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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
4,5 stars! I really enjoyed reading this book! Loved the characters and also the magic system seems very cool. Can’t wait to read more from this author
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was interesting and I read it all the way through. My issue with it was that it chose fitting in way too many plot points in order to skip out on character development and world building.
The world. I was pretty confused about the countries and region. One of just a castle, the other industry and one a cold barren wasteland? I wanted more description, more world building, more intrigue.
The characters. I liked Gabriel. I didn’t love him, but I liked him. Zoe and Niklas were fine but nothing exciting. And Silje was just an eye roll. None of the characters would make decisions based on previous dialogue or thoughts. Everyone behaved so out of character except Silje who was just “unhinged, overpowered, omniscient who is conveniently beatable.” I didn’t understand their choices because at one point they’d say “I care so much about this” and then suddenly not care?
The lore. Magic wasn’t explained which it really doesn’t need to be but it was soooo convenient. Just throw in a new power when the plot needs it.
Overall, wouldn’t recommend.
The world. I was pretty confused about the countries and region. One of just a castle, the other industry and one a cold barren wasteland? I wanted more description, more world building, more intrigue.
The characters. I liked Gabriel. I didn’t love him, but I liked him. Zoe and Niklas were fine but nothing exciting. And Silje was just an eye roll. None of the characters would make decisions based on previous dialogue or thoughts. Everyone behaved so out of character except Silje who was just “unhinged, overpowered, omniscient who is conveniently beatable.” I didn’t understand their choices because at one point they’d say “I care so much about this” and then suddenly not care?
The lore. Magic wasn’t explained which it really doesn’t need to be but it was soooo convenient. Just throw in a new power when the plot needs it.
Overall, wouldn’t recommend.
This fast-paced, action packed, intriguing read had my attention from the first page. This was a solid debut. The world building was fabulous, the characters were not only diverse, but also interesting, and the magical system was quite unique. I loved how compelling and full of twists this story was.
The book has a satisfying ending with the possibility of a sequel. I would love to see these characters again!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book has a satisfying ending with the possibility of a sequel. I would love to see these characters again!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
First off, I love the simplicity of this cover. I don't know why I just do. This book is in multiple POVs and I really enjoyed it. I have a love/hate relationship with Gabe and if you read this you'll understand why. I'm excited to see more from this author.
First I want to say how happy and thankful I am that I was able to read this book! This book was great! The Magic system and story line was great as well as the character development. I loved how different the magic system was. I am big time fantasy reader but I love to see when there is a different twist to fantasy books. I would definitely recommend this book especially to other fantasy lovers.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
The spook is across between A Darker Shade of Magic and Six of Crows. However, it lacks the crispness of either book and borrows a tad too many elements from each plotline for my taste. While this is not in the realm of plagiarism by any mean, as someone who’s previously read both ADSOM & SOC, the similarity was distracting. I did enjoy the moral grayness of the characters, and the concept of the Incarnate. I think that the ending of the book is where the author really shined, but I feel like we were missing some backstory about what led to the death of the previous rulers of Verchiél. I also thought that Dabrua and Silje’s characters were intriguing but could have been executed better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun, fast-paced fantasy that kept me hooked with its intricate world building and intriguing magic system. The four Incarnate are humans gifted with powers, revered in some kingdoms and shunned in others. I loved the juxtaposition of Sun and Moon magic, where Sun Incarnate can use their powers in the day and Moon Incarnate can use their powers in the night.
As the story unfolds, the Incarnate fight and plot for power. The author did an excellent job of writing morally grey characters, as I often went back and forth between liking and loathing the Incarnates. The side characters were well-developed and I especially liked Dabria and Ada.
The novel wraps up the plot points quite nicely, but also plants some seeds that would potentially allow the story to continue n
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲: morally grey characters, shadow and light magic (moon and sun magic), found family, grumpy & sunshine, knife to the throat, power struggles & political intrigue, diverse representation
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.
Thank you to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.
As the story unfolds, the Incarnate fight and plot for power. The author did an excellent job of writing morally grey characters, as I often went back and forth between liking and loathing the Incarnates. The side characters were well-developed and I especially liked Dabria and Ada.
The novel wraps up the plot points quite nicely, but also plants some seeds that would potentially allow the story to continue n
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲: morally grey characters, shadow and light magic (moon and sun magic), found family, grumpy & sunshine, knife to the throat, power struggles & political intrigue, diverse representation
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮.
Thank you to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thanks to Hidden Hollow Book Tours, the publisher, and the author for the review copy. This review is honest and voluntary.
This is a story set in a corrupt and power-hungry Victorian-inspired world, where magic is both revered and feared in equal parts. At the heart of the story are four intricately crafted characters, each wielding magic and navigating their own moral complexities. Christianson masterfully explores the complexities of morality and the shades of grey that define each character's journey. They are all equally unlikeable and loveable in varied amounts. I really loved this aspect of the story.
Gabriel is a charismatic and hedonistic socialite who embodies the allure of power and indulgence, willing to tread darker paths to maintain his influence and control. His platonic life partner is Zoe. She is driven by a desire to forge her own destiny despite the constraints of her role. Niklas is looking to take power that was taken from him. He is haunted by his past but seeks purpose. Silje, his dangerous assassin and half-sister navigates the precarious balance between her desire for love and acceptance and her penchant for violence and revenge. Also - Silje is basically Villanelle from Killing Eve and I WAS HERE for it.
The richly imagined world-building adds depth the story, offering readers a varied tapestry of different kingdoms and cultures to immerse themselves in. This is a compelling exploration of ambition, populated by flawed yet compelling characters who grapple with their own demons and desires. With its intricate plot and morally ambiguous protagonists, this book is sure to captivate readers!
This is a story set in a corrupt and power-hungry Victorian-inspired world, where magic is both revered and feared in equal parts. At the heart of the story are four intricately crafted characters, each wielding magic and navigating their own moral complexities. Christianson masterfully explores the complexities of morality and the shades of grey that define each character's journey. They are all equally unlikeable and loveable in varied amounts. I really loved this aspect of the story.
Gabriel is a charismatic and hedonistic socialite who embodies the allure of power and indulgence, willing to tread darker paths to maintain his influence and control. His platonic life partner is Zoe. She is driven by a desire to forge her own destiny despite the constraints of her role. Niklas is looking to take power that was taken from him. He is haunted by his past but seeks purpose. Silje, his dangerous assassin and half-sister navigates the precarious balance between her desire for love and acceptance and her penchant for violence and revenge. Also - Silje is basically Villanelle from Killing Eve and I WAS HERE for it.
The richly imagined world-building adds depth the story, offering readers a varied tapestry of different kingdoms and cultures to immerse themselves in. This is a compelling exploration of ambition, populated by flawed yet compelling characters who grapple with their own demons and desires. With its intricate plot and morally ambiguous protagonists, this book is sure to captivate readers!
I am in love with this book. If there is one technical aspects that I always look for, its characterization and this book was so skillfully written