Scan barcode
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infertility, Child death, Death of parent, Homophobia, and War
bookswithjk's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Far better than I anticipated. While the book does have the classic enemies to lovers and “infiltrate an enemy kingdom in order to bring it down” tropes, the politics were very accessible. The twists and turns were enough to leave me guessing and wanting to know more. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
The premise of this book centers around political intrigue told in multiple POV.
While I'm not a big fan of multiple POV, especially when it's more than two, I did enjoy this book.
While I'm not a big fan of multiple POV, especially when it's more than two, I did enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexism, Trafficking, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Sexual harassment, Violence, War, Homophobia, Mental illness, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, and Murder
kodafaith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was very conflicted about this book. I loved the political intrigue and following the separate yet connected plots. However I felt the whole thing fell flat and a lot of it was just forgettable.
The ending does leave on such a cliffhanger that will definitely have me coming back for more.
Also another issue I had was with the ebook where the names to distinguish whose POV we were in got mixed up at about half way and kept being wrong throughout. I was alternating with the audiobook and it was just making it confusing with no chapter numbers and then getting mixed up. There were also a few moments where a name was wrong in the text. Stuff like that doesn’t normally bug me but it kept occurring so it got annoying.
Overall it was a fun series and was entertaining enough, I’m looking forward to the other books to see where the books go. But this one didn’t fully connect for me.
The ending does leave on such a cliffhanger that will definitely have me coming back for more.
Also another issue I had was with the ebook where the names to distinguish whose POV we were in got mixed up at about half way and kept being wrong throughout. I was alternating with the audiobook and it was just making it confusing with no chapter numbers and then getting mixed up. There were also a few moments where a name was wrong in the text. Stuff like that doesn’t normally bug me but it kept occurring so it got annoying.
Overall it was a fun series and was entertaining enough, I’m looking forward to the other books to see where the books go. But this one didn’t fully connect for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexism, War, and Alcohol
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Blood, and Homophobia
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
3.5
me, talking about margaraux:
"'i could fix her' yeah? well i could accept her as she is. you don't like the murder? grow up. the atrocities are part of her and ive decided they're funny"
"'i could fix her' yeah? well i could accept her as she is. you don't like the murder? grow up. the atrocities are part of her and ive decided they're funny"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, War, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Blood, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Infidelity and Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent, Islamophobia, Dementia, and Infertility
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is a perfect example of how you can love something and still be critical of it. I thought the writing was beautiful, the characters were fleshed out so well, and the interweaving POVs and plotlines kept it interesting. I appreciated how it tried to dismantle patriarchal norms in putting all the focus on the women and girls in this book, basically painting the men as helpless. It was a nice change of pace!
However, I would be remiss to not mention the glaring lack of diversity in this book. Every single character was either obviously white or described in vague terms, such as "dark-haired" or "tan." We should expect more from our fantasy books. I find it incredibly lazy when authors who are creating a whole new world where they make up the rules choose to create one in which there is zero diversity. So you're telling me that you were able to create different customs, languages, countries, but didn't think anyone in that world could be anything other than white or straight? We get one LGBTQIA+ character in the book (Pasquale), but then he's not allowed to flesh out that part of his identity, explore, live in that happiness.
Another gripe I had with the book is the author's use of virginity. The three MCs are literally born to deceive and take over other kingdoms; that is their purpose. And yet we, as readers, are supposed to believe that not one of them consummated their marriage? I understand that this book is YA and I am not recommending that we include sex scenes or that they even need to be mentioned - but actively mentioning virginity and how none of the marriages were consummated MULTIPLE TIMES makes it clear that teenage sex was very much on the author's mind and she chose to villainize it rather than use this as a learning opportunity.
All in all, I really enjoyed the fantasy world built, the strength of the characters, the twists and turns (that ending!), but I do wish more was done to make this a well-rounded book.
