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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Katsa from Graceling mixed with Vin from Mistborn, in a world similar to The Cruel Prince!!
I very much enjoyed this book, especially getting to know Keera and her story. I'll be honest, I don't ever expect much when I start books, especially those that are from TikTok recommendations, but I was happily surprised. The world-building is beautiful and intriguing, and Keera's character and motivations are well fleshed out. Though the story wasn't entirely unpredictable, I still enjoyed getting caught up in the plot, and I am thoroughly excited to begin the second book.
I very much enjoyed this book, especially getting to know Keera and her story. I'll be honest, I don't ever expect much when I start books, especially those that are from TikTok recommendations, but I was happily surprised. The world-building is beautiful and intriguing, and Keera's character and motivations are well fleshed out. Though the story wasn't entirely unpredictable, I still enjoyed getting caught up in the plot, and I am thoroughly excited to begin the second book.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fun one! Blair writes a world we see a lot in fantasy—battles between races, a corrupt crown, youth pulled into war—and breathes extra life into it. The characters are interesting, but the most compelling part is the political aspect. We see rebellion from the very beginning, how the movement against the Crown begins. We also see the very real issue of addiction, which is something I hardly see in fantasy novels despite the heavy drinking that usually occurs. I would not open this expecting the very best fantasy writing. While dialogue is fun, it doesn’t move the story along much. Romance buds between our two leading characters in a clunky fashion. At one moment, they hate each other, the next they are leaning close to one another sharing breaths. Still, it’s a fun read before bed and I will be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so close to giving up on this book so many times. When the author dedicated the book to booktok (really should have backed out here, it was a big red flag), when I realized this is not in fact a gay book, when the dead girl's big secret name is revealed and it's , when I was made to read STRAIGHT SEX. Criminal.
Look, not to be biphobic, and I really don't think I am here, but I feel like if you want to tag a book as LGBT and Queer, these aspects of the book need to actually be consequential to the story. If you took out the fact that Keera and Brenna were lovers, literally nothing changes. The story is exactly the same. This is not meaningful bi representation, it just feels like it was inserted to make the main character Cool and Different.
And the main character is SO BORING other than this one thing. She is just every YA Chosen One Super Special Main Character ever with a secret special background and secret magic and she's the best at everything she does ever and she's wildly beautiful and somehow enslaved but also exorbitantly rich.
The only thing that kept me reading was that I found her struggle with alcoholism interesting, because it's definitely a thing in fantasy books that characters just carry on as normal with immense amounts of trauma. However this plotline never went anywhere interesting, it just magically fixed itself with very little struggle because she had a magic potion for curing alcohol dependence I guess.
On a particularly petty note, there's an unforgivable misuse of the phrase biding your time where someone is referred to instead as "buying his time". YIKES, embarrassing.
The ending was sooooo bad. I mean no part of this book was good but the ending was such crap. Absolutely hated it. Never would have touched another book in this series anyway, but damn what a horrible way to end things. Just bad writing.
0/10, don't recommend, don't waste your time on this trash.
Also is anyone else gonna call bury your gays? Cause to call this a queer book.... And before the story even begins, we've got the dead girlfriend trope. Honestly this book kind of screams misogyny all over the place. Just remembered Gwyn whose character is 19 but acts like a 6 year old. Yeah, no this book was hot garbage. Do not touch.
Spoiler
BRENNA?! (so sorry to anyone named Brenna, that is not a name I would want etched into my skin)Look, not to be biphobic, and I really don't think I am here, but I feel like if you want to tag a book as LGBT and Queer, these aspects of the book need to actually be consequential to the story. If you took out the fact that Keera and Brenna were lovers, literally nothing changes. The story is exactly the same. This is not meaningful bi representation, it just feels like it was inserted to make the main character Cool and Different.
And the main character is SO BORING other than this one thing. She is just every YA Chosen One Super Special Main Character ever with a secret special background and secret magic and she's the best at everything she does ever and she's wildly beautiful and somehow enslaved but also exorbitantly rich.
The only thing that kept me reading was that I found her struggle with alcoholism interesting, because it's definitely a thing in fantasy books that characters just carry on as normal with immense amounts of trauma. However this plotline never went anywhere interesting, it just magically fixed itself with very little struggle because she had a magic potion for curing alcohol dependence I guess.
On a particularly petty note, there's an unforgivable misuse of the phrase biding your time where someone is referred to instead as "buying his time". YIKES, embarrassing.
The ending was sooooo bad. I mean no part of this book was good but the ending was such crap. Absolutely hated it. Never would have touched another book in this series anyway, but damn what a horrible way to end things.
Spoiler
You've been betrayed by everyone you know, but you're just gonna go along with them again? Felt deeply out of character. I also don't get why Keera gets so close with the Shadow et al so quickly. It doesn't make sense for any of them, they're way too goofy and friendly with each other.0/10, don't recommend, don't waste your time on this trash.
Also is anyone else gonna call bury your gays? Cause to call this a queer book.... And before the story even begins, we've got the dead girlfriend trope. Honestly this book kind of screams misogyny all over the place. Just remembered Gwyn whose character is 19 but acts like a 6 year old. Yeah, no this book was hot garbage. Do not touch.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A classic fantasy story but well written and leaving you wanting more!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated