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adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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:
No
I enjoyed most of this book, mainly the parts not focussing on our mmc Lorain. He was, to avoid spoilers, a romanticised version of toxic masculinity traits (obsessive, possessive, narcissistic, physically abusive, arguably emotionally abusive, etc.) but because he is JUST SO UNBELIEVABLY HOT the fmc can’t help falling in love with the person she keeps claiming to hate. I feel like that’s less ‘enemies to lovers’ and more ‘enemies but he is HOT and makes my feeble wamam brain melt’ (yay empowerment!)
The magic system, the court intrigue and world building were all very nice, and I enjoyed the differing minor and major characters. Some of the reviews mention the later half being very boring, but I enjoyed it a lot more than the travelling at the start.
Lorian’s buddies were probably the least developed, as they sort of just melded together. At one point they describe Marth as ‘the lewd one’ but I didn’t even recall any lewdness from him yet, only later on. (Although the fmc could be referring to offscreen stuff)
All I can really tell you about them is: Galon, softy but supposedly not. Marth, lewd. Cavis ‘thinks of family’ and Rythos… uhh… exists?
Lorain at points wasn’t as intolerable, but the first 2/5ths of the book he is very unlikeable (and then in the last fifth he is also dislikeable again).
Some of the events felt very coincidental, but it’s a story so these things happen. And in universe there are three gods supposedly aiding such coincidences, so /shrug
Now for some spoilery stuff.
I found the explanations around Prisca’s Magic not fully explained. At first it seemed like a proximity thing where she could ‘allow’ certain people to be excluded from the freeze, and there’s even a moment where she unfreezes someone mid-time pause. But at other point’s people seemingly far away (the prisoners during the escape) can be unfrozen whilst she’s many many rooms away.
It mentions that Null people exist (and we see two) but never what happens to them during all the times she is freezing time, just that she cannot freeze them. Are they just mysteriously still active no matter where Prisca is in the world? ‘Oh there goes another time freeze’. Seems a little plot-holey but minor enough to ignore.
The twist at the very very end (so spoiler warning!) made this become another red-flag nigh-immortal being and young girl pairing, which definitely lowered my view of the already unlikeable relationship. We know he is older than her by a large margin because he mentions forgoing certain things ‘decades ago’ (and she is 22? Definitely <25 due to no blue mark). The other big twist also made Prisca the boring ‘secretly super important person from crumbling village’ trope. (not chosen one thankfully)
And finally, let’s talk about them sex scenes! The book is YA, so likely has to be a bit on the lighter side with sexual stuff. But for the men, we have ‘penis’, ‘cock’ and feeling people’s lengths and hardness through clothes. But then when it comes to female characters we can’t dare talk about their actual parts, gotta use ‘my core’, ‘my thighs’, ‘my heat’ (she’s an animal?). I understand this is likely a publishing pushed decision, but it reinforces the narrative that womanly parts aren’t meant to be mentioned, only men’s. This is something that once you start noticing you realise is very widespread. (This book does mention ‘nipples’ and ‘clit’, but that’s as far as female parts go)
Will it make the boring sex scenes better to change? No. But it’s still something acknowledgeable.
This review talks a lot about things I didn’t like, but it’s much easier to discuss those than stating ‘I liked this, that and that’, so don’t take this as a suggestion to not read this. I likely will read on, even though I dislike aspects.
The magic system, the court intrigue and world building were all very nice, and I enjoyed the differing minor and major characters. Some of the reviews mention the later half being very boring, but I enjoyed it a lot more than the travelling at the start.
Lorian’s buddies were probably the least developed, as they sort of just melded together. At one point they describe Marth as ‘the lewd one’ but I didn’t even recall any lewdness from him yet, only later on. (Although the fmc could be referring to offscreen stuff)
All I can really tell you about them is: Galon, softy but supposedly not. Marth, lewd. Cavis ‘thinks of family’ and Rythos… uhh… exists?
Lorain at points wasn’t as intolerable, but the first 2/5ths of the book he is very unlikeable (and then in the last fifth he is also dislikeable again).
Some of the events felt very coincidental, but it’s a story so these things happen. And in universe there are three gods supposedly aiding such coincidences, so /shrug
Now for some spoilery stuff.
It mentions that Null people exist (and we see two) but never what happens to them during all the times she is freezing time, just that she cannot freeze them. Are they just mysteriously still active no matter where Prisca is in the world? ‘Oh there goes another time freeze’. Seems a little plot-holey but minor enough to ignore.