However, I would be remiss to not mention the glaring lack of diversity in this book. Every single character was either obviously white or described in vague terms, such as "dark-haired" or "tan." We should expect more from our fantasy books. I find it incredibly lazy when authors who are creating a whole new world where they make up the rules choose to create one in which there is zero diversity. So you're telling me that you were able to create different customs, languages, countries, but didn't think anyone in that world could be anything other than white or straight? We get one LGBTQIA+ character in the book (Pasquale), but then he's not allowed to flesh out that part of his identity, explore, live in that happiness.
Another gripe I had with the book is the author's use of virginity. The three MCs are literally born to deceive and take over other kingdoms; that is their purpose. And yet we, as readers, are supposed to believe that not one of them consummated their marriage? I understand that this book is YA and I am not recommending that we include sex scenes or that they even need to be mentioned - but actively mentioning virginity and how none of the marriages were consummated MULTIPLE TIMES makes it clear that teenage sex was very much on the author's mind and she chose to villainize it rather than use this as a learning opportunity.
All in all, I really enjoyed the fantasy world built, the strength of the characters, the twists and turns (that ending!), but I do wish more was done to make this a well-rounded book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Death
jenna36's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honestly, the book is pretty generic YA, but the DRAMA of it all was exquisite. Every chapter I was waiting to see who would betray our protagonists next. I also really appreciated how well-conceived the romantic relationships were. Each one was treated with respect, but did not fall into the YA trap of Instant True Love That Lasts Forever. The relationships ebbed and flowed like real ones, especially ones between teenagers. I really liked this book a lot more than I expected to, and I am so ready for the sequel to come out so we can find out what happens after that bombshell of an ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault and War
amccarthy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, War, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
kenziewol's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was so good!! I really enjoyed the unique world/magic system & the plot — it’s full of deception, betrayals, complicated relationships and political intrigue. I loved each of the sisters and really liked the multiple pov aspect so you followed each sisters story! I need the next book ASAP!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual harassment
thelittlestmermaid's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
* Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! *
This was such an enjoyable book to read! Full of political intrigue, royalty, magic, arranged marriages and more fantasy goodness. The story follows the triplets Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia as they each set off to foreign countries once they come of age to be married. Their goal however, is not just getting married. Once the sisters arrive in each country they are under orders from their mother to bring down their monarchies so that she may reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
I loved this book so much. The triplets had distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Reading from each of their perspectives was so fun, and I couldn't pick a favorite out of the 3 of them no matter how hare I try.
The world that Laura Sebastian has built is unique and intriguing. I never found myself horribly confused when learning about it which was nice- world building in fantasy novels can be tricky sometimes. The magic system is also so so neat! I love the use of the stars as their source of magic & the religion that the people follow.
I cannot wait for the next book. The plot twists and the final chapter of this book have me eager to read what comes next. If you like awesome princesses that kick butt and lots of royal drama then I highly recommend this book.
The only reason I'm not rating this book 5 stars is due to the fact that I wish the princesses were slightly older- they talk about consummation of marriages too much for me to be comfy with them being 16. Also the lecherous king that Beatriz has to deal with. And it was a little too instalove-y at points and that's not my fave.
4.5 stars
This was such an enjoyable book to read! Full of political intrigue, royalty, magic, arranged marriages and more fantasy goodness. The story follows the triplets Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia as they each set off to foreign countries once they come of age to be married. Their goal however, is not just getting married. Once the sisters arrive in each country they are under orders from their mother to bring down their monarchies so that she may reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
I loved this book so much. The triplets had distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Reading from each of their perspectives was so fun, and I couldn't pick a favorite out of the 3 of them no matter how hare I try.
The world that Laura Sebastian has built is unique and intriguing. I never found myself horribly confused when learning about it which was nice- world building in fantasy novels can be tricky sometimes. The magic system is also so so neat! I love the use of the stars as their source of magic & the religion that the people follow.
I cannot wait for the next book. The plot twists and the final chapter of this book have me eager to read what comes next. If you like awesome princesses that kick butt and lots of royal drama then I highly recommend this book.
The only reason I'm not rating this book 5 stars is due to the fact that I wish the princesses were slightly older- they talk about consummation of marriages too much for me to be comfy with them being 16. Also the lecherous king that Beatriz has to deal with. And it was a little too instalove-y at points and that's not my fave.
4.5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, War, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol