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clacksee's review against another edition
5.0
Elsenna is second in command of the king's security forces. She's also a traitor to the brutal, horrible dictator, secretly working with insurrectionists to overthrow the oppressive regime. Oh, and she's also in love with the king's only daughter. What could possibly go wrong.
I make no secret of the fact – in books or in life – I have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawed and realistic and fully rounded.
Ninestar Press describes this as science fiction romance. I'd describe as a political intrigue thriller tale of found family. Beautifully diverse and disability positive.
If you've ever thought that what the world really needs is Heinlein's classic, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but left-wing and queer, then this book is for you.
I make no secret of the fact – in books or in life – I have no use for romance. Too often I find it distracts from a story and/or attempts to stand in for genuine character development. Not so here. The characters are flawed and realistic and fully rounded.
Ninestar Press describes this as science fiction romance. I'd describe as a political intrigue thriller tale of found family. Beautifully diverse and disability positive.
If you've ever thought that what the world really needs is Heinlein's classic, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but left-wing and queer, then this book is for you.
nerdydreamer107's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
josb's review against another edition
2.0
This was a surprise disappointment for me considering how highly reviewed it is. I just could not connect no matter how much I tried.
There were two issues that I believe kept me with connecting. The first one being pacing. All the parts I considered interesting happened off screen and were summarized in a sentence. It makes sense since we are following a first person narrator but it just felt... unfulfilling.
The other issue was the presence of subtext that completely went over my head. I need motives and actions to have a clear foundation otherwise decisions feel like they come out of nowhere. Conversations seemed to move in weird directions. Funny enough, the coded court politics were not the issue here, it was the conversations not in court that made me feel like I was missing a key piece somehow.
That being said. The world was quite interesting and I would be willing to give another title set in this world a try. I would recommend this to anyone who does enjoy more court intruige. Also probably anyone who wants a lighter sci-fi book since it does not house heavy world building descriptions.
There were two issues that I believe kept me with connecting. The first one being pacing. All the parts I considered interesting happened off screen and were summarized in a sentence. It makes sense since we are following a first person narrator but it just felt... unfulfilling.
The other issue was the presence of subtext that completely went over my head. I need motives and actions to have a clear foundation otherwise decisions feel like they come out of nowhere. Conversations seemed to move in weird directions. Funny enough, the coded court politics were not the issue here, it was the conversations not in court that made me feel like I was missing a key piece somehow.
That being said. The world was quite interesting and I would be willing to give another title set in this world a try. I would recommend this to anyone who does enjoy more court intruige. Also probably anyone who wants a lighter sci-fi book since it does not house heavy world building descriptions.
kuryakinn's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
demimancy's review against another edition
5.0
I read an early version of this, and I am so excited to read the final edition!! Sexy, paced well, great worldbuilding, fun with a generous helping of yearning--big fan of this sci-fi wlw romance.
emmalita's review against another edition
4.0
The first sentence of Skye Kilean’s Glorious Day sold me. The fact that it was a fast moving, thoughtful, quick read kept me.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s plans by insisting she will only be comfortable with Elsenna as her bodyguard. Elsenna was once the Princess’s bodyguard, and fell in love with her. The pining is swoon worthy. Becacuse of their class differences and the dangers of their current situation, Elsenna and the Princess keep their emotions locked down and masked, but Skye Kilaen makes them simmer under the surface. The first part of the book feels like a cork that’s about to pop.
Elsenna feels terrible guilt for the orders she has followed and sees her likely execution as either a traitor to the crown, or for her sins as a security officer, as inevitable and justified. She worries that she won’t be able to protect the Princess without betraying her rebellious affiliations.
Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, the Crown Princess of Iospary is largely ignored. Her father dismisses her because she is blind, and she has learned it is safer to appear to be less than she is. One of the joys of the book, short though it is, is watching her blossom.
Skye Kilean moves the plot along as she sets the scene. For a story about treason, betrayal and overthrowing a bad king, she keeps the plot spare enough that while I wouldn’t call it low angst or low tension, it is low drama. Glorious Day was the perfect thing to read on the day the President tweeted out a threat to delay the national election. It’s exactly the right kind of revolution romance for the current moment.
