steffandbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh this book was sooooooooo good! This is gonna be one of my new favorite series of all time.
I loved the take on vampires the author took with this world. While the book is very slow paced and not much plot wise actually happens in this first book, it was a beautiful take on the love that built between the two main characters. I love the historic take the author uses as language and the flirting was so sweet, funny and scandalous as the same time. The MMC is so sweet and so filthy at the same time, if you know what I mean 😏 I love how he had the patience to be Cassia’s friend first and earn her trust and then I loved how he challenged her and wanted her to feel save in her own skin and not be afraid.
The plot really unfolded towards the end and it had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t mind that it was THAT slow paced because we got to know a great deal about many characters and I think the plot that unfolded in this book is only the beginning of a far greater scheme.
I need to dive right back into the second book cause I desperately need to know what happens!
Oh and if you wondered, the spice was immaculate in my opinion as well.
🌶️ 2.5 It wasn’t downright filthy but well described and even through those scenes you could see the characters grow with each other and built even more trust.
Love, love, love it!
I loved the take on vampires the author took with this world. While the book is very slow paced and not much plot wise actually happens in this first book, it was a beautiful take on the love that built between the two main characters. I love the historic take the author uses as language and the flirting was so sweet, funny and scandalous as the same time. The MMC is so sweet and so filthy at the same time, if you know what I mean 😏 I love how he had the patience to be Cassia’s friend first and earn her trust and then I loved how he challenged her and wanted her to feel save in her own skin and not be afraid.
The plot really unfolded towards the end and it had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t mind that it was THAT slow paced because we got to know a great deal about many characters and I think the plot that unfolded in this book is only the beginning of a far greater scheme.
I need to dive right back into the second book cause I desperately need to know what happens!
Oh and if you wondered, the spice was immaculate in my opinion as well.
🌶️ 2.5 It wasn’t downright filthy but well described and even through those scenes you could see the characters grow with each other and built even more trust.
Love, love, love it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Hate crime, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Kidnapping and War
eatingbrains's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Oh boy..
So. I would say that I liked this book. The political intrigue aspect is interesting, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse and seems to rely on conventional setting stereotypes, the religious aspect is bizarre, and the magic systems are largely unexplained.
For the romance: I initially enjoyed the pining, the obvious adoration, the soft boy, the timid girl with hidden strength, etc... But then they hooked up and it became intolerable. I cannot deal with the words used for penis and vagina. Not the barbaric 'sword' and 'sheath' metaphor used in Tenebra nor the ones in the Hesperine language which I refuse to type out. It literally sounds like the penis is a Pokémon and the image remains firmly stuck. Beyond that, it also felt very juvenile in that they banged and then it was very insta-ride-or-die which was hugely out of character for the woman, if not also the man (in theory) especially considering that it largely takes place in the span of a month.
To be honest, my favorite character was the animal companion, Knight.
I am unsure if I will continue on to read the next book, but there's a good chance.
So. I would say that I liked this book. The political intrigue aspect is interesting, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse and seems to rely on conventional setting stereotypes, the religious aspect is bizarre, and the magic systems are largely unexplained.
For the romance: I initially enjoyed the pining, the obvious adoration, the soft boy, the timid girl with hidden strength, etc... But then they hooked up and it became intolerable. I cannot deal with the words used for penis and vagina. Not the barbaric 'sword' and 'sheath' metaphor used in Tenebra nor the ones in the Hesperine language which I refuse to type out. It literally sounds like the penis is a Pokémon and the image remains firmly stuck. Beyond that, it also felt very juvenile in that they banged and then it was very insta-ride-or-die which was hugely out of character for the woman, if not also the man (in theory) especially considering that it largely takes place in the span of a month.
To be honest, my favorite character was the animal companion, Knight.
I am unsure if I will continue on to read the next book, but there's a good chance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Animal cruelty, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Self harm, Violence, Animal death, Infertility, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, War, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Classism, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
midnacine's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm always hesitant to give the first book in a series 5 stars because it takes my brain some time to get used to the world and characters, so I don't really connect until like a third of the way through. I only clarify that now because I think that's the only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars.
I was recommended this book on Tiktok by someone with a very small following, so I went into this hoping the algorithm had taken me to where I needed to be. And thanks be to the Tiktok algorithm gods, because I fell in love.
