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fairytale42's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The pacing of this book dragged a bit, but it was worth it because Persis and Haryk are adorable. It felt more like it was inspired by the Hades/Persephone story, though, rather than being a retelling - there was so many more "new" things unrelated to the Greek myth that it can stand on its own without the retelling title. (However, I definitely first read this book because it was marketed as a clean Hades/Persephone retelling...go figure.)
The plot in this book is twisty and political while still being easy to understand. There are enemies in the palace walls, and some have no qualms about letting others know just how much they dislike the prince. There's also the threat of war hanging over the two countries, one that could be devastating for the dark elves even more than the humans. The author did a great job at building tension and making the threat feel real. Magic was also a huge factor, and I loved hearing discussions of the different kinds of magic.
Speaking of magic, Persis' sand magic was awesome to see, and it made me want to live in the desert. Just like all magic, it has its limits, though, and it was a bit annoying to see Persis stretch her abilities the max nearly every time she tried to heal the prince. (And then she hardly ever slept, so that didn't help things.) Along with the magic, the worldbuilding was done well. I wanted to explore more of Gelaira and travel back to the Persis' desert home.
As for the characters, they were adorable together, especially because Haryk deals with the world differently because of his blindness. It was great to see a MC with a disability, although I wish it was handled a little differently (can't say any more or I'll delve into spoilers). Haryk was a bit annoying at first since he was so persnickety, but seeing how hurt he was by everything made him more relatable. And bless her heart, Persis is a darling who does not deserve all the flack she's gotten for years. I love that she grew into a leadership role even when it seemed impossible. That being said, their romance felt a bit contrived, but that's to be expected. I still think they are a believable couple.
All in all, this was a great high fantasy story with a great, slow-burn romance that's clean (save some kisses and some references to bearing heirs). Definitely a new fave!
The plot in this book is twisty and political while still being easy to understand. There are enemies in the palace walls, and some have no qualms about letting others know just how much they dislike the prince. There's also the threat of war hanging over the two countries, one that could be devastating for the dark elves even more than the humans. The author did a great job at building tension and making the threat feel real. Magic was also a huge factor, and I loved hearing discussions of the different kinds of magic.
Speaking of magic, Persis' sand magic was awesome to see, and it made me want to live in the desert. Just like all magic, it has its limits, though, and it was a bit annoying to see Persis stretch her abilities the max nearly every time she tried to heal the prince. (And then she hardly ever slept, so that didn't help things.) Along with the magic, the worldbuilding was done well. I wanted to explore more of Gelaira and travel back to the Persis' desert home.
As for the characters, they were adorable together, especially because Haryk deals with the world differently because of his blindness. It was great to see a MC with a disability, although I wish it was handled a little differently (can't say any more or I'll delve into spoilers). Haryk was a bit annoying at first since he was so persnickety, but seeing how hurt he was by everything made him more relatable. And bless her heart, Persis is a darling who does not deserve all the flack she's gotten for years. I love that she grew into a leadership role even when it seemed impossible. That being said, their romance felt a bit contrived, but that's to be expected. I still think they are a believable couple.
All in all, this was a great high fantasy story with a great, slow-burn romance that's clean (save some kisses and some references to bearing heirs). Definitely a new fave!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Physical abuse, and Torture
Minor: Medical content
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