Skye Kilaen has a far better list of content warning on her website than I could come up with. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces.
Elsenna Hazen is providing information to a rebel faction and hoping an end to the current king’s rule comes swiftly. She does not expect to survive the coming coup, in whatever form it takes. The Princess throws a wrench into Vice-Captain Hazen’s plans by insisting she will only be comfortable with Elsenna as her bodyguard. Elsenna was once the Princess’s bodyguard, and fell in love with her. The pining is swoon worthy. Becacuse of their class differences and the dangers of their current situation, Elsenna and the Princess keep their emotions locked down and masked, but Skye Kilaen makes them simmer under the surface. The first part of the book feels like a cork that’s about to pop.
Elsenna feels terrible guilt for the orders she has followed and sees her likely execution as either a traitor to the crown, or for her sins as a security officer, as inevitable and justified. She worries that she won’t be able to protect the Princess without betraying her rebellious affiliations.
Her Highness, the Most Glorious Born on the 13th Day of Spring, the Crown Princess of Iospary is largely ignored. Her father dismisses her because she is blind, and she has learned it is safer to appear to be less than she is. One of the joys of the book, short though it is, is watching her blossom.
Skye Kilean moves the plot along as she sets the scene. For a story about treason, betrayal and overthrowing a bad king, she keeps the plot spare enough that while I wouldn’t call it low angst or low tension, it is low drama. Glorious Day was the perfect thing to read on the day the President tweeted out a threat to delay the national election. It’s exactly the right kind of revolution romance for the current moment.
Skye Kilaen has a far better list of content warning on her website than I could come up with. I received this as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
jenbooks's review
5.0
It had been difficult that morning to fit treason in around my duties as vice-captain of the castle complex’s security forces. Every professional conversation had taken twice as long as it should have.
What's not to love about a book that starts like that?!
What's not to love about a book that starts like that?!
aellie's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I'm glad I did.
Glorious Day was a wonderful read, tense throughout and satisfying in conclusion. Elsenna, the protagonist, could easily have been extremely unlikeable for what she's done in the past, but it's clear from the beginning that she not only abhors her past and present actions but is actively working to make it as right as she can. The result is a compelling and sympathetic character. Throw in a similarly compelling love interest and a gripping plot and I loved the book all the way through.
Do mind the content warnings at the beginning. I'd add that it includes a character being ultimately forgiven for horrors committed in service to the state, which I thought was well done but may bother others.
Glorious Day was a wonderful read, tense throughout and satisfying in conclusion. Elsenna, the protagonist, could easily have been extremely unlikeable for what she's done in the past, but it's clear from the beginning that she not only abhors her past and present actions but is actively working to make it as right as she can. The result is a compelling and sympathetic character. Throw in a similarly compelling love interest and a gripping plot and I loved the book all the way through.
Do mind the content warnings at the beginning. I'd add that it includes a character being ultimately forgiven for horrors committed in service to the state, which I thought was well done but may bother others.
cakt1991's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
I received a review copy from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I really liked this one. It’s the perfect balance of sweet romance and engaging world building/political intrigue that sucked me in immediately.
The longing and self-doubt on Elsenna’s part is just beautiful. She finds herself reckoning with her feelings for her beloved princess when she’s once again made her bodyguard, even though she’s certain the princess has moved on. I loved how Elsenna and the princess are each individually, and later together, involved in rebellion against the tyrannical king.
Skye Kilaen packs a lot into this novella, and it is incredibly impactful.
I also appreciate the inclusiveness in this, beyond just the central sapphic relationship. The princess herself is blind, something I identity with to an extent, also having lost most of my vision in one eye, and I love seeing positive disability rep in general, especially in SFF, (since some ignoramuses claim that it’s “not believable” or whatever *eyeroll*). There’s also great non-binary rep and usage of they/them pronouns for a supporting character.
I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet space opera-esque romance.