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arielthebookgargoyle 's review for:
A Cursed Bite
by Daniela A. Mera
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
<i>I was provided an ARC copy for free. I chose to sign up to read and review. This review is done voluntarily and is of my own words. </i>
<i>A Cursed Bite</i> is set up in a world created by the author in a previous series. I have not read anything prior to this one. The beginning chapter did feel like jumping in at the middle to info dump, but the main story stood on its own. Humans have been saved from giants, and are being integrated into other fantastical creatures' societies. Such as elves and trolls.
Arlet is such a human. She ends up with the trolls, but the elves want her.
I found the main character, Arlet, to be very raw. She had moments that showed her in a vulnerable light that made her feel real. With my own experiences and how she was written, she was a character that popped off the page for me. I almost teared up on her behalf, several times even though I knew she was fictional. I felt like the author put a lot of her soul into her development of Arlet. She is the type that has buried trauma that she hates facing because it is so painful. She takes that hurt, and turns it into productivity. If she can do the work to help spare anyone else from strife, she happily takes that burden because maybe then it will make her feel better about her own.
The main male character, Vann, wasn't as impactful to me personally, but he was well done. Cold and untouchable, as his story is needed. He provided the balance to Arlet's reality. When she wasn't hiding behind her facade of happy, fulfillment. I could see the possibility of hurt coming if he dropped his stoic demeanor because of his own secrets. His tendency to hide his feelings below just like her, deep in a hole in his chest.
Their story is a slow burn. Set up for the magical world the author created to contain her characters, then a slow build to help her creatures fit and make sense of their situation and each other. The adventure takes a while to set in. When it does, it is a whirlwind of disaster and reaction, while still allowing the main characters time to process before the plot moved too far forward. It lended well to the evolution of the characters. From trauma and past hurt, to championing for themselves.
I really loved Arlet, felt for Vann. I was happy to experience their journey of devious elves, vicious curses, and plotting politics. The desperation of Arlet as she is forced to face many challenges she never asked for and how she uses them to conquer her past. How it helps melt the cold heart of an icy warrior. How it all culminates toward the end, leaving Arlet with a tough decision that didn't go where I personally wanted, but did make Vann so much more...well, human.
Totally loved this one, and would recommend to anyone looking for a character driven fantasy story.
<i>A Cursed Bite</i> is set up in a world created by the author in a previous series. I have not read anything prior to this one. The beginning chapter did feel like jumping in at the middle to info dump, but the main story stood on its own. Humans have been saved from giants, and are being integrated into other fantastical creatures' societies. Such as elves and trolls.
Arlet is such a human. She ends up with the trolls, but the elves want her.
I found the main character, Arlet, to be very raw. She had moments that showed her in a vulnerable light that made her feel real. With my own experiences and how she was written, she was a character that popped off the page for me. I almost teared up on her behalf, several times even though I knew she was fictional. I felt like the author put a lot of her soul into her development of Arlet. She is the type that has buried trauma that she hates facing because it is so painful. She takes that hurt, and turns it into productivity. If she can do the work to help spare anyone else from strife, she happily takes that burden because maybe then it will make her feel better about her own.
The main male character, Vann, wasn't as impactful to me personally, but he was well done. Cold and untouchable, as his story is needed. He provided the balance to Arlet's reality. When she wasn't hiding behind her facade of happy, fulfillment. I could see the possibility of hurt coming if he dropped his stoic demeanor because of his own secrets. His tendency to hide his feelings below just like her, deep in a hole in his chest.
Their story is a slow burn. Set up for the magical world the author created to contain her characters, then a slow build to help her creatures fit and make sense of their situation and each other. The adventure takes a while to set in. When it does, it is a whirlwind of disaster and reaction, while still allowing the main characters time to process before the plot moved too far forward. It lended well to the evolution of the characters. From trauma and past hurt, to championing for themselves.
I really loved Arlet, felt for Vann. I was happy to experience their journey of devious elves, vicious curses, and plotting politics. The desperation of Arlet as she is forced to face many challenges she never asked for and how she uses them to conquer her past. How it helps melt the cold heart of an icy warrior. How it all culminates toward the end, leaving Arlet with a tough decision that didn't go where I personally wanted, but did make Vann so much more...well, human.
Totally loved this one, and would recommend to anyone looking for a character driven fantasy story.