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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
(3.5 stars rounded up)
good fun fantasy read with some eastern european folklore elements! slow start, i wish the romance side plot had been developed a bit more, and the protagonist should’ve been easier for me to latch onto emotionally but i struggled a bit. big huge insane kasia fan. mwah!
good fun fantasy read with some eastern european folklore elements! slow start, i wish the romance side plot had been developed a bit more, and the protagonist should’ve been easier for me to latch onto emotionally but i struggled a bit. big huge insane kasia fan. mwah!
Unique read!
This was great. I started it expecting it to be one of your typical YA books - girl goes to live in a tower with an old wizard, he’s mean at first but then she finds out he’s really nice, some spells, minor conflict, and so on. For the first 50 pages or so, it definitely did not feel like anything new or creative.
But after that, the story really took off and I loved the author’s descriptions and unique twists on your typical magic/wizard/kingdom setting. The stakes felt real, the characters felt three dimensional, and I really liked the central conflict with the Wood. Also, I liked that the story wrapped itself up nicely - often times these types of books are part of series and you have to read the next one to get a conclusion to the story. Plus, it was not too heavy on the romance. I will definitely go read the other books the author has written.
Overall, would definitely recommend!
This was great. I started it expecting it to be one of your typical YA books - girl goes to live in a tower with an old wizard, he’s mean at first but then she finds out he’s really nice, some spells, minor conflict, and so on. For the first 50 pages or so, it definitely did not feel like anything new or creative.
But after that, the story really took off and I loved the author’s descriptions and unique twists on your typical magic/wizard/kingdom setting. The stakes felt real, the characters felt three dimensional, and I really liked the central conflict with the Wood. Also, I liked that the story wrapped itself up nicely - often times these types of books are part of series and you have to read the next one to get a conclusion to the story. Plus, it was not too heavy on the romance. I will definitely go read the other books the author has written.
Overall, would definitely recommend!
adventurous
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
I really enjoyed this! Dark magic and potions and crazy mythical creatures and curses.
I will say the romance subplot added nothing to the story imo and probably would have been better without it honestly (but it was also pretty minor so didn't take away much from the overall vibe for me)
I will say the romance subplot added nothing to the story imo and probably would have been better without it honestly (but it was also pretty minor so didn't take away much from the overall vibe for me)
Fesselnd und gut, wenn man gerade mal in eine andere Welt abtauchen möchte.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
If only I could do half stars...
There's a genre that I want to describe as like... unsettling/spooky fantasy, and this is that. Which I love. Something about how it wraps up at the end just feels like, "Wow... it took all this time to get here?" I kinda wish there was more foreshadowing leading up to what The Wood's origin was. Maybe there was and I just missed it.
Also, the romance? NOT GREAT. I thought it was weird and didn't fit into any other part of the story... I wish it wasn't there at all, or expanded upon more. There's one random sex scene and it's honestly confusing, lol. It's why I almost gave it 3.5 stars, BUT... I love Kasia and the creepy vibes, so. 3.8, 3.9... I don't know if I could give it a full 4.
There's a genre that I want to describe as like... unsettling/spooky fantasy, and this is that. Which I love. Something about how it wraps up at the end just feels like, "Wow... it took all this time to get here?" I kinda wish there was more foreshadowing leading up to what The Wood's origin was. Maybe there was and I just missed it.
Also, the romance? NOT GREAT. I thought it was weird and didn't fit into any other part of the story... I wish it wasn't there at all, or expanded upon more. There's one random sex scene and it's honestly confusing, lol. It's why I almost gave it 3.5 stars, BUT... I love Kasia and the creepy vibes, so. 3.8, 3.9... I don't know if I could give it a full 4.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
I loved this book. Initially it took me a bit to get into it. The process of building out the world was slower and there was a lot to it. But by 30-40% of the way through things were well in place and the story went off in directions I never expected. I loved Agnieszka and Sarkan but more than that I loved Agnieszka’s journey. That Sarkan was part of it but not all of it and that her magic never molded to his or was seen as less than. This book was so gripping. It’s one of those that when you come out of it you expect to look up and see the heart trees and the tower. Beautiful book. Beautiful ending. If you’re a fan of the scholomance series also by Naomi Novik I think this one will be right up your street.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional