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dododenise's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book took me unusually long to get through and I have a hard time putting my finger on why that is. In the beginning I really enjoyed that the book forced me to slow down. It gave me the time to really digest the delicate world building and the big cast of characters and their relationships.
At some point I wanted the plot to pick up on pace though. Not a whole lot of things happen in this book. Sometimes the plot is literally traveling back and forth. That did get a little tiring. It wasn’t that bad though, since the pages were still filled with character work and further establishing the world building.
I can’t stop mentioning the world building because it is so intricately done. I love the magic system. The politics and people involved in it work so well together. The world felt very real very quickly. The world building was also built into the story really well. It often bothers me when a fantasy book is just a confusing mess the first 100 pages and drops all the world building on you. That isn’t what happened here. It was threaded through everything else. I was made to care about the characters and their story very quickly.
I expected this story to be mostly about Wren and Everis. I was surprised to see chapters from so many other characters at first, but quickly got into it. This story is first and foremost about political intrigue and betrayal. It’s not a romance, although the love the characters feel informs all their choices.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, with amazing world building, characters, and relationships.
At some point I wanted the plot to pick up on pace though. Not a whole lot of things happen in this book. Sometimes the plot is literally traveling back and forth. That did get a little tiring. It wasn’t that bad though, since the pages were still filled with character work and further establishing the world building.
I can’t stop mentioning the world building because it is so intricately done. I love the magic system. The politics and people involved in it work so well together. The world felt very real very quickly. The world building was also built into the story really well. It often bothers me when a fantasy book is just a confusing mess the first 100 pages and drops all the world building on you. That isn’t what happened here. It was threaded through everything else. I was made to care about the characters and their story very quickly.
I expected this story to be mostly about Wren and Everis. I was surprised to see chapters from so many other characters at first, but quickly got into it. This story is first and foremost about political intrigue and betrayal. It’s not a romance, although the love the characters feel informs all their choices.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, with amazing world building, characters, and relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
platoniclume's review
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
book_loser's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
viking_flower_girl's review against another edition
4.0
ARC Review
I was generously given an arc copy to read. I really, loved this book. The character interactions and relationships were very real and enjoyable to read. I really love books that are multi POV. Some of the chapters did feel a little short, but that didn’t bother me personally. I loved the world and cannot wait to see it be expanded and explored more. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was generously given an arc copy to read. I really, loved this book. The character interactions and relationships were very real and enjoyable to read. I really love books that are multi POV. Some of the chapters did feel a little short, but that didn’t bother me personally. I loved the world and cannot wait to see it be expanded and explored more. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
jbalkovec's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.0
not_a_violin's review
adventurous
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
4.0
jazgeox's review
4.0
*ARC Review*
5 stars, I absolutely loved this story! I haven’t read fantasy in a while and this book reminded me why I love it so much. Both the plot and characters are so wonderfully written you can’t help but get hooked and feeling all the emotions, Everis and Wren aren’t perfect but they are pure souls trying their best no matter what gets thrown their way❤️ I look forward to reading more by Kelley in the future!
5 stars, I absolutely loved this story! I haven’t read fantasy in a while and this book reminded me why I love it so much. Both the plot and characters are so wonderfully written you can’t help but get hooked and feeling all the emotions, Everis and Wren aren’t perfect but they are pure souls trying their best no matter what gets thrown their way❤️ I look forward to reading more by Kelley in the future!
di_reads_books's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brittaniethekid's review
DNF at 35%.
This is one I want to come back to, I'm just not in the right mood or headspace for something in this genre.
The writing is great, as always for York in my experience, but I'm not connecting with any of the characters or the story itself. There's starting to be hints that the main two MCs are in love but there's a dozen other characters and multiple POVs that, not only does the romance take a backseat to the world building, it's all the way in the back of the bus.
This bums me out because this was an ARC from a writer I usually really enjoy. Just not the story for me, right now.
This is one I want to come back to, I'm just not in the right mood or headspace for something in this genre.
The writing is great, as always for York in my experience, but I'm not connecting with any of the characters or the story itself. There's starting to be hints that the main two MCs are in love but there's a dozen other characters and multiple POVs that, not only does the romance take a backseat to the world building, it's all the way in the back of the bus.
This bums me out because this was an ARC from a writer I usually really enjoy. Just not the story for me, right now.
serpina's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
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