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yamuna_rai's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
therese_nook68's review
4.0
TW: torture, assault, abuse, death, murder, blood, gore
A really good intro to a series — it set up the main conflict and the characters' budding relationships (both platonic and romantic). The book kept me going and kept me wanting to read on and I found myself gasping and just being in utter shock this entire time — which kept me wanting to read.
I've definitely seen a change in Ben's writing from when he released the Dragori series, he's definitely grown in terms of writing style as well as the content of his writing. He's definitely not afraid to get his hands dirty and get into more difficult and hard to swallow topics. But these things are handled pretty well in terms of not glorifying the scenario and really showing how evil people who abuse people in this way actually are.
My biggest issue with this book, which is why it's teetering between the 4.5 and the 4 is because of two issues: pacing and world-building. I feel like by the end of the book, I had no grasp on what the world consists of, I don't know the lore, the history, or even in some instances, the magic system. As for the pacing, it felt too fast and too slow. I felt that a lot of it moved super quickly, but when things slowed down, instead of weaving in world-building as well as character motivations and history, it was more focused on the latter and the former was a lot of "I will tell you later — I'm not in the mood to tell you now." And because the pacing felt so unbalanced, the big moment that's supposed to make you feel unsettled, felt really anti-climactic.
Overall, really enjoy this book and I feel like it has a good basis for something really good, it just needs to iron out the bigger parts that inevitably make a fantasy series.
A really good intro to a series — it set up the main conflict and the characters' budding relationships (both platonic and romantic). The book kept me going and kept me wanting to read on and I found myself gasping and just being in utter shock this entire time — which kept me wanting to read.
I've definitely seen a change in Ben's writing from when he released the Dragori series, he's definitely grown in terms of writing style as well as the content of his writing. He's definitely not afraid to get his hands dirty and get into more difficult and hard to swallow topics. But these things are handled pretty well in terms of not glorifying the scenario and really showing how evil people who abuse people in this way actually are.
My biggest issue with this book, which is why it's teetering between the 4.5 and the 4 is because of two issues: pacing and world-building. I feel like by the end of the book, I had no grasp on what the world consists of, I don't know the lore, the history, or even in some instances, the magic system. As for the pacing, it felt too fast and too slow. I felt that a lot of it moved super quickly, but when things slowed down, instead of weaving in world-building as well as character motivations and history, it was more focused on the latter and the former was a lot of "I will tell you later — I'm not in the mood to tell you now." And because the pacing felt so unbalanced, the big moment that's supposed to make you feel unsettled, felt really anti-climactic.
Overall, really enjoy this book and I feel like it has a good basis for something really good, it just needs to iron out the bigger parts that inevitably make a fantasy series.
worming_through_books's review
5.0
This book is incredible.
The characters are so well written and fleshed out that they are easy to fall in love with despite some of their deceptions. Max is beautifully presented main character that goes through so much but still come out stronger in the end.
The strong story arc is only made better by the abundance of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. The writing is easy to follow and creates an addictive flow to the book that you can’t put down. The ending is the best parts of completion and cliff hanger you expect from the first part of a trilogy. I can’t wait to read the next instalments of this series.
With M/M romances, arranged marriages, found families, mages, elemental magic, and not forgetting dragons, this book of a must read for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy.
I cannot recommend this book, and Ben Alderson’s other works, enough.
The characters are so well written and fleshed out that they are easy to fall in love with despite some of their deceptions. Max is beautifully presented main character that goes through so much but still come out stronger in the end.
The strong story arc is only made better by the abundance of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. The writing is easy to follow and creates an addictive flow to the book that you can’t put down. The ending is the best parts of completion and cliff hanger you expect from the first part of a trilogy. I can’t wait to read the next instalments of this series.
With M/M romances, arranged marriages, found families, mages, elemental magic, and not forgetting dragons, this book of a must read for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy.
I cannot recommend this book, and Ben Alderson’s other works, enough.
nalry's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katzenhai's review
4.0
Hmm, ich mochte die Welt. Aber ich fand das er sich falsch entschieden hat. Ich wäre auf der Seite von Cameron und den Phönixen. Ich hab es mir schon die ganze Zeit gedacht, warum er irgendwem vertraut. Ich habe den Norden gehasst. Keine Ahnung, warum er da bleiben will. XD
Und ich hätte gerne mehr gay Action gehabt. Außer diese komische Blitzhochzeit und einem Kuss war da nicht viel.
Und ich hätte gerne mehr gay Action gehabt. Außer diese komische Blitzhochzeit und einem Kuss war da nicht viel.
books_blackcats's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The main character lost his witty banter and flirty attitude but it’s understandable why considering what happens to him through out the book. He did not rise to the burden of his destiny which made me not like him as much as the story wanted me to like him.
Romance is a very small sub plot which makes it’s good for readers who do not want heavy romance.
The use of mythical beasts and who they represent is very interesting too.
Romance is a very small sub plot which makes it’s good for readers who do not want heavy romance.
The use of mythical beasts and who they represent is very interesting too.
shannadrapeau's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
alexbrown's review against another edition
5.0
Wow what a ride - this book was action packed all the way through and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are great, the worldbuilding and its creatures are interesting and I did not expect the twists. I cannot recommend this book enough!
ocean_the_reader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing, wonderful, fantastic. My favorite book by Ben Alderson so far!! It was different from his other books. There were a lot more action/violence and plot twists compared to his other books. The cliffhanger at the end absolutely killed me and I can't wait for book 2!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
evafantasy's review
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maximus is the cutest. The world building was interesting, the story was quite predicable at times, the foreshadowing quite evident, but overall very enjoyable !
Maximus is the cutest. The world building was interesting, the story was quite predicable at times, the foreshadowing quite evident, but overall very enjoyable !