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A review by special_edition_library
Between Life and Death by Jaclyn Kot
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I never saw it coming, but this book had me in tears when I least expected it😭🤧
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Storyline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World-building Aside ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes
✅️ Fantasy Romance
✅️ Secret Identity
✅️ Elemental magic
✅️ Mythical gods
✅️ Found family
✅️ Touch her and die
✅️ Rebellion
✅️ Betrayal
✅️ 😢
🔥 Slowish
Storyline:
Between Life and Death is the first book in a dark fantasy romance series set in Edenvale a world where magic is a curse and the Cursed face a brutal fate. The story follows Sage, a brave and determined young woman who joins a rebel group to save her brother, leading her into a dangerous fight for freedom and into the orbit of Von, the rebels’ mysterious and guarded leader.
There’s also an intriguing underlying mystery about who Sage really is, which adds a nice thread of suspense.
Characters:
Sage, the FMC, is loyal and strong-willed, and as the story unfolds, the mystery surrounding her identity begins to emerge. Von, the MMC, is brooding and secretive with a layered past, and his slow-building connection with Sage brings emotional weight to the narrative. The Cursed rebels are a diverse group, each with their own strengths, and their growing bond with Sage adds heart to the story.
Writing/Pacing/World-building :
The pacing and writing were good, though the occasional attempts at light humor sometimes felt out of place.The world-building was on the lighter side, but I’m hopeful that’s intentional—to leave room for more depth and discovery in the next book.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the world and characters grow in the next installment.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Storyline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World-building Aside ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes
✅️ Fantasy Romance
✅️ Secret Identity
✅️ Elemental magic
✅️ Mythical gods
✅️ Found family
✅️ Touch her and die
✅️ Rebellion
✅️ Betrayal
✅️ 😢
🔥 Slowish
Storyline:
Between Life and Death is the first book in a dark fantasy romance series set in Edenvale a world where magic is a curse and the Cursed face a brutal fate. The story follows Sage, a brave and determined young woman who joins a rebel group to save her brother, leading her into a dangerous fight for freedom and into the orbit of Von, the rebels’ mysterious and guarded leader.
There’s also an intriguing underlying mystery about who Sage really is, which adds a nice thread of suspense.
Characters:
Sage, the FMC, is loyal and strong-willed, and as the story unfolds, the mystery surrounding her identity begins to emerge. Von, the MMC, is brooding and secretive with a layered past, and his slow-building connection with Sage brings emotional weight to the narrative. The Cursed rebels are a diverse group, each with their own strengths, and their growing bond with Sage adds heart to the story.
Writing/Pacing/World-building :
The pacing and writing were good, though the occasional attempts at light humor sometimes felt out of place.The world-building was on the lighter side, but I’m hopeful that’s intentional—to leave room for more depth and discovery in the next book.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the world and characters grow in the next installment.