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Spice was light but did not deter the storyline, plot was fascinating.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Grief, Death of parent
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Alcohol
I loved the Providence Cards. This is such a fun idea for how to control and wield magic, almost like pokemon cards for powers. Linking all of the names, swear words, magic, etc. to trees? So fun and I didn't catch all of it for a little bit! Also, magic coming with a price is such a great way to keep from having one super overpowered hero/villain so I love the degeneration that came into play.
Despite this, I had quite a few issues with this book. For one, despite the really cool magic system, you really don't learn enough about it and what you do is mostly info-dumped right at the beginning with some sprinkles throughout the rest of the story. And, what you do learn of it is really only seen through the eyes of the rich and the royal, with no mention of the common folk/servants except when they serve to further the plot. Not to mention, the FMC is just way too trusting and couldn't ask a clarifying question to save her life. Then, there's my worst enemy in a book: repetitive phrases/writing. Please. I get it. Magic comes at a cost. Nothing is free. My sanity most definitely is not.
Otherwise, I think the writing really picked up toward the middle/end of the book so I'm glad I stuck it out and I may continue on to the second book or pick up her new series. I'm curious to see how she continues to develop as a writer.
Definitely grab this book if you're looking for a unique romantasy series with just a little spice that only spans a duology instead of a massive unending series. Also, definitely a great starting place for people new to the fantasy/romantasy genre as the world building/magic is fairly easy to understand.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
why is this book highly rated and what is this book about
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
Graphic: Child death, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment