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rachel_reads_rom's review against another edition
5.0
One hot gem of a story!
The story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The heat:
The story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The heat:
dakotahgummauthor's review against another edition
5.0
This is going to be the hottest read of 2022.
A dark fantasy romance about a rebel journalist and the mage who finally captures her, this story is everything you never knew you needed. Deadly threats, scorching heat, and a hefty dose of kink, all wrapped up in a thrilling world of magic and technology. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.
A dark fantasy romance about a rebel journalist and the mage who finally captures her, this story is everything you never knew you needed. Deadly threats, scorching heat, and a hefty dose of kink, all wrapped up in a thrilling world of magic and technology. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.
__paigespages's review against another edition
3.0
There’s a lot of great ideas in this book, but I felt like the execution was a bit lacking. The spicy scenes were hot, but I felt like the characters needed more development, the dialogue a bit flat in places. I’d be interested to see if the next book picks things up a bit as I know this is a newer author!
marabaelish's review against another edition
4.0
So I read Adante's book, book 2, first. That one's still my fave.
However, dang, this couple was excellent. I felt Leo's pain and growth throughout the book and the way the couple developed was so well done.
Adante was very upsetting though... Very very upsetting. Lol.
However, dang, this couple was excellent. I felt Leo's pain and growth throughout the book and the way the couple developed was so well done.
Adante was very upsetting though... Very very upsetting. Lol.
colbiecam's review
4.0
Kinky, strong, magical politician sentences a live wire to a shortened sentence of concubine service. HOT HOT HOT. Such a fun read and HOT DAMN I enjoyed watching Liv experiment and submit. I think I'll read just about anything this author releases now. YES!
halffast's review against another edition
4.0
In a country run by the corrupt magical elite, a captured anti-government activist reluctantly agrees to become a consort to the Lord Commander, a powerful mage who desires her submission and humiliation. She expects to loathe every second of their degrading arrangement, but she finds herself curiously willing to submit to the Lord Commander's forbidden desires. An unexpected relationship unfolds amidst a backdrop of political unrest and intrigue.
This book successfully weaves together a lot of concepts and themes to create a vivid fantasy world and compelling story. The plot incorporates religious conservatism, the politics of a country where technology and magic coexist (but aren't allowed to mix), the control of sexuality, and the many facets and emotional nuances of kink and BDSM. Leo, the Lord Commander, wants his revenge on Liz, his consort, but his desire for control runs far deeper than he initially lets on. Dexia, the country where most of the story takes place, is so sexually repressed that Liv, the heroine, is essentially thrown into a kink relationship without even knowing what kink is. They eventually realize they're both totally into the dynamics of their power exchange, and it was fascinating to watch their relationship evolve into a much deeper connection than either of them were prepared for.
This book had some darker moments and themes, but the romance itself isn't super dark. The circumstances of Leo taking Liv as his consort were certainly dubious and manipulative, but Liv is always enthusiastic about their sexual encounters, even if she is a little confused and ashamed by the way she feels. The author did a great job of Leo toeing the line of powerful, domineering alpha versus showing his warmer, softer, boyish side. It's clear Liv is enamored with both sides of his personality, and their relationship....
My main critique for this book is the jarring transition to the final narrative arc that occurs about two-thirds of the way through. The story rapidly introduces several new people and places, as well as a big revelation about one character's past. While I liked the unexpected plot twist, everything else seemed to come out of left field. I wish there had been more setup so this part didn't feel so abrupt. I also found it hard to believe that...
I'm excited for the next book in the series, and was shocked when I realized who the male lead character would be. It and book three will no doubt be interesting reads!
This book successfully weaves together a lot of concepts and themes to create a vivid fantasy world and compelling story. The plot incorporates religious conservatism, the politics of a country where technology and magic coexist (but aren't allowed to mix), the control of sexuality, and the many facets and emotional nuances of kink and BDSM. Leo, the Lord Commander, wants his revenge on Liz, his consort, but his desire for control runs far deeper than he initially lets on. Dexia, the country where most of the story takes place, is so sexually repressed that Liv, the heroine, is essentially thrown into a kink relationship without even knowing what kink is. They eventually realize they're both totally into the dynamics of their power exchange, and it was fascinating to watch their relationship evolve into a much deeper connection than either of them were prepared for.
This book had some darker moments and themes, but the romance itself isn't super dark. The circumstances of Leo taking Liv as his consort were certainly dubious and manipulative, but Liv is always enthusiastic about their sexual encounters, even if she is a little confused and ashamed by the way she feels. The author did a great job of Leo toeing the line of powerful, domineering alpha versus showing his warmer, softer, boyish side. It's clear Liv is enamored with both sides of his personality, and their relationship...
Spoiler
actually ends up being consensual and fairly stable by halfway through the book. A major misunderstanding is resolved quickly, and after that point, most of the plot's conflict stems from outside influencesMy main critique for this book is the jarring transition to the final narrative arc that occurs about two-thirds of the way through. The story rapidly introduces several new people and places, as well as a big revelation about one character's past. While I liked the unexpected plot twist, everything else seemed to come out of left field. I wish there had been more setup so this part didn't feel so abrupt. I also found it hard to believe that...
Spoiler
Leo trusted Liv enough to teleport them to Hex when the palace was attacked. Was there really no one else in the palace he trusted to keep him safe?I'm excited for the next book in the series, and was shocked when I realized who the male lead character would be. It and book three will no doubt be interesting reads!
minimiareads's review against another edition
2.0
In the simplest terms, this would be easily justified as a mix of 50 Shades of Grey with a YA fantasy. The entire story was just a dominant personality trying to make this woman (Liv) an obedient woman to his experiments.
Liv was supposed to an anti-government rebel but she barely put up a fight and was almost instantly head over heels for Leo. Throughout the series, she barely has any character development and even the side characters barely added any fun or value to the story.
A part of me was wishing for some cruel twist to engage the reader further but I was skimming through pages when I hit the 40% mark. Certain ‘tasks’ were just unnecessarily prolonged and almost all of the actions were followed by some smut scene. It felt unnecessary to resolve emotions and events down to only sexual pleasures.Moreover, Prince Adante didn’t seem like the biggest villain either. The only action event that worked out at the very end barely felt like a thrill to read and felt like it was easily subdued by a few honest words and jolting throws of magic.
Overall, the only character to stay true to what she was ‘supposed’ to be and follow was Hex but then again, she seemed like the cliché best-friend who hates your boyfriend kind of deal.
As a debut novel, this didn’t hit too many cords nor did it persuade me to read further material from the author despite being written in easy language and understandable phrases with occasional throw of bigger vocabulary.
Liv was supposed to an anti-government rebel but she barely put up a fight and was almost instantly head over heels for Leo. Throughout the series, she barely has any character development and even the side characters barely added any fun or value to the story.
A part of me was wishing for some cruel twist to engage the reader further but I was skimming through pages when I hit the 40% mark. Certain ‘tasks’ were just unnecessarily prolonged and almost all of the actions were followed by some smut scene. It felt unnecessary to resolve emotions and events down to only sexual pleasures.Moreover, Prince Adante didn’t seem like the biggest villain either. The only action event that worked out at the very end barely felt like a thrill to read and felt like it was easily subdued by a few honest words and jolting throws of magic.
Overall, the only character to stay true to what she was ‘supposed’ to be and follow was Hex but then again, she seemed like the cliché best-friend who hates your boyfriend kind of deal.
As a debut novel, this didn’t hit too many cords nor did it persuade me to read further material from the author despite being written in easy language and understandable phrases with occasional throw of bigger vocabulary.
marisakucha's review against another edition
5.0
Original, creative, dark and captivating
I would not have believed that this is the author’s debut novel. Just what a debut. Original, creative, dark and captivating.
The author created a complex and yet easy to understand world. Not just one area and a few characters but a nation with multiple territories and different customs, behaviors and people. For something that should be complex the author does a great job describing everything in an interesting and memorable way.
I did like the romance and the main characters, and although their dynamic wasn’t the most original, it was still a steamy and well written part of the story. I actually enjoyed the political and fantasy aspects of the story a bit more than the love story. I think that the characters featured in the next book may capture my attention a little bit more than a political side.
I’m very much looking forward to book two and seeing more of this world.
4.5/5
I would not have believed that this is the author’s debut novel. Just what a debut. Original, creative, dark and captivating.
The author created a complex and yet easy to understand world. Not just one area and a few characters but a nation with multiple territories and different customs, behaviors and people. For something that should be complex the author does a great job describing everything in an interesting and memorable way.
I did like the romance and the main characters, and although their dynamic wasn’t the most original, it was still a steamy and well written part of the story. I actually enjoyed the political and fantasy aspects of the story a bit more than the love story. I think that the characters featured in the next book may capture my attention a little bit more than a political side.
I’m very much looking forward to book two and seeing more of this world.
4.5/5
dettadrake's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the worldbuilding in this book, how the world works and how the magic is worked out. I’d love to see more of it, to get a better insight in how the magic works.
The relationship wasn’t as dark as I expected/hoped based on the description, it fell more on the sweet side to me? Something that did bother me about it is that the fMC’s reactions sometimes didn’t feel strong enough. I did like the concept though and loved them both together (especially after the first half of the book).
The last part/ending is a real whirlwind that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat, but be reassured, there are no cliffhangers here! Book 2 is gonna be about a different couple but then in book 3 both of their stories are supposed to come to a conclusion.
The relationship wasn’t as dark as I expected/hoped based on the description, it fell more on the sweet side to me? Something that did bother me about it is that the fMC’s reactions sometimes didn’t feel strong enough. I did like the concept though and loved them both together (especially after the first half of the book).
The last part/ending is a real whirlwind that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat, but be reassured, there are no cliffhangers here! Book 2 is gonna be about a different couple but then in book 3 both of their stories are supposed to come to a conclusion.