Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
A very interesting slightly Nordic retelling? You’ll notice throughout the little nuances here and there. It was rather intriguing as I kept on pushing on, I had a hard time connecting with the characters from the start but as we progressed it didn’t feel as forced! Hellevir, our main girl, is cursed and blessed with a gift that pretty much everyone would love to have for themselves. And that’s exactly her problem. It was a unique political fantasy that focused on its world building and society. It was fast paced and filled with questions of morality, along with queer representation!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author!
This was okay. The concept was better than the execution, but the writing was style was good.
slow-paced
what a ride of a book. lots of feelings about state-backed religion (and religion-backed state) and what it means to follow a religion (or no religion at all) when the majority of people around you follow a different one. the similarities between christianity and onaistianism (?) we're not subtle and definitely dredged up some Feelings in me as i was reading. it was harrowing to read hellevir's justifications/excuses for what the temple was doing throughout the book, knowing personally that they never stop at a reasonable point ("it won't happen here" is a helluva drug).
Death has reminded her that she did not believe in their One God. Her mother and Sullivain did, but it was not her burden to bear whatever that meant for them.
i did think this book was paced a bit slow for me, but i couldn't help but wonder what would come next all the same. seeing hellevir change throughout the book was awesome, as i feel like a lot of fantasy books i've read recently don't have such drastic character development.
this bit really solidified my anticipation for
"I don't want war."
"It's certainly not peace you hunger for... Why do you think you first tried to raise the dead? Because you cared so much, or because you wanted to know if you could? To test your mettle? You don't fear becoming nothing in death, but being nothing in life, and times of peace are not conducive to greatness."
all that to say, this book just surprised me in so many ways - i'm so impressed, especially given that it's a debut novel. i can't wait to read the second book!
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Rating: ★★★★
Spice: none
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
As soon as I seen the synopsis for this book I knew I needed to read it.
A woman blessed (or cursed) with a power to do the unimaginable. Our main character Hellevir can resurrect people and animals, but as always there is a price to pay.
Strong women holding power. Badass women (even the morally grey badass women) are a common theme through the story telling, which was great to read about.
Hellevir is such a complex character of naivety and confidence which you see as a running theme through the whole book.
Her dealings with Death are so well thought out you feel as if you are there with both of them.
Side characters, I always fall in love with side characters and this book was no different. Loved the character of her mentor, Milandre, her Father, her brother Favor, Fathor’s lover Calgir and her raven Elsevir. I found myself enjoying Favor and Calgir’s relationship a lot, however, the romance between Hellevir and Sullivain left an ache in my heart. It was so cute the touches and the looks but I also don’t think there was any redeemable qualities about Sullivain (I’m sure Helevir would disagree).
Seeing the growth of Helevir at her being able to stand up for herself in life and death was great to read and leaves a lot to think about where the second book might take us.
This book was so gripping and such an interesting and intriguing concept and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this story goes.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Voyager and Marianne Gordon for gifting me an ARC in return for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★★
Spice: none
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
As soon as I seen the synopsis for this book I knew I needed to read it.
A woman blessed (or cursed) with a power to do the unimaginable. Our main character Hellevir can resurrect people and animals, but as always there is a price to pay.
Strong women holding power. Badass women (even the morally grey badass women) are a common theme through the story telling, which was great to read about.
Hellevir is such a complex character of naivety and confidence which you see as a running theme through the whole book.
Her dealings with Death are so well thought out you feel as if you are there with both of them.
Side characters, I always fall in love with side characters and this book was no different. Loved the character of her mentor, Milandre, her Father, her brother Favor, Fathor’s lover Calgir and her raven Elsevir. I found myself enjoying Favor and Calgir’s relationship a lot, however, the romance between Hellevir and Sullivain left an ache in my heart. It was so cute the touches and the looks but I also don’t think there was any redeemable qualities about Sullivain (I’m sure Helevir would disagree).
Seeing the growth of Helevir at her being able to stand up for herself in life and death was great to read and leaves a lot to think about where the second book might take us.
This book was so gripping and such an interesting and intriguing concept and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this story goes.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Voyager and Marianne Gordon for gifting me an ARC in return for an honest review.
dark
sad
tense
Thank you so so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this book early in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly to God loved this book so incredibly much. The world of Rochidain, the characters, the curious nature of Death. For a book with such a dark and gothic style of story, I truly found that the characters were so colorful and blooming with a rich collection of traits.
