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bellebookcorner's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
If you're looking for a simple cozy fantasy story with tropes like grumpy x sunshine, found family and enemies to lovers then you might want to pick this one up!
The world building is fascinating with a big world where there's a hidden magical island and several different creatures living together like Orcs, humans, dragons and elves which fantasy lovers would be thrilled to read about like myself.
This story has a dual POV from these two main characters which is a great touch to get to know the characters where they have their own agendas and see how they grow throughout the story.
The slow burn romance between Rivelin and Daella is delightful. I absolutely love the high tension and bantering between them which eventually leads to the spicy moments which is worth the wait.
However, as much as I like the people on the island and Riveliin (MMC) they were too quick to judge Daella (FMC) just because she was an outsider which really annoyed me sometimes.
Moreover, Daella kinda forgives too easy... I was hoping to see Rivelin grovelled his way back to Daella a little bit harder.
Nonetheless, this book was a heart-warming and enjoyable story with easy to read writing style, badass FMC and other elements inside which fantasy romance readers would love.
The ending also got wrapped up nicely and I'm looking forward to read the next book from this series!
The world building is fascinating with a big world where there's a hidden magical island and several different creatures living together like Orcs, humans, dragons and elves which fantasy lovers would be thrilled to read about like myself.
This story has a dual POV from these two main characters which is a great touch to get to know the characters where they have their own agendas and see how they grow throughout the story.
The slow burn romance between Rivelin and Daella is delightful. I absolutely love the high tension and bantering between them which eventually leads to the spicy moments which is worth the wait.
However, as much as I like the people on the island and Riveliin (MMC) they were too quick to judge Daella (FMC) just because she was an outsider which really annoyed me sometimes.
Moreover, Daella kinda forgives too easy... I was hoping to see Rivelin grovelled his way back to Daella a little bit harder.
Nonetheless, this book was a heart-warming and enjoyable story with easy to read writing style, badass FMC and other elements inside which fantasy romance readers would love.
The ending also got wrapped up nicely and I'm looking forward to read the next book from this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, War, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual harassment, Murder, and Blood
kim03's review
2.0
What I liked:
- Dual POV (even though I'm certain we spent more time in her head than his)
- The cover (seriously. It's the reason I wanted to read this book. So gorgeous.)
What I didn't like:
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing (felt like purple prose to me)
- Any and all intimate scenes. They were cringe and unsexy. I hate one singular thought throughout them all: "Ew."
- The back and forth. I already had problems bc i don't like enemies to lovers but this couldn't even decide where it was on the Journey. I hated it.
- The way it took a rumor to make each doubt the other? Never seen two ppl have this little faith in each other.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Murder and Sexual harassment
januaryt123's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
rosyburrow's review
2.0
I don’t feel like the book needed the “steamy” bits to be good. Personally I think it would have been better without them. For me they threw me out of the story as the tone was completely different from the rest of the book and they just left me feeling annoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
renpuspita's review
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The author said that Forged by Magic can be categorized into cozy fantasy that will left reader in warm and fuzzy feeling. However, after I finish reading, this book is not too cozy imho, more like the usual fantasy romance that I'd read although with much simpler world building, smaller setting (a little island) and low to medium stakes. It did have some warm moments, found family trope, and grumpy x (almost) sunshine pairing between Rivelin, a grumpy elf blacksmith with violence past and Daella, a reluctant half-orc mercenary. The fantasy setting feel like mix-mash of fantasy creatures. From elf, orc, demon, faeries, ice giants. Plus point, there's DRAGON. Dragons is always my catnips and I liked that the dragons also play important roles in the story. Although, the simple world building kinda have its drawback. See, the setting is just in one island, while the map show a world that seems complex. Also there's no more explanation behind Daella's half orc background. There's no description from what side she inherited her human side, since she's pretty much an orc and I believe her late mother were also orc. So maybe, her father was human? Sadly this tidbits didn't explained thoroughly.
There's also steamy sex scenes, so if you like your romance to be steamy or spicy, this might be up to your alley. But, if you prefer fade to black, maybe just skip it. This book is also pretty low in angst and the misunderstanding trope to add more drama is still bearable. Both parties are guilty since at first their relationship start by mistrusting each other so the misunderstanding after both realized their own feeling is kinda a given. The romance is pretty okay and I did enjoy reading how love blossom between Daella and Rivelin; that from his description alone, I suspect Wolfhart get his inspiration from Geralt of Rivera. Silver hair with huge and tall appearance. I just hope authors stop to write first PoV from both male and female, just focused to one side or maybe write it all from 3rd PoV. This is just a matter of my preference of course.
Forged by Magic is pretty much stand-alone although part of series. It's also the first book I read by Jenna Wolfhart and I looking forward to read more story from the Fables Island.
There's also steamy sex scenes, so if you like your romance to be steamy or spicy, this might be up to your alley. But, if you prefer fade to black, maybe just skip it. This book is also pretty low in angst and the misunderstanding trope to add more drama is still bearable. Both parties are guilty since at first their relationship start by mistrusting each other so the misunderstanding after both realized their own feeling is kinda a given. The romance is pretty okay and I did enjoy reading how love blossom between Daella and Rivelin; that from his description alone, I suspect Wolfhart get his inspiration from Geralt of Rivera. Silver hair with huge and tall appearance. I just hope authors stop to write first PoV from both male and female, just focused to one side or maybe write it all from 3rd PoV. This is just a matter of my preference of course.
Forged by Magic is pretty much stand-alone although part of series. It's also the first book I read by Jenna Wolfhart and I looking forward to read more story from the Fables Island.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Blood
crinkledmochi's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
It was a cute cozy read but everything gets resolved very quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
robin_reads's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.75
Daella, a half-orc, was sent out to hunt Draugr and ends up washed up on an island where she meets Rivelin, a grumpy elven blacksmith. They end up working together reluctantely, trying to protect the island.
This was such a pleasure to read. Cozy vibes, lighthearted but still had a very nice plot and some stakes.
Wonderful read. I'll be picking up the second book as soon as it comes out.
This was such a pleasure to read. Cozy vibes, lighthearted but still had a very nice plot and some stakes.
Wonderful read. I'll be picking up the second book as soon as it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, War, Grief, and Confinement
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
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