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chrissyfitzz's review
adventurous
fast-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
5.0
nic_stef's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.0
ai_akizuki's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
This book has a promising premise that it fails to deliver. A big chunk of this book is pretty unoriginal and there are repetitive usage of some phrases that can be very annoying "I huffed" "ocean blue eyes, sky blue eyes" etc. The trials in this book feels like a poor mimicry of The Hunger Games and so is the resistance movement. I'm also just not convinced that Paedyn's father who was merely a healer can train her to become one of the best fighter in the kingdom, she also has no other partner after his death for her to train with but somehow just gets better and better, it didn't make much sense.
The romance in this book is not enemies to lover at all as opposed to many other romantasy books, but I was never a fan of that trope so I do not mind its absence. However, this was very much instalove, entertaining to read but not very impressive to watch it develop. It makes for a weak foundation of feelings between the characters and the attempt to create a love triangle is very weak, especially with only two POVs in the story. I liked the flirting though, and I am aware of how nonsensical it is for Paedyn to walk in the prince room in the middle of the night because she heard his nightmare because with no security like that it means anyone can enter the princes' bedrooms (one of the many examples of laughable scenes in this book) but it's enjoyable to some extent.
The book does get cringe and a little wattpad-y with its repetitive descriptions such as huffing and puffing. ocean eyes, sky blue eyes blabla, edge lord Kai and his "countless masks" slipping on and off as if he's this evil Enforcer when he is pretty much a softie in a lot of things, it almost feels like Kai is gaslighting himself whenever his "I am a killer, I am the Enforcer, I slip on my cold mask" monologues appears which is pretty much every time it is his POV. I don't feel too connected with the characters but I don't find them too annoying. Most of the issues I have with this book is the writing which could be easily fixed had the editors revised the book several more times. Overall, it wasn't too bad but I want to convince myself into think it's good and 15 years old me would eat this up because I bought the physical book and now I cannot return it because I lost the receipt.
The romance in this book is not enemies to lover at all as opposed to many other romantasy books, but I was never a fan of that trope so I do not mind its absence. However, this was very much instalove, entertaining to read but not very impressive to watch it develop. It makes for a weak foundation of feelings between the characters and the attempt to create a love triangle is very weak, especially with only two POVs in the story. I liked the flirting though, and I am aware of how nonsensical it is for Paedyn to walk in the prince room in the middle of the night because she heard his nightmare because with no security like that it means anyone can enter the princes' bedrooms (one of the many examples of laughable scenes in this book) but it's enjoyable to some extent.
The book does get cringe and a little wattpad-y with its repetitive descriptions such as huffing and puffing. ocean eyes, sky blue eyes blabla, edge lord Kai and his "countless masks" slipping on and off as if he's this evil Enforcer when he is pretty much a softie in a lot of things, it almost feels like Kai is gaslighting himself whenever his "I am a killer, I am the Enforcer, I slip on my cold mask" monologues appears which is pretty much every time it is his POV. I don't feel too connected with the characters but I don't find them too annoying. Most of the issues I have with this book is the writing which could be easily fixed had the editors revised the book several more times. Overall, it wasn't too bad but I want to convince myself into think it's good and 15 years old me would eat this up because I bought the physical book and now I cannot return it because I lost the receipt.
rubymeyerhoff's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
5.0
emilyalexander's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
sadie_honey's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kerri_reads_books's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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
5.0