While high fantasy romance series are definitely up my alley, the tropes used in this were so different to what I typically enjoy, and I was surprised with how much I loved them. The prose walks that fine line between poetic and difficult to understand, but the more I read the more I got used to it. Lio and Cassia are some of the most well-developed characters I've seen out of a first book, and their romance is heartbreaking in all the best ways. And the world building was absolutely phenomenal.
If you're looking for a forbidden romance that will make you cry, political intrigue and assassination plots that will have you on the edge of your seat, and a truly unique view on mourning and honoring life, this is the book for you.
I was recommended this book on Tiktok by someone with a very small following, so I went into this hoping the algorithm had taken me to where I needed to be. And thanks be to the Tiktok algorithm gods, because I fell in love.
While high fantasy romance series are definitely up my alley, the tropes used in this were so different to what I typically enjoy, and I was surprised with how much I loved them. The prose walks that fine line between poetic and difficult to understand, but the more I read the more I got used to it. Lio and Cassia are some of the most well-developed characters I've seen out of a first book, and their romance is heartbreaking in all the best ways. And the world building was absolutely phenomenal.
If you're looking for a forbidden romance that will make you cry, political intrigue and assassination plots that will have you on the edge of your seat, and a truly unique view on mourning and honoring life, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Sexism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, Gore, Confinement, Vomit, Murder, and War
Minor: Pregnancy, Homophobia, Violence, Child death, and Death of parent
_linnea_'s review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, and Blood
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest, Abortion, and Pregnancy
words_and_dreams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-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
5.0
Forbidden fantasy romance
Vela Roth has created a fully realised world, rich in detail, lore and history.
The story follows Cassia, the bastard daughter of the King of Tenebra, who is a cruel tyrant. (Seriously he is the worst.) She spends her life staying hidden and out of the way, to ensure her own survival at a dangerous court.
She meets Lio, a Hesperine ambassador, who is this worlds version of a vampire. Vampires in this story are not what you have seen or read before. They are wise, benevolent and at one with nature, I really liked the characterisation of their people.
Cassia was strong and resourceful and has had to endure much. While it takes a while to earn her trust, once you do, she is fiercely loyal. Lio is kind and patient and I loved how their relationship took time to grow. I love how Cassia grows from thinking of only her own survival to that of other people who are also under her father's thumb. Lio goes from idealistic ambassador to seeing the pain and suffering in the world and why someone like Cassia is so weary and pessimistic.
The story is full of court intrigue, political machinations, themes of racial prejudice and magic. There is also a great cast of background characters that add to the world without being too much. This is part one of four so the story is not resolved by the end and you really feel for the couples predicament. Cannot wait to read the next installment.
The authors writing is poetic and lyrical without being too flowery or bogged down by unnecessary words. The world feels beautiful and melancholic at the same time.
My only critique is that the first part of the book is a little slow and quite heavy in exposition where one character is explaining their culture to another. I feel as though it could have been edited down a little.
Fab read, beautiful love story. Looking forward to more.
Vela Roth has created a fully realised world, rich in detail, lore and history.
The story follows Cassia, the bastard daughter of the King of Tenebra, who is a cruel tyrant. (Seriously he is the worst.) She spends her life staying hidden and out of the way, to ensure her own survival at a dangerous court.
She meets Lio, a Hesperine ambassador, who is this worlds version of a vampire. Vampires in this story are not what you have seen or read before. They are wise, benevolent and at one with nature, I really liked the characterisation of their people.
Cassia was strong and resourceful and has had to endure much. While it takes a while to earn her trust, once you do, she is fiercely loyal. Lio is kind and patient and I loved how their relationship took time to grow. I love how Cassia grows from thinking of only her own survival to that of other people who are also under her father's thumb. Lio goes from idealistic ambassador to seeing the pain and suffering in the world and why someone like Cassia is so weary and pessimistic.
The story is full of court intrigue, political machinations, themes of racial prejudice and magic. There is also a great cast of background characters that add to the world without being too much. This is part one of four so the story is not resolved by the end and you really feel for the couples predicament. Cannot wait to read the next installment.
The authors writing is poetic and lyrical without being too flowery or bogged down by unnecessary words. The world feels beautiful and melancholic at the same time.
My only critique is that the first part of the book is a little slow and quite heavy in exposition where one character is explaining their culture to another. I feel as though it could have been edited down a little.
Fab read, beautiful love story. Looking forward to more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and War
Minor: Death of parent and Death
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