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hanxanth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very similar to ACOTAR, though lighter in tone and plot. It was a little rushed for my liking in terms of plot but the chemistry between the characters didn't suffer from it. My main issue with the book is that the FMC picks a lock to a cell with a chicken bone... a minor issue, yes, but it just threw me so much that it's making me dock points.
storydarling's review against another edition
I am not a fan of insta-lust/insta-love and this book definitely has that. And their bickering was not cute and showing them falling in love; it just felt like bickering for bickering’s sake because enemies to lovers is so popular right now.
What ultimately had me drop it though was the reiteration of things that had happened only like 5% before. It was weird. Like when an author adds helpful summations of what happened in the previous book. But in this case, it was only a couple of chapters before. Readers do not need a rehash of something that just happened. It makes me feel like maybe this book was written as a serial? I don’t know. After the 2nd such rehash, I was done. I wasn’t invested anyways and this just got on my nerves. So DNF.
What ultimately had me drop it though was the reiteration of things that had happened only like 5% before. It was weird. Like when an author adds helpful summations of what happened in the previous book. But in this case, it was only a couple of chapters before. Readers do not need a rehash of something that just happened. It makes me feel like maybe this book was written as a serial? I don’t know. After the 2nd such rehash, I was done. I wasn’t invested anyways and this just got on my nerves. So DNF.
raecat23's review against another edition
4.0
This book was perfectly average. Nothing out of the ordinary, but fun, a little spicy, and a good time! I will be continuing the series but not in the near future. I wanna see more of the kingdom and what’s going to happen!
laurenasuzano's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
i’ve read enough romantasy at this point to recognize the very predictable beats. while there were rare moments that made me gasp or otherwise react, the story was just something for me to try to get through a reading slump. i don’t think i will continue the series for now, but for what it’s worth, it was a decent read that might really work for the right reader. for me, too much of the story felt like a patchwork of romantasy story beats stitched together.
sandy292love's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
elizzabook's review against another edition
5.0
I know I know “really a five star review?” YES purely for the amount of emotions that this book dragged me through, the immaculate writing, and story building. The twist and turns that I wish I could say I predicted all of them, but Lord I did not.
Read it. Do it.
Read it. Do it.
jinjan's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a really fun fantasy romance! It scratched the itch without being overly tropey or cringey.
Remy & Hale have great chemistry & I liked that Mulford didn't for an enemies-to-lovers situation. I really loved Bri, Telhan, & Carys as well & am excited to follow some of them in future novels. And while I never felt particularly attached to any of these characters, they all felt fully realized.
The setting is seemingly queer normative, which is a huge thumbs up from me. The book is predictable & one of the big mysteries is alluded to in like the 2nd chapter (Remy's identity). But its done in a way that feels like the other characters are in on the secret - like they all kinda suspect who she really is but are all cool to let her think she's lying to them. And I appreciated that this never really gets in the way of Remy & Hale's relationship.
Towards the end, Mulford started to lose me. I didn't love how the final battle went down,especially with the way that Raffiel dies. I just don't get, why go through the trouble of writing him in just to kill him off in the same scene?. I also noticed that Remy & Hale's dialogue slightly changes to be more formal once Remy casts off her human form which I really hated. It makes no sense! Otherwise, I liked the ending & was actually pleasantly surprised by how it all went down.
Up until the 85% mark I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue on in the series. While I like Remy & Hale, neither of them had character arcs that I found all that intriguing - maybe if we had gotten some POV from Hale. But now that I know who the couple is in the next book, I think that relationship dynamic will be much more up my alley.
Remy & Hale have great chemistry & I liked that Mulford didn't for an enemies-to-lovers situation. I really loved Bri, Telhan, & Carys as well & am excited to follow some of them in future novels. And while I never felt particularly attached to any of these characters, they all felt fully realized.
The setting is seemingly queer normative, which is a huge thumbs up from me. The book is predictable & one of the big mysteries is alluded to in like the 2nd chapter (Remy's identity). But its done in a way that feels like the other characters are in on the secret - like they all kinda suspect who she really is but are all cool to let her think she's lying to them. And I appreciated that this never really gets in the way of Remy & Hale's relationship.
Towards the end, Mulford started to lose me. I didn't love how the final battle went down,
Up until the 85% mark I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue on in the series. While I like Remy & Hale, neither of them had character arcs that I found all that intriguing - maybe if we had gotten some POV from Hale. But now that I know who the couple is in the next book, I think that relationship dynamic will be much more up my alley.
itsmax's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
maeghie1408's review against another edition
2.0
Lost heir to the whole kingdom… this story was poorly executed. Remy really got on my nerves