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edey_books's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was unexpectedly bleak, and I ended up kind of resenting the MMC… not sure how the author is going to effectively redeem him and some other characters. I liked Rooke (FMC) a lot more, but her inaction was incredibly frustrating too. I will absolutely read the second book, but I hope the characters turn a major corner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Death of parent
roorooreads's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I was so excited to read a full fledged fantasy by J Bree and she delivered! This is slow paced and was a bit repetitive at times but I loved it anyway which is saying something. I was facnated by Rooke and I loved learning more and more about her magic as the book went on. I can't wait to see where the next book takes us
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
seasonedreadings's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual harassment
lisashelves's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sunnynoche35's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.25
This is through and through an adventurous story with a passionately kickass female lead. With intricate world building and evoking buildup, Bree definitely keeps you on your toes as she takes on Rooke’s journey. While the pace of the book is relatively normal, Rooke’s promise of romance is slow to come with her newfound mate. Their tale is most definitely a true enemies to lovers slow burn that had me buzzing through each chapter at the promise of their journey together. While their story still has a lot to go, I can’t wait to see what J. Bree plans to reveal and build in the next book of her well-thought out fantasy series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and War
cryosphinx's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I intended to read this book as an aside just when I happened to have my Kindle and some spare time and WHOOPS, I absolutely CONSUMED it in two days.
JBree wrote an intriguing fantasy novel that makes a twists of the fated mates tropes by making the mates from two races that abhir each other and have had centuries of prejudice. I found the world building to be well done, easy to understand but not boring.
Rooke is the epitome of the bad ass FMC and I love her and her quiet but rightfully justified sass. There are side characters who come to understand and break through the prejudices , they grow and learn and they become really compelling parts of the story. Soren can be face punchingly annoying and dense but I think it's very much written that way to make a true energies to lovers trope shine in the end, but I fully expect some grovling to come along in the next book. Which I now desperately need.
The only bother is there's some explanations that are repeated as if it was the first time being told and some moments of long internal monologue during conversations they I forgot what was being said and had to go back. Very minor and didn't ruin anything. This is just a well told joy ride of a fantasy and I cannot wait for the next book.
JBree wrote an intriguing fantasy novel that makes a twists of the fated mates tropes by making the mates from two races that abhir each other and have had centuries of prejudice. I found the world building to be well done, easy to understand but not boring.
Rooke is the epitome of the bad ass FMC and I love her and her quiet but rightfully justified sass. There are side characters who come to understand and break through the prejudices , they grow and learn and they become really compelling parts of the story. Soren can be face punchingly annoying and dense but I think it's very much written that way to make a true energies to lovers trope shine in the end, but I fully expect some grovling to come along in the next book. Which I now desperately need.
The only bother is there's some explanations that are repeated as if it was the first time being told and some moments of long internal monologue during conversations they I forgot what was being said and had to go back. Very minor and didn't ruin anything. This is just a well told joy ride of a fantasy and I cannot wait for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
flaminghotcheeto's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A forest witch turned warrior and a savage fae prince, heir to the unseelie throne. Fated mates bound to be together, divided by hatred. A between two enemies to unite the people and land. A kingdom on the brink of destruction.
FIVE FUCKING STARS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This book picks up centuries after the events of the first two novellas in the series. Many years have passed after Rooke discovered her Fate and ran away to avoid it. She joins the Fate wars and fights as a warrior and healer. Now she returns back to the Southern Lands to follow her fate and aid her Fates Blessed Mate in taking back his throne.
After years of patience Soren is more than ready to meet his Fated, the female he has been fantasising about for years, the one who will help him become king and save his people, only to discover that she is a witch, his immortal enemy.
Despite there being zero spice and pretty much no romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and CANNOT WAIT for the next one. Rooke is one of the strongest and most bad ass fmc I’ve been read about, and I adore her to bits 🥹🫶💕 I started of disliking Airlie but by the end I had a soft spot for her and her miracle baby
“I hold out a hand to her with the intention of carrying her behind me on Nightspark for the trip back to Yregar, but she stares at my hand like it's a death curse.
When her eyes flick up to meet mine, she grimaces. “That doesn't look like begging to me. I'd rather walk until my feet bleed.”
🌲ENEMIES to lovers
🗡️fated mates
🌲high fantasy
🗡️fae, witches, goblins, magical forest
🌲found family
🗡️strong, badass fmc
🌲unseelie fae v.s witches war
despite everything Rooke did to help these people trust her, they accuse her or betrayal and throw her back into the dungeons, only for her to save their ungrateful asses when the witches attack. By the end of the book, Soren finally pulls his head out of his ass, and realises that Rooke, his Fates Blessed Mate, the brave, beautiful and strong female he is fated to be with was never to going to betray him.
FIVE FUCKING STARS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This book picks up centuries after the events of the first two novellas in the series. Many years have passed after Rooke discovered her Fate and ran away to avoid it. She joins the Fate wars and fights as a warrior and healer. Now she returns back to the Southern Lands to follow her fate and aid her Fates Blessed Mate in taking back his throne.
After years of patience Soren is more than ready to meet his Fated, the female he has been fantasising about for years, the one who will help him become king and save his people, only to discover that she is a witch, his immortal enemy.
Despite there being zero spice and pretty much no romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and CANNOT WAIT for the next one. Rooke is one of the strongest and most bad ass fmc I’ve been read about, and I adore her to bits 🥹🫶💕 I started of disliking Airlie but by the end I had a soft spot for her and her miracle baby
“I hold out a hand to her with the intention of carrying her behind me on Nightspark for the trip back to Yregar, but she stares at my hand like it's a death curse.
When her eyes flick up to meet mine, she grimaces. “That doesn't look like begging to me. I'd rather walk until my feet bleed.”
🌲ENEMIES to lovers
🗡️fated mates
🌲high fantasy
🗡️fae, witches, goblins, magical forest
🌲found family
🗡️strong, badass fmc
🌲unseelie fae v.s witches war
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Trafficking
pixe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and War
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Miscarriage