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A review by egbella
In the Wake of the Wicked by V.B. Lacey
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars. I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book, and overall enjoyed the read. I've got some conflicting feelings, so I'm going to try and lay out my general likes and dislikes below.
What I liked:
- the "Hunger Games"/tournament aspect of the book. I love books with tournaments and trials for the protagonists to overcome, so that was incredibly fun. The trials themselves were unique and interesting, with plot twists I genuinely didn't expect. I was kept on my toes!
- the fascinating magic system and world. I enjoyed learning about the different kingdoms, their kinds of magic, the history, all of the different intricacies that made the setting immersive and interesting. It all felt very well-developed and I would have loved to see even more of the kingdoms.
- the age of the female protagonist! Such a small thing, but I enjoyed seeing an older protagonist (not a teenager, basically).
- the balance of fast-paced action, with slower dialogue and intrigue. I felt it had a good pace, and I wasn't ever bored, even during the slow sections, as I was very interested in learning more about the characters having discussions and exploring internal battles.
- Emperor Gayl. SUCH a strong character, and I won't get into spoilers, but I would have loved to read even more with him. I could never make up my mind about him, and he was so extremely well-written. Well done!
- Leo. While he was a little bit too broody at times, I did really appreciate the depth of his character, and what he stood for. I could relate to his protective feelings toward those he cared about, and felt genuinely sorry for what he had to go through. He's a good guy and deserves a HEA.
- Rissa. <3 Strong, capable, emotionally-perceptive, kind, and snarky, I adore her. I'm so glad she receives what she deserves in the end because man did she put up with a lot from Rose and Leo.
- HORACE. So pure. So dedicated. So lovable. This guy deserved so much better than he received.
What I disliked:
- the spice. I know this is marketed as a no-spice romance, but it was still too much for me. While there were no explicit scenes and I appreciated that, the repeated passionate kissing against trees (only mildly described), FMC wrapping her legs around the MMC's waist, sleeping in the same bed and cuddling, etc. still made me uncomfy. I kept pausing and trying to figure out whether I was approaching content I wouldn't want to read, questioning whether I was remembering correctly that this was marketed as a non-spicy book. In the end, it was certainly tamer than many books out there, and most readers might not be bothered, but I don't really enjoy ANY spice, so the passion was too much for my preferences. If you relate to me, this might not be in your comfort zone.
- how quickly the romance moved. I felt like the MMC and FMC went from hating one another's guts (for valid reasons, honestly) to cuddling and calling one another sweetheart incredibly fast. It was like a switch flipped in the middle of the book. And while they were sweet together, and I did ultimately want them to fall in love, it did frustrate me a little at how quick the change happened.
- some of the writing itself felt like it could have used more editing. A bit of it felt kind of juvenile and distracted me from the story itself just because it was such a stark contrast to the richer, more flowing sentences from the rest of the book. Certain sections could also have been shorter without detriment to the story.
Overall, this is a very solid read, especially for fans of intricate, darker fantasies with tournament/Hunger games vibes, protective/broody romances, well-developed fantasy worlds and magic systems, and a twisting plot you'll never be quite sure where it's headed. While it wasn't quite my thing, I can still recommend it, and enjoyed plenty of its elements!
Content to mention: mildly-described kisses, main characters cuddle and sleep (actually sleep) together several times, FMC wraps her legs around MMC's waist as he has shoved her back against a tree to kiss her, protagonists reference finding the other attractive (briefly detailing why) several times, several character deaths, mild descriptions of wounds and injuries, fighting, emotional turmoil, characters fall into cursed sleep (reminiscent of comas), dysfunctional family, murder, torture (in one scene, bones are intentionally broken one by one, and briefly described), betrayal.
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
What I liked:
- the "Hunger Games"/tournament aspect of the book. I love books with tournaments and trials for the protagonists to overcome, so that was incredibly fun. The trials themselves were unique and interesting, with plot twists I genuinely didn't expect. I was kept on my toes!
- the fascinating magic system and world. I enjoyed learning about the different kingdoms, their kinds of magic, the history, all of the different intricacies that made the setting immersive and interesting. It all felt very well-developed and I would have loved to see even more of the kingdoms.
- the age of the female protagonist! Such a small thing, but I enjoyed seeing an older protagonist (not a teenager, basically).
- the balance of fast-paced action, with slower dialogue and intrigue. I felt it had a good pace, and I wasn't ever bored, even during the slow sections, as I was very interested in learning more about the characters having discussions and exploring internal battles.
- Emperor Gayl. SUCH a strong character, and I won't get into spoilers, but I would have loved to read even more with him. I could never make up my mind about him, and he was so extremely well-written. Well done!
- Leo. While he was a little bit too broody at times, I did really appreciate the depth of his character, and what he stood for. I could relate to his protective feelings toward those he cared about, and felt genuinely sorry for what he had to go through. He's a good guy and deserves a HEA.
- Rissa. <3 Strong, capable, emotionally-perceptive, kind, and snarky, I adore her. I'm so glad she receives what she deserves in the end because man did she put up with a lot from Rose and Leo.
- HORACE. So pure. So dedicated. So lovable. This guy deserved so much better than he received.
What I disliked:
- the spice. I know this is marketed as a no-spice romance, but it was still too much for me. While there were no explicit scenes and I appreciated that, the repeated passionate kissing against trees (only mildly described), FMC wrapping her legs around the MMC's waist, sleeping in the same bed and cuddling, etc. still made me uncomfy. I kept pausing and trying to figure out whether I was approaching content I wouldn't want to read, questioning whether I was remembering correctly that this was marketed as a non-spicy book. In the end, it was certainly tamer than many books out there, and most readers might not be bothered, but I don't really enjoy ANY spice, so the passion was too much for my preferences. If you relate to me, this might not be in your comfort zone.
- how quickly the romance moved. I felt like the MMC and FMC went from hating one another's guts (for valid reasons, honestly) to cuddling and calling one another sweetheart incredibly fast. It was like a switch flipped in the middle of the book. And while they were sweet together, and I did ultimately want them to fall in love, it did frustrate me a little at how quick the change happened.
- some of the writing itself felt like it could have used more editing. A bit of it felt kind of juvenile and distracted me from the story itself just because it was such a stark contrast to the richer, more flowing sentences from the rest of the book. Certain sections could also have been shorter without detriment to the story.
Overall, this is a very solid read, especially for fans of intricate, darker fantasies with tournament/Hunger games vibes, protective/broody romances, well-developed fantasy worlds and magic systems, and a twisting plot you'll never be quite sure where it's headed. While it wasn't quite my thing, I can still recommend it, and enjoyed plenty of its elements!
Content to mention: mildly-described kisses, main characters cuddle and sleep (actually sleep) together several times, FMC wraps her legs around MMC's waist as he has shoved her back against a tree to kiss her, protagonists reference finding the other attractive (briefly detailing why) several times, several character deaths, mild descriptions of wounds and injuries, fighting, emotional turmoil, characters fall into cursed sleep (reminiscent of comas), dysfunctional family, murder, torture (in one scene, bones are intentionally broken one by one, and briefly described), betrayal.
** I received an ARC copy of this book, but was not required to leave a review - much less a positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own. **
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content