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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
The romance is the book is a little lacking but the world is a very neat concept. The story grabs you in and gives enough world building that it’s easy to get into the world and root for the characters! A great read! Can’t wait for book two
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5/5 - This debut novel has everything I love in a YA novel. The main thing that caught my attention is that the magic was something you earned. Though that still creates a classist system of sorts, it’s different than being born with or without magic since everyone starts off with no magic.
The book has a very dystopian feel to it but I wouldn’t call it a dystopian novel. I think it’s because the world we enter in feels very much like District 12 from the Hunger Games, but there’s also similar structures very reminiscent/inspired by Divergent but it’s not a world that has been ruined and divided but has existed in these separated courts for an unspecified time.
I loved that the story is told from our female main character Lysta’s point of view. We are exposed to the world as she is and it’s a great way to learn more about how the world works without being dumped tons of information all at once. As much as I love very kick butt female characters, Lysta is a bit more average and relatable. Survival is her life but war/killing is not a part of that. She experiences moments of panic and anxiety that feel so real and relatable.
You may enjoy this book if you love:
🗡️ fairly unique magic system
🗡️ fighting oppressive rulers
🗡️ relatable FMC
🗡️ political unrest/intrigue
🗡️ found family
🗡️ reluctant allies
🗡️ a love story subplot (aka not the main focus)
🗡️ lovable and hateable characters
🗡️ betrayals, plot twists, and mysteries
🗡️ no-spice fantasy
🗡️ ballroom scene
🗡️ YA books with similarities such as The Hunger Games and Divergent
All in all I would’ve finished this book in two, maybe three days if I didn’t have any other obligations. The book starts off right in the middle of the action and the pace slows down the second 1/3 of the book and then picks up for the last bit. One of the main characters says not to trust anyone and though he said it to Lysta, readers to be wary as well. Some events could’ve probably be slowed down/flushed out a bit more but I they weren’t terrible. There are many details about the world that we still don’t know but I’m sure they’ll come to light later in the series.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel
*Disclaimer* I’m thankful I was chosen to receive a ARC of this book. These thoughts are mine and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
The book has a very dystopian feel to it but I wouldn’t call it a dystopian novel. I think it’s because the world we enter in feels very much like District 12 from the Hunger Games, but there’s also similar structures very reminiscent/inspired by Divergent but it’s not a world that has been ruined and divided but has existed in these separated courts for an unspecified time.
I loved that the story is told from our female main character Lysta’s point of view. We are exposed to the world as she is and it’s a great way to learn more about how the world works without being dumped tons of information all at once. As much as I love very kick butt female characters, Lysta is a bit more average and relatable. Survival is her life but war/killing is not a part of that. She experiences moments of panic and anxiety that feel so real and relatable.
You may enjoy this book if you love:
🗡️ fairly unique magic system
🗡️ fighting oppressive rulers
🗡️ relatable FMC
🗡️ political unrest/intrigue
🗡️ found family
🗡️ reluctant allies
🗡️ a love story subplot (aka not the main focus)
🗡️ lovable and hateable characters
🗡️ betrayals, plot twists, and mysteries
🗡️ no-spice fantasy
🗡️ ballroom scene
🗡️ YA books with similarities such as The Hunger Games and Divergent
All in all I would’ve finished this book in two, maybe three days if I didn’t have any other obligations. The book starts off right in the middle of the action and the pace slows down the second 1/3 of the book and then picks up for the last bit. One of the main characters says not to trust anyone and though he said it to Lysta, readers to be wary as well. Some events could’ve probably be slowed down/flushed out a bit more but I they weren’t terrible. There are many details about the world that we still don’t know but I’m sure they’ll come to light later in the series.
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel
*Disclaimer* I’m thankful I was chosen to receive a ARC of this book. These thoughts are mine and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
OKAY so this book was actually really good. I'm so glad I got to read as an ARC reader, but I can honestly say it was wayyyy better than what I expected. It's been a while since I've read fantasy, and when I saw some of the art for the book and read the blurb past the initial premise, I'll admit I was a little apprehensive. I was expecting a fantasy book driven by romance, but I soon realised it was way more than that.
While I kind of expected the plot twist, it still hit me hard when Evander's true intentions were revealed. The political tension in the story kept me on my toes, and it was extremely easy to get absorbed into the story. I loved how reading the story from Lysta's perspective felt so natural and so right. It's a testament to Lauren Loscig's talent in plot and character development that I was so invested in the story.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and easy fantasy book to read. While the end of the story felt a little rushed, the major cliff hanger that the book ended on has definitely left me craving the rest of the series. So be warned, because you WILL get attached to this world and the next book in the series is yet to be determined.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and easy fantasy book to read. While the end of the story felt a little rushed, the major cliff hanger that the book ended on has definitely left me craving the rest of the series. So be warned, because you WILL get attached to this world and the next book in the series is yet to be determined.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Wow wow wow! What a book! It took a while for me to get into it, as it often does whenever you start a new series with a new world to get into and a new writer style to get used to. But folks, this is the new thing, this is what we've been waiting for, and it delivers.
Hunger Games meets Divergent meets Shatter Me. In this world magic is not something that you're born with but have to earn through trialing. However it is not of everyone's wish to be trialed and in Falland the Untrialed live in fear under the rule of a leader with strong powers and a weak moral. The people being trialed are either coming back as a shell of themselves or not coming back at all.
Lysta is Untrialed as she walks to the town market, for a quick in and out for the essentials to continue to survive on the streets. Instead in an unforseen twist of events she finds herself in the castle, being asked to trial - with a knife at her throat...
I fell in love with Lysta from the start. It was so refreshing with an MC that is in touch with her emotions and stands up for them and does not change them to please someone else. She is also fierce, fair and stubborn.
There are twists and turns and you learn more about the world as the book goes. I kept wanting to read more more more. A masterpiece.
The only thing I missed was perhaps a little bit more backstory to get a better sense of the early relationships which would have made other things have more impact on me. But this is still a 5 star read for me and after that finish I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE IN THE SERIES!
Hunger Games meets Divergent meets Shatter Me. In this world magic is not something that you're born with but have to earn through trialing. However it is not of everyone's wish to be trialed and in Falland the Untrialed live in fear under the rule of a leader with strong powers and a weak moral. The people being trialed are either coming back as a shell of themselves or not coming back at all.
Lysta is Untrialed as she walks to the town market, for a quick in and out for the essentials to continue to survive on the streets. Instead in an unforseen twist of events she finds herself in the castle, being asked to trial - with a knife at her throat...
I fell in love with Lysta from the start. It was so refreshing with an MC that is in touch with her emotions and stands up for them and does not change them to please someone else. She is also fierce, fair and stubborn.
There are twists and turns and you learn more about the world as the book goes. I kept wanting to read more more more. A masterpiece.
The only thing I missed was perhaps a little bit more backstory to get a better sense of the early relationships which would have made other things have more impact on me. But this is still a 5 star read for me and after that finish I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE IN THE SERIES!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
It's been a long time since I liked a book so much that I couldn't put it down. The betrayals, the trials, the dynamics of the entire universe really, everything was fantastic. I can't wait for the second book to come out!!