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wordsasnames's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
art_books_chemistry's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
I'm a huge high/epic fantasy person and this scratched that itch well. I really enjoyed the world that E.J. Mellow built within this first book and am excited to read the second one. However, there are two short-comings for me with this novel.
First, I wish there were more details is some parts. There were certain characters whose scenes were written as if we know everything about them, when we in fact no little to nothing as the reader yet. I'm always happy to see a map at the beginning of a book but I also think georgraphy should also be well-explained in the text. I do a lot of audiobooks, though this one I read via Kindle Unlimited, and a map only available in a visual format is a flaw over audio.
Secondly, I found some of the dialogue to be awkward in spots. One of the MCs (all of whom are high class citizens in this world) said "G'night" at one point which just felt off-kilter to the rest of the higher brow style dialogue language. I also had to roll my eyes at the use of "Sticks" as an expletive. The entire cast after the prologue is 19+ and I cannot understand why sticks of all words even is an expletive in this world.
Overall, I really enjoyed the storyline, there were some clever plot points I haven't seen done this way in other books. If you want a completely wrapped story in one book, however, you may not want this as only one of the two major plot lines is resolved in the conclusion.
Definitely recommend for fantasy lovers! It's also technically a slow burn romance with the smallest amount of spice for those looking for that!
First, I wish there were more details is some parts. There were certain characters whose scenes were written as if we know everything about them, when we in fact no little to nothing as the reader yet. I'm always happy to see a map at the beginning of a book but I also think georgraphy should also be well-explained in the text. I do a lot of audiobooks, though this one I read via Kindle Unlimited, and a map only available in a visual format is a flaw over audio.
Secondly, I found some of the dialogue to be awkward in spots. One of the MCs (all of whom are high class citizens in this world) said "G'night" at one point which just felt off-kilter to the rest of the higher brow style dialogue language. I also had to roll my eyes at the use of "Sticks" as an expletive. The entire cast after the prologue is 19+ and I cannot understand why sticks of all words even is an expletive in this world.
Overall, I really enjoyed the storyline, there were some clever plot points I haven't seen done this way in other books. If you want a completely wrapped story in one book, however, you may not want this as only one of the two major plot lines is resolved in the conclusion.
Definitely recommend for fantasy lovers! It's also technically a slow burn romance with the smallest amount of spice for those looking for that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Addiction, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
amyxx's review
dark
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Emotional abuse
emmasrambles's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Drug use, and Grief
sjb3752's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
0.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Self harm and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness
escapismforlife's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the world and the sisters, Arabessa, Niya,and Larkyra. The Basette sisters dynamic is special. Their magic and how they use it is what makes their relationship in their seceret and public life unique, for lack of a better term.
This first book was very much centered on a different kingdom of Lachlan. One that the youngest sister Larkyrya made lighter. By following her heart to fall in love on a mission with Darius the lord despite what she's been raised to do in the Thief Kingdom. Which is a creepy yet cool setting compared to Jabari.
I love their relationship and how it occurred despite the conflict taking a back burner.
Anyways, the plot of the where the series is headed made me continue onto the next book. It was wrapped up nice enough but left a lot open where you have to continue on.
This first book was very much centered on a different kingdom of Lachlan. One that the youngest sister Larkyrya made lighter. By following her heart to fall in love on a mission with Darius the lord despite what she's been raised to do in the Thief Kingdom. Which is a creepy yet cool setting compared to Jabari.
I love their relationship and how it occurred despite the conflict taking a back burner.
Anyways, the plot of the where the series is headed made me continue onto the next book. It was wrapped up nice enough but left a lot open where you have to continue on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture
ka_ke's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-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
2.0
This book is irritatingly basic. There is no depth and no character growth. The name of the villain/love interest’s home is merely the product of lazy writing, and the plot itself is incredibly slow with little to know action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
allisonwonderlandreads's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
2.0
In this fantasy romance, the world-building is superficial, and the story is light. The three daughters of the Thief King wield powerful, sometimes deadly, musical magic. The youngest, Larkyra, has a powerful voice. She must constantly control her magic lest any strong emotion come through in speech or song to hurt others. The sisters go on missions for their father, partially to protect his interests and also for some do-gooder reasons (think Charlie's Angels). Larkyra embarks on her first solo mission to discover how a potent magical drug is being smuggled out of the Thief Kingdom.
So what did I like? There's a magical being who contains both a brother and sister. They converse internally and have a gender-fluid exterior to reflect who is in the lead at that time. I loved the way this character played with gender. I liked the spin on fantasy/paranormal romance tropes that here we have a woman who is dangerous and powerful and an essentially clueless man who needs her help. And usually, we would expect the reverse to be true. I was also a major fan of the fashion. When Lark was appalled at herself for not packing clothes to properly suit the ambiance of her destination, I knew she was my kind of person. Finally, the sisterly banter is A+. They can't stop, won't stop no matter who else is around.
Unfortunately, my issues with the book ran deeper. At the very start, Larkyra undergoes a family tradition of giving up her magic and aristocratic privilege for a month leading up to her nineteenth birthday. My problem here is how performative it is. Yes, it's probably good that the three sisters don't just live in a curated bubble, but what does throwing them into the slums accomplish on behalf of other people, really? They still know it will be over in a month and that they'll have access to food, medicine, and a roof over their heads then. Lark even admits that she thinks her father would have saved her if she got in enough danger. Which, good. But also that makes the whole experience very surface-level. And at the end, Lark is meant to have learned powerful life lessons but isn't expected to put them to use in a way that would help balance the scales. I suppose she gets to pocket her newfound street smarts and pat herself on the back for now understanding that the scales even exist. While it was a relief to avoid toxic masculinity on a pedestal in this book, there is still an uncomfy vibe of high-handed paternalism from our aristocratic characters. The lower classes are meant to receive charity and benevolent leadership, passive while their betters volley power plays at one another. Also, I was frustrated that in trying to give that veneer of edginess, torture is presented as a sometimes appropriate means to an end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Murder, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Terminal illness
vl_411's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Addiction
Minor: Death of parent
emilyvictoria98's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The relationships between the characters were my favourite part of this book, I would have read the book even if it was just about the Mousai sisters and their day to day antics but I am glad that we got to experience their chaotic energy when it included other people and nefarious plots too. The chemistry between Larkyra and Darius was also very well done and I would have read this book in one sitting if I could! I put the 'diverse characters' as 'its complicated' because I pictured the Mousai as women of colour but I am not sure if they are described that way and I couldn't find any quotes either way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse