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sadetanssija's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War
el_thegoblinwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story is a dark, queer romantasy following the life of a young healer with the ability to bring back the dead. Hellevir is strong and independent, but gets roped into a situation that she must navigate carefully for the sake of her family.
It started off strong, with a fast paced jump through the heroine's childhood, and her first three encounters with Death, but after a while the story slowed so much that I almost lost interest. The plot became very political and while there was plenty of intrigue, I felt that the slow-burn queer romance that first drew me to this book was pushed to the background.
The character development was a saving grace as I really felt myself warming to some of the secondary characters as the story progressed. The emotional twists in the latter half of the story kept my interest, but ultimately the ending was rather underwhelming.
This story is a dark, queer romantasy following the life of a young healer with the ability to bring back the dead. Hellevir is strong and independent, but gets roped into a situation that she must navigate carefully for the sake of her family.
It started off strong, with a fast paced jump through the heroine's childhood, and her first three encounters with Death, but after a while the story slowed so much that I almost lost interest. The plot became very political and while there was plenty of intrigue, I felt that the slow-burn queer romance that first drew me to this book was pushed to the background.
The character development was a saving grace as I really felt myself warming to some of the secondary characters as the story progressed. The emotional twists in the latter half of the story kept my interest, but ultimately the ending was rather underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: War
lover97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you like intense books, I think this is a good one for you.
Hellevir has the ability to step into death and bring people back. But there is always a price, and she soon learns how steep the cost can be. I really liked the magic(?) System here. Every exchange with the being in death is intense and unsettling. It's also very clear that hellevir does not truly understand how it works even at the end of this first book.
Characterwise, I liked her brother and his Knight along with her father. Her relationship with her mother is complicated, but I grew to like her also. I also enjoyed the nightingales. I'll give it to the author she also knows how to write extremely unlikeable people. From the queen to the peer and to sullivan. Sully is complex, and while that is very much the point, it does make the subplot between her and our main girl a tad unconvincing. Clearly, they're connected, but its not a connection I'm dying to read more of.
As this book went on, it started to feel like a massive prologue setting up what is to come. I spent a long time trying to decipher what the overarcing plot of the series was actually going to be. Sadly, I'm still not sure. It looks like it's now a treasurehunt with a background of an upcoming war for both the throne and which religion will take hold.
Unfortunately, the book just didn't grip me. The first chapters that detail the MCs original exchanges with death were brilliantly written, but as it went on, I found myself struggling to care about what was happening. Even writing this review is difficult because my brain feels battered by everything that was going on. There's a lot that happens, and very few pieces felt explained or completed. I am unsure if I'll continue the series, but I don't think it was badly written, just maybe not the right series for me.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, marianne gordon, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Hellevir has the ability to step into death and bring people back. But there is always a price, and she soon learns how steep the cost can be. I really liked the magic(?) System here. Every exchange with the being in death is intense and unsettling. It's also very clear that hellevir does not truly understand how it works even at the end of this first book.
Characterwise, I liked her brother and his Knight along with her father. Her relationship with her mother is complicated, but I grew to like her also. I also enjoyed the nightingales. I'll give it to the author she also knows how to write extremely unlikeable people. From the queen to the peer and to sullivan. Sully is complex, and while that is very much the point, it does make the subplot between her and our main girl a tad unconvincing. Clearly, they're connected, but its not a connection I'm dying to read more of.
As this book went on, it started to feel like a massive prologue setting up what is to come. I spent a long time trying to decipher what the overarcing plot of the series was actually going to be. Sadly, I'm still not sure. It looks like it's now a treasurehunt with a background of an upcoming war for both the throne and which religion will take hold.
Unfortunately, the book just didn't grip me. The first chapters that detail the MCs original exchanges with death were brilliantly written, but as it went on, I found myself struggling to care about what was happening. Even writing this review is difficult because my brain feels battered by everything that was going on. There's a lot that happens, and very few pieces felt explained or completed. I am unsure if I'll continue the series, but I don't think it was badly written, just maybe not the right series for me.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, marianne gordon, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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