A review by binches
This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
I enjoyed this book so much.
It had pirates, runes, automatons, and a world inspired by Ancient Greece. The rich worldbuilding also hints at an even bigger picture with so many different and diverse cultures (though this book mainly stays and focuses on the islands the protagonists grew up on).
What I loved the most about this book (besides the very casual queer representation, we have an ace protagonist, a non-binary side character, and an mlm couple) is that it didn't waste time on unnecessary drama. There are no frustrating fights over whether or not
Alix is to be treated as a human or not, it's taken as default
and that was so refreshing to see.
The conflict that DOES happen eventually has such a significant impact because we had a good build-up for the character's relationships. It feels meaningful because the book didn't dwell on minor conflicts prior.

What hindered me from rating this book 'exceptional' instead of 'very good' is that every now and then the prose left me confused about the logistics of the current situation. There were moments when I didn't know where exactly the characters were or who was saying what.

Apart from that, this has become one of my favorite books that I had so much fun with and that I would recommend to everyone who wants to read about ace girls hanging out with pirates and befriending automatons. 
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