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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
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
The audiobook is read by a lady with an Eastern European (presumably Polish) accent. It is fantastic and made the book even more enjoyable for me. Which is saying something because I sure love a (fairly) literary darkish fairytale for grown ups. And I personally connected with the theme of common sense, intuitive, messy, "rooted" magic versus formal, studied, conventional magic. As long as you don't have trouble understanding accents, go with the audiobook all the way.
DNF
J’ai déjà lu de la fantasy, mais très très accessible et pas du tout de ce genre, du coup j’avais envie d’essayer autre chose, car j’ai déjà eu de bonnes surprises avec le book club, malheureusement cette fois ce n’est pas un succès… Ça partait vraiment bien, et j’étais très enthousiaste dès les premières pages. Et puis soudain, il ne se passe plus rien, trop de longueurs, trop de descriptions, je ne faisais que soupirer en lisant, car je m’ennuyais, je n’ai pas réussi à m’attacher aux personnages… C’est dommage parce que je suis sûre que l’histoire en elle-même aurait pu me plaire, mais il faut aller droit au but madame l’autrice😤, donc je suis assez déçue mais cette lecture ne me donnait plus aucun plaisir et je me forçais 😓
J’ai déjà lu de la fantasy, mais très très accessible et pas du tout de ce genre, du coup j’avais envie d’essayer autre chose, car j’ai déjà eu de bonnes surprises avec le book club, malheureusement cette fois ce n’est pas un succès… Ça partait vraiment bien, et j’étais très enthousiaste dès les premières pages. Et puis soudain, il ne se passe plus rien, trop de longueurs, trop de descriptions, je ne faisais que soupirer en lisant, car je m’ennuyais, je n’ai pas réussi à m’attacher aux personnages… C’est dommage parce que je suis sûre que l’histoire en elle-même aurait pu me plaire, mais il faut aller droit au but madame l’autrice😤, donc je suis assez déçue mais cette lecture ne me donnait plus aucun plaisir et je me forçais 😓
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
This book deserves nothing less than 5 stars, and I honestly think it might be my favorite read of the year. Let me tell you why it left such a lasting impression on me.
First, the story itself is incredibly unique and captivating. Naomi weaves a tale that is rich with magic, mystery, and emotion, pulling you in from the very first page. Her storytelling is nothing short of brilliant—each chapter leaves you wanting more, making you eager to flip back and see if there are details you missed along the way. She has an incredible talent for layering her narrative in such a way that the more you read, the deeper you fall into the world she's created.
The characters are where this book truly shines. They are so relatable, and the conflicts and emotions between them are raw, real, and beautifully portrayed. One of the standout relationships for me was between our protagonist, Agnieszka, and her best friend Kasia. I deeply appreciated the sister-like bond they shared despite not being related. The story initially sets them up as potential rivals—Kasia being perfect in every way—but instead of falling into that tired trope, the book shows us a refreshing, supportive relationship. These two have each other's backs through thick and thin, and their love for one another felt so genuine. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book, seeing how they defied the expectation of rivalry and instead embraced a love that was pure and unbreakable.
Then there’s the dynamic between Agnieszka and Sarkan, which I adored. From Agnieszka’s perspective, Sarkan initially seems cold, dangerous, and unkind. He has a sharp tongue and a gruff demeanor, but it quickly becomes clear that underneath all that, he’s a deeply caring and gentle man. I think some readers missed the subtlety of his character, focusing too much on his outward grumpiness without seeing the tenderness in his actions. He’s always looking out for Agnieszka, putting her needs first, and the trust that grows between them is evident in every interaction. Their relationship isn’t the focal point of the story, and I actually loved that. The romance unfolds naturally as a subplot, driven by the events of the story rather than dominating it. It made their bond feel more real, more earned. Watching Sarkan soften around her, and seeing Agnieszka find comfort in his presence, was so rewarding. The moment when she misses him so much that she can literally manifest his presence was such a beautiful, powerful scene that perfectly illustrated how deeply their connection ran.
Now let’s talk about the magic in this book. It’s nothing overly complex in terms of the system—potions, incantations, the usual—but the way the magic is described was truly special. Naomi has this incredible ability to make you feel the magic through Agnieszka’s eyes. Her descriptions of magic as a flowing river, a ray of sunlight, or a dam about to burst were so vivid and evocative. I felt like I was right there with her, experiencing the magic as she did. There’s a wonderful balance in the way magic is portrayed, particularly when Agnieszka and Sarkan work together. Her calm, melodic approach pairs so beautifully with his steady, powerful magic, and the way they lean on each other for support during those moments was just chef’s kiss. It’s as though their magic was an extension of their trust in each other—when they believed in themselves and each other, their magic was unstoppable; when doubt crept in, the magic faltered.
Overall, this book was magnificent and an absolute joy to read. I devoured it in just 10 days, unable to put it down. I honestly wish Naomi would give us another book in this world or at least an epilogue for the characters because I just don’t want to let them go. But at the same time, the ending wrapped everything up so perfectly that I can’t complain. It tied everything together with a beautiful, satisfying conclusion.
I can’t wait to pick this book up again someday. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished it, and I know I’ll be revisiting it for years to come.
First, the story itself is incredibly unique and captivating. Naomi weaves a tale that is rich with magic, mystery, and emotion, pulling you in from the very first page. Her storytelling is nothing short of brilliant—each chapter leaves you wanting more, making you eager to flip back and see if there are details you missed along the way. She has an incredible talent for layering her narrative in such a way that the more you read, the deeper you fall into the world she's created.
The characters are where this book truly shines. They are so relatable, and the conflicts and emotions between them are raw, real, and beautifully portrayed. One of the standout relationships for me was between our protagonist, Agnieszka, and her best friend Kasia. I deeply appreciated the sister-like bond they shared despite not being related. The story initially sets them up as potential rivals—Kasia being perfect in every way—but instead of falling into that tired trope, the book shows us a refreshing, supportive relationship. These two have each other's backs through thick and thin, and their love for one another felt so genuine. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book, seeing how they defied the expectation of rivalry and instead embraced a love that was pure and unbreakable.
Then there’s the dynamic between Agnieszka and Sarkan, which I adored. From Agnieszka’s perspective, Sarkan initially seems cold, dangerous, and unkind. He has a sharp tongue and a gruff demeanor, but it quickly becomes clear that underneath all that, he’s a deeply caring and gentle man. I think some readers missed the subtlety of his character, focusing too much on his outward grumpiness without seeing the tenderness in his actions. He’s always looking out for Agnieszka, putting her needs first, and the trust that grows between them is evident in every interaction. Their relationship isn’t the focal point of the story, and I actually loved that. The romance unfolds naturally as a subplot, driven by the events of the story rather than dominating it. It made their bond feel more real, more earned. Watching Sarkan soften around her, and seeing Agnieszka find comfort in his presence, was so rewarding. The moment when she misses him so much that she can literally manifest his presence was such a beautiful, powerful scene that perfectly illustrated how deeply their connection ran.
Now let’s talk about the magic in this book. It’s nothing overly complex in terms of the system—potions, incantations, the usual—but the way the magic is described was truly special. Naomi has this incredible ability to make you feel the magic through Agnieszka’s eyes. Her descriptions of magic as a flowing river, a ray of sunlight, or a dam about to burst were so vivid and evocative. I felt like I was right there with her, experiencing the magic as she did. There’s a wonderful balance in the way magic is portrayed, particularly when Agnieszka and Sarkan work together. Her calm, melodic approach pairs so beautifully with his steady, powerful magic, and the way they lean on each other for support during those moments was just chef’s kiss. It’s as though their magic was an extension of their trust in each other—when they believed in themselves and each other, their magic was unstoppable; when doubt crept in, the magic faltered.
Overall, this book was magnificent and an absolute joy to read. I devoured it in just 10 days, unable to put it down. I honestly wish Naomi would give us another book in this world or at least an epilogue for the characters because I just don’t want to let them go. But at the same time, the ending wrapped everything up so perfectly that I can’t complain. It tied everything together with a beautiful, satisfying conclusion.
I can’t wait to pick this book up again someday. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished it, and I know I’ll be revisiting it for years to come.
Main plot was dull and unengaging. Romance was also dull as well as really toxic and gross. 17 year old mentee who has basically been kidnapped by hundreds of years old emotionally abusive, cold wizard mentor who basically kidnapped her. And you're telling me they're falling in love?? No, ew! Also, he's boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment