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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I need to thank this book for helping me clearly identify two trope I highly dislike reading:
1. He's engaged/promised to someone else
2. One of the MCs spends a decent chunk of the book deliberately lying/deceiving the other MC
Taking aside these two tropes, I still wouldn't recommend this book - the plot feels very incomplete, as if it were meant to be half a book; despite dual first person POVs, I didn't really get a good sense of who the characters are, especially the FMC; partially due to the previous point, the romance doesn't really make sense or is convincing (I'd say it's barely a romance at this point). It's entirely possible that when read with the second book most of these issues disappear, but that will not be something I'm doing.
1. He's engaged/promised to someone else
2. One of the MCs spends a decent chunk of the book deliberately lying/deceiving the other MC
Taking aside these two tropes, I still wouldn't recommend this book - the plot feels very incomplete, as if it were meant to be half a book; despite dual first person POVs, I didn't really get a good sense of who the characters are, especially the FMC; partially due to the previous point, the romance doesn't really make sense or is convincing (I'd say it's barely a romance at this point). It's entirely possible that when read with the second book most of these issues disappear, but that will not be something I'm doing.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If I have to see the word 'Grundle' again in this lifetime, it shall be far too soon
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I'm gonna start by saying I enjoyed the book overall, hence the 3 stars.
However, this was like two people wrote this book. The first half went smoothly, I was loving the dynamic of the characters and the angst. And then we hit a wall... Not a wall, but a plot point that shifted things. I know I'm not the only one who thinks like that by other reviewers so I'm glad I'm not crazy. But the second part was dragging (take a shot everytime I say this word) so much and the dynamics was weird and it actually made me not want the main characters to be together, unfortunately made me disbelief the love that was mentioned in the subconscious of the guy. The first half of the book felt like so much had happened already, like 75% of the plot had happened, and then the second half was just dragging the inevitable confrontation.
Now to the characters, I liked them enough. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the main guy because he's not the brooding acting cold type, he was actually a very sweet man to our main character. Another positive is that his struggle was actually quite believable so we don't judge anyone for the choice that had to be made. At least in this case there's a good reason why he couldn't immediately be with our main girl and had to choose the sister.
The main girl, she was fine, she went through a lot and there wasn't exactly much she could do to stand up for herself in this book, but I think that's leading to good character arc in the next books. Her POV was good thought to show how much she had to struggle and overall this book was good in showing the inner struggles, especially of crown and country and for us to sympathize with the people and actually see them has real.I did think it was a weird choice to not show the character mourn the sisters, even thought the first half of the book is showing how much she loves them. I understand everyone around her trying to "fix" the agreement, even thought it was too rushed to go into face swap, but at least in her POV it should show more of the grief part, especially with her facing looking like the dead sisters. It was so subdue the reaction considering everything crazy that was happening in those chapters.
Sorry for the rambling, I'm trying to improve my reviews! I'm still intrigued to continue to the second book, but I'm hoping the pacing is better managed and that the author doesn't make me dislike the guy, somehow that is something that ends up happening as a series goes on.
However, this was like two people wrote this book. The first half went smoothly, I was loving the dynamic of the characters and the angst. And then we hit a wall... Not a wall, but a plot point that shifted things. I know I'm not the only one who thinks like that by other reviewers so I'm glad I'm not crazy. But the second part was dragging (take a shot everytime I say this word) so much and the dynamics was weird and it actually made me not want the main characters to be together, unfortunately made me disbelief the love that was mentioned in the subconscious of the guy. The first half of the book felt like so much had happened already, like 75% of the plot had happened, and then the second half was just dragging the inevitable confrontation.
Now to the characters, I liked them enough. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the main guy because he's not the brooding acting cold type, he was actually a very sweet man to our main character. Another positive is that his struggle was actually quite believable so we don't judge anyone for the choice that had to be made.
The main girl, she was fine, she went through a lot and there wasn't exactly much she could do to stand up for herself in this book, but I think that's leading to good character arc in the next books. Her POV was good thought to show how much she had to struggle and overall this book was good in showing the inner struggles, especially of crown and country and for us to sympathize with the people and actually see them has real.
Sorry for the rambling, I'm trying to improve my reviews! I'm still intrigued to continue to the second book, but I'm hoping the pacing is better managed and that the author doesn't make me dislike the guy, somehow that is something that ends up happening as a series goes on.
adventurous
medium-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:
No
Good idea but already smells like a no communication trope is coming with the next 2 novels
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
3.5 Stars ⭐️ There was something about this writing I just couldn’t connect with for most of the book, but the plot took us somewhere I had not expected for a forced marriage trope. And the world Slyvia built is incredible. I want to live in the Shadow Realm
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
well well well, here i thought this was gonna be an instalove type book.. thank the gods it is not. but also WHHYYY
well well well, here i thought this was gonna be an instalove type book.. thank the gods it is not. but also WHHYYY
It was easy to see what was going to happen but great to read
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No