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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Ignore the terrible romantasy cover! This has a really interesting premise and I loved the vein of the story dealing with Hellevir’s necromantic powers and deals with Death. I didn’t feel that the romance aspect of the story was as strong and at times I found it slightly off-putting. But I was engaged and interested and would continue the series!
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, War
I'm glad that this was recommended to me because I would've assumed it was a YA romantasy based on the cover and I wouldn't have picked it up. I also don't think the comp titles are super accurate. I would compare this to The Wolf and the Woodsman or The Crimson Crown. I really loved the way that necromancy and resurrection magic is depicted in this book and the fact that the love interest is NOT death (that's WAY overdone). Not that the bratty princess is necessarily a better option, but definitely more interesting (and sapphic) . I also like how dark and gritty this world feels. Politics, religion, and family drama all combine to make this a very compelling read and I look forward to the next book!
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, here's the thing. I actually enjoyed this book. Interesting premise, interesting world. Most of the characters, also interesting. But, fuck, you can't build a book around a romance and then have the love interest be paper thin.
When the main character makes horrific decisions based on obsession, make the reader believe the obsession! Instead, the Princess is so thin as to be virtually nonexistent. I'm so aggravated because I want to know what happens next—I'm invested—but won't bother reading it because I won't believe the main character's motivation, thus undermining the plot.
When the main character makes horrific decisions based on obsession, make the reader believe the obsession! Instead, the Princess is so thin as to be virtually nonexistent. I'm so aggravated because I want to know what happens next—I'm invested—but won't bother reading it because I won't believe the main character's motivation, thus undermining the plot.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
A young woman able to raise the dead and a princess demanding her services to stop a war. Hellivier is trapped by the threats of the crown, the dominant religion, and her love for her family. I liked the concept, but not the execution. I was so frustrated with the main character for about 90% of the novel. Her motivations are not well fleshed out or believable. The world building was okay, and I enjoyed the prose's pace, style, and clarity. This was a miss for me.