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claudiareadsitall's review
5.0
A gorgeously lush book that grabs you from the first scene - a patricide! - and does not let go because this is only the first in a series.
We have three POV characters, Shan, Samuel, and Isaac, each of them compelling and layered in their intentions and actions. While they need each other to a certain degree, none of them can wholly trust the others or anyone else, for that matter. Because there is a killer on the loose and the Eternal King wants them found.
This is a world that is practically a step away, it is so tangible, with terrifying blood magic and scheming from every quarter. I loved the romance, the politics, the mystery. K.M. Enright is a talent and I cannot wait to read the next book.
We have three POV characters, Shan, Samuel, and Isaac, each of them compelling and layered in their intentions and actions. While they need each other to a certain degree, none of them can wholly trust the others or anyone else, for that matter. Because there is a killer on the loose and the Eternal King wants them found.
This is a world that is practically a step away, it is so tangible, with terrifying blood magic and scheming from every quarter. I loved the romance, the politics, the mystery. K.M. Enright is a talent and I cannot wait to read the next book.
cosmic_sans104's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smellerbug's review
3.0
A very demure 3.5 ⭐️ (seriously tho how many times can an author use the word demure). Nice to see Filipino representation, as well as a trans character who is portrayed as desirable and complex, and is maybe the most interesting character in the book despite him not being a POV character. The courtly and political intrigue didn’t really impress me though, expecting that to be the most engaging and exciting aspect of the book going into it, so that was disappointing. The relationship between the three central (polyamorous! So that’s exciting) is surprisingly wholesome, and I was surprised that a book and the characters could be so horny but not nearly as “spicy” as I was expecting from a dark fantasy romance, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. All in all, a perfectly fine read with some cool ideas. It had the potential to be sharp and alluring but ultimately came out a bit dull.
haleyraber's review
2.0
A lackluster vampire tale with a pinch of romance, and a murder mystery plot line that even the main characters didn’t care about.
Our two main characters, Shan and Samuel, are decently compelling and carry the story. Their love interest, Isaac, makes for an interesting and dark side character. I enjoyed the dynamics between these three characters and the political intrigue in the plot. Everything else, just felt very underdeveloped. The world seemed gritty and full of potential. It felt like everything important pertaining to the story was happening off page, and the chapters kept skipping ahead, leaving me feeling a bit confused as I read. It was a bit of a slog to finish at the end.
Our two main characters, Shan and Samuel, are decently compelling and carry the story. Their love interest, Isaac, makes for an interesting and dark side character. I enjoyed the dynamics between these three characters and the political intrigue in the plot. Everything else, just felt very underdeveloped. The world seemed gritty and full of potential. It felt like everything important pertaining to the story was happening off page, and the chapters kept skipping ahead, leaving me feeling a bit confused as I read. It was a bit of a slog to finish at the end.
capsbooks's review
3.0
Book review || mistress of lies by K. M. Enright.
Edition : illumicrate August box
Rating : 3.4/5⭐️
⚠️Spoiler free review⚠️
Key words : vampires, dark fantasy, queer bipoc, mystery
I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs.
-
This book was very interesting plot wise, however it always tells instead of showing which I found a bit disappointing.
-
FMC becomes the heir of her family by unaliving her father, all of this to get the fortune back and protect her brother. Brother who is into a relationship with a man we see like 2% of the whole book and we don’t even know if they are truly into each other.
-
2/3 of the MC are mixed and the representation in the book is really nice and interesting, showcasing Isaacs family and their culture. As well as Shan’s, however why is she only drinking tea or alcohol as food. I get that she’s stressed and busy but why would you explain for 2 pages how your mom used to make you specific food and you hired a chef from her country to end up never eating it.
speaking of their mom, where did she go ? How ? Did she just pack her bags and straight up left ??
-
I like that the MC are in a sort of poly relationship, I have two boyfriends and they are boyfriends too. But it felt a bit weird on Samuel, yes he wanted them both but why would they decide for him that they could be a trio ?
-
The magic was confusing at first, what can you do ? How does the academy works ? How do you graduate ? so many questions left unanswered.
Do you earn claws ? What’s the difference between the gold and iron ones ?
-
Regarding the mystery part I was just forgetting about it and they keep reminding me, it felt like taking a break from the main story and going into subplots. Also the whole sparrow and birds ? You collect secrets ok but why ?
-
There was a few points in the books that made me considering DNFing bc the pace was changing all the time. Why are the first and last 100 pages so good and the middle is just dragging.
-
Also regarding who writes the paper, why is Shan barely reacting and is just moving on. She had to go alllllll the way just for this ?
-
Shan is supposed to be brilliant and has ascended, what does it mean ? She makes mistakes I get it but sometimes she’s just not acting cleverly and rationally like everyone says she is.
-
Why is the end chapter with Isaac so confusing? I get that it’s supposed to be a cliff hanger but I don’t want the MC to turn into overpowered characters.
-
I liked the morally gray characters, I liked the settings and the whole magic alchemy and vampire parts. I just felt like some parts were not explained properly and I had too many questions going on.
Edition : illumicrate August box
Rating : 3.4/5⭐️
⚠️Spoiler free review⚠️
Key words : vampires, dark fantasy, queer bipoc, mystery
I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs.
-
This book was very interesting plot wise, however it always tells instead of showing which I found a bit disappointing.
-
FMC becomes the heir of her family by unaliving her father, all of this to get the fortune back and protect her brother. Brother who is into a relationship with a man we see like 2% of the whole book and we don’t even know if they are truly into each other.
-
2/3 of the MC are mixed and the representation in the book is really nice and interesting, showcasing Isaacs family and their culture. As well as Shan’s, however why is she only drinking tea or alcohol as food. I get that she’s stressed and busy but why would you explain for 2 pages how your mom used to make you specific food and you hired a chef from her country to end up never eating it.
speaking of their mom, where did she go ? How ? Did she just pack her bags and straight up left ??
-
I like that the MC are in a sort of poly relationship, I have two boyfriends and they are boyfriends too. But it felt a bit weird on Samuel, yes he wanted them both but why would they decide for him that they could be a trio ?
-
The magic was confusing at first, what can you do ? How does the academy works ? How do you graduate ? so many questions left unanswered.
Do you earn claws ? What’s the difference between the gold and iron ones ?
-
Regarding the mystery part I was just forgetting about it and they keep reminding me, it felt like taking a break from the main story and going into subplots. Also the whole sparrow and birds ? You collect secrets ok but why ?
-
There was a few points in the books that made me considering DNFing bc the pace was changing all the time. Why are the first and last 100 pages so good and the middle is just dragging.
-
Also regarding who writes the paper, why is Shan barely reacting and is just moving on. She had to go alllllll the way just for this ?
-
Shan is supposed to be brilliant and has ascended, what does it mean ? She makes mistakes I get it but sometimes she’s just not acting cleverly and rationally like everyone says she is.
-
Why is the end chapter with Isaac so confusing? I get that it’s supposed to be a cliff hanger but I don’t want the MC to turn into overpowered characters.
-
I liked the morally gray characters, I liked the settings and the whole magic alchemy and vampire parts. I just felt like some parts were not explained properly and I had too many questions going on.
pazuhera's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
meglikeegg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
logankrawchyk25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
hoytreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book seems to be pretty divisive in the reviews, but I enjoyed reading it. The author makes a pretty bold choice by having our main character commit a fairly atrocious act in chapter 1, and then be the hero of the story, which basically sets the scene for everyone in this story being morally grey at best. The blood magic is interesting (vampire-adjacent, but not really vampires), and makes for an interesting setting, although I would have liked a bit more detailed world building (which is what I want for most books classified as romantasy). The story proceeds at a good pace, and wraps up well, while leaving room for the sequel to build on things. In all, a good debut from this author, and looking forward to seeing what they write next!
catsbooks_uk's review
5.0
There are so many good vampire books appearing this year that the challenge I face is doing the best titles justice. Because how is it still possible to write an original vampire novel? It’s all been done before, right?
This book proves that there is still a good deal of life (yes, yes, I know) left in this trope, with the vampire acting as a whole new type of metaphor for society while still retaining a strong sense of seductive threat.
Set in a land ruled by Vampires as an Elite class, blood is a form of magical ‘fuel’, with the non-gifted (ie regular folk) being tithed to keep the balance of benefits dispensed by the Blood-Worker rulers. One of the first scenes is a public sacrifice to this end, which is an ironic reflection of a French Revolution guillotine scene - only it’s a criminal being sacrificed by the rich for the good of the people.
Of course it’s not that simple, and we’re immediately in for a fantastic ride of politics and very morally ambiguous characters. How can any form of justice be found when those at the top are virtually immortal? Yes, the working classes outnumber the elites, but why would the former revolt? They should be grateful for what they have in this twisted welfare state!
The protagonists are engaging and complex, with initially clear goals that are gradually broken down as more truths come to light. Nothing is as straightforward as ‘good/evil’ here - this society reflects our own so skilfully that even as I type this, I’m thinking of the online tangles of misinformation happening in our world right now. There’s also the unfortunately-familiar idea of ‘well, if you’re rich enough to get away with something…’
Our heroine-of-sorts Shan battles with her own ethical code versus what she sees as her duty to her family, while being openly challenged by her own lower-caste brother. She finds Samuel, who in a lesser novel would be a ‘chosen one’ here to save the day… except he really does not want that job, having lived in the poverty that all are forbidden to question. And there’s Shan’s ex-lover, Isaac, perhaps this Revolution’s Chauvelin - but caught in his own prison, seeking to hold on to his true self while enslaved within the Blood hierarchy. From the ruling class to the workers, we see the need to come together against the corrupt system, but like the best mystery thrillers, for most of the book I could not for the life of me see how this would be done!
It’s never difficult to keep up, thankfully. The relatable nature and motivation of the characters was simple to follow, even if I had to juggle the pieces of who to root for based on the latest information. The twisting plot kept me guessing until the very last moments, and I was left with a huge book hangover at the end!
Incidentally, I’ve not been a fan of the often-contrived Vampire Romance Novel, but here it was a genuine pleasure to see the nature of such inhuman (and often bloody) relationships portrayed so beautifully. We have a mix of queerness and polyamory that is handled with true care - it’s not subtext, it’s just the way these people feel about each other. What if blood could help someone find their true self as a trans person? Why have a conflicting relationship triangle (I’m looking at you, Twilight) when all three