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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
JULIE SOTO TAKES MY DAMN BREATH AWAY
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wowww this was amazing, very very dark so check your trigger warnings before heading into this read. I will be thinking about this nonstop until book two. Also, the fact that this is Julie Sotos romantasy debut??? I will definitely be checking out her other book because I’m obsessed. Her writing is so bingeable I didn’t want to put this down.
Huge plot twist and cliff hanger ending so be prepared to be left on the edge of your seat!
Huge plot twist and cliff hanger ending so be prepared to be left on the edge of your seat!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's 400 pages of nothing really. I feel like the author was going for dark but it really is just 400 pages of like shock factor of people being treated as slaves. I felt like there was no plot and no real story and like if Toven is working both sides why wouldn't he involve Briony more? I don't know it could of been like 200 pages shorter and it would be the same story
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was my first time reading Julie Soto, but also her first fantasy book, and let me tell you I am hooked. I was instantly pulled into this story. I love the magic system and how it works and is determined by country, but also heart vs mind. It is so simple, but also complex and thought out, including the differences between how they work, feel, and are used. The plot is very strong, with great political aspects. I am usually not a fan of heavy politics in a book, but this does not feel heavy, although the politics are often mentioned and a large part of the story. There is a nice plot twist / cliff hanger at the end to keep you ready for the next novel.
I did think this was a romantasy book due to the cover, but I would call this fantasy with romantic aspects. The romantic storyline is hinted at, and intertwined in the story, but is not very strong. It seems as though it is setting up the romance to be later throughout the trilogy, but that is just a guess.
I do wish there was a stronger backstory on the prophecy that is mentioned in the beginning, and throughout the book. The reader learns the prophecy early on, but I would like to know more.
I really enjoyed the third person writing style, strictly following the FMC. The writing style was very easy to read and follow.
The book definitely has a lot of dark aspects, especially in the beginning half or so. Please read the trigger warnings if you are interested in reading.
I did think this was a romantasy book due to the cover, but I would call this fantasy with romantic aspects. The romantic storyline is hinted at, and intertwined in the story, but is not very strong. It seems as though it is setting up the romance to be later throughout the trilogy, but that is just a guess.
I do wish there was a stronger backstory on the prophecy that is mentioned in the beginning, and throughout the book. The reader learns the prophecy early on, but I would like to know more.
I really enjoyed the third person writing style, strictly following the FMC. The writing style was very easy to read and follow.
The book definitely has a lot of dark aspects, especially in the beginning half or so. Please read the trigger warnings if you are interested in reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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:
No
Oh yes—this book didn’t just land, it waltzed in wearing a crown of thorns and a knowing smirk, and I was helpless to resist. I expected to be wrecked, but this story? It wove itself into my bones and whispered, “You weren’t ready.” And I wasn’t.
First things first: thank you to Forever Publishing, Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and the darkly brilliant author behind this magic for the audiobook copy. They gave me the keys to the kingdom, and I ran straight into the storm— every thought below is mine, honest and a little feral.
Now let’s talk performance: Ella Lynch? You devoured this narration. Clear, sharp, electric. When the book said Raven’s voice grated… I was already thinking it, and then you nailed it. You didn’t just read Toven, you became him. That portrayal is going to live rent-free in my head for a long, long time. And the sound quality? As expected from Hachette Audio, top-tier, crystal-clear, and polished to perfection.
⚠️ Trigger warnings front and center. This story pulls no punches. It tackles grief, rage, trauma, identity, and survival without flinching. But here’s the thing— it balances that darkness with snappy banter, dry humor, and just enough light to keep your heart pounding. If you’re craving a real dark romantasy, one that leans in and dares you to look deeper? This one delivers.
On the surface, you’ve got an epic, action-packed tale of a heroine who’s fallen hard, but refuses to stay down. Her rage is fierce, her heart unyielding, and the world she moves through? Lush, war-torn, and hauntingly magical. The imagery? Breathtaking. And the forbidden love subplot? Oh, it’s the slow-burn, ache-in-your-chest kind that feels like touching a flame just to see if it burns.
But beneath the sword fights and spellwork is something deeper. This book made me pause and ask: How many of my choices were truly mine? And how many were handed to me with a smile and an expectation? It’s not just a story—it’s a mirror held up to everything we’re told to be, and everything we quietly are.
I’m the kind of reader who loves going in blind— no spoilers, no summaries, just vibes and a whisper of tropes. And this book? It rewards that trust. Read the trigger warnings, of course. But if you’re in the right headspace? Let the story take you. Let it crack something open.
Now let’s talk spice. Is it steamy? A little. But the real seduction? That delicious, delicious tension. The kind that hums just beneath the surface, tight as a wire stretched between cliff edges. You could walk across it with bare feet and beg to do it again.
And yes, I’ve already pre-ordered the deluxe edition. Because obviously. Book two cannot get here fast enough… I’m ready, I’m waiting, and I’m bringing emotional armor this time. (Probably not tho.)
In short? This book is stunning. Challenging. Visceral. Thought-provoking. And absolutely unforgettable.
First things first: thank you to Forever Publishing, Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and the darkly brilliant author behind this magic for the audiobook copy. They gave me the keys to the kingdom, and I ran straight into the storm— every thought below is mine, honest and a little feral.
Now let’s talk performance: Ella Lynch? You devoured this narration. Clear, sharp, electric. When the book said Raven’s voice grated… I was already thinking it, and then you nailed it. You didn’t just read Toven, you became him. That portrayal is going to live rent-free in my head for a long, long time. And the sound quality? As expected from Hachette Audio, top-tier, crystal-clear, and polished to perfection.
⚠️ Trigger warnings front and center. This story pulls no punches. It tackles grief, rage, trauma, identity, and survival without flinching. But here’s the thing— it balances that darkness with snappy banter, dry humor, and just enough light to keep your heart pounding. If you’re craving a real dark romantasy, one that leans in and dares you to look deeper? This one delivers.
On the surface, you’ve got an epic, action-packed tale of a heroine who’s fallen hard, but refuses to stay down. Her rage is fierce, her heart unyielding, and the world she moves through? Lush, war-torn, and hauntingly magical. The imagery? Breathtaking. And the forbidden love subplot? Oh, it’s the slow-burn, ache-in-your-chest kind that feels like touching a flame just to see if it burns.
But beneath the sword fights and spellwork is something deeper. This book made me pause and ask: How many of my choices were truly mine? And how many were handed to me with a smile and an expectation? It’s not just a story—it’s a mirror held up to everything we’re told to be, and everything we quietly are.
I’m the kind of reader who loves going in blind— no spoilers, no summaries, just vibes and a whisper of tropes. And this book? It rewards that trust. Read the trigger warnings, of course. But if you’re in the right headspace? Let the story take you. Let it crack something open.
Now let’s talk spice. Is it steamy? A little. But the real seduction? That delicious, delicious tension. The kind that hums just beneath the surface, tight as a wire stretched between cliff edges. You could walk across it with bare feet and beg to do it again.
And yes, I’ve already pre-ordered the deluxe edition. Because obviously. Book two cannot get here fast enough… I’m ready, I’m waiting, and I’m bringing emotional armor this time. (Probably not tho.)
In short? This book is stunning. Challenging. Visceral. Thought-provoking. And absolutely unforgettable.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes