thenovelmaura's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was prepared to love this North-African inspired fantasy, but it ultimately wasn't all that compelling to me. All the different races were cool, and I enjoyed Joy's take on the dynamics between humans, bloodkin, fey, and khimaer, and how they evolved over centuries of war and conquest. Eva and Isa had unique powers (although the whole "wise mentor shows up just in time to teach the MC how to harness their power" trope is pretty overdone at this point) and so does Eva's sweetheart of a love interest.
On the other hand, this book has a Three Dark Crowns-like premise, where only one sister can hold the throne and they must fight to the death to decide who is worthy. While this is supposedly the central conflict of the book, Eva and Isa rarely talk and their relationship is conveyed in a few childhood flashbacks. Also, Eva's power is leagues more deadly than Isa's, so there's not much tension to be had in terms of who will win the final showdown. Top that off with a predictable ending () and I'm on the fence about whether I should read the sequel. Maybe I'll check out reviews and decide based on that.
On the other hand, this book has a Three Dark Crowns-like premise, where only one sister can hold the throne and they must fight to the death to decide who is worthy. While this is supposedly the central conflict of the book, Eva and Isa rarely talk and their relationship is conveyed in a few childhood flashbacks. Also, Eva's power is leagues more deadly than Isa's, so there's not much tension to be had in terms of who will win the final showdown. Top that off with a predictable ending (
Spoiler
Eva can't bring herself to kill Isa even though Iva had been bullying her for years and really didn't seem to care about her at all
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Death and Racism
Minor: Bullying
emily_mh's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book had a couple of things going for it. The magic system was incredibly unique. There wasn't just one type of magic present, and each type had been really thought out. I found Eva's the most interesting, especially the marrow aspect. Additionally, I really enjoyed the world building. It is mostly transmitted through Eva's POV, but there are great snippets of it in stories told by Baccha. I also liked how real Eva felt in her responses to what was happening around her.
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Colonisation, Slavery, Racism, Gore, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, War, Kidnapping, Confinement, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Medical content, Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual content
booksthatburn's review against another edition
I almost stopped 25% in, made it halfway then realized I’m not engaged and don’t care what happens next. It has all these pieces I normally like (the appearance of mysterious magic loner mentor helped me get to the halfway mark), but I just don’t understand why the main character is sticking around for the upcoming fight to the death with her sister. I can guess at a justification, but so far the book has provided excellent reasons for her to get out of there and none for going through with it other than that it’s expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Genocide
Minor: Death
girlonbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
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
5.0
👑👑👑👑👑 (5 stars as rated in crowns worth killing your sister for)
As it has been for eight generations, the Rival Heirs of Myre must face one another to the death for the Ivory Throne on the youngests' seventeenth nameday. For Eva, untrained in her magick and long estranged from her elder and more refined sister, Isa, the day might as well be a death sentence. Though her sister's magick - that of influence - is well known and admired, the court vocally reviles the magick of Eva, with her Mother as the loudest of them all. But when an assassin is sent to take her life, Eva realizes how much more is at stake in the Queendom than the fate of Rival Heirs. Though the magick of blood and bone has only ever been mastered by few, if Eva is to stand a chance against the powerful sorcery of her sister, she must find someone to teach her to wield this dangerous power and quickly. With so much on the line and so many who would wish her ill, Eva turns to the help of foreign allies. But she knows as well as anyone that in the court of the Ivory Throne, no one is ever quite what they seem; least of all those knights in shining armor whose timely arrivals may be a little too convenient.
As it has been for eight generations, the Rival Heirs of Myre must face one another to the death for the Ivory Throne on the youngests' seventeenth nameday. For Eva, untrained in her magick and long estranged from her elder and more refined sister, Isa, the day might as well be a death sentence. Though her sister's magick - that of influence - is well known and admired, the court vocally reviles the magick of Eva, with her Mother as the loudest of them all. But when an assassin is sent to take her life, Eva realizes how much more is at stake in the Queendom than the fate of Rival Heirs. Though the magick of blood and bone has only ever been mastered by few, if Eva is to stand a chance against the powerful sorcery of her sister, she must find someone to teach her to wield this dangerous power and quickly. With so much on the line and so many who would wish her ill, Eva turns to the help of foreign allies. But she knows as well as anyone that in the court of the Ivory Throne, no one is ever quite what they seem; least of all those knights in shining armor whose timely arrivals may be a little too convenient.
I'm calling it now, this is the kind of book you're going to wish you'd picked up sooner. I absolutely adored the concept and the characters were really dynamic without ever bogging me down in supporting info. The story itself moves very quickly while also managing never to ask great suspensions of disbelief from the reader. A big thumbs up to that alone! The main character, Eva, responded really reasonably to everything she faces. In fact, she acted exactly the way I would have in almost every scenario - particularly when maneuvering her relationships with Prince Aketo and Lord Baccha. Seriously, who doesn't love when a character does and says what you were thinking!?! *raises hand* BAH! My only gripe here is that I wanted her to pursue a different love interest at the end. Womp. Still, my fingers are crossed that we'll get a switch-a-roo in book two, A Queen of Gilded Horns, which incidentally is released ONE WEEK FROM TODAY on March 16th 2021!
Freedom that could cost your life was just enslavement under a different name.
✨ Rep in this book: Black protagonist, diverse characters, gay supporting character, own voices
✨ Content warnings for this book: violence, themes of war and battle, death of an animal, mind control with magic, murder, racism, estrangement from family members, self harm, bullying, blood
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Self harm, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Bullying, Racism, and Murder
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Joy’s debut is fierce, magical, and absolutely fantastic. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by the world, by its history and magic system, and as the story progressed I was caught in the whirlwind plot. I quickly became attached to the protagonist, as well as multiple side characters, and to say I was invested in their journey would be an understatement.
In some debuts, it seems obvious, for any number of reasons, that it’s the author’s debut. In others, every element is well-written, the entire book so well-crafted, that it’s hard to believe this is just their debut. For me, A River of Royal Blood was the latter.
And that ending?! Holy nuggets. I’m speechless, and in desperate need of the sequel ASAP—both so I can find out what happens next, and so I can get more Eva and Aketo content. I love Aketo with everything in me and he must be protected.
Please read this book. It deserves much more love and hype. It’s brilliant.
Representation
In some debuts, it seems obvious, for any number of reasons, that it’s the author’s debut. In others, every element is well-written, the entire book so well-crafted, that it’s hard to believe this is just their debut. For me, A River of Royal Blood was the latter.
And that ending?! Holy nuggets. I’m speechless, and in desperate need of the sequel ASAP—both so I can find out what happens next, and so I can get more Eva and Aketo content. I love Aketo with everything in me and he must be protected.
Please read this book. It deserves much more love and hype. It’s brilliant.
Representation
- Black protagonist and side characters
- gay side character
- queer Black side character (no term specified but he’s interested in men and women)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Animal death, and Racism
Minor: Self harm and Gore
There’s a scene in the last third of the book where a character finds another character murdered, and it’s somewhat gruesome but not overly graphic.
More...