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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Gdy tylko dostałam maila z informacją o sprzedaży serii „Bride of the Shadow King” wiedziałam, że muszę ją mieć! Nie odpuściłabym tej cudownej holograficznej folii, a i tytuł brzmiał intrygująco.
Sama historia mnie zwyczajnie urzekła. Inteligentna główna bohaterka, która nie użala się nad swoim losem, a go akceptuje. Główny bohater – szlachetny i honorowy. I sam świat – z idealnie pokazanym kontrastem – ludzki szary i wręcz smętny oraz świat troldefolk – pełen kolorów pomimo problemów, pełen życia. Odniosłam wrażenie, że całość jest dość smutna (z jednej strony jest to kwestia świata ludzi, a z drugiej losu Faraine), ale właśnie to powodowało, że świetnie mi się ją czytało w pochmurny dzień.
Fabularnie, już od pierwszych stron wiadomo, że to Faraine zostanie narzeczoną króla, ale niezwykle interesujące jest to, jak do tego dojdzie. Niektóre plot twisty po drodze mnie absolutnie zaskoczyły, ja takiego rozwoju sytuacji bym nie wymyśliła, a świetnie utrzymywały moje zainteresowanie.
Zakochałam się w przestawionym świecie i jestem mega ciekawa co będzie dalej z Faraine i Vorem, w szczególności biorąc pod uwagę zakończenie. Spodziewajcie się recenzji kolejnych części już niedługo! Nie pozwolę tej historii leżeć na półce nieodkrytej.
P.S. W chwili publikacji tej recenzji już zdążyłam przeczytać cała trylogię.
Moja ocena 8/10
Sama historia mnie zwyczajnie urzekła. Inteligentna główna bohaterka, która nie użala się nad swoim losem, a go akceptuje. Główny bohater – szlachetny i honorowy. I sam świat – z idealnie pokazanym kontrastem – ludzki szary i wręcz smętny oraz świat troldefolk – pełen kolorów pomimo problemów, pełen życia. Odniosłam wrażenie, że całość jest dość smutna (z jednej strony jest to kwestia świata ludzi, a z drugiej losu Faraine), ale właśnie to powodowało, że świetnie mi się ją czytało w pochmurny dzień.
Fabularnie, już od pierwszych stron wiadomo, że to Faraine zostanie narzeczoną króla, ale niezwykle interesujące jest to, jak do tego dojdzie. Niektóre plot twisty po drodze mnie absolutnie zaskoczyły, ja takiego rozwoju sytuacji bym nie wymyśliła, a świetnie utrzymywały moje zainteresowanie.
Zakochałam się w przestawionym świecie i jestem mega ciekawa co będzie dalej z Faraine i Vorem, w szczególności biorąc pod uwagę zakończenie. Spodziewajcie się recenzji kolejnych części już niedługo! Nie pozwolę tej historii leżeć na półce nieodkrytej.
P.S. W chwili publikacji tej recenzji już zdążyłam przeczytać cała trylogię.
Moja ocena 8/10
This is exactly what I’m looking for in a romantasy. The world is interesting and complex, the magic is unique, the romance is swoony, and the characters are compelling. Faraine is the eldest princess of Gavaria, but she is sent away to a convent because of her gods gift, which causes her to be frequently ill. She returns to court when her younger sister is presented as a bride for the Shadow King. He is in need of an alliance with the human kingdom, and a wife is the only way to secure it. Vor is half human, half trolde and is the King of Mythanar. He needs access to the human mage’s magic to save his kingdom and his people, and an alliance through marriage is the only way to get it. Vor agrees to marry Faraine’s younger sister, even though he is initially attracted to Faraine. However, on the eve of the wedding, disaster strikes, and Faraine must take her sister’s place in order to save the alliance between their kingdoms. What follows next is a delicious concoction of deception, secrets, betrayals, and a slow burn romance that leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next book!
adventurous
slow-paced
slow-paced
This book made me want to bang my head against the wall. And not in a fun, kinky way.
Dang, this started out so strong, but by the end I legitimately HATED this book. There's slow burn and then there's slowwwwwww burn. This book ended up being painful to get through because of how much of nothing was written. Like, literally just nothing. Whole chapters took hours to get through and I don't even know why because NOTHING would happen. 5 chapters would pass and the characters would literally still be in the same scene, still just standing there thinking the same thing. Why?
In addition, the main guy's emotions make no freaking sense; he acts and thinks completely differently at the beginning of the book then at the end, when everything could have been satisfyingly solved if he'd actually stayed true to his character. Presumably, the author decided to make him a completely different person because...conflict? Plot holes? To torture the readers? To get two more books out of the series?
I felt like I dedicated time and money to something with nothing to show for it. The first time I've ever wanted to throw a book at wall (but in this case it would be my earphones).
Also - the fact that there is no note or trigger warning about the absolutely disturbing events that happen in this book in terms of body autonomy and consent is unacceptable.
2 stars is generous but it's honestly for the interesting bones of this story that could have been so much more. #RIP
Dang, this started out so strong, but by the end I legitimately HATED this book. There's slow burn and then there's slowwwwwww burn. This book ended up being painful to get through because of how much of nothing was written. Like, literally just nothing. Whole chapters took hours to get through and I don't even know why because NOTHING would happen. 5 chapters would pass and the characters would literally still be in the same scene, still just standing there thinking the same thing. Why?
