Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Kidnapping, War, Classism
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Torture
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-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:
No
Coming off of SJM’s series, I knew I had to keep chasing that fantasy high. And while it wasn’t ACOTAR, I still enjoyed it.
Poppy is the Maiden, chosen by the gods. Her destiny is to live a life of solitary and service to her kingdom, but that doesn’t stop her from pushing the boundaries whenever and however she can. This book is a swirl of emotions, a touch of spice, a hefty vengeance, and a seemingly never ending lack of freedom as Poppy yearns to love her own life.
It was a bit predictable but in the best way possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Had me hooked. The world building was a bit weak but I was still enthralled. The twists and turns were great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child death
It's pretty dark, and gets real spicy about 70% in.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
This book is EVERYTHING!
Poppy was a bit annoying at times for not asking certain questions when things don't make sense to her, leaving the reader a bit frustrated.
I am obsessed with Hawke - he is my new book boyfriend obsession.
The storyline is pretty heavy and there is pretty decent spice and a slow burn relationship.
I am obsessed.
Poppy was a bit annoying at times for not asking certain questions when things don't make sense to her, leaving the reader a bit frustrated.
I am obsessed with Hawke - he is my new book boyfriend obsession.
The storyline is pretty heavy and there is pretty decent spice and a slow burn relationship.
I am obsessed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Murder
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent