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destiniev's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
coralie_michon's review
3.75
amazing book but not quite a four stars for me because of the (very slow) beginning… most of the characters didn’t meet up until halfway through the book and the storyline started right about that time as well. once we got past that I LOVED THIS BOOK.
the romances, the tensions, the betrayals, the set of characters we got a spymaster, a thief, a poison maiden, an exiled prince, a lord’s son, and a strong man??? LOVED IT the worldbuilding, all of these elements were wonderful.
i loved the narration too, we got 6 different POVs which made this reading experience complete, we got short chapters which helped speeding up the pace.
the romances, the tensions, the betrayals, the set of characters
i loved the narration too, we got 6 different POVs which made this reading experience complete, we got short chapters which helped speeding up the pace.
anmane's review
Horrible writing. The characters in their POVs described their own outward appearance in great detail, as if the author already had a casting in mind.
cas_reads_anything's review against another edition
2.25
Interesting structure and I liked two of the characters but this tried to do so much that it failed at giving depth or succeeding at any of it. Whiny unlikable characters for many POVs, extremely predictable plot points.
courtsbooknook's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
First thing's first, this book was incredible. From the changing POV's to the unique world to the elements of Korean myths and legends, I was hooked. I loved how well thought out and developed each character was—they were all so unique and captivating. Of course, I also enjoyed the found family/ I only trust you kind of vibes. It was perfect for the story. The writing was quick paced and easy to follow and it only made me want to continue reading. I definitely liked some characters over others, but overall they were really well done. If you say this is a heist type book, say less and count me in! I got a good feel for the world without being overwhelmed with info and I liked that aspect. I couldn't see the twist coming either and I was absolutely shocked at the reveal. Also, the ending of this one set the rest of the series up in an insane way and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. Huge thank you to Red Tower books for sending me an ARC to read and review.
kuisma_'s review against another edition
kylosten's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am bouncing between giving 3.75 or 4 stars.
I think having so many character POVs it made having fully fleshed out characters hard. The MCs had clear motivations for what they were doing but they were a bit 2 dimensional.
Vibes between all of them were a little like characters from Knives Out where they all have to work together while not necessarily liking each other and never fully trusting one another.
Also vibes of Mistborn where it's a group of people who would ordinarily not ever work together doing it to take down a god king. Don't expect the heavy world building or very fleshed out characters from Mistborn or you'll probably be disappointed.
Book didn't really grab me until maybe 25% in and characters aren't fully introduced to each other til almost 50% in.
Overall it was and enjoyable light fantasy but I'd love to see more developed characters in future books.
I think having so many character POVs it made having fully fleshed out characters hard. The MCs had clear motivations for what they were doing but they were a bit 2 dimensional.
Vibes between all of them were a little like characters from Knives Out where they all have to work together while not necessarily liking each other and never fully trusting one another.
Also vibes of Mistborn where it's a group of people who would ordinarily not ever work together doing it to take down a god king. Don't expect the heavy world building or very fleshed out characters from Mistborn or you'll probably be disappointed.
Book didn't really grab me until maybe 25% in and characters aren't fully introduced to each other til almost 50% in.
Overall it was and enjoyable light fantasy but I'd love to see more developed characters in future books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Animal death
mellamaron's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have a lot of feelings about this book and I’m going to try to write it all out. I think this is like a 4.5 rounded down but I’ll decide once my review is done. (Nope, going down to solid 4 I think!)
I really enjoyed reading this book! Let’s get that out there first. This is an easily accessible multi-pov fantasy book. It is similar to Romantasy but I think it kind of toes the line too much and tbh, there ain’t no smut here. There are small inklings of content (you know they do stuff) but it’s not in any way explicit. I’d also argue that romance is not the main plot therefore it’s more like a low fantasy with romantic entanglements.
I loved Sora most of all. Her and Tiyung - although their relationship felt the most rushed. Sora, however, was a lovely character: she is everything I want in a morally grey fantasy heroine! I love that she’s a poison maiden and I love her past. I wish we got more Tiyung pov and more time of the two together.
I didn’t mind Royo and Aeri, though Aeri was a bit annoying. And Royo was… well… a bit bland? He felt like a bit of a stereotype at times: “dumb” strong man. I do like that we got some depth for him but I wish we had gotten more.
The other two? Oh dear. I actually didn’t like Euyn much but he was worlds better than Mikail. I don’t even know why I hate Mikail… maybe because he’s kind of a butt? 😂 Euyn too actually. They kind of deserve each other - I disliked their chapters the most. But like Mikail was too “I’m too cool for school” and it bugged me. 🧐 I just couldn’t like anything he did.
The book as a whole was fun and engaging but it wasn’t super deep. It makes sense that when you have six povs in a 470pg book, you’re going to miss a lot of things. You have to explain a lot of characterization that you wouldn’t do if you had less povs. I know other authors do it but usually their books are twice as long. And this book has huge font so that 470 is more like 350-400.
I come back to the fact that guys - I enjoyed reading this book! I think Mai Corland has talent. I’m excited for the next book. I just… I hope she expands in her writing. There are certain things that just made me pause: the fight scenes were pretty bad… just like logistically when trying to have multipovs in a fight scene and I don’t know what’s going on and who’s throwing what 😂 Like I said above, the minuscule smut was honestly a bit … unnecessary? Either have it or not, don’t give it to me halfway?
And then… the ending. No spoilers here but it didn’t hit right. I guessed some parts of it and looking back… I think it was too obvious? 😅 It sort of felt like she handed us that ending on a silver platter. I did like it! I just think it could have been reworked to be a bit better.
Anyway, all in all, I did enjoy reading this!! I would recommend this to new fantasy readers or to fantasy readers who want a very low fantasy or a character heavy fantasy - what I mean by that and I didn’t touch on this yet but it’s not a complicated world. You’re not getting Sanderson nor SJM levels of intricacies. We’ve got some countries and some relics and a plot to kill a king. It’s all fairly basic in that regard. It’s SUPER dialogue heavy too. I think big high fantasy fans will probably yawn at this book. 😅 I know my Stormlight loving husband would hate it. I’m sure some may love it but I can see most not.
I really enjoyed reading this book! Let’s get that out there first. This is an easily accessible multi-pov fantasy book. It is similar to Romantasy but I think it kind of toes the line too much and tbh, there ain’t no smut here. There are small inklings of content (you know they do stuff) but it’s not in any way explicit. I’d also argue that romance is not the main plot therefore it’s more like a low fantasy with romantic entanglements.
I loved Sora most of all. Her and Tiyung - although their relationship felt the most rushed. Sora, however, was a lovely character: she is everything I want in a morally grey fantasy heroine! I love that she’s a poison maiden and I love her past. I wish we got more Tiyung pov and more time of the two together.
I didn’t mind Royo and Aeri, though Aeri was a bit annoying. And Royo was… well… a bit bland? He felt like a bit of a stereotype at times: “dumb” strong man. I do like that we got some depth for him but I wish we had gotten more.
The other two? Oh dear. I actually didn’t like Euyn much but he was worlds better than Mikail. I don’t even know why I hate Mikail… maybe because he’s kind of a butt? 😂 Euyn too actually. They kind of deserve each other - I disliked their chapters the most. But like Mikail was too “I’m too cool for school” and it bugged me. 🧐 I just couldn’t like anything he did.
The book as a whole was fun and engaging but it wasn’t super deep. It makes sense that when you have six povs in a 470pg book, you’re going to miss a lot of things. You have to explain a lot of characterization that you wouldn’t do if you had less povs. I know other authors do it but usually their books are twice as long. And this book has huge font so that 470 is more like 350-400.
I come back to the fact that guys - I enjoyed reading this book! I think Mai Corland has talent. I’m excited for the next book. I just… I hope she expands in her writing. There are certain things that just made me pause: the fight scenes were pretty bad… just like logistically when trying to have multipovs in a fight scene and I don’t know what’s going on and who’s throwing what 😂 Like I said above, the minuscule smut was honestly a bit … unnecessary? Either have it or not, don’t give it to me halfway?
And then… the ending. No spoilers here but it didn’t hit right. I guessed some parts of it and looking back… I think it was too obvious? 😅 It sort of felt like she handed us that ending on a silver platter. I did like it! I just think it could have been reworked to be a bit better.
Anyway, all in all, I did enjoy reading this!! I would recommend this to new fantasy readers or to fantasy readers who want a very low fantasy or a character heavy fantasy - what I mean by that and I didn’t touch on this yet but it’s not a complicated world. You’re not getting Sanderson nor SJM levels of intricacies. We’ve got some countries and some relics and a plot to kill a king. It’s all fairly basic in that regard. It’s SUPER dialogue heavy too. I think big high fantasy fans will probably yawn at this book. 😅 I know my Stormlight loving husband would hate it. I’m sure some may love it but I can see most not.
saltycoffee's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Drug abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Animal death, Confinement, Violence, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
Minor: Infertility and Genocide