A review by sanahreads
Allied by Amy Tintera

4.0

*Spoilers ahead*

“There comes a time when we have to accept that people make their own choices, and we’re not responsible for those choices, even if they’re our family.”


This book got me out of a reading slump, I finished all three books within two weeks, which is fast for me. If you’re looking for an easy read, I recommend this series.

The development between Cas and Em’s relationship was so good, the fact they lost so many loved ones between them but kept this optimistic outlook on creating a combined world and a life together, my heart! I loved how they both came a long way from the first book and their relationship develops beautifully, combatted with friends and family who don’t trust the other person but their love and trust is enough to keep their faith in their plan. So Good!

Plus, the side characters are so easy to fall for. The characters made up for the world-building for me. The world-building was a bit lackluster for me, I don’t think it’s anything particularly special, it gave me ‘Shatter Me’ vibes with a royal court, and I think it’s something that I’ve seen quite a lot, but the characters are worth staying for.

I want an Aren and Iris spin off so badly!!! I love them so much!!!

Spoiler Olivia as a character annoyed me at first but I loved the conflict between the two sisters, where the lines between right and wrong was so blurred between them. Her ending was predictable though and I wish there was more of am oomph to her end but I really loved Em’s reflection of her sister at the end of the book. When we first meet Olivia in the early books, there’s already a wedge between their relationship, Olivia’s anger versus Em’s different outlook on a violent revenge, I wish there was more of a build up between Olivia and Em that made me want to root for the familial relationship, that made me want to side with Olivia rather than automatically seeing her view as the “wrong” one.

Em imagined a different future for her sister, one where she grew old and learned from her mistakes. A future where she took her power to heal—a power that no Ruined possessed now—and helped people. A future where she learned that the satisfaction she felt from her rage wasn’t happiness. The future that Em imagined for her sister was probably much better than any one Olivia would have actually lived, and she tried not to think about that too often.”


Like this quote alone broke my heart and I wish Tintera’s writing contained more bits like this, reflective and soul breaking and it made me wish for more of a connection between the two.


There’s nothing I love more than a decent enemies-to-lovers, Romeo and Juliet, arranged marriage trope. And this hit the spot.