lexi_charles 's review for:

Compass Rose by Anna Burke
4.0
adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced
A solid fantasy book, but I have to agree with others that I found the romance lacking. We're hit over the head with the "touch her and die" trope, but Rose and Miranda spend little time together for the intensity of their attraction. The first-person narration is also limiting, as we can only know this complex world (and Miranda herself) through Rose's eyes. It left me frustrated that
Rose remains naive to the end even in the midst of some very clear indications that Miranda has betrayed her promises to the Archipelago.
Be forewarned that this is a duology, and this first book alone leaves some plot points unresolved.
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