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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
3.75 stars
ok idk why it took me as long as it did for me to read this because it was really good! Nielsen's writing has always been a favorite of mine and I love the Ascendance Trilogy so once I saw that she's written multiple other series/books, I was ecstatic. Her writing is beautiful and detailed, yet easy to read. This book got me back into the fantasy genre so hopefully, I'll be reading more fantasy soon!
The subplot of romance was the perfect amount. You could feel the tension building between Kestra and Simon, but it wasn't fully taking over the main plot. I also liked how they had a history and how they were discovering miscommunications between them when they were only 11.
One more thing I loved about this, ZERO LANGUAGE AND NO TALK OF ***!!!!! This just proves that you can have such an amazing book without inappropriate things in it!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully, I'll be able to read this entire series!!
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- violence (blood, some gore, torture, stabbing)
- three kisses but only kisses :)
ok idk why it took me as long as it did for me to read this because it was really good! Nielsen's writing has always been a favorite of mine and I love the Ascendance Trilogy so once I saw that she's written multiple other series/books, I was ecstatic. Her writing is beautiful and detailed, yet easy to read. This book got me back into the fantasy genre so hopefully, I'll be reading more fantasy soon!
The subplot of romance was the perfect amount. You could feel the tension building between Kestra and Simon, but it wasn't fully taking over the main plot. I also liked how they had a history and how they were discovering miscommunications between them when they were only 11.
One more thing I loved about this, ZERO LANGUAGE AND NO TALK OF ***!!!!! This just proves that you can have such an amazing book without inappropriate things in it!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully, I'll be able to read this entire series!!
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- violence (blood, some gore, torture, stabbing)
- three kisses but only kisses :)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Things I liked:
- I liked Sir Basil, Gerald, Darrow, and Celia.
- Specifically, Sir Basil was a fun character in the book that is probably my favorite from the story
- The tensions between different groups/organizations was interesting
Things I disliked:
- The plot was predictable
- Although I liked Kestra's fierceness, I found her annoying for the entire book (due to the way she treated other people)
- Simon had so much potential, but once the romance started, he became kind of boring
- The world building was minimal
- The romance was instalove and progressed too quickly, going against the established relationship between the characters
- None of the antagonists were intimidating or scary to me
I struggled through this book, but I was going to give it a 2 star. However, the ending made the book a 1 star for me. I thought the ending was simultaneously rushed and extremely dragged out. I will admit that this book just may be outside of my interests, and I may have really enjoyed this book if I had read it when I was younger.
- I liked Sir Basil, Gerald, Darrow, and Celia.
- Specifically, Sir Basil was a fun character in the book that is probably my favorite from the story
- The tensions between different groups/organizations was interesting
Things I disliked:
- The plot was predictable
- Although I liked Kestra's fierceness, I found her annoying for the entire book (due to the way she treated other people)
- Simon had so much potential, but once the romance started, he became kind of boring
- The world building was minimal
- The romance was instalove and progressed too quickly, going against the established relationship between the characters
- None of the antagonists were intimidating or scary to me
I struggled through this book, but I was going to give it a 2 star. However, the ending made the book a 1 star for me. I thought the ending was simultaneously rushed and extremely dragged out. I will admit that this book just may be outside of my interests, and I may have really enjoyed this book if I had read it when I was younger.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This reads like the most late 2010s book there ever was.
Nobility girl who has no strong morals either way, though she is GOOD because she flinches whenever someone she's known more than a second experiences pain. She will inevitably fall in love with the boy that she knew when she was a child but who hates her now. She will see the ways of the rebels and join their side. Or maybe she'll find a path down the middle because in these types of stories there is no strong emotions either way. Both sides always.
I'm tired and bored for this type of story. Maybe it won't turn out like this at all. But I'm not willing to see that through.
Nobility girl who has no strong morals either way, though she is GOOD because she flinches whenever someone she's known more than a second experiences pain. She will inevitably fall in love with the boy that she knew when she was a child but who hates her now. She will see the ways of the rebels and join their side. Or maybe she'll find a path down the middle because in these types of stories there is no strong emotions either way. Both sides always.
I'm tired and bored for this type of story. Maybe it won't turn out like this at all. But I'm not willing to see that through.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Traitor's Game did its job of keeping you guessing. Who is the traitor? Who are the traitors? Who will be the Infidante (if it's even real)?
Also worth noting that this book happens within the span of four days.
I can admire the guessing game of Kestra's true heritage, however, multiple times I thought it was a classic case of the "Chosen One" trope. The Infidante in this novel is essentially "The Chosen One" and everyone wants to be it. The book keeps us guessing throughout, first: What do the Halderians want with Kestra? Whose side is Trina on, and how does she know a Halderian? Does Kestra trust her own father? Whose side is Darrow really on? Will Kestra betray her captors or her own land? What is Tenger (a Corack)'s true motive? Who will the Olden Blade choose as The Chosen One?
FOUR PAGES until the end and we discover that Simon is the son of exiled King Gareth of the Halderians?? Is no one of insignificance here???
Also worth noting that this book happens within the span of four days.
I can admire the guessing game of Kestra's true heritage, however, multiple times I thought it was a classic case of the "Chosen One" trope. The Infidante in this novel is essentially "The Chosen One" and everyone wants to be it. The book keeps us guessing throughout, first: What do the Halderians want with Kestra? Whose side is Trina on, and how does she know a Halderian? Does Kestra trust her own father? Whose side is Darrow really on? Will Kestra betray her captors or her own land? What is Tenger (a Corack)'s true motive? Who will the Olden Blade choose as The Chosen One?
Spoiler
Also, 12 pages until the end of the book we found out who Kestra's real father is. Are you kidding me? I just spent a large portion of this book being thrown around as to if her mother was Risha, Anaya, or Lily?FOUR PAGES until the end and we discover that Simon is the son of exiled King Gareth of the Halderians?? Is no one of insignificance here???
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to love this one. I'll still read at least one more for the series, but there was a lot lacking for me here. We see 2 people fall in love very quickly and with very little back story. All the characters seemed wishy washy, which may have been an attempt to show that there's more than just right and wrong. There were plot holes in places and some of the descriptions of time seemed off. Some of the "twists" themselves actually felt like just changing the story. The one about who the Infidante was was the hardest to believe for me. There was a lot of repetition, especially about the falling in love thing. This is the 5th book I've read by this author and perhaps her stories just tend to be more plot driven than what I tend to gravitate toward.
I enjoyed the story and even parts of the romance, but still too much seemed to farfetched to give a higher rating.
Ratings: Violence - pg/pg 13 (depending on how sensitive the kid is) Language - G (I think) Sexual Content - PG (just a lot of kissing)
I enjoyed the story and even parts of the romance, but still too much seemed to farfetched to give a higher rating.
Ratings: Violence - pg/pg 13 (depending on how sensitive the kid is) Language - G (I think) Sexual Content - PG (just a lot of kissing)