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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-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:
No
So there were absolutely some mid bits in this book. They also went from hate to into each other a bit out of nowhere. However loved the vibes, loved the magic system and the last 3rd FUCK ME that was good
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed most of this book, mainly the parts not focussing on our mmc Lorain. He was, to avoid spoilers, a romanticised version of toxic masculinity traits (obsessive, possessive, narcissistic, physically abusive, arguably emotionally abusive, etc.) but because he is JUST SO UNBELIEVABLY HOT the fmc can’t help falling in love with the person she keeps claiming to hate. I feel like that’s less ‘enemies to lovers’ and more ‘enemies but he is HOT and makes my feeble wamam brain melt’ (yay empowerment!)
The magic system, the court intrigue and world building were all very nice, and I enjoyed the differing minor and major characters. Some of the reviews mention the later half being very boring, but I enjoyed it a lot more than the travelling at the start.
Lorian’s buddies were probably the least developed, as they sort of just melded together. At one point they describe Marth as ‘the lewd one’ but I didn’t even recall any lewdness from him yet, only later on. (Although the fmc could be referring to offscreen stuff)
All I can really tell you about them is: Galon, softy but supposedly not. Marth, lewd. Cavis ‘thinks of family’ and Rythos… uhh… exists?
Lorain at points wasn’t as intolerable, but the first 2/5ths of the book he is very unlikeable (and then in the last fifth he is also dislikeable again).
Some of the events felt very coincidental, but it’s a story so these things happen. And in universe there are three gods supposedly aiding such coincidences, so /shrug
Now for some spoilery stuff.
I found the explanations around Prisca’s Magic not fully explained. At first it seemed like a proximity thing where she could ‘allow’ certain people to be excluded from the freeze, and there’s even a moment where she unfreezes someone mid-time pause. But at other point’s people seemingly far away (the prisoners during the escape) can be unfrozen whilst she’s many many rooms away.
It mentions that Null people exist (and we see two) but never what happens to them during all the times she is freezing time, just that she cannot freeze them. Are they just mysteriously still active no matter where Prisca is in the world? ‘Oh there goes another time freeze’. Seems a little plot-holey but minor enough to ignore.
The twist at the very very end (so spoiler warning!) made this become another red-flag nigh-immortal being and young girl pairing, which definitely lowered my view of the already unlikeable relationship. We know he is older than her by a large margin because he mentions forgoing certain things ‘decades ago’ (and she is 22? Definitely <25 due to no blue mark). The other big twist also made Prisca the boring ‘secretly super important person from crumbling village’ trope. (not chosen one thankfully)
And finally, let’s talk about them sex scenes! The book is YA, so likely has to be a bit on the lighter side with sexual stuff. But for the men, we have ‘penis’, ‘cock’ and feeling people’s lengths and hardness through clothes. But then when it comes to female characters we can’t dare talk about their actual parts, gotta use ‘my core’, ‘my thighs’, ‘my heat’ (she’s an animal?). I understand this is likely a publishing pushed decision, but it reinforces the narrative that womanly parts aren’t meant to be mentioned, only men’s. This is something that once you start noticing you realise is very widespread. (This book does mention ‘nipples’ and ‘clit’, but that’s as far as female parts go)
Will it make the boring sex scenes better to change? No. But it’s still something acknowledgeable.
This review talks a lot about things I didn’t like, but it’s much easier to discuss those than stating ‘I liked this, that and that’, so don’t take this as a suggestion to not read this. I likely will read on, even though I dislike aspects.
The magic system, the court intrigue and world building were all very nice, and I enjoyed the differing minor and major characters. Some of the reviews mention the later half being very boring, but I enjoyed it a lot more than the travelling at the start.
Lorian’s buddies were probably the least developed, as they sort of just melded together. At one point they describe Marth as ‘the lewd one’ but I didn’t even recall any lewdness from him yet, only later on. (Although the fmc could be referring to offscreen stuff)
All I can really tell you about them is: Galon, softy but supposedly not. Marth, lewd. Cavis ‘thinks of family’ and Rythos… uhh… exists?
Lorain at points wasn’t as intolerable, but the first 2/5ths of the book he is very unlikeable (and then in the last fifth he is also dislikeable again).
Some of the events felt very coincidental, but it’s a story so these things happen. And in universe there are three gods supposedly aiding such coincidences, so /shrug
Now for some spoilery stuff.
It mentions that Null people exist (and we see two) but never what happens to them during all the times she is freezing time, just that she cannot freeze them. Are they just mysteriously still active no matter where Prisca is in the world? ‘Oh there goes another time freeze’. Seems a little plot-holey but minor enough to ignore.
The twist at the very very end (so spoiler warning!) made this become another red-flag nigh-immortal being and young girl pairing, which definitely lowered my view of the already unlikeable relationship. We know he is older than her by a large margin because he mentions forgoing certain things ‘decades ago’ (and she is 22? Definitely <25 due to no blue mark). The other big twist also made Prisca the boring ‘secretly super important person from crumbling village’ trope. (not chosen one thankfully)
And finally, let’s talk about them sex scenes! The book is YA, so likely has to be a bit on the lighter side with sexual stuff. But for the men, we have ‘penis’, ‘cock’ and feeling people’s lengths and hardness through clothes. But then when it comes to female characters we can’t dare talk about their actual parts, gotta use ‘my core’, ‘my thighs’, ‘my heat’ (she’s an animal?). I understand this is likely a publishing pushed decision, but it reinforces the narrative that womanly parts aren’t meant to be mentioned, only men’s. This is something that once you start noticing you realise is very widespread. (This book does mention ‘nipples’ and ‘clit’, but that’s as far as female parts go)
Will it make the boring sex scenes better to change? No. But it’s still something acknowledgeable.
This review talks a lot about things I didn’t like, but it’s much easier to discuss those than stating ‘I liked this, that and that’, so don’t take this as a suggestion to not read this. I likely will read on, even though I dislike aspects.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship
Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated