A review by veraeliza
The Unbeating Heart by Cyran Faringray

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Okay, so this book was...not what I expected. 

So, let me just jump into the part of the book that was my absolute favourite: the relationship between our three main characters. I've rarely seen a poly relationship written this well. It was portrayed so perfectly equal and natural. Like they were a literal perfect love-triangle. And you just can't help but start rooting for them, and feeling and caring for them. And Selene's pining for them was so pure and heart wrenching at times. 

I liked the world building, but I didn't love it. This book really focusses on Selene's relationship with Nyx and Zal, not so much on plot. I feel like it has a lot of potential though. I'm fascinated by the Order of the Unbeating Heart and I wish we learned so much more about the political nature of the story. But I hope that's where the sequel comes in.

I am also interested in this latent magic she discovered. It felt a little bit too easy for it just to conveniently pop up for her, but I like that it has the potential to level the playing ground between her and Nyx and Zal even more, making her their true equal. But we'll see about that in the sequel.

 

Lastly I just didn't get the ending.

Like, so Zal and Nyx knew Selene was a spy all this time, but they still seemed to genuinely care for her up until they pulled that little stunt at the ball. And I kind of assumed that was because they wanted to protect Sel from the messy and bloody things about to ensue. But then when Sel breaks out of the castle and finds her way back to blood crest manor, they still seem to treat her like trash? Like I don't get that juxtaposition.