A review by tired_cicada
A Sword from the Embers by Chloe C. Peñaranda

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Every time the author makes a “have faith” joke it drops my rating a half a star. It’s so corny and had not been funny once. 

Same pacing issue that make the first part of the book a slough to get through. 

That said! SHE FINALLY GREW SOME TEETH!!! That has been my main issue with the series is that there was no bite to it. I’ve never been worried during any action scene cause I knew she didn’t have the guts to kill off someone ACTUALLY important. And she finally did it!! 

When they broke the mating bond for Nick and Tauria I was genuinely gagged! Like THAT is a sacrifice! It BETTER have a pay off to match it casue they JUST GOT THAT!


The series is still woefully predictable and the things I didn’t get came out of fucking nowhere
Marlow and Iziah joining the other side WHY? like Marlow I can get, she 100% saw a vision and is doing what she needs to and this betrayal will get moved on from WAY too quickly casue “she had a reason” but IZIAH!?!? Where in hell did that even come from?
 

The main romance was fine, I guess. Not sure why we needed to manufacture forced  forbidden romance when it had no real effect on the plot. Like REALLY? The King, who spent all of the last book and before being like “you’re basically a son to me” suddenly not being okay with Raylen being with his daughter? And you’re telling me the RIGHT HAND MAN OF THE KING who is literally BELOVED by the entire country isn’t not a “good enough match” for a princess? Do they just have a “sneaking around” kink? If they do you can just SAY that and spare us all the annoyance of this unnecessary and useless plot point.
On that note WHY did they even have Faye fake her death when it literally proved to be useless!?!? Just go home!


The side romances however? This new love triangle we have going on? Mavrik get out of here! I literally never liked you
I actually wanted Ziana to be a lesbian and be in love with the darkling girl she saved from the last book but since THATS clearly not happening
make way for my tortured sad boy who is so much more interesting and good for her!
Also she is definitely the evil king dude’s kid. We don’t need to drag this out. We know.


And then Narida and Tarly?!? I’m obsessed with them! Their side novel WHEN? I want them to be the main characters immediately! 

Over all I liked it. I did think this was the last book, and the next one doesn’t come out for much too long for my liking. 
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