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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
It’s been over a year since I purchased River of Shadows, and I have to say I tried. I genuinely tried. I tried numerous times. Each time stopping after one chapter. I bought the book instantly after reading that it was based in Finnish folklore and mythology (I have a deep love of Finland, with daughters named Katja and Seija and a partially Finnish husband), but I was immediately turned off by the writing. I remember reading a sample of 50 Shades way back in the day just to see how atrocious the writing was (as I had been told it was quite elementary), and the storytelling here reminded me of that terrible, terrible series. I’m sure I’ll give it another chance, but I fear that I’ll again set it down.
KH is the queen of paranormal romance, oh my lanta!!!
I feel like this one was more personal for her and it shows in the writing. It shows in the emotion bleeding out onto the page.
When Hanna’s father passes, she travels to his home to lay him to rest. Her heart is utterly broken and when she discovers that there is no body in his casket, things go from bad to worse. A mysterious man named Rasmus, who knew her father well, tells her what really happened. Her father is an incredibly powerful shaman and he’s NOT dead.
The two of them travel to the underworld to the Realm of the Dead, where her father is being held by The God of Death, Tuoni. The journey is treacherous but Hanna will do anything to get her father back…
Even if that means making a deal with Death himself.
Tuoni is a fearsome masked God, but he is as ruthless as he is intriguing. And now her bargain to save her father means she will be his bride. She wanted nothing more than to save her father… she just never expected to let Tuoni into her heart.
The God of Death is one of my favorites in Karina Halle history! This man is everything dark and dangerous. But it feels like there is more just waiting to be coaxed out and while reading this, you want Hanna to be the one to coax it from him. They are an electric pair that I need more of ASAP!
I feel like this one was more personal for her and it shows in the writing. It shows in the emotion bleeding out onto the page.
When Hanna’s father passes, she travels to his home to lay him to rest. Her heart is utterly broken and when she discovers that there is no body in his casket, things go from bad to worse. A mysterious man named Rasmus, who knew her father well, tells her what really happened. Her father is an incredibly powerful shaman and he’s NOT dead.
The two of them travel to the underworld to the Realm of the Dead, where her father is being held by The God of Death, Tuoni. The journey is treacherous but Hanna will do anything to get her father back…
Even if that means making a deal with Death himself.
Tuoni is a fearsome masked God, but he is as ruthless as he is intriguing. And now her bargain to save her father means she will be his bride. She wanted nothing more than to save her father… she just never expected to let Tuoni into her heart.
The God of Death is one of my favorites in Karina Halle history! This man is everything dark and dangerous. But it feels like there is more just waiting to be coaxed out and while reading this, you want Hanna to be the one to coax it from him. They are an electric pair that I need more of ASAP!
medium-paced
Idk. I guess I was hopping for more. More emotion, caring, ect.. The smut was okay, but not as descriptive and creative as I was hoping for especially from death (I really thought he’d be kinkier). I’m debating if I’ll read the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Fatphobia, Torture, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, Karina Halle is a new dark, fantasy author for me and I love it!
- Fantasy/ paranormal romance
- Dark romance
- Possessive MMC
- Forced proximity
- Forced Marriage
- Mythology
I absolutely ate this up. The familiarity of the mythology references was comforting but the retelling and cultural aspects were new to me so the story was unique and fresh. The writing is contemporary which makes this a very approachable fantasy romance.
And don't even get me started on the MMC because I am OBSESSED. The god of death can get IT.
I need to immediately pick up book 2 because I gotta know what's gonna happen!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Fantasy/ paranormal romance
- Dark romance
- Possessive MMC
- Forced proximity
- Forced Marriage
- Mythology
I absolutely ate this up. The familiarity of the mythology references was comforting but the retelling and cultural aspects were new to me so the story was unique and fresh. The writing is contemporary which makes this a very approachable fantasy romance.
And don't even get me started on the MMC because I am OBSESSED. The god of death can get IT.
I need to immediately pick up book 2 because I gotta know what's gonna happen!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I really liked the first half of this book and learning about Finnish mythology. But we don't meet death until 50% and they barely talk until 60%. The romance is like an after thought which would be fine but it was marketed pretty heavy on the romance and spice. I probably won't read the next book, but still highly recommend Black Sunshine, the Dark Eyes series by Karina Halle.
The concept of this book sounded incredibly interesting and the execution was awful! The FMC was absolutely unbearable. We are suppose to believe that she will trade her life for her estranged father that she barely even called over the past few years. Then when Death takes her up on this offer, cures and frees her dad, gives her a room and servant and is a pleasant host- she continually shames him for being her captor. Then is shocked when he reminds her that she was the one who suggested the deal! Not to mention the continued use of the term “yeet” and other cringe worthy pop culture references gets old quickly. The plot finally comes into focus right at the end of the book… typical.