The twist at the very very end (so spoiler warning!) made this become another red-flag nigh-immortal being and young girl pairing, which definitely lowered my view of the already unlikeable relationship. We know he is older than her by a large margin because he mentions forgoing certain things ‘decades ago’ (and she is 22? Definitely <25 due to no blue mark). The other big twist also made Prisca the boring ‘secretly super important person from crumbling village’ trope. (not chosen one thankfully)
And finally, let’s talk about them sex scenes! The book is YA, so likely has to be a bit on the lighter side with sexual stuff. But for the men, we have ‘penis’, ‘cock’ and feeling people’s lengths and hardness through clothes. But then when it comes to female characters we can’t dare talk about their actual parts, gotta use ‘my core’, ‘my thighs’, ‘my heat’ (she’s an animal?). I understand this is likely a publishing pushed decision, but it reinforces the narrative that womanly parts aren’t meant to be mentioned, only men’s. This is something that once you start noticing you realise is very widespread. (This book does mention ‘nipples’ and ‘clit’, but that’s as far as female parts go)
Will it make the boring sex scenes better to change? No. But it’s still something acknowledgeable.
This review talks a lot about things I didn’t like, but it’s much easier to discuss those than stating ‘I liked this, that and that’, so don’t take this as a suggestion to not read this. I likely will read on, even though I dislike aspects.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship
Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
The setting and challenges in the world of this story is amazing. There are those in power who are dark and dishonest and who will stop at nothing at the chance of gaining more of it.
There is a hidden thread connecting the FMC and MMC, and more is revealed as the story goes; however the twist is great. And it’s also where this book ends…
Needless to say, i need more of Prisca & Lorian’s story.
Excellent!
There is a hidden thread connecting the FMC and MMC, and more is revealed as the story goes; however the twist is great. And it’s also where this book ends…
Needless to say, i need more of Prisca & Lorian’s story.
Excellent!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Blood, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Abandonment, War
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment
Moderate: Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was.. fine? Might lower the rating later on. I'm not really into fae books with the exception of the Emily Wilde series, but I liked this more than I expected to.
The romance did nothing for me. It felt forced, and I don't like the MMC. Also he might have ruined the word "wildcat" for me. I liked the FMC when she wasn't vowing vengeance every other chapter (like okay girl, I get itttt). Not sure how this is considered a slow-burn romancebecause they have sex in the first book of a series that's 4 books long. Where's the YEARNING? The writing was sometimes extremely cringe. And I need to rant for a moment about the prison stuff. You're telling me they snuck down there almost daily, seemingly for quite a while, and never got caught? And when Prisca was unconscious for two days, how the heck was her brother still getting down there without the use of Prisca's power? It doesn't make sense and was never explained.
I thought the world building was done well and the plot outside of the romance kept me engaged. I found many of the side characters interesting and likeable, especially the mercenary group.
I have an Audiobooks.com subscription and this was the only option they were offering in their monthly VIP section that I thought I might like, so I gave it a go. I don't feel compelled to continue the series, but if the next book shows up in their VIP section in the future I might pick it up.
The romance did nothing for me. It felt forced, and I don't like the MMC. Also he might have ruined the word "wildcat" for me. I liked the FMC when she wasn't vowing vengeance every other chapter (like okay girl, I get itttt). Not sure how this is considered a slow-burn romance
I thought the world building was done well and the plot outside of the romance kept me engaged. I found many of the side characters interesting and likeable, especially the mercenary group.
I have an Audiobooks.com subscription and this was the only option they were offering in their monthly VIP section that I thought I might like, so I gave it a go. I don't feel compelled to continue the series, but if the next book shows up in their VIP section in the future I might pick it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War
Minor: Child death
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, War
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was okay. The writing was pretty bad, the plot predictable, and the characters underdeveloped.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Rape, Suicide attempt, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
No
Enjoyable fantasy romance with slightly different takes on the typical plot and tropes which was refreshing. Loved the two main characters slowly getting closer together over the book & enjoyed the side characters and family histories. Some good plot twists and a touch of spice. At times a little cliche but overall enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
If you like well written Romantasy books this one’s for you.
My favorite elements:
• Kick ass heroine, with superb growth arc
• Enemies to lovers trope
• Mysterious background trope
• Super hot chemistry between main characters
• Male POV during key moments
• Complex character development
• Made me laugh and cry
This is the first book in the series. It ends with a resolution to the current plot arc but, you’ll have to read the next book to see what happens to the main characters. Fortunately, the series is complete, as the fourth and final book was just released. In other words, no waiting for the next book to come out. Highly recommended.
My favorite elements:
• Kick ass heroine, with superb growth arc
• Enemies to lovers trope
• Mysterious background trope
• Super hot chemistry between main characters
• Male POV during key moments
• Complex character development
• Made me laugh and cry
This is the first book in the series. It ends with a resolution to the current plot arc but, you’ll have to read the next book to see what happens to the main characters. Fortunately, the series is complete, as the fourth and final book was just released. In other words, no waiting for the next book to come out. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: War