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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This was a much darker story than I had expected but I really enjoyed the adult tone and the exploration of death. I think it would definitely be worth checking trigger warnings.
Hellevir has always had an affinity with death, an ability to travel between life and death and save lives for a sacrifice. When tales of her ability spreads and the Princess is murdered, she finds herself compelled to save her. Soon she becomes trapped in threats, politics, death, religion, all with her animal companion, Elsiver the Raven.
I loved the description of death and labyrinths he created. There is much unexplored, I look forward to seeing where it is going to go.
‘Even rotten things like me can desire to live.’
Thank you to Harper Collins and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Hellevir has always had an affinity with death, an ability to travel between life and death and save lives for a sacrifice. When tales of her ability spreads and the Princess is murdered, she finds herself compelled to save her. Soon she becomes trapped in threats, politics, death, religion, all with her animal companion, Elsiver the Raven.
I loved the description of death and labyrinths he created. There is much unexplored, I look forward to seeing where it is going to go.
‘Even rotten things like me can desire to live.’
Thank you to Harper Collins and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This Is Spectacular Give Me 14 of Those Right Now
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I knew this would be a five star read before I finished chapter one. I love it when that happens.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book had a lot of good ideas that were just not executed well. A woman who can walk in Death? Very cool (though Sabriel by Garth Nix did it so well that it casts quite the shadow). A sassy "god" that controls death kinda? Also cool (honestly the best part of the book). Political machinations and uncaring nobles using the commonfolk for fodder (including said woman who can bring back the dead). Very solid concepts, very cool idea for a world.
Unfortunately the story itself did not stand up to these very cool things. Hellevir was a weak pushover nothingburger until she wasn't. Sullivain was a callous blase princess who didn't mind threatening and using Helliver until she wasn't. The religious aspect was not a looming darkness until it was time to torture someone. The writing was often repetitive and simple, and just basically... undeveloped. It left me skipping segments that looped back over themselves too many times, and left me frustrated that the characters were so inconsistent (except Death ironically). So when the plot started to feel gelled at the 85% mark of this book, the story had already lost me. I hope that this means that the second book in the series is better, because the story now has its momentum, but I'm not sure it's enough to bring me back for a while.
Unfortunately the story itself did not stand up to these very cool things. Hellevir was a weak pushover nothingburger until she wasn't. Sullivain was a callous blase princess who didn't mind threatening and using Helliver until she wasn't. The religious aspect was not a looming darkness until it was time to torture someone. The writing was often repetitive and simple, and just basically... undeveloped. It left me skipping segments that looped back over themselves too many times, and left me frustrated that the characters were so inconsistent (except Death ironically). So when the plot started to feel gelled at the 85% mark of this book, the story had already lost me. I hope that this means that the second book in the series is better, because the story now has its momentum, but I'm not sure it's enough to bring me back for a while.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes