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A review by readclever
Fortune Favors the Cruel by Lucinda Dark, Kel Carpenter
5.0
Unexpected surprise in how good this book really is. There's a lot of world building without info dumps, good homages to books that have come before, and a multifaceted heroine.
I rarely give out 5 stars, but this book absolutely gets one. I believed in the character motivations, especially when listening to the audio, and how decisions have serious consequences. Quinn, the heroine, isn't perfect. She's flawed and they work within the story.
This is a dark fantasy with more rough themes, including child abuse and assault. It's not as bad as Anne Bishop's Black Jewels, but it is still startling. Oddly, listening was less alarming than reading it on my Kindle. And like Bishop, there's a strong found family vibe within the books. A sense of belonging.
I really enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, the sheer force of Quinn to push for more when left with no options, and Lazarus (the hero) realizing why she's so important. Both are dark maji, people with extremely troublesome gifts, yet they both handle their talents differently.
Balanced world building and I can't wait to listen to the next book soon.
I rarely give out 5 stars, but this book absolutely gets one. I believed in the character motivations, especially when listening to the audio, and how decisions have serious consequences. Quinn, the heroine, isn't perfect. She's flawed and they work within the story.
This is a dark fantasy with more rough themes, including child abuse and assault. It's not as bad as Anne Bishop's Black Jewels, but it is still startling. Oddly, listening was less alarming than reading it on my Kindle. And like Bishop, there's a strong found family vibe within the books. A sense of belonging.
I really enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, the sheer force of Quinn to push for more when left with no options, and Lazarus (the hero) realizing why she's so important. Both are dark maji, people with extremely troublesome gifts, yet they both handle their talents differently.
Balanced world building and I can't wait to listen to the next book soon.