Hellevir is such a beautifully written character, as was Sullivan. Death, as it happens, was my favorite, because I always wanted to know MORE. Who is Death? Why is he there? How can he be so…compassionate and dispassionate at the same time?
A young herbalist, Hellevir, can bring people back from death once they’ve died, but only by giving Death a piece of herself in exchange, as well as a piece of something living.
That’s all I’m going to say, because well and truly, I really want you all to read this book. It’s phenomenal in more ways than one, and I cannot wait for the second!
I honestly to God loved this book so incredibly much. The world of Rochidain, the characters, the curious nature of Death. For a book with such a dark and gothic style of story, I truly found that the characters were so colorful and blooming with a rich collection of traits.
Hellevir is such a beautifully written character, as was Sullivan. Death, as it happens, was my favorite, because I always wanted to know MORE. Who is Death? Why is he there? How can he be so…compassionate and dispassionate at the same time?
A young herbalist, Hellevir, can bring people back from death once they’ve died, but only by giving Death a piece of herself in exchange, as well as a piece of something living.
That’s all I’m going to say, because well and truly, I really want you all to read this book. It’s phenomenal in more ways than one, and I cannot wait for the second!
This is a 3 but not a bad 3. This book was good, but the chapters were so long that it kinda dragged a little. I will still read the next one… but I hope the chapters are shorter.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This really had it all to me. A folk tale world with political intrigue, complex heroes and villains, and sapphic yearning. Blurs the lines between a romantasy and a political fantasy that worked really really well for me.
I’d like to address the reviews that call Sullivain an abuser and toxic love interest. It’s a little interesting in the era of the “morally gray shadow daddy” and repackaged reylo (genocidal maniac) fanfic I see published and praised, we are now drawing that line when that archetype is being presented as a lesbian? It’s pathetic, perhaps even a bit illiterate. I find a character groomed and raised to be a villain and whose life is constantly in threat because of it, yet is deeply remorseful and going through an existential religious crisis, who is now entangled with someone who is selfless and good and sees her as a girl and not a crown, makes for a compelling character. Not to mention she is hot. She is charming and hot and interesting. I am not saying the two characters necessarily have a healthy relationship, but I am saying that I liked her, I understand Helliver’s draw to her, and I really loved who these two characters became at the end of the book because of each other.
Very, VERY excited to see what happens in the next book.
I’d like to address the reviews that call Sullivain an abuser and toxic love interest. It’s a little interesting in the era of the “morally gray shadow daddy” and repackaged reylo (genocidal maniac) fanfic I see published and praised, we are now drawing that line when that archetype is being presented as a lesbian? It’s pathetic, perhaps even a bit illiterate. I find a character groomed and raised to be a villain and whose life is constantly in threat because of it, yet is deeply remorseful and going through an existential religious crisis, who is now entangled with someone who is selfless and good and sees her as a girl and not a crown, makes for a compelling character. Not to mention she is hot. She is charming and hot and interesting. I am not saying the two characters necessarily have a healthy relationship, but I am saying that I liked her, I understand Helliver’s draw to her, and I really loved who these two characters became at the end of the book because of each other.
Very, VERY excited to see what happens in the next book.
I enjoyed this story and think it sets the scene for future books, great world building. The depictions of what happens after death were atmospheric and intriguing whilst also being full of foreboding and threat. Main protagonist Hellevir is just a girl at the start f the story and it’s interesting following her growth into a strong woman, unerringly loyal to those she loves but struggling with her feelings for the princess she is forced to keep rescuing from death.
This I would give a solid 3.5⭐️, which I've rounded up here.
We follow along the FMC Helliver, a woman in hear early 20s, who is able to speak with Death and bring back people and creatures to life. This causes her a lot of issues throughout the story as she uses this power.
The writer beautifully captures the relationships throughout the books, and I am impressed as this is written in third person point of view and sometimes this can be hard.
This book had me captured, albeit a bit slow at the beginning, but then I couldn't put it down. The worldbuilding, the characters, the development and the political system are something that I really enjoyed reading.
Going into this book blind, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColllins for this eArc for me to read and review.
We follow along the FMC Helliver, a woman in hear early 20s, who is able to speak with Death and bring back people and creatures to life. This causes her a lot of issues throughout the story as she uses this power.
The writer beautifully captures the relationships throughout the books, and I am impressed as this is written in third person point of view and sometimes this can be hard.
This book had me captured, albeit a bit slow at the beginning, but then I couldn't put it down. The worldbuilding, the characters, the development and the political system are something that I really enjoyed reading.
Going into this book blind, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColllins for this eArc for me to read and review.