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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of my favs, really killed me tho
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The writing left much to be desired but it was a fun enough read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Religious bigotry
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The big question: is this book a fantasy romance or fantasy with romance? Fantasy Romance (in my opinion this means there is more emphasis on the romance than the plot). Basically, if you’re wanting a plot or magic/politic driven story with less focus on “will they, won’t they?” - walk away.
Let’s be honest, Hawke is the main reason most people like this book. While I enjoy the story, Poppy has her annoying moments. However, the more stabby and less brainwashed she becomes, the more you like her. *insert Hawke commenting on how sexy murderous behavior is, here* The things Poppy goes through are terrible (violent and cruel) and the cult like behavior that surrounds her as “the maiden” figure could be triggering to some.
Let’s be honest, Hawke is the main reason most people like this book. While I enjoy the story, Poppy has her annoying moments. However, the more stabby and less brainwashed she becomes, the more you like her. *insert Hawke commenting on how sexy murderous behavior is, here* The things Poppy goes through are terrible (violent and cruel) and the cult like behavior that surrounds her as “the maiden” figure could be triggering to some.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Violence
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A must-read for fans of ACOTR. Poppy is the revered Maiden who lives a sheltered life controlled by the Ascended. As her own ascension nears, her own desires and needs wrestle with the expectations on her. When the handsome Hawke becomes her Royal Guard, Poppy struggles to keep her emotions in check. What follows is some earth-shattering truths that Poppy will need to make sense of if she is to survive.
After book one, this feels like a great series, as TikTok readers have claimed. The first half is a little slow as the world & character building is the focus, the last half of the book has a good pace and of course the passionate smut makes an appearance. I enjoyed this read and will continue with the series.
After book one, this feels like a great series, as TikTok readers have claimed. The first half is a little slow as the world & character building is the focus, the last half of the book has a good pace and of course the passionate smut makes an appearance. I enjoyed this read and will continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to read this book because I have seen it all over the book community and everyone has been raving about it. I don’t usually struggle with fantasy, but I didn’t connect with this book.
This book is based on Poppy, she is a maiden chosen from birth to usher in a new era, she has never been on her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience life. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers. The entire kingdom’s future rests of Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because the Maiden has a heart and a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honour bound to ensure her Ascension enters her life, destiny and duty becomes tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she ever believed in and tempts her with the forbidden. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.
I found with any fantasy series that the first book is always the toughest one, because you are learning a new world and new creatures and everything is confusing. The way I rate fantasy book is how quickly it takes for me to pick up on things and how the storyline manages to carry on with it. I feel like the first 40% is a struggle and a mountain to climb, the only think I wanted to do was smack the shit out of the duke. I found it a bit predictable that I actually thought it was a young adult book at first and then it got to the spicy scenes and realized it an adult book. Like this mysterious dark one has a double identity and it’s the love interest. It was like if Harry Potter was a girl and fell in love with Voldemort.
However, just because I thought it was predictable didn’t mean I didn’t love Hawke and how it just doesn’t give a shit about ranks and how sassy he is. I loved Tawny as well and wanted to see more of her which hopefully we will do in the upcoming series.
Hopefully now that the world and characters and creatures have been built, we will be able to see more action in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content