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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Can I start by disclosing that I have absolutely no problem DNF-ing a book if it doesn’t hold my attention? That said, I finished this one, so I somewhat enjoyed it.
The pacing is decent, which kept me going, but the story just doesn’t feel cohesive. One of my biggest gripes with fantasy set in a modern-ish setting is the tendency toward surface-level world-building, and unfortunately, that was the case here. I never quite felt immersed.
As for the romance… I didn’t feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. So many of their moments felt sudden, unearned, and lacking the tension or build-up that makes a connection compelling.
Also, I am incredibly frustrated with this ongoing trope where a completely untrained FMC goes up against elite fighters and somehow just slays? It’s giving plot armor, not character growth. Yes, there are magical explanations and chosen-one reasoning, but sometimes I just want to see a girl work for it. Sweat. Fail. Train. Triumph. Is that too much to ask?
That said, I really appreciated that Nia is 26 and the MMC is only a year older. The minimal age gap is such a breath of fresh air compared to the usual “immortal 500-year-old fae and teenage girl” setup.
What did throw me off consistently was the writing, especially during the spicy scenes. Something about it just didn’t land for me. I’m hoping that improves in book two, because this series does have potential.
The pacing is decent, which kept me going, but the story just doesn’t feel cohesive. One of my biggest gripes with fantasy set in a modern-ish setting is the tendency toward surface-level world-building, and unfortunately, that was the case here. I never quite felt immersed.
As for the romance… I didn’t feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. So many of their moments felt sudden, unearned, and lacking the tension or build-up that makes a connection compelling.
Also, I am incredibly frustrated with this ongoing trope where a completely untrained FMC goes up against elite fighters and somehow just slays? It’s giving plot armor, not character growth. Yes, there are magical explanations and chosen-one reasoning, but sometimes I just want to see a girl work for it. Sweat. Fail. Train. Triumph. Is that too much to ask?
That said, I really appreciated that Nia is 26 and the MMC is only a year older. The minimal age gap is such a breath of fresh air compared to the usual “immortal 500-year-old fae and teenage girl” setup.
What did throw me off consistently was the writing, especially during the spicy scenes. Something about it just didn’t land for me. I’m hoping that improves in book two, because this series does have potential.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The writing was so bad. This felt like reading a middle grade novel with adult characters.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes