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blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
Hello yes I have my ticket to re-board the fun train! The only reason I even took a break from the fun train that is Annette Marie's daemon books was because, when I finished The Steel & Stone Series at the beginning of May, this was the only book of the trilogy that was available on audiobook and, because I was in such a marathoning mood, I knew if I started this book before The Shadow Weave and The Blood Curse were out, that wait for those two books could get excruciating. Luckily for me, The Shadow Weave came out at the end of May and The Blood Curse came out today! Cue the internal fangirl screaming.
Lyre was far and away the greatest part of The Steel & Stone Series for me because, not only was he hot (which was one of the selling points for the original series), he was also hilarious, had a mysterious past, and was brokenhearted over some girl from his past, so it made the wait, while less painful than it would have been if I'd read this back in May, for this series pretty unbearable.
Luckily I wasn't let down in the slightest. I enjoyed Clio a whole lot more than I did Piper at the beginning of her own debut in Chase the Dark and I thought her struggle between what her brother had asked of her versus what she wanted was a really great internal conflict. It also married well with Lyre's own internal conflict, since he was going through a similar struggle of doing what he was "supposed" to do, what his family was forcing him to do versus what he knew was right. I also enjoyed Ash's cameos and agency in helping Lyre and Clio; I've warmed up to him more and more as time has gone on, so it was nice to smile and not be rolling my eyes at his appearances.
The only issue I really had is a small one and it's that I know Lyre makes it out of this whole thing alive. Like, I wouldn't have expected for the lead male to die in the first book anyway, but it made the whole race to get the clock spell before he died a whole lot less tense. Other than that, though, this was more of the same dopamine-dosing fun I got from the original series.
I can't wait for the next one so, you know, I won't wait any longer. Onward!
Lyre was far and away the greatest part of The Steel & Stone Series for me because, not only was he hot (which was one of the selling points for the original series), he was also hilarious, had a mysterious past, and was brokenhearted over some girl from his past, so it made the wait, while less painful than it would have been if I'd read this back in May, for this series pretty unbearable.
Luckily I wasn't let down in the slightest. I enjoyed Clio a whole lot more than I did Piper at the beginning of her own debut in Chase the Dark and I thought her struggle between what her brother had asked of her versus what she wanted was a really great internal conflict. It also married well with Lyre's own internal conflict, since he was going through a similar struggle of doing what he was "supposed" to do, what his family was forcing him to do versus what he knew was right. I also enjoyed Ash's cameos and agency in helping Lyre and Clio; I've warmed up to him more and more as time has gone on, so it was nice to smile and not be rolling my eyes at his appearances.
The only issue I really had is a small one and it's that I know Lyre makes it out of this whole thing alive. Like, I wouldn't have expected for the lead male to die in the first book anyway, but it made the whole race to get the clock spell before he died a whole lot less tense. Other than that, though, this was more of the same dopamine-dosing fun I got from the original series.
I can't wait for the next one so, you know, I won't wait any longer. Onward!
magikspells's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book because it was available at the library. But I was pleasantly surprised, there’s a lot of action. And I’m interested in seeing more of the characters and how they play out. It’s not a masterpiece but enjoyable.
jessdone's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoy Annette Marie's work, but this one is a pass. The beginning half of the book dragged on forever. I was bored and I struggled to get through it. The book lacks the character development I've enjoyed in so many of her other works. I don't feel like I know Lyre or Clio any better (and I knew Lyre from the Steel & Stone series so it shouldn't have taken a lot for me to be invested in him). The lack clear motivations.
Torture, intimidation, enslavement, and murder. All these subjects are touched and any one of them should be high enough stakes with clear enough goals to make us root for the main characters. Somehow all this stuff is happening and it feels like "Yeah that's happening but I still can't commit."
If the main characters are shallow, the side characters are cardboard. I kept waiting for us to have a meaningful scene with Kaissa or the other guard (whose name I don't recall). I was waiting for them to drop more information on what's happening in the Overworld but that doesn't happen.
What may be worse for most Marie fans is the action feels like a boring and uninspired. They are a bloated series of pages that starts waaaay too late in the book and keeps happening for far too long. It wasn't engaging to hear about different spell casts and counters all of which "defied" the set up rules of magic because it's "master spell weavers" and they can do anything. It's also hard to reconcile the Steel & Sword endings with the Incubi we meet here.
Even though this is a supremely weak book, I am reading the second in the series. There are little moments that grip the reader. I enjoyed most of Lyre and Ash's interaction. I liked the first of Clio and Ash's interactions. There are single scenes where Clio's "innocence/ignorance" pays off story wise and I appreciated that Clio is allowed to be a bad ass and also an emotional being that would prefer pacifism.
Most of all, Lyre was such a great character in Steel & Sword, I want to know him better. Annette Marie has written excellent arcs, characters, and action sequences in the past. I hope this one book is an aberration and not indicative of the quality of this overall series.
Torture, intimidation, enslavement, and murder. All these subjects are touched and any one of them should be high enough stakes with clear enough goals to make us root for the main characters. Somehow all this stuff is happening and it feels like "Yeah that's happening but I still can't commit."
If the main characters are shallow, the side characters are cardboard. I kept waiting for us to have a meaningful scene with Kaissa or the other guard (whose name I don't recall). I was waiting for them to drop more information on what's happening in the Overworld but that doesn't happen.
What may be worse for most Marie fans is the action feels like a boring and uninspired. They are a bloated series of pages that starts waaaay too late in the book and keeps happening for far too long. It wasn't engaging to hear about different spell casts and counters all of which "defied" the set up rules of magic because it's "master spell weavers" and they can do anything. It's also hard to reconcile the Steel & Sword endings with the Incubi we meet here.
Even though this is a supremely weak book, I am reading the second in the series. There are little moments that grip the reader. I enjoyed most of Lyre and Ash's interaction. I liked the first of Clio and Ash's interactions. There are single scenes where Clio's "innocence/ignorance" pays off story wise and I appreciated that Clio is allowed to be a bad ass and also an emotional being that would prefer pacifism.
Most of all, Lyre was such a great character in Steel & Sword, I want to know him better. Annette Marie has written excellent arcs, characters, and action sequences in the past. I hope this one book is an aberration and not indicative of the quality of this overall series.
rlstrayer1's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
Annette Marie is a genius. I swear she uses magic in real life to captivate her readers in her stories. I have no other rational explanation for how amazing her books are.
The Night Realm is the first of a new series, the Spell Weaver books. This is a prequel trilogy to her completed series, Steel and Stone, that takes place 5 years before the events of Steel and Stone. If you haven’t checked those books out yet, you need to. Otherwise the storyline in The Night Realm may be a little confusing (especially since the trilogy has not been finished yet).
The Night Realm follows Clio, a nymph from the Overworld, and Lyre (my bae from S&S), an incubus from the Underworld. Clio is in exile from her home in the Overworld, and is given the chance to go home by using her special abilities to infiltrate the Underworld and doing some spy ops. She meets Lyre, who is suspicious of her from the get go, but they end up becoming fast friends. Cue action, romance, and a whole lotta awesome magic. It's a recipe for an Annette Marie masterpiece.
I am so excited to read the rest of this series. Ash (also a main character from S&S) makes a couple of appearances. Both Ash and Lyre are very different from their S&S counterparts...they are younger and darker. I really liked seeing their former selves. It really increases my enjoyment for the character growth they went through in S&S.
Overall, another awesome hit. Annette Marie could write a lunch menu and I would read it. I can’t wait to see what happens next in The Shadow Weave!
—�—�—�—
ARC!
I am SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR THIS
Baby Lyre and Ash ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Annette Marie is a genius. I swear she uses magic in real life to captivate her readers in her stories. I have no other rational explanation for how amazing her books are.
The Night Realm is the first of a new series, the Spell Weaver books. This is a prequel trilogy to her completed series, Steel and Stone, that takes place 5 years before the events of Steel and Stone. If you haven’t checked those books out yet, you need to. Otherwise the storyline in The Night Realm may be a little confusing (especially since the trilogy has not been finished yet).
The Night Realm follows Clio, a nymph from the Overworld, and Lyre (my bae from S&S), an incubus from the Underworld. Clio is in exile from her home in the Overworld, and is given the chance to go home by using her special abilities to infiltrate the Underworld and doing some spy ops. She meets Lyre, who is suspicious of her from the get go, but they end up becoming fast friends. Cue action, romance, and a whole lotta awesome magic. It's a recipe for an Annette Marie masterpiece.
I am so excited to read the rest of this series. Ash (also a main character from S&S) makes a couple of appearances. Both Ash and Lyre are very different from their S&S counterparts...they are younger and darker. I really liked seeing their former selves. It really increases my enjoyment for the character growth they went through in S&S.
Overall, another awesome hit. Annette Marie could write a lunch menu and I would read it. I can’t wait to see what happens next in The Shadow Weave!
—�—�—�—
ARC!
I am SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR THIS
Baby Lyre and Ash ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
gypsydawn's review against another edition
5.0
I loved just about everything in this novel, from the intense imagery to the emotions that swept through the pages. I read Piper's series first, Steel & Stone, so stepping back in time and seeing the formation of Lyre and Ash's friendship, not to mention the addition of Clio, was divine - and cleared up so many questions! This is the tru foundation of that world, the beginnings of everything, and an arrow pointed directly to the future and what it may hold.
I adored Lyre, and though I found Clio's naivety off putting (I mean... come on girl!) she was still a character I fell in love with. Strong, determined and talented, she steps forward into an unknown world and comes out the other side, a little more worn, but a touch wiser as well.
I do feel bad though, the writing is on the wall, and you can see what is going to go down a light year away... and she (at least in Book 1) doesn't have a clue. Poor Clio.
I adored Lyre, and though I found Clio's naivety off putting (I mean... come on girl!) she was still a character I fell in love with. Strong, determined and talented, she steps forward into an unknown world and comes out the other side, a little more worn, but a touch wiser as well.
I do feel bad though, the writing is on the wall, and you can see what is going to go down a light year away... and she (at least in Book 1) doesn't have a clue. Poor Clio.
howling_good_reads's review
5.0
Quite simply, this was awesome.
Firstly you don't have to read the Steel and Stone series to read The Night Realm, although I highly recommend you do.
It was really amazing going back to the past before the Steel and Stone series and learning more about Lyre (and his brothers!!) and how he meets Ash.
And of course we get a new heroine!
I never thought I could like Cleo as much as Piper, but I do!!
She's completely different to Piper but I fell in love with her immediately. Her innocence and clumsiness was refreshing to read. In my head I imagine her as a nymph version of Luna Lovegood with a bit more sass.
I love how Annette Marie can create characters equally likeable but completely different.
Possible spoilers below if you haven't read the Steel and Stone series...
I am kind of worried what happens to Cleo though? This series is pre Steel and Stone and she's not mentioned in that at all, so I wonder how she end up parted from Lyre. The way this book ends its hard to believe Lyre and Cleo being separated but I guess a lot can happen with another two books left in the series.
The small meetings with Ash were really good. It made me want to re read Steel and Stone again. And we even get to meet Zwi in this book!
Needless to say, I can't wait for the next book. I'm so glad I only have to wait a month for it. Oh and the cover is to die for :)
Firstly you don't have to read the Steel and Stone series to read The Night Realm, although I highly recommend you do.
It was really amazing going back to the past before the Steel and Stone series and learning more about Lyre (and his brothers!!) and how he meets Ash.
And of course we get a new heroine!
I never thought I could like Cleo as much as Piper, but I do!!
She's completely different to Piper but I fell in love with her immediately. Her innocence and clumsiness was refreshing to read. In my head I imagine her as a nymph version of Luna Lovegood with a bit more sass.
I love how Annette Marie can create characters equally likeable but completely different.
Possible spoilers below if you haven't read the Steel and Stone series...
I am kind of worried what happens to Cleo though? This series is pre Steel and Stone and she's not mentioned in that at all, so I wonder how she end up parted from Lyre. The way this book ends its hard to believe Lyre and Cleo being separated but I guess a lot can happen with another two books left in the series.
The small meetings with Ash were really good. It made me want to re read Steel and Stone again. And we even get to meet Zwi in this book!
Needless to say, I can't wait for the next book. I'm so glad I only have to wait a month for it. Oh and the cover is to die for :)
curls's review against another edition
4.0
Clio the nymph can recreate magic when she sees it. Lyre the incubus can create clever and deadly weaves. It’s a match made in the underworld.
A promising start to a new series.
A promising start to a new series.