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sofiadanielle's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A little on the fence for the 4 star rating, but 3.75 felt too harsh. I’d say this book sits somewhere below 4 for me, but nothing too severe.
Okay! With that out of the way! As other reviews have said, I don’t know that this story was the most original plot line ever (though maybe it’s just me having read a lot of Fantasy novels recently.) This book doesn’t reimagine a storyline you’ve never heard before. However, I think Pearson writes in such a way that it’s so easy to continue to read, which was an incredible feeling for me personally. You could easily sit through 50 pages of this book, feeling like only 5 minutes passed. I think this point about her writing really drove my rating being closer to a 4 star than anything.
The romance was a bit rushed, and the pacing is hard for me to get a grip on, but the story is honestly fine. I still enjoyed it enough, and do look forward to reading the second book. I will say, though, I don’t feel so driven to read the Remnat Trilogy before this series, though. Will see if that changes at all after the second book.
Okay! With that out of the way! As other reviews have said, I don’t know that this story was the most original plot line ever (though maybe it’s just me having read a lot of Fantasy novels recently.) This book doesn’t reimagine a storyline you’ve never heard before. However, I think Pearson writes in such a way that it’s so easy to continue to read, which was an incredible feeling for me personally. You could easily sit through 50 pages of this book, feeling like only 5 minutes passed. I think this point about her writing really drove my rating being closer to a 4 star than anything.
The romance was a bit rushed, and the pacing is hard for me to get a grip on, but the story is honestly fine. I still enjoyed it enough, and do look forward to reading the second book. I will say, though, I don’t feel so driven to read the Remnat Trilogy before this series, though. Will see if that changes at all after the second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Trafficking
Minor: War
t0rixoxo's review against another edition
there was nothing wrong with the book, i actually loved the writing and the plot! I just couldn’t get invested it in anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Violence
ayahelsheikh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.75
I somehow had no idea this was a romance book when I picked it up but it was good fun! Sometimes the talk about Ballenger pride was a bit redundant and sometimes Jase was a lil corny, but it was made up for by the intricate lore. I really enjoyed uncovering the web of secrets that Jase and Kazi kept from each other by having their voices alternate — it made the mystery (and tension) more exciting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
recreated's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.25
This book is one of my favorites and caused me to read more fantasy. There are multiple strong characters, including several strong women. Includes good world & character development. It was beautifully written particularly regarding love/the romantic relationship. Basically no spice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Physical abuse
Minor: Kidnapping and Classism
pgmoon's review against another edition
Story did a lot of explaining and plot dumping. too much tell and not enough show
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
serena_hien's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Abandonment, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Sexual violence
abibea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Slavery and Injury/Injury detail
readsswithines's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm not going to read nor listen to bad reviews about this book, I'm going on a highway of good books and nothing it's going to k*ll my vibe
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Trafficking, and War
Minor: Blood
thebookwhale's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75
I loved this. I loved every chapter, every page, every word of it. This book, it is fantasy with a romance in enemies-to-lovers style as a subplot and it has DUAL POV(!!!!). And everything is so well thought out. I have to admit I haven't read the Remnant Chronicles yet which come before this duology , but still, I didn't feel like I was missing too much information, even though some things were a bit confusing, but that's my fault and not the books.
Kazi is one of the best FMC I've ever read. She reminded me of Katniss sometimes and I fell in love with her. I feel like I know her because her flaws, her thoughts, and her emotions are so well written. We get to know things about her past, her family and also her relationship with her fellow soldiers / friends (I love Synové and Wren btw) who she deeply cares for.
Jase is another great guy, I love him. I love the connection he has with his family, and how they come before anyone else. I love his thoughts about Kazi, how they are not that different from each other than what they think.
The romance, it is definitely a slow-burn, even though we get kisses pretty early. But the ways they showed their affection and their love and how they went through ups and downs together, I have to say that it did feel genuine, it didn't feel out of character for them to act the way they did with each other.
One thing I have to criticize is that the ending felt a little rushed.All of a sudden Kazi and the other Rahtan decide to leave, and though I did understand their reasons, I didn't like how fast that decision was made. Like one day they were on good terms with the Ballengers and the next they decide to leave.
Also a few plot holes were left open, like
How did Jase find out that Kazi replaced the sleep medicine with salt?
Why would Synové kill the prisoner she hates if she said she wouldn't and she knew it was the Queen's order not to do so?
I know these are kinda irrelevant but I still want to know
Also, leaving a book on a cliffhanger like this? A disgusting and genius thing to do. Just stop before chapter 62 if you don't want to read the next book or don't have it yet or if you don't want to be left on a cliffhanger. Because now I have to wait weeks until my bookstore has it again.
Loved it, 5/5
EDITED:
Okay so I reread this because I wanted to read Vow of Thieves, and I think I have to change a few things.
I am not that big of a fan of the relationship anymore. It annoyed me that there could have been a single conversation to erase all of the problems but that just didn't happen and I don't know why. At the same time, it felt rushed. They barely knew each other and somehow fell in love so hard in a short time of 2 months?
A few characters were really underdeveloped. The queen, and her relationship with Kazi, Gunner, Mason, and Wren and Synové (especially Wren) are only some examples. The author could have made so much more out of it if she decided to develope them a little bit more.
Sometimes, Kazi and Jase felt a little blunt and dull, and I am a little shocked that I didn't notice it before. Sometimes, they, and especially Kazi, just annoy me.
However, this book still has a place in my heart, even if I see some of its flaws now. 4.75/5
Kazi is one of the best FMC I've ever read. She reminded me of Katniss sometimes and I fell in love with her. I feel like I know her because her flaws, her thoughts, and her emotions are so well written. We get to know things about her past, her family and also her relationship with her fellow soldiers / friends (I love Synové and Wren btw) who she deeply cares for.
Jase is another great guy, I love him. I love the connection he has with his family, and how they come before anyone else. I love his thoughts about Kazi, how they are not that different from each other than what they think.
The romance, it is definitely a slow-burn, even though we get kisses pretty early. But the ways they showed their affection and their love and how they went through ups and downs together, I have to say that it did feel genuine, it didn't feel out of character for them to act the way they did with each other.
One thing I have to criticize is that the ending felt a little rushed.
Also a few plot holes were left open, like
How did Jase find out that Kazi replaced the sleep medicine with salt?
Why would Synové kill the prisoner she hates if she said she wouldn't and she knew it was the Queen's order not to do so?
I know these are kinda irrelevant but I still want to know
Also, leaving a book on a cliffhanger like this? A disgusting and genius thing to do. Just stop before chapter 62 if you don't want to read the next book or don't have it yet or if you don't want to be left on a cliffhanger. Because now I have to wait weeks until my bookstore has it again.
Loved it, 5/5
EDITED:
Okay so I reread this because I wanted to read Vow of Thieves, and I think I have to change a few things.
I am not that big of a fan of the relationship anymore. It annoyed me that there could have been a single conversation to erase all of the problems but that just didn't happen and I don't know why. At the same time, it felt rushed. They barely knew each other and somehow fell in love so hard in a short time of 2 months?
A few characters were really underdeveloped. The queen, and her relationship with Kazi, Gunner, Mason, and Wren and Synové (especially Wren) are only some examples. The author could have made so much more out of it if she decided to develope them a little bit more.
Sometimes, Kazi and Jase felt a little blunt and dull, and I am a little shocked that I didn't notice it before. Sometimes, they, and especially Kazi, just annoy me.
However, this book still has a place in my heart, even if I see some of its flaws now. 4.75/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Genocide and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, and Infertility
katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
This was a challenge to get through. It mostly felt slow and boring. The characters were pretty flat and forgettable, the plot was mediocre, and even after 16 hours of listening to the audiobook I still didn't really understand the world this story was set in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage