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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
So pleased to have been able to read an advanced copy of War Hour! If you enjoyed Red Queen, you will smash through this read like I did! The story follows Lysta, an untrialled from the Court of Valour on a quest to save her people from a power hungry Crown, prove herself and her truth.
This author is one to watch.
War Hour is an exciting, creative novel that I had the pleasure of reading as an ARC. I enjoyed the twists and turns, trying to decide who we could trust and who was keeping secrets, and the world-building that has only just begun. I want to know more about the other courts’ trials and what abilities they might grant. I also need to know what happens next because we were left on a cliffhanger. I was getting some Shadow and Bone vibes here and there while reading (full disclosure, I didn’t read those books, just watched the Netflix show), so if you liked that, you’d probably like this too. This book has a completely different premise, but it also has the core pillars of any good fantasy series.
I’m a little surprised this is only the author’s first novel, especially when I compare the writing to the book by a seasoned author I finished right before this. The writing and conversations between characters flow naturally, and nothing feels forced. However, plot progression did feel a little rushed at times, especially in the first 25%, but I imagine that was just to get us to where we needed to be to set up the climax and the rest of the upcoming series (no spoilers in this review!). There were a few typos/grammatical errors that you probably wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for them. Not a big deal considering I read this before it was officially released and this is a debut novel.
Overall, I loved reading this and can’t wait for the next books in the series! I recommend it to any YA fantasy fans out there. But if that isn’t your usual genre, I should say that I don’t typically gravitate to YA as I find it harder to relate to the characters because I’m outside the target age group, but I didn’t have that issue at all with these characters.
War Hour is an exciting, creative novel that I had the pleasure of reading as an ARC. I enjoyed the twists and turns, trying to decide who we could trust and who was keeping secrets, and the world-building that has only just begun. I want to know more about the other courts’ trials and what abilities they might grant. I also need to know what happens next because we were left on a cliffhanger. I was getting some Shadow and Bone vibes here and there while reading (full disclosure, I didn’t read those books, just watched the Netflix show), so if you liked that, you’d probably like this too. This book has a completely different premise, but it also has the core pillars of any good fantasy series.
I’m a little surprised this is only the author’s first novel, especially when I compare the writing to the book by a seasoned author I finished right before this. The writing and conversations between characters flow naturally, and nothing feels forced. However, plot progression did feel a little rushed at times, especially in the first 25%, but I imagine that was just to get us to where we needed to be to set up the climax and the rest of the upcoming series (no spoilers in this review!). There were a few typos/grammatical errors that you probably wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for them. Not a big deal considering I read this before it was officially released and this is a debut novel.
Overall, I loved reading this and can’t wait for the next books in the series! I recommend it to any YA fantasy fans out there. But if that isn’t your usual genre, I should say that I don’t typically gravitate to YA as I find it harder to relate to the characters because I’m outside the target age group, but I didn’t have that issue at all with these characters.
This was a REALLY fun read!
The pacing was excellent, the world building was great, and the characters were super well developed! I LOVED the magic system, it was really well thought out and super unique. The author did a fantastic job and painting tension, and a really good job at making everything believable. She made court intrigue FUN and I was SOLD. It can be really easy to get lost in the sauce in politics heavy fantasy and Loscig did a wonderful job at navigating it. I KNEW what E was gonna be like and I still walked. headfirst into it. I need the next book ASAP please.
4⭐️
The pacing was excellent, the world building was great, and the characters were super well developed! I LOVED the magic system, it was really well thought out and super unique. The author did a fantastic job and painting tension, and a really good job at making everything believable. She made court intrigue FUN and I was SOLD. It can be really easy to get lost in the sauce in politics heavy fantasy and Loscig did a wonderful job at navigating it. I KNEW what E was gonna be like and I still walked. headfirst into it. I need the next book ASAP please.
4⭐️
Closer to 3.5 Stars.
Thank you to Lauren Loscig for the opportunity to read War Hour (The Broken Trials) by Lauren Loscig in exchange for my honest review.
In War Hour, author Lauren Loscig does something different and I was excited about it. Rather than characters being born with power, they have to earn it! WHAT!?!? If you’re a fantasy fan, how can that not hook you?
Our MC is Lysta, who we meet while flipping a coin with her “chosen” brother Thoman who puts their life on the line to get them some food. The kingdom is split between the Trialed and the Untrialed. Lysta, Thoman, and al the other Untrialed live in constant fear of being taken by King Drytas’ guards and forced to Trial. What’s the Trial you may be thinking? The only way to know is to be Trialed. But not everyone who Trials will survive and those who do get the choice of joining King Drytas’ guard or moving on up, but we never learn what that actually means.
The build-up to seeing our first Trial is great. The anticipation grew with every word. Then we got to see our first Trial and it left a “that was all” feeling for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Trial was easy or that it wasn’t scary. It just felt like it was over very quickly and then we were on to the next thing.
I’m a big fan of great characters. Lysta, whom we spend all of our time with was a lot. Let’s just say I had to remind myself that this was a YA book and YA characters can sometimes be very frustrating. I also had to remind myself that love at first sight or lust is very common, even if the reader doesn’t see it or understand it. What I liked about Lysta is her drive to keep going. She wants to protect the people of her kingdom, she wants to protect the ones she loves, she just doesn’t make the best decisions to do that.
We meet a list of characters along the way, especially when we enter into the political aspect of the story. To me, that’s where the fun begins. I found some of the characters really interesting like Sar, Bash, and Ardis - honestly can’t wait to learn more about those three. Then you have Torryn who plays such a big role at certain points of the story but also just disappears during parts that you’d think he would be in. Also his avoidance of sharing things with Lysta while “trying” to protect her didn’t work for me. There’s always a lot of secrets in stories, we all know that, but Lysta puts a lot of trust into people even though she’s constantly reminded to trust no one.
For me, the strongest part of War Hour is the world-building, in that it’s such a different take on magic that I really wanted to dig into that aspect of the story more than anything. You have 7 or 8 (I can’t remember now) kingdoms, all ruled by a different Crown, and in each kingdom the trial is different which leads to different magic based on the Trial and how you pass it. Such a fun, new, intriguing take on fantasy. I really wanted to spend more time learning about each kingdom, but that may happen in future books.
All that said, the beginning of the book was a tad slow for me, slower than I’d like. It took me to about 50% to really feel like I was in it. Once I hit that point I couldn’t stop reading and finished the book in one sitting. All in all, I would definitely recommend War Hour to YA fantasy readers. I enjoyed the world and the magic. The politics will get your blood boiling and tempt you to pick sides, the question is, will it be the right one? I’d return to Loscig’s world of magic for more. AND come on. That ending!!!! I need to know what happens next.
Thank you to Lauren Loscig for the opportunity to read War Hour (The Broken Trials) by Lauren Loscig in exchange for my honest review.
In War Hour, author Lauren Loscig does something different and I was excited about it. Rather than characters being born with power, they have to earn it! WHAT!?!? If you’re a fantasy fan, how can that not hook you?
Our MC is Lysta, who we meet while flipping a coin with her “chosen” brother Thoman who puts their life on the line to get them some food. The kingdom is split between the Trialed and the Untrialed. Lysta, Thoman, and al the other Untrialed live in constant fear of being taken by King Drytas’ guards and forced to Trial. What’s the Trial you may be thinking? The only way to know is to be Trialed. But not everyone who Trials will survive and those who do get the choice of joining King Drytas’ guard or moving on up, but we never learn what that actually means.
The build-up to seeing our first Trial is great. The anticipation grew with every word. Then we got to see our first Trial and it left a “that was all” feeling for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Trial was easy or that it wasn’t scary. It just felt like it was over very quickly and then we were on to the next thing.
I’m a big fan of great characters. Lysta, whom we spend all of our time with was a lot. Let’s just say I had to remind myself that this was a YA book and YA characters can sometimes be very frustrating. I also had to remind myself that love at first sight or lust is very common, even if the reader doesn’t see it or understand it. What I liked about Lysta is her drive to keep going. She wants to protect the people of her kingdom, she wants to protect the ones she loves, she just doesn’t make the best decisions to do that.
We meet a list of characters along the way, especially when we enter into the political aspect of the story. To me, that’s where the fun begins. I found some of the characters really interesting like Sar, Bash, and Ardis - honestly can’t wait to learn more about those three. Then you have Torryn who plays such a big role at certain points of the story but also just disappears during parts that you’d think he would be in. Also his avoidance of sharing things with Lysta while “trying” to protect her didn’t work for me. There’s always a lot of secrets in stories, we all know that, but Lysta puts a lot of trust into people even though she’s constantly reminded to trust no one.
For me, the strongest part of War Hour is the world-building, in that it’s such a different take on magic that I really wanted to dig into that aspect of the story more than anything. You have 7 or 8 (I can’t remember now) kingdoms, all ruled by a different Crown, and in each kingdom the trial is different which leads to different magic based on the Trial and how you pass it. Such a fun, new, intriguing take on fantasy. I really wanted to spend more time learning about each kingdom, but that may happen in future books.
All that said, the beginning of the book was a tad slow for me, slower than I’d like. It took me to about 50% to really feel like I was in it. Once I hit that point I couldn’t stop reading and finished the book in one sitting. All in all, I would definitely recommend War Hour to YA fantasy readers. I enjoyed the world and the magic. The politics will get your blood boiling and tempt you to pick sides, the question is, will it be the right one? I’d return to Loscig’s world of magic for more. AND come on. That ending!!!! I need to know what happens next.
I don’t know. I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it’s a DNF for me.
If the synopsis intrigues you, for sure check the book out! Not every book is for every person.
But for me… I was still feeling lost on what was supposed to be going on nearing 30% through. Got to 44% before I finally decided to stop. At that point, I was feeling like I was forcing myself to read, which isn’t something I want to do.
So far, it is definitely YA in terms of content. I’m sure it’d make a fantastic YA fantasy, just not for this reader.
If the synopsis intrigues you, for sure check the book out! Not every book is for every person.
But for me… I was still feeling lost on what was supposed to be going on nearing 30% through. Got to 44% before I finally decided to stop. At that point, I was feeling like I was forcing myself to read, which isn’t something I want to do.
So far, it is definitely YA in terms of content. I’m sure it’d make a fantastic YA fantasy, just not for this reader.
I had the amazing opportunity to read this early. When I started the book I had no idea where Lysta and we’re head on journey. The more I read the more I wanted to know. As she made each step it was reading a well played chess game with political enemies and death at several corners.
I loved how story wasn’t focused on her abilities, rather that it was how they were earned and how she uses them. I gave the book five stars for fully surprising me and keeping guessing. Even when I thought I knew something it still made me doubt it.
The Trials, holy crow those are really interesting. The ending?!’ I need the next one! I’m definitely going to grab copy. I loved the book immensely.
Favorite book quote. “ I yield “ that scene was fantastic!
YA book that’s truly YA.
I loved how story wasn’t focused on her abilities, rather that it was how they were earned and how she uses them. I gave the book five stars for fully surprising me and keeping guessing. Even when I thought I knew something it still made me doubt it.
The Trials, holy crow those are really interesting. The ending?!’ I need the next one! I’m definitely going to grab copy. I loved the book immensely.
Favorite book quote. “ I yield “ that scene was fantastic!
YA book that’s truly YA.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book at first, but it did not disappoint. I really loved the idea of the characters having to earn their powers, but I was worried it would focus solely on that idea. But the book uses the powers and the Trails to deepen the plot and the characters instead of making their powers the end all be all. Their powers definitely add a lot of interest to the plot and to each character since most have different types of powers.
But as for the book itself, I literally could not put this book down. Ever. The author’s writing style was a perfect combination of dialogue and monologue that kept the story moving yet allowed you to immerse yourself in the characters. She also did an amazing job of developing Lysta as a character and showing the change in her from Untrialed to Trialed. And without getting into spoilers or anything - there is so much suspense in this! There were so many twists and turns and the perfect amount of foreshadowing that I felt like I was on the edge of my seat. Every time I felt like I had an idea what was going to happen I was dumped into a completely different scenario than I thought even possible. I need the second book to this so bad now!!
**there is a small romance subplot but it’s pretty minor in my opinion, and it is clean. Only “spice” is some quick meaningful pecks
But as for the book itself, I literally could not put this book down. Ever. The author’s writing style was a perfect combination of dialogue and monologue that kept the story moving yet allowed you to immerse yourself in the characters. She also did an amazing job of developing Lysta as a character and showing the change in her from Untrialed to Trialed. And without getting into spoilers or anything - there is so much suspense in this! There were so many twists and turns and the perfect amount of foreshadowing that I felt like I was on the edge of my seat. Every time I felt like I had an idea what was going to happen I was dumped into a completely different scenario than I thought even possible. I need the second book to this so bad now!!
**there is a small romance subplot but it’s pretty minor in my opinion, and it is clean. Only “spice” is some quick meaningful pecks
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes