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A review by lillanaa
Live Like Legends by Kate Cornell
5.0
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There's a lot to unpack with this one, but I think it's one of my standouts from this year. The intrigue, the realistic fantasy, and the romance were all tangled together so well and I'm still a little hype from finishing it. The language barrier helps push the fact that this is someone being forced to a new land, something you rarely see in any kind of fantasy (are we supposed to believe there's a Common like in D&D, guys?) and it's used so well here. The arranged marriage trope actually totally works, in a way I haven't seen in a while. The ending is also succinct enough that I wouldn't mind a sequel but it works on its own.
Kalista and Carson are both awesome, definitely a battle couple if I've ever seen one. Kalista, despite being a main character out if her element, doesn't end up feeling whiney or annoying unlike some I've seen in these kinds of stories. I wanted more context on Carson, but bearing that the book is first person with a language barrier I'm not surprised. The other characters are also sick, too. Luke and Emmett make for good foils, and there is definitely work put into their characters.
Again, though, I'm left wanting more, the entire thing wrapping up a little too neatly for my liking with the impression this is all. I'll be on the lookout for more of Cornell's writing, she's definitely on my list now!
There's a lot to unpack with this one, but I think it's one of my standouts from this year. The intrigue, the realistic fantasy, and the romance were all tangled together so well and I'm still a little hype from finishing it. The language barrier helps push the fact that this is someone being forced to a new land, something you rarely see in any kind of fantasy (are we supposed to believe there's a Common like in D&D, guys?) and it's used so well here. The arranged marriage trope actually totally works, in a way I haven't seen in a while. The ending is also succinct enough that I wouldn't mind a sequel but it works on its own.
Kalista and Carson are both awesome, definitely a battle couple if I've ever seen one. Kalista, despite being a main character out if her element, doesn't end up feeling whiney or annoying unlike some I've seen in these kinds of stories. I wanted more context on Carson, but bearing that the book is first person with a language barrier I'm not surprised. The other characters are also sick, too. Luke and Emmett make for good foils, and there is definitely work put into their characters.
Again, though, I'm left wanting more, the entire thing wrapping up a little too neatly for my liking with the impression this is all. I'll be on the lookout for more of Cornell's writing, she's definitely on my list now!