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The title is obviously inspired by ACOTAR, since the bulk of the book does not take place in the castle/palace.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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.
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
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!
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Blood, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Abandonment, War
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Rape, Suicide attempt, War
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt
Minor: Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Murder, Classism
To me, the narrative is an oberservational view of what powe can do. How power can corrupt and how if wielded by those with ill intentions, it can be used to to oppress, limit access, and create a history that is believed by the masses.
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Classism, Deportation
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War