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A review by bittennailbooks
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I finally read "A Broken Blade" by Melissa Blair (famous booktoker and scavenger hunt curator)! This book has been recommended to me SO many times but I hate starting unfinished series. with both books and the third ARC in hand, I finally decided to give it a go.
A good entry level fantasy novel that packs in well-loved romantacy tropes. Blair certainly knows her booktok audience! I also enjoyed the insertion of Indigenous issues around blood quantum, land/crown, and governance included throughout. A lot of parallels drawn in the real world around the fight for survival.
My issues with the novel were within its straightforward and predictable plot. Unfortunately, the twist was predictable very early on and doesn't leave much for the wow moment. The story was already off in a run while I was still trying to figure out the cast and their motives. I hope to see more from the characters as a whole and hope books 2 & 3 give that to us.
Overall, I think this is a great first fantasy for folks looking to enter the genre and will be looking forward to starting A Shadow Crown next!
A good entry level fantasy novel that packs in well-loved romantacy tropes. Blair certainly knows her booktok audience! I also enjoyed the insertion of Indigenous issues around blood quantum, land/crown, and governance included throughout. A lot of parallels drawn in the real world around the fight for survival.
My issues with the novel were within its straightforward and predictable plot. Unfortunately, the twist was predictable very early on and doesn't leave much for the wow moment. The story was already off in a run while I was still trying to figure out the cast and their motives. I hope to see more from the characters as a whole and hope books 2 & 3 give that to us.
Overall, I think this is a great first fantasy for folks looking to enter the genre and will be looking forward to starting A Shadow Crown next!