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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
“The four of us” might be the knife that cut through the tension. Play with my mind and soul a little more, why don’t you? Beautifully written to set us up for a beautiful book two.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
This is book 1 in a 3-book series, I believe it is the first fantasy Julie Soto has published, as she is mostly known for modern romances. The war has ended, and Briony's country has fallen, her brother the king is dead, and she has been captured by the enemy, and is to be sold as a slave, to boost the magic of her enemy. The scum who is her jailer, has promised to buy her and break her down. In a surprise twist of events for her, as we know it is going to happen (dust jacket) she is bought by her school rival and secret crush, but most importantly her enemy Toven. Where she carried away to his family's estate. The Hearst family is very wealthy and powerful and the right hand of the woman who invaded Brionys country. The Heasrt's are not what they appear to be, and All of them have secrets. Toven is especially not what he seems to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Abortion, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
There is a lot of will they or won't they in this book.
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wanted to love it but the writing just wasn’t there.
Something about this story fascinates me. The pacing should have been way too slow for me since the majority of the book is spent in 3 locations and the romance is the tiniest bit confusing, since we don't see as much yearning from the years (maybe because don't have Tovens perspective?). That being said I genuinely really like this book and its writing. I liked the romance, and the story, and Brionys character. I'm excited for the sequel and I'm so interested on the hearsts family and what role they play in the story. There are certain dynamics that are confusing and I also don't know why the hearsts care so much about Briony (I thought that they were just good people) but the ending confused me as toven says he bought briony because shes the princess. Has serena seen something? Is it just because they don't support mallow? I'm curious where the plot goes next and I'm so happy the romance isn't fully developed in book 1, unlike every other romantasy where the couple is in love by the end of book 1 and I just wish it took more time and was a genuine slow burn. Overall, a good read :)