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A review by thisnursereads
Ocean's Blood by Thelma Mantey
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So excited I received an advance review copy for free and I am writing an honest voluntary review:
⭐️3.5-A strong series opener to an epic dark fantasy!
With my blood, I bind you. I blind your body and your soul. My blood will fulfill your destiny. You will be my shield and my sword. You will be my voice...
Pros:
-Intricate character dynamics; veryyyy slow and lots of tension throughout
-Character driven>Plot driven
-"Singers" with magical powers bonded to humans in order to survive
-Witty dialogue that felt rhythmically realistic
Pro/Con:
-Beautiful use of imagery when describing the Ocean BUT the Title did not entirely make sense to me and did not click with the overall story.
-LGBTQ relationship, questioning sexuality with underlying internalized homophobia
Cons:
-Found my mind wandering at times due to the slow movement of the story but T. Mantey wove enough action in that my attention was easily drawn back
-World building: I wanted more. Although I believe this took a backseat to the in depth creation of the characters and their backgrounds, I think this could use work. Brighter and bigger details are something I hope will be focused on in future books!
I am not usually one to grab a dark fantasy novel off the shelf and while other reviewers are calling this enemies to lovers, it is the slowest and most unclear slowburn E-To-L I have read so far. Instead, I would lean heavily on calling this a forced proximity trope with E-To-L still to be seen.
There are clear trigger warnings brought up in the beginning of the novel that are true to the content and if you have any issues around strong sexual power dynamics and/or dubious consent, this is not the book for you.
⭐️3.5-A strong series opener to an epic dark fantasy!
With my blood, I bind you. I blind your body and your soul. My blood will fulfill your destiny. You will be my shield and my sword. You will be my voice...
Pros:
-Intricate character dynamics; veryyyy slow and lots of tension throughout
-Character driven>Plot driven
-"Singers" with magical powers bonded to humans in order to survive
-Witty dialogue that felt rhythmically realistic
Pro/Con:
-Beautiful use of imagery when describing the Ocean BUT the Title did not entirely make sense to me and did not click with the overall story.
-LGBTQ relationship, questioning sexuality with underlying internalized homophobia
Cons:
-Found my mind wandering at times due to the slow movement of the story but T. Mantey wove enough action in that my attention was easily drawn back
-World building: I wanted more. Although I believe this took a backseat to the in depth creation of the characters and their backgrounds, I think this could use work. Brighter and bigger details are something I hope will be focused on in future books!
I am not usually one to grab a dark fantasy novel off the shelf and while other reviewers are calling this enemies to lovers, it is the slowest and most unclear slowburn E-To-L I have read so far. Instead, I would lean heavily on calling this a forced proximity trope with E-To-L still to be seen.
There are clear trigger warnings brought up in the beginning of the novel that are true to the content and if you have any issues around strong sexual power dynamics and/or dubious consent, this is not the book for you.