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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good start of the trilogy. The world is very different but i like that and the characters.
The story builds as you go, and new issues and i sights come up as you do, but sometimes the characters donโt develop much from them. The character arcs occur slowly, and sometimes the characters not communicating went on for a while, but makes sense in the story.
I feel that some of these long-winded areas will become easter eggs in the next two books, though!
The story builds as you go, and new issues and i sights come up as you do, but sometimes the characters donโt develop much from them. The character arcs occur slowly, and sometimes the characters not communicating went on for a while, but makes sense in the story.
I feel that some of these long-winded areas will become easter eggs in the next two books, though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Bullying, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Classism
Tropey and delicious. I am devouring the romantasy vibes right now!
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ญ- ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
You would think that with world building and context of story, many fantasy books take time to get a good pace going, but honestly, Book 1 started off well and kept a good pace with good context and story building. The one issue I always have is that sometimes the author is too much in the mcโs thoughtsโฆ. Too much thinking and explaining and not enough action happeningโฆ. Which is something that carries throughout the series landing it my 4 star for all 3 booksโฆ.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฎ- ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
So the Secret is out! But will that chemistry simmerโฆ.. only time will tell. And a bit more explanation as to the โend of the worldโ but overall good book!
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฏ- ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Ahhh where All the action happens! The MCs are separated for a big chunk of the book for good reasonโฆ of course! And unfortunately I skim pieces of this one because as much of the action is good story, meh, I want the book to get to the end already! ๐
cause I want to know what happens! But thats just me being impatient, not that the story isnt good!
Overall, I really enjoyed this romantasy, I think im ready to dive into ACOTAR next!
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐โฆ
๐Romantasy
๐Arranged Marriage
๐Hidden Identity
๐Save the World
๐Mutual Pining
๐Dual POV
๐Mild Spice
This book is really laying the foundation for the series, almost like the first part of a book rather than a more self contained story, but I found the slower pace was to its benefit. It suited both main characters, who are more reserved and thoughtful. It also allowed time to build the underground world of Mythanar, with it's unique creatures, giant caverns, glowing crystals, the customs of the Trolde folk. I loved it.
Faraine isn't really in a position to do all that much in this novel but she's trying her best. It seemed like she was going to have the chance to be more proactive in the sequels. It does make her stand out from other romantasy protagonists, particularly with her empath ability (and I appreciated this was shown to be quite a draining thing without empathy being negative). Vor is another character trying his best in a bad situation, you can feel how much he cares for his people. Despite being literally called the Shadow King he's quite different to a lot of these romantasy shadow fellows (not that there's anything wrong with them, or stabby romantasy fmc's), being quite pleasant, gentle and not apparently all that inclined to brooding or sarcastic quips. The side characters were great.
I'm excited to read the sequel and find out more about this whole corruption business, as well as find out what Faraine and Vor's relationship is going to be like going forward. Overall, I'd recommend for those who like a slow burn romantasy and worlds with glowing crystals and giant fungi. Not for those afraid of horses/horse adjacent creatures,this won't help.
Faraine isn't really in a position to do all that much in this novel but she's trying her best. It seemed like she was going to have the chance to be more proactive in the sequels. It does make her stand out from other romantasy protagonists, particularly with her empath ability (and I appreciated this was shown to be quite a draining thing without empathy being negative). Vor is another character trying his best in a bad situation, you can feel how much he cares for his people. Despite being literally called the Shadow King he's quite different to a lot of these romantasy shadow fellows (not that there's anything wrong with them, or stabby romantasy fmc's), being quite pleasant, gentle and not apparently all that inclined to brooding or sarcastic quips. The side characters were great.
I'm excited to read the sequel and find out more about this whole corruption business, as well as find out what Faraine and Vor's relationship is going to be like going forward. Overall, I'd recommend for those who like a slow burn romantasy and worlds with glowing crystals and giant fungi. Not for those afraid of horses/horse adjacent creatures,this won't help.
The shadow King
This is an amazing read. Vor goes to the outside world of the humans. He is to make a deal with the king to marry his daughter. He has 4 of them. The eldest FaRaine , because of her God's gift could not follow through with a marriage, so he sent her to live with the nuns. But she returns home to help her next sister ready for marriage to Vol. Fate would have FaRaine and Vol meet and things get interesting. An under world, Trolde, dark things and magic. Fantastic story. I suggest this book because the writing is incredible!
This is an amazing read. Vor goes to the outside world of the humans. He is to make a deal with the king to marry his daughter. He has 4 of them. The eldest FaRaine , because of her God's gift could not follow through with a marriage, so he sent her to live with the nuns. But she returns home to help her next sister ready for marriage to Vol. Fate would have FaRaine and Vol meet and things get interesting. An under world, Trolde, dark things and magic. Fantastic story. I suggest this book because the writing is incredible!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i had a good time going into this book with low expectations and i was kinda impressed by the intricate world building. fake marriage au except home girl is a spinster and an embarrassment to the royal family after vomiting when a prince tried to kiss her. she was sent away to the nuns indefinitely but now is involved in a political alliance to the troll king ! (who is half human so thats why he looks human).
i also did not know that this was a duology and will not be continuing because it was a bit boring
i also did not know that this was a duology and will not be continuing because it was a bit boring
An enjoyable and intriguing new fantasy romance series. It's very slow paced though, almost a little too slow at times. Mostly, I think because many scenes were done twice, from each of the MCs POV.
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Beginning was a bit slow but after a while I got really into it and the ending made me want to read book 2 immediately