Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Some of the character name changes were a little silly. Veronika Mallow? VM? Really? Plus Briony and Rory same suffix, different spelling. Soto really did her best to keep the same amount of syllables for the same characters which I think was an interesting choice.
But the story itself? The magic system and world divide was imaginative and lush with possibility. I especially love that twist ending. It has the potential for what I had always hoped The Auction would—
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy
Briony's breath hitched at the realization that he'd skipped over the easiest one."
--
If you're a fan of dark romantasy with high-stakes angst and a palpable enemies-to-lovers tension, this book is for you.
From the start, the story plunges you into a world of magic, historical politics, and morally grey characters that will keep you guessing.
For those familiar with the source material ("The Auction"), the general plot feels comfortingly familiar—
The unexpected twist makes the journey worthwhile for both new readers and longtime fans.
The narrative is told through a third-person limited point of view, primarily following the thoughts of Briony. Her perspective makes her a wonderfully unreliable narrator, adding a layer of intrigue as you try to decipher the truth from her perception of events. This limited viewpoint, along with a dual timeline structure, provides a fascinating look into the complex and often dark nature of Toven, and a deeper understanding of why Briony is drawn to him.
--
"If she could hear one sound for the rest of her life, she wanted it to be Toven Hearst moaning her name."
--
And the romance? She's a slight slow burn in this one for sure, but the yearning between the two is undeniable.
Julie Soto masterfully builds the romantic tension, and I am eager to see how Briony and Toven's feelings will develop in the next two installments of the series, in which I'm sure the stakes will become higher
higher
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abortion, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, War
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, War
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent
Graphic: Eating disorder, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Sexual harassment, War
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol