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thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A dark fantastical YA novel that gets you emotionally attached like thorns on a vine.
Violet saved a boys life when they were children, she didn't know he was a Prince. As adults they are begrudgingly close and in each others lives, Cyrus as the Prince soon to become King, and Violet, the city's seer.
When the King tells Violet to falsely prophesize the upcoming wedding of Cyrus, she is plagued by the fates dark tellings of the future.
With the fates future unravelling before them, Violet uses her wits to protect herself but ends up having to make a deadly choice.
Although this was a really great storyline, with great characters, the ending felt quite rushed (this is book one of a duology), and was very anticlimactic.
I wanted to love the characters but they lack depth and substance, like they just existed and you already knew them. (Is Camilla just a high maintenance Princess that just likes to eat cake and enjoys balls? Would she want to be Queen? Why does the King want to expand the kingdom? Greed? What do the fairies feel about the woods being burnt?) So much potential and hope that book two brings it.
Violet saved a boys life when they were children, she didn't know he was a Prince. As adults they are begrudgingly close and in each others lives, Cyrus as the Prince soon to become King, and Violet, the city's seer.
When the King tells Violet to falsely prophesize the upcoming wedding of Cyrus, she is plagued by the fates dark tellings of the future.
With the fates future unravelling before them, Violet uses her wits to protect herself but ends up having to make a deadly choice.
Although this was a really great storyline, with great characters, the ending felt quite rushed (this is book one of a duology), and was very anticlimactic.
I wanted to love the characters but they lack depth and substance, like they just existed and you already knew them. (Is Camilla just a high maintenance Princess that just likes to eat cake and enjoys balls? Would she want to be Queen? Why does the King want to expand the kingdom? Greed? What do the fairies feel about the woods being burnt?) So much potential and hope that book two brings it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, and Murder
lacrimaeignis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Murder
katvou's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Animal death and War
Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting new world, definitely great for anyone who loves fairytale or royalty themed fantasy. It definitely gives off The Cruel Prince vibes, so that is a great readalike. The characters aren't necessarily the most likeable, but that's supposed to be the point. They both will do whatever it takes to further their status in society.
The central romance might have been the best thing about this book. There is a lot of court intrigue, but sometimes I had difficulty following it. This might have been becuase I listened to the audiobook, though. The narrator was great, but sometimes I don't pay quite as close attention, so maybe I missed something plotwise.
While I don't think this necessarily needed to be a series, I do understand where the author wants to go with the story. I am kind of interested in seeing what happens next, so I might pick up the next book when it comes out. We'll see!
The central romance might have been the best thing about this book. There is a lot of court intrigue, but sometimes I had difficulty following it. This might have been becuase I listened to the audiobook, though. The narrator was great, but sometimes I don't pay quite as close attention, so maybe I missed something plotwise.
While I don't think this necessarily needed to be a series, I do understand where the author wants to go with the story. I am kind of interested in seeing what happens next, so I might pick up the next book when it comes out. We'll see!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Emotional abuse
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
It took me a while to get into this, but I really enjoyed the last third and am eager to see what happens next. The love-hate relationship between the two main characters is well done with plenty of tension. The other characters are also interesting enough. Story of fate and what happens when you fight against it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Confinement
introverted_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and War
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Self harm, and Death
emmakchapman's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Death, and Murder
emilia_thereader's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Racism
Minor: War
kels_18's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing
azrah786's review against another edition
4.25
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, self harm, body horror, gore, death, death of parent, murder, emotional abuse, racism, sexual content (non-explicit)
--
A fast paced, dark fairytale story following an unapologetic, self-serving seer with a penchant for twisting the truth; a just as headstrong and arrogant crown prince she is always butting heads with and a prophecy that ties the two of them and the fate of the kingdom together.
Now none of these two leads are the most likeable of characters and you want to just shake the both of them on various occasions but their banter? *chef’s kiss* This isn’t your usual enemies to lovers pairing, they have more of a hate to “oh no these intense feelings I have for you and the fact that you get me plus are really attractive is messing with my head” going on and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Though the spotlight is very much on Violet - the control and power she has over her own destiny and her role as primary seer of a kingdom hanging in the balance. I was absolutely enraptured by the curse elements in the story and Chen beautifully wove the tensions of the foretold prophecy and political situation together that I just couldn’t put the book down!
The worldbuilding and magic are super fascinating however, they are an already established element of the story and weren’t expanded on as much as I had hoped. Also there were also some great side characters that I can’t help but wish had more page time.
That aside I really enjoyed this one and need the sequel yesterday!
If you like morally grey characters that aren’t always likeable and all the fairytale vibes with a dash of darkness then this book is for you!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
CW: violence, blood, injury, self harm, body horror, gore, death, death of parent, murder, emotional abuse, racism, sexual content (non-explicit)
--
A fast paced, dark fairytale story following an unapologetic, self-serving seer with a penchant for twisting the truth; a just as headstrong and arrogant crown prince she is always butting heads with and a prophecy that ties the two of them and the fate of the kingdom together.
Now none of these two leads are the most likeable of characters and you want to just shake the both of them on various occasions but their banter? *chef’s kiss* This isn’t your usual enemies to lovers pairing, they have more of a hate to “oh no these intense feelings I have for you and the fact that you get me plus are really attractive is messing with my head” going on and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Though the spotlight is very much on Violet - the control and power she has over her own destiny and her role as primary seer of a kingdom hanging in the balance. I was absolutely enraptured by the curse elements in the story and Chen beautifully wove the tensions of the foretold prophecy and political situation together that I just couldn’t put the book down!
The worldbuilding and magic are super fascinating however, they are an already established element of the story and weren’t expanded on as much as I had hoped. Also there were also some great side characters that I can’t help but wish had more page time.
That aside I really enjoyed this one and need the sequel yesterday!
If you like morally grey characters that aren’t always likeable and all the fairytale vibes with a dash of darkness then this book is for you!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Racism