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solaris33's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I wish I could love this book. Genuinely. It’s got such an amazing premise but overall I found it grating. There was no chemistry between the FMC and MMC at all and she just follows him into another country with exactly zero backgrounds checks. I can what the author wanted to do and what she wanted Tellium to be, but reading this book felt flat. There wasn’t any chemistry between any of the characters and it often felt like Tellium was 2 seperate people. The first being funny and sarcastic, the second being dark and gloomy and traumatised.
I really liked the twist but everything else in the book let me down. Like her powers are ridiculously OP and aren’t even described properly. I don’t know how the author is going to drag this out for multiple books if I’m being honest.
I don’t know how this got through so many rounds of people in a publishing firm but they’ve really let her down and I’m so upset for the author.
I really liked the twist but everything else in the book let me down. Like her powers are ridiculously OP and aren’t even described properly. I don’t know how the author is going to drag this out for multiple books if I’m being honest.
I don’t know how this got through so many rounds of people in a publishing firm but they’ve really let her down and I’m so upset for the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Rape and Abortion
Minor: Slavery, Torture, and Sexism
g_c_geeks's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was a really solid debut book!! The world building was gorgeous, and the politics were interesting. Loved the character dynamics, and especially loved how strong telium was. I really appreciated that she was still flawed though, despite being super powerful, and that you can see she still has places to grow in to the character she hopefully will become.
That fricking ending though I stg, around 3/4 of the way I was like hmmmm smt fishy is going on and OH MY LORD DID IT FISH!!! I called one of the plot twists but not the others and ahhh.
Very much looking forward to the next book, well done Maddy x
Very much looking forward to the next book, well done Maddy x
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcohol, Self harm, and Slavery
samantha_ellen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This was a fabulous debut by author Madeline Te Whiu.
A unique & well developed magic system that I haven’t seen before, with a TRUELY morally Grey FMC who struggles with her power & owns her faults.
I found the world building easy to understand with some beautiful prose but not overly complicated.
The beginning & ending where fantastic, action packed with lots of twists & turns that made it a really enjoyable read.
The middle lacked a bit of push forward - the relationship between the 2 mc’s felt a bit lack lustre - but by the end & with the twists, I can look back & see why things played out the way they did.
It is steamy not spicy but I’m hoping that picks up in the next books - along with more banter between the love interests.
There are some very dark themes throughout so please look up CW’s before reading.
There is one aspect that I’m still unsure how I feel about how it was handled. It’s a major plot point & the way the FMC reacts to the situation & the way that character is represented felt a bit ….judgy(?) to me… but that could be coming from my own lens / trauma with this subject?
I’m still unsure.
There was good rep with POC - although the 2 characters who are LGBTQI were both in the story for 2 pages each, which felt a bit tokenism - I’m hoping their characters are included more in the future & that was merely their introduction.
Overall it’s a very strong story, intriguing plot & I loved the FMC. A lot of her attributes are what we see given to mmc’s so it was very refreshing to see them given to a FMC.
I will be continuing the series to see how it expands.
Thank you New Dawn Publishing for my advanced reviewer copy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Abortion
Minor: Alcohol and Self harm
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