it several times because I didn't care for the characters.
This book just didn't pull me in as much as I wanted it to.
literaryluxe's review
3.0
A great book overall but lacking in some areas!
It's a very fast paced book so I never felt bored or un-engaged. However I did feel a bit of a disconnect with some of the side characters. I just didn't care about them and that could be because they were not as developed as our main characters.
I also feel like the romance had a great build-up and yet it didn't? It's hard to explain it and I don't want to spoil anyone but was super disappointed with the ending.
The magic system and plot-twists were great though and overall it was a solid read I'd recommend. I'd definitely reads the sequel if there is one.
It's a very fast paced book so I never felt bored or un-engaged. However I did feel a bit of a disconnect with some of the side characters. I just didn't care about them and that could be because they were not as developed as our main characters.
I also feel like the romance had a great build-up and yet it didn't? It's hard to explain it and I don't want to spoil anyone but was super disappointed with the ending.
The magic system and plot-twists were great though and overall it was a solid read I'd recommend. I'd definitely reads the sequel if there is one.
sophiehurst's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
sarahhh16's review
slow-paced
2.0
i was so bored. and this girl was talking about not being able to stop thinking about him at page 50...10 pages after she met him...
ceraphimfalls's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
The first 100 pages were slow and tough to get through, frankly. But once our hero returns home... good god. The book blows up in a spectacular way and had me gasping for the breath through to the end. Gorgeous and lush and delightfully of itself and in its world. It's going on my keeper shelf and I cant wait to read it again in a few years.