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A review by davinareads
Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was hard to rate. If I could rate just the characters, they’d get a solid 5 stars. The character dynamics were really well done—the chemistry between them was strong, and the tension that built up over the book added depth to the whole experience. This is definitely a more character-driven story.
That said, I think if this series had been written in a lighter, fluffier way—focused more on character interactions than kingdom politics and threats—it would have been a five-star read for me.
For those who don’t know, our main character, Tycho, was originally a side character in Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series (which I loved). And unfortunately, it still felt like he was a side character in his own spin-off.
There is a story here, but it’s rather weak because the characters have no real power to drive the plot forward. We see glimpses of court tension, but we don’t experience it firsthand—we only get bits and pieces through gossip and speculation. It just didn’t feel like there was enough story for them.
Another thing that worked against the book for me was the heavy reliance on miscommunication and under-communication. I always get frustrated when conflicts could easily be solved if the characters just talked and listened. And this book leaned heavily into that trope.
On a more positive note, I really liked the ending—it hooked me enough to want to continue the series. Again, I love the characters, so I have no problem picking up the next book to see where their story goes. I just really hope the storyline will be stronger next time.
Overall, if you love character-driven stories with amazing chemistry, this is worth picking up. Just go in knowing that the plot takes a backseat to the relationships. And if you’re impatient like me, brace yourself for the wait until the next book!
That said, I think if this series had been written in a lighter, fluffier way—focused more on character interactions than kingdom politics and threats—it would have been a five-star read for me.
For those who don’t know, our main character, Tycho, was originally a side character in Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series (which I loved). And unfortunately, it still felt like he was a side character in his own spin-off.
There is a story here, but it’s rather weak because the characters have no real power to drive the plot forward. We see glimpses of court tension, but we don’t experience it firsthand—we only get bits and pieces through gossip and speculation. It just didn’t feel like there was enough story for them.
Another thing that worked against the book for me was the heavy reliance on miscommunication and under-communication. I always get frustrated when conflicts could easily be solved if the characters just talked and listened. And this book leaned heavily into that trope.
On a more positive note, I really liked the ending—it hooked me enough to want to continue the series. Again, I love the characters, so I have no problem picking up the next book to see where their story goes. I just really hope the storyline will be stronger next time.
Overall, if you love character-driven stories with amazing chemistry, this is worth picking up. Just go in knowing that the plot takes a backseat to the relationships. And if you’re impatient like me, brace yourself for the wait until the next book!