In addition, the main guy's emotions make no freaking sense; he acts and thinks completely differently at the beginning of the book then at the end, when everything could have been satisfyingly solved if he'd actually stayed true to his character. Presumably, the author decided to make him a completely different person because...conflict? Plot holes? To torture the readers? To get two more books out of the series?
I felt like I dedicated time and money to something with nothing to show for it. The first time I've ever wanted to throw a book at wall (but in this case it would be my earphones).
Also - the fact that there is no note or trigger warning about the absolutely disturbing events that happen in this book in terms of body autonomy and consent is unacceptable.
2 stars is generous but it's honestly for the interesting bones of this story that could have been so much more. #RIP
3.5 Stars!
I've been on a bit of a fantasty/Paranormal kick lately, and Bride of the Shadow King does not disappoint.
This story is written well and entertaining. I enjoyed the world building and magic. The characters were intriguing and frustrating at the same time. The romance was a slow burn with an intense quality to it.
Overall, I think this series is off to a great start. The action, chemistry, and betrayal will leave you begging for more. I can't wait to see where this series will go next.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
I've been on a bit of a fantasty/Paranormal kick lately, and Bride of the Shadow King does not disappoint.
This story is written well and entertaining. I enjoyed the world building and magic. The characters were intriguing and frustrating at the same time. The romance was a slow burn with an intense quality to it.
Overall, I think this series is off to a great start. The action, chemistry, and betrayal will leave you begging for more. I can't wait to see where this series will go next.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
Gaaaahhh!! I should've known that this would be a slow-burn trilogy! This ends on a major cliffhanger and I'm anxiously awaiting book 2.
fast-paced
My thoughts are a littler scattered, so if you want a quick summary: I like the characters and the story itself. There is still so much to explore and I can't wait. I am excited to learn more about Faraine's magic and to see her and Vor work together. There is more going on then even Vor knows.
I think that Vor and Faraine are perfect for each other. I was hoping that they would end up together, but I wish that it hadn't happened the way that it did. I hope that they figure out how to work together, it's a romance so I "know" that they work things out eventually.
I really don't like Larongar and I hope that someone puts him in his place -sooner rather than later.
Faraine's magic is interesting and not fully explored, she is obviously capable to more than she even knows. And if she's given the opportunity to explore and if she ever tells Vor about it, they may have the solution that they need to save the Under Realm. It's inevitable that they'll have to work together. I think her godsgift is the key to saving the Under Realm, but they have a long way to get there.
Some of the characters are comically inept but are given too much power. Theodore- beautiful but stupid. Ilsevel - pretty, beautiful voice and the king's favorite. Laraongar is the king but I don't think that he is a very good ruler.
Some characters float in the background but have more weight in the story then given credit for. Sul, Vor's brother and intelligence gatherer. He is cheeky but I also think that he is very observant. I think he is often overlooked because of his frivolity, but he uses that to his advantage, Hael, the captain of the king's guard. She is his first line of defense, and is loyal to King Vor.
And then there are the characters that you obviously have to watch out for. Queen Roh. She hasn't hidden her disgust of humans very well, and she even supported allowing the Under Realm to fall back into the Deep Dark. The Drur (is he the same of Lord Rath) he took too much pleasure in swinging the axe.
We know that there is trouble in the human world and something is slowly destroying the Under Realm. And by the end we know that there's more going on then even Vor knows about. I wouldn't be too surprised if the events are not connected and that they're not orchestrated by people that should be trusted but are doing things behind the kingdom's back.
I think that Vor and Faraine are perfect for each other. I was hoping that they would end up together, but I wish that it hadn't happened the way that it did. I hope that they figure out how to work together, it's a romance so I "know" that they work things out eventually.
I really don't like Larongar and I hope that someone puts him in his place -sooner rather than later.
Faraine's magic is interesting and not fully explored, she is obviously capable to more than she even knows. And if she's given the opportunity to explore and if she ever tells Vor about it, they may have the solution that they need to save the Under Realm. It's inevitable that they'll have to work together. I think her godsgift is the key to saving the Under Realm, but they have a long way to get there.
Some of the characters are comically inept but are given too much power. Theodore- beautiful but stupid. Ilsevel - pretty, beautiful voice and the king's favorite. Laraongar is the king but I don't think that he is a very good ruler.
Some characters float in the background but have more weight in the story then given credit for. Sul, Vor's brother and intelligence gatherer. He is cheeky but I also think that he is very observant. I think he is often overlooked because of his frivolity, but he uses that to his advantage, Hael, the captain of the king's guard. She is his first line of defense, and is loyal to King Vor.
And then there are the characters that you obviously have to watch out for. Queen Roh. She hasn't hidden her disgust of humans very well, and she even supported allowing the Under Realm to fall back into the Deep Dark. The Drur (is he the same of Lord Rath) he took too much pleasure in swinging the axe.
We know that there is trouble in the human world and something is slowly destroying the Under Realm. And by the end we know that there's more going on then even Vor knows about. I wouldn't be too surprised if the events are not connected and that they're not orchestrated by people that should be trusted but are doing things behind the kingdom's back.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes