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cryosphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I did go into this not knowing much about it other than it was a debut from a First Nation author. When I started this, I wasn't sure if it was going to grab me. It took about around 100 pages for things to really start flowing but once it did, I started to really, REALLY enjoy this. The foreshadow was a bit too 'hey, look at this twist that's coming' so it was predictable. Keera is definitely the highlight of this book, being a bad ass but flawed FMC who has multiple struggles to work through and the back and forth with Riven is a delight. And there are parts that are so heart wrenching that i had to sit the book down and process it (Looking at you Ch. 25).
I can see why some people may not like this since it's a fairly trope heavy book. The author thanks BookTok and it does gear it towards that type of 'tell me the tropes' writing. My biggest complaint was about half way through the book I was over being reminded that Halfings had their ears altered. Very repetitive reminder to the readers to see it mentioned over and over. While there was a lot more political intrigue than I anticipated which I love as a trope, I feel like the colonialism could have been a bigger aspect. I hope the next books continue to talk about it but bring in more to the forefront.
But when I hit the 75% mark I immediately ordered the next one and pre-ordered 3 so I clearly enjoyed it. Give me tropey fantasy and I will devour it.
I can see why some people may not like this since it's a fairly trope heavy book. The author thanks BookTok and it does gear it towards that type of 'tell me the tropes' writing. My biggest complaint was about half way through the book I was over being reminded that Halfings had their ears altered. Very repetitive reminder to the readers to see it mentioned over and over. While there was a lot more political intrigue than I anticipated which I love as a trope, I feel like the colonialism could have been a bigger aspect. I hope the next books continue to talk about it but bring in more to the forefront.
But when I hit the 75% mark I immediately ordered the next one and pre-ordered 3 so I clearly enjoyed it. Give me tropey fantasy and I will devour it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Colonisation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
ljp817's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Trafficking and Sexual harassment
mal880_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Genocide
Moderate: Child abuse
daysireads's review against another edition
I was so excited to get this book! Which makes it even worse that I am almost half way through and am feeling so disappointed. I may return to it, but my initial feelings are holding me back from spending more time on it.
The world we are thrown into seems vicious and terrible, but it lacks a bite. Keera is very juvenile for someone who is supposedly a highly competent soldier/leader. TBH I am squinting to see the qualities that would enable her to hold such an important position in her kingdom. Hint: I still can’t see them. It’s unfortunate, but for the role she holds and from what we’re told about her character, she doesn’t seem to be very fleshed out. And even though the book is exclusively from her POV, I hesitate to say I know anything of substance about her.
It feels like this book is an amalgamation of several other popular books which wouldn’t be so bad if it executed those tropes and themes well. Ultimately, I think you either love it or you just walk away feeling meh about it.
The world we are thrown into seems vicious and terrible, but it lacks a bite. Keera is very juvenile for someone who is supposedly a highly competent soldier/leader. TBH I am squinting to see the qualities that would enable her to hold such an important position in her kingdom. Hint: I still can’t see them. It’s unfortunate, but for the role she holds and from what we’re told about her character, she doesn’t seem to be very fleshed out. And even though the book is exclusively from her POV, I hesitate to say I know anything of substance about her.
It feels like this book is an amalgamation of several other popular books which wouldn’t be so bad if it executed those tropes and themes well. Ultimately, I think you either love it or you just walk away feeling meh about it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Genocide, Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Self harm, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Torture
boyshouts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Listened to this as an audiobook and finished it in like a day and a half, parts of it weren’t exactly my jam but I found the exploration of themes like (de)colonization and substance abuse in a fantasy context really interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Torture
Moderate: Addiction, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Violence, War, and Alcoholism
ambersf's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Classism
Moderate: Torture
trippyotter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Throughout the book, I teetered with my rated and settled on 4 stars for the treachery.
Everyone has an agenda and will do just about anything to achieve their goals, including our heroine.
Though many of their goals align, will they be ready for the truth of their actions and how they impact one another?
And I have to say, like many others, I'm not sure about the love interest. I kinda want it to be someone else, so we'll see how it all comes together in the end.
Everyone has an agenda and will do just about anything to achieve their goals, including our heroine.
Though many of their goals align, will they be ready for the truth of their actions and how they impact one another?
And I have to say, like many others, I'm not sure about the love interest. I kinda want it to be someone else, so we'll see how it all comes together in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Torture, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Body horror, Bullying, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Death
kaitrates's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was a bit slow for my liking and some of the world building confused me. I also felt like the ending was rather abrupt.
That being said, i loved the proper enemies to lovers romance as well as Keera’s characterization. I also deeply appreciated the exploration of colonialism and the harms it causes. There’s no mistaking the message here, even for my autistic brain.
I’m intrigued enough that i already grabbed 2 on Libby. I hope we get some answers because there’s so much unknown…
Are she and riven fated mates? What kind of fae is she? How old is she, actually? What’s gonna happen when she confront riven? How long has Killian been working BTS?
That being said, i loved the proper enemies to lovers romance as well as Keera’s characterization. I also deeply appreciated the exploration of colonialism and the harms it causes. There’s no mistaking the message here, even for my autistic brain.
I’m intrigued enough that i already grabbed 2 on Libby. I hope we get some answers because there’s so much unknown…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Torture
tanadeet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.25
A surprisingly enjoyable story which needs more love. A story about Fae and humans, saving a kingdom, slow burn romance, found family and a strong FMC, fighting for survival, for love and her people ⚔️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Addiction, Violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Trafficking, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
chronicacademia's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail