Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this book! The story was interesting and I loved the unique and well-developed magic system. The world building and political systems were well done and I understood their intricacies easily.
I do wish the same could be said for character development. This book was severely lacking in that area, as well as in the area of descriptors. Because of this, it took me a while to get into and to connect with the characters. Also, the book seriously needed an editor. I also had a hard time taking Drystas seriously for some reason. Without these flaws it would have been 5⭐. But this book is quite impressive for a debut novel.
On the content of the book-- although I saw the betrayal coming, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not necessarily done for power, and that Evander's care for Lysta does not appear to be fake. I thought the betrayal would essentially be a copy of Red Queen's, Frozen's, etc. but honestly liked this one a lot better. It was well done and fit with what we had seen of Evander's character. It also had the self-fulfilling prophecy trope, which I love.
I am a bit confused because I didn't see the enemies to lovers plot? I'm thinking it'll probably be Torryn, but honestly I'm half hoping it's somehow Belthan... They have a lot more chemistry and are more enemies than Lysta and Torryn.
Song to represent the main couple: The Great War by Taylor Swift
I do wish the same could be said for character development. This book was severely lacking in that area, as well as in the area of descriptors. Because of this, it took me a while to get into and to connect with the characters. Also, the book seriously needed an editor. I also had a hard time taking Drystas seriously for some reason. Without these flaws it would have been 5⭐. But this book is quite impressive for a debut novel.
I am a bit confused because I didn't see the enemies to lovers plot? I'm thinking it'll probably be Torryn, but honestly I'm half hoping it's somehow Belthan... They have a lot more chemistry and are more enemies than Lysta and Torryn.
Song to represent the main couple: The Great War by Taylor Swift
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
"War is coming, and it will not confine itself to an hour."
I went into this book blind and was pleasantly surprised... minus the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger and I lack patience. Ha! Can't wait to continue on with the story! The book had everything I love in a YA fantasy novel - Unique magic system, Found family, Deadly Trials, Betrayal, Reluctant allies, Enemies to Lovers, Political intrigue/Court dynamics, Plot twist and a Cliffhanger.... I couldn't tear myself away! It's not without some critique (ex: I expected more from the trials considering the ramp up to it) but nothing I couldn't move on from and nothing that would lower my overall opinion... it's an incredible debut novel.
I went into this book blind and was pleasantly surprised... minus the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger and I lack patience. Ha! Can't wait to continue on with the story! The book had everything I love in a YA fantasy novel - Unique magic system, Found family, Deadly Trials, Betrayal, Reluctant allies, Enemies to Lovers, Political intrigue/Court dynamics, Plot twist and a Cliffhanger.... I couldn't tear myself away! It's not without some critique (ex: I expected more from the trials considering the ramp up to it) but nothing I couldn't move on from and nothing that would lower my overall opinion... it's an incredible debut novel.
This is a great debut novel for this author! This is a fast paced, beautifully written novel. The magic system is so unique, and makes it truly stand out from other fantasies. I’m already so ready for book 2!
"Call her that again, and I will bring war upon you myself."
4.5/5
What a story! From the trials, to the war hour, to the beginnings of an actual war, and all the relationships formed in between, this world pulled me in immediately and kept me hooked. It was super interesting that the magic in this world is earned by trials and the way you defeat the trial actually determines what type of magic you receive. Although the romance was definitely a subplot, it was still very present and the tension was perfection <3
Main concepts I liked:
-political intrigue
-dystopian-esque court
-earning magic through trials
-reluctant allies
Overall, this was an amazing debut and I am honored to have received an eARC from the author. I actually already ordered my own physical copy to have because I just keep thinking about this world and am so excited to see where this series goes.
Thanks again to Lauren Loscig for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
What a story! From the trials, to the war hour, to the beginnings of an actual war, and all the relationships formed in between, this world pulled me in immediately and kept me hooked. It was super interesting that the magic in this world is earned by trials and the way you defeat the trial actually determines what type of magic you receive. Although the romance was definitely a subplot, it was still very present and the tension was perfection <3
Main concepts I liked:
-political intrigue
-dystopian-esque court
-earning magic through trials
-reluctant allies
Overall, this was an amazing debut and I am honored to have received an eARC from the author. I actually already ordered my own physical copy to have because I just keep thinking about this world and am so excited to see where this series goes.
Thanks again to Lauren Loscig for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
I received this book as a digital ARC back in early November but i didn't start it until yesterday because i wanted to finish the series that I was reading at the time, about 15% into this book I regretted not starting this book as soon as I received it!
The world-building and writing was easy to follow and I felt like I was IN the book from the first chapter. It's super action-packed and you can really emphatise with the FMC and her struggles deciding who to trust!
I raccomend this if you liked Divergent!
The world-building and writing was easy to follow and I felt like I was IN the book from the first chapter. It's super action-packed and you can really emphatise with the FMC and her struggles deciding who to trust!
I raccomend this if you liked Divergent!
I received a copy of this as a ARC ready. But I have already preordered a hard cover copy if that says anything.
1st off I rate no books 5 ⭐️ unless it’s a god teir book BUT I feel like as a series this could turn into a 5 ⭐️ series.
The first 35% of the book was a little slow (was the same for throne of glass first boom for me) lacking a bit of descriptions, hard to pictures few things.
The concept of this type of magical world is completely new and captivating and I’m totally invested in how this world is built on!!! Amazing debut novel!!
1st off I rate no books 5 ⭐️ unless it’s a god teir book BUT I feel like as a series this could turn into a 5 ⭐️ series.
The first 35% of the book was a little slow (was the same for throne of glass first boom for me) lacking a bit of descriptions, hard to pictures few things.
The concept of this type of magical world is completely new and captivating and I’m totally invested in how this world is built on!!! Amazing debut novel!!
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I got sent an ARC of this book and was so happy by it. I knew it would be good but i wasn’t expecting it to be THAT good, literally. I had fallen out of love with fantasies because they were too complicated and descriptive and could never seem to really interest and hook me but this book changed the game. The beginning was a bit slow hut after a few pages this book had me on the edge of my seat. I read it all in one go. The fantasy, the mystery, the thriller, the love, THE TWIST, everything was actually SO AMAZING. One of the best books i have read in the whole of 2023. I was shocked at how it ended because now I will be waiting every day for book 2. I literally cannot wait to read book 2. I NEED book 2.
Gobbled this up in a day. War Hour has the makings of a great YA fantasy series - this book left me wanting more! The concept of earned magic and the way it’s earned was so intriguing, especially with different courts wielding different results through Trials. And I’m a romance girl, so I love any little bit of romance and most especially I love romance with PLOT TWISTS. Trying to do a spoiler-free review because I think people should read this as soon as it releases, but I can’t tell who I’m rooting for romantically anymore and tbh that’s my favorite way to be in a first book situation. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Special thanks to Lauren Loscig for providing me with an eARC of this book :)
Special thanks to Lauren Loscig for providing me with an eARC of this book :)
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was a good concept, very typically YA with randomly capitalized nouns like “Trials” and “Courts.” There were some things I liked and a lot of things I didn’t like:
👍 Good things:
- The idea of powers being earned, and the way you solve a trial corresponding to the power you get
- the politics of the world
👎 Bad things:
- Little to no description of the environment or world. I never knew anything about the environment other than “in a room” or “outside,” and we find out nothing about what Lysta’s life was like before the book starts. We know she was on the streets and that’s it, no flashbacks or anything.
- Very trope-y plot twist at the end, a Hans-esque betrayal.
- THE EDITING. This NEEDED an editor; there were so many grammatical and spelling errors I felt like I was reading a middle schooler’s project.
- The characters were all flat, Lysta was a pick-me, and the characters were always doing things inconsistent with their personality they showed before
- It makes literally no sense that Drytas wanted everyone trialed because that makes people stronger. You want people weak so they don’t rebel. Very pointless and no good motivations for anyone
- The world building was exceptionally vague and undescriptive. I was left with so many questions that were quite important.
Overall decent but I doubt I’ll continue to read these. I’m also giving the author grace because she seems young and has a lot of potential.
👍 Good things:
- The idea of powers being earned, and the way you solve a trial corresponding to the power you get
- the politics of the world
👎 Bad things:
- Little to no description of the environment or world. I never knew anything about the environment other than “in a room” or “outside,” and we find out nothing about what Lysta’s life was like before the book starts. We know she was on the streets and that’s it, no flashbacks or anything.
- Very trope-y plot twist at the end, a Hans-esque betrayal.
- THE EDITING. This NEEDED an editor; there were so many grammatical and spelling errors I felt like I was reading a middle schooler’s project.
- The characters were all flat, Lysta was a pick-me, and the characters were always doing things inconsistent with their personality they showed before
- It makes literally no sense that Drytas wanted everyone trialed because that makes people stronger. You want people weak so they don’t rebel. Very pointless and no good motivations for anyone
- The world building was exceptionally vague and undescriptive. I was left with so many questions that were quite important.
Overall decent but I doubt I’ll continue to read these. I’m also giving the author grace because she seems young and has a lot of potential.