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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I heard Brigid Kemmerer was writing an adult romantasy I already couldn't wait to dive in. I pre-ordered the beautiful Dutch limited edition and then saw the book on Netgalley and requested a digital review copy. Luckily HaperVoyager granted me one.
This book was addictive and exciting from start to finish. For some reason I had not learned that it was a poly romance before I started reading, but after the first quarter of the book I already had an inkling where this was going. Especially because the author does an amazing job building up all the relationships in this book. There are so many romantic and emotional moments and despite everything these characters are so amazing together!
Although the romance is the main plot in this book, there is also a lot going on when it comes to politics and magic. From the very start it was quite clear that quite a lot of people were hiding a lot of things. Not every question is answered in this book, but the book ends with some satisfying moments and it truly feels like the first part of the story is wrapped up nicely. I'm already really excited to dive into the next part, because it feels like the true fun has only just begun!
I also loved how the author introduced the world and all its aspects to us. We're actually not seeing that much of the world and yet it feels like we've visited a lot more places. That's mostly because hidden in all the emotional moments, confessions and traumas everything we need to know is explained. And because the author found such a natural way to tell us about the horrors of this world, it never feels like an info-dump.
This book was addictive and exciting from start to finish. For some reason I had not learned that it was a poly romance before I started reading, but after the first quarter of the book I already had an inkling where this was going. Especially because the author does an amazing job building up all the relationships in this book. There are so many romantic and emotional moments and despite everything these characters are so amazing together!
Although the romance is the main plot in this book, there is also a lot going on when it comes to politics and magic. From the very start it was quite clear that quite a lot of people were hiding a lot of things. Not every question is answered in this book, but the book ends with some satisfying moments and it truly feels like the first part of the story is wrapped up nicely. I'm already really excited to dive into the next part, because it feels like the true fun has only just begun!
I also loved how the author introduced the world and all its aspects to us. We're actually not seeing that much of the world and yet it feels like we've visited a lot more places. That's mostly because hidden in all the emotional moments, confessions and traumas everything we need to know is explained. And because the author found such a natural way to tell us about the horrors of this world, it never feels like an info-dump.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions in this review are my own.
3.25 stars. Tandem read with audio of which I bought myself. The narrators were great and really added to the story.
About the book, this had an intriguing premise, a good start, but then fizzled to ashes by the end. Maybe a spark could reignite it into something in the next book but I am unsure whether I will read it or not.
Let me start with what I liked:
- Ky. He was smart, capable, and had emotional intelligence. He was literally perfect other than his one flaw of finding Asher and Jory attractive as partners in this throuple (I also blame the short lived character assassination of his around 75% in). Regardless, I just wanted to read about him and his kingdom and everything he was willing to do to protect his people and his sister. He had a drive, growth, and personality that shined.
- I was entertained. It is very easy to get lost in the book and the different POVs happening so there is that.
Now lets move to the negatives which unfortunately had quite a bit.
- Asher and Jory were both childish and paled in comparison to Ky. Asher less so and had the explanation of very heavy trauma that at least explained why he acted the way he did but Jory was both naive and reckless which makes for an annoying FMC. You can be one or the other and get away with it but not both. For age comparisons, Asher and Jory are 26 and 25, respectfully, and Ky is 30.
- The plot, where? Other than some vague background movements that set up the book, there is nothing to really go off of. Nearly the entirety of the book is the characters bickering from location to location dodging assassins while discussing their alliance and falling in love or at least heavy attraction by the end. Which leads me to my next point...
- The romance. Look, I still don't understand what Ky sees in them other than having a desire, I guess, to guide and protect but either way, its heavy insta lust on all sides and not really a strong romance. Asher and Ky at least have somewhat of a foundation they could lay to build a fire but Jory in any combination was like a wet blanket smothering all of it. It honestly had nothing to do with her inexperience compared to either of them and all to do with her personality being close to cardboard.
- The worldbuilding and the magic system. Its vague and there is nothing there. Lots of the same one-note facts you learn early on are repeated continuously throughout the novel in the same manner and are never built upon. I don't understand how the plot is going to move forward with as sparse as everything is.
All and all, I was excited for this but then by the end, disappointed. I was at least entertained and I love Ky but I am not sure he is enough to want to read the sequel. This all needed more time to stroke from a simmering to a roaring fire that catches everything ablaze.
3.25 stars. Tandem read with audio of which I bought myself. The narrators were great and really added to the story.
About the book, this had an intriguing premise, a good start, but then fizzled to ashes by the end. Maybe a spark could reignite it into something in the next book but I am unsure whether I will read it or not.
Let me start with what I liked:
- Ky. He was smart, capable, and had emotional intelligence. He was literally perfect other than his one flaw of finding Asher and Jory attractive as partners in this throuple (I also blame the short lived character assassination of his around 75% in). Regardless, I just wanted to read about him and his kingdom and everything he was willing to do to protect his people and his sister. He had a drive, growth, and personality that shined.
- I was entertained. It is very easy to get lost in the book and the different POVs happening so there is that.
Now lets move to the negatives which unfortunately had quite a bit.
- Asher and Jory were both childish and paled in comparison to Ky. Asher less so and had the explanation of very heavy trauma that at least explained why he acted the way he did but Jory was both naive and reckless which makes for an annoying FMC. You can be one or the other and get away with it but not both. For age comparisons, Asher and Jory are 26 and 25, respectfully, and Ky is 30.
- The plot, where? Other than some vague background movements that set up the book, there is nothing to really go off of. Nearly the entirety of the book is the characters bickering from location to location dodging assassins while discussing their alliance and falling in love or at least heavy attraction by the end. Which leads me to my next point...
- The romance. Look, I still don't understand what Ky sees in them other than having a desire, I guess, to guide and protect but either way, its heavy insta lust on all sides and not really a strong romance. Asher and Ky at least have somewhat of a foundation they could lay to build a fire but Jory in any combination was like a wet blanket smothering all of it. It honestly had nothing to do with her inexperience compared to either of them and all to do with her personality being close to cardboard.
- The worldbuilding and the magic system. Its vague and there is nothing there. Lots of the same one-note facts you learn early on are repeated continuously throughout the novel in the same manner and are never built upon. I don't understand how the plot is going to move forward with as sparse as everything is.
All and all, I was excited for this but then by the end, disappointed. I was at least entertained and I love Ky but I am not sure he is enough to want to read the sequel. This all needed more time to stroke from a simmering to a roaring fire that catches everything ablaze.
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I had such a good time with this book! I was eager to learn more about this world and magic system with every chapter but what really grabs you in this story is the characters.
Princess Jory, warrior Ky, and assassin Asher are such beautiful and tragic characters. There were so many times that while learning about their pasts I just wanted to give them a hug and cry together. I loved getting the slow picture of each of their pasts and presents and watching them slowly fit together to heal what’s been broken. This was the first time I’ve read a book with this type of romance represented and it felt so well done. You could truly feel the longing and gentle care that each of the main characters held for one another!
This first book dove deep into the characters, so I’m excited to see the world and magic system expand more in the next book. I’ll definitely be here waiting for it!
Princess Jory, warrior Ky, and assassin Asher are such beautiful and tragic characters. There were so many times that while learning about their pasts I just wanted to give them a hug and cry together. I loved getting the slow picture of each of their pasts and presents and watching them slowly fit together to heal what’s been broken. This was the first time I’ve read a book with this type of romance represented and it felt so well done. You could truly feel the longing and gentle care that each of the main characters held for one another!
This first book dove deep into the characters, so I’m excited to see the world and magic system expand more in the next book. I’ll definitely be here waiting for it!
Overall I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting. Curious to learn more about the side characters.
Con would be the obvious plot twists and it was a little snow.
Con would be the obvious plot twists and it was a little snow.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2025: 5.0
emotional
tense
fast-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
The promise of a love triangle done right is what really attracted me to this book. It delivered on that promise and gave me a touching, thrilling character-driven story that I’m eager to get more of. Add in an arranged marriage trope AND forbidden love trope?! It’s as if Kemmerer put all of my favorite things into one book!
The warrior king Maddox Kyronen is a feared and respected man with the power to wield fire. However, he is relying on a political marriage with the princess of a neighboring kingdom and the magic her father provides to protect his people from famine. On the eve of their engagement, an assassination hit is put out against the two of them. Who’s the assassin assigned to the task? The princess’s long lost childhood love. They become entangled in a web of betrayal, secrets, and desire as they try to determine who wants them dead.
Shelved as romantasy, I would say this leans heavily in the romance category, less on fantasy. This could have been a regency romance or historical romance and still worked plot-wise. This book really shines in the characters and their development. I found myself becoming attached to these three main characters as I learned more and more about their past and how it’s shaped them. They feel like real people that leap off the page. Kemmerer writes us the beginnings of a love story that encompasses all the facets of love: respect, desire, loyalty, and patience. As mentioned, this has an arranged marriage and forbidden love trope. But it’s also a love triangle that is not only done right, but is also a polyamorous MMF romance. I have not read a book with this kind of romance before but I found this one to be extremely well-written! There is spice but leaves the door open for more spice in later books.
At times I was missing the bigger plot and at the end of the book I’m eager for more now that we get a nice little plot twist. I have to remind myself that this is only book one of a series, however I’m very eager and excited for what’s in store for these great characters.
Bottom line: if you’re looking for character driven romance with the backdrop of fantasy and magic, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one! A respectable 4/5 stars—I’m wanting just a little bit more in the plot department, but the characters really shine and more than make up for it.
Immense gratitude and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book ended in a cliffhanger. It was
MF the girl pissed me off.
MF the girl pissed me off.
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I just couldn't.
To start with, for an adult debut, the writing and dialogue are remarkably juvenile. Relying on the same hallmarks of YA fiction (overuse of italics, reliance on banter and UST than real conversation and dynamics, bland broody men, bland protective men, no discernible personality for the fmc yet everyone still wants her, the first person pov with too much sass and too little sense) I fail to see how this book is distinguishable enough from Kemmerer's previous works to be an adult debut. The characters are neurotic and uninspired and the setting is poorly sketched. It's a hard sell as a romantasy book, when none of the character interest you, and the romance seems tiresome already. Sadly, this was a DNF for me.
To start with, for an adult debut, the writing and dialogue are remarkably juvenile. Relying on the same hallmarks of YA fiction (overuse of italics, reliance on banter and UST than real conversation and dynamics, bland broody men, bland protective men, no discernible personality for the fmc yet everyone still wants her, the first person pov with too much sass and too little sense) I fail to see how this book is distinguishable enough from Kemmerer's previous works to be an adult debut. The characters are neurotic and uninspired and the setting is poorly sketched. It's a hard sell as a romantasy book, when none of the character interest you, and the romance seems tiresome already. Sadly, this was a DNF for me.
5 stars because it fulfilled all of my romantasy poly dreams for a book! Spare me from the Why Choose trope please. Everyone love each other