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readingmama86's review against another edition
4.0
Diamond: Understandably weak in a sense. She's learning about herself, but she is pretty oblivious to Hugo and Jack's interest in her. She's back and forth with the trust she has with Hugo. She can be strong if she focuses on becoming stronger.
Hugo: The tough guy who is incredibly loyal to his Queen, until Diamond. He fights himself on what to do when it comes to her even if the best thing to do is to let her go for her own safety. There's still some hidden secrets as to why he's fighting such conflict with himself. I hate that he pushes Diamond away, but then shows he cares. Inner turmoil is not a fun thing to read sometimes when you're just like, COM'MON! Lol
Jack: The Prince I would swoon over. He's not as strong as he could be, given his circumstances, but at least he sticks by Diamond's side and doesn't make her feel any different just because she is half fae and half human.
The Queen: She has a lot of power and control, but she always wants more so she can get her way and she doesn't care who she uses. The loathing just oozes right out of you towards her. I just want to reach in the book and punch her face. Which makes for a great Villian!
I'm excited to read the next book in the series!
Hugo: The tough guy who is incredibly loyal to his Queen, until Diamond. He fights himself on what to do when it comes to her even if the best thing to do is to let her go for her own safety. There's still some hidden secrets as to why he's fighting such conflict with himself. I hate that he pushes Diamond away, but then shows he cares. Inner turmoil is not a fun thing to read sometimes when you're just like, COM'MON! Lol
Jack: The Prince I would swoon over. He's not as strong as he could be, given his circumstances, but at least he sticks by Diamond's side and doesn't make her feel any different just because she is half fae and half human.
The Queen: She has a lot of power and control, but she always wants more so she can get her way and she doesn't care who she uses. The loathing just oozes right out of you towards her. I just want to reach in the book and punch her face. Which makes for a great Villian!
I'm excited to read the next book in the series!
karen720's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of A Bond of Venom and Magic in exchange for an honest review.
Book Name: A Bond of Venom and Magic.
Author: Karen Tomlinson
Series: The Goddess and The Guardians.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy.
This book was really spectacular. I had heard so many good things about this book, and I am so glad that I listened and took a chance on this author.
The plot of this book is really complex. There are so many different elements that are bound together to make the story.
A young prince, mighty dragons, a spiteful queen, and more than one secret schemer make up this jam-packed adventure.
Magic, chaos, danger, and suspense are aplenty as our group battle enemies (and each other) in order to survive.
In short, I cannot wait to see where the author takes this story in the next book!
Book Name: A Bond of Venom and Magic.
Author: Karen Tomlinson
Series: The Goddess and The Guardians.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy.
This book was really spectacular. I had heard so many good things about this book, and I am so glad that I listened and took a chance on this author.
The plot of this book is really complex. There are so many different elements that are bound together to make the story.
A young prince, mighty dragons, a spiteful queen, and more than one secret schemer make up this jam-packed adventure.
Magic, chaos, danger, and suspense are aplenty as our group battle enemies (and each other) in order to survive.
In short, I cannot wait to see where the author takes this story in the next book!
nacmacfeegle's review against another edition
5.0
Better than Sarah J Maas!
If you like Throne of Glass, then this series is a must read. Better world building and wonderful, colourful characters meant I struggled to put this book down. Several groggy mornings followed to many late nights engrossed in this story. Can't wait to read the spin off series!
If you like Throne of Glass, then this series is a must read. Better world building and wonderful, colourful characters meant I struggled to put this book down. Several groggy mornings followed to many late nights engrossed in this story. Can't wait to read the spin off series!
reviewerlarissa's review against another edition
2.0
A Bond of Venom and Magic was written by Karen Tomlinson and self-published. It’s a story that I acquired through Netgalley and I was excited by the description. I like epic fantasy stories, especially if they are young adult. However, A Bond of Venom and Magic was a story that just didn’t workout for me. It’s been sitting on my ereader for a while now and I started and re-started this story several times.
What is the story about?
A Bond of Venom and Magic is very much an adventure with romance elements and a coming of age story set in a world at war. Diamond doesn’t has it easy. Her world is at war and she is ruthlessly hunted by the Wraith Lord and his minions. Apparently her only hope is going to a city where half-fae like her have no rights at all. It’s where she meets Hugo, a guard for an immortal (evil evil) Fae Queen who – of course – covets Diamond just as much as the Wraith Lord
What worked for me?
I did like the setting and the world building. It’s very doom and gloom. The world is very gritty and dark. There are numerous magical creatures and adventure. I thought the world was very imaginative and creative. In that regard the set-up of the world is well crafted.
What didn’t work for me?
The characters, Diamond for one, Hugo for another and the secondary characters such as the prince, Rose, Zane. The fell very flat for me and not especially well developed. While I appreciate that Diamond is not your typical instant hero of the story and has panic attacks, she missed that backbone or strong will that you need in a hero, even the most unlikely heroes. I understand what the author was trying to do with creating characters that were very much different from your average fantasy story, but I think the execution fell short.
Conclusion
The story was also very slow going, while that isn’t a problem for me normally, in this story it didn’t work combined with the other elements. The writing itself wasn’t bad, it was solid, but it could have done with a little more polishing.
All in all, I think there will be readers who will very much love A Bond of Venom and Magic, but it wasn’t a book for me. Diamond just made me growl way too much!
What is the story about?
A Bond of Venom and Magic is very much an adventure with romance elements and a coming of age story set in a world at war. Diamond doesn’t has it easy. Her world is at war and she is ruthlessly hunted by the Wraith Lord and his minions. Apparently her only hope is going to a city where half-fae like her have no rights at all. It’s where she meets Hugo, a guard for an immortal (evil evil) Fae Queen who – of course – covets Diamond just as much as the Wraith Lord
What worked for me?
I did like the setting and the world building. It’s very doom and gloom. The world is very gritty and dark. There are numerous magical creatures and adventure. I thought the world was very imaginative and creative. In that regard the set-up of the world is well crafted.
What didn’t work for me?
The characters, Diamond for one, Hugo for another and the secondary characters such as the prince, Rose, Zane. The fell very flat for me and not especially well developed. While I appreciate that Diamond is not your typical instant hero of the story and has panic attacks, she missed that backbone or strong will that you need in a hero, even the most unlikely heroes. I understand what the author was trying to do with creating characters that were very much different from your average fantasy story, but I think the execution fell short.
Conclusion
The story was also very slow going, while that isn’t a problem for me normally, in this story it didn’t work combined with the other elements. The writing itself wasn’t bad, it was solid, but it could have done with a little more polishing.
All in all, I think there will be readers who will very much love A Bond of Venom and Magic, but it wasn’t a book for me. Diamond just made me growl way too much!
ayanamifaerudo's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Dear Diamond,
If you don't at least let him (no matter his reasons) grovel before you, I will leap into the book and thrash the both of you myself.
Let this be a lesson to you: trust your heart but don't let it rule you.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
Dear Diamond,
If you don't at least let him (no matter his reasons) grovel before you, I will leap into the book and thrash the both of you myself.
Let this be a lesson to you: trust your heart but don't let it rule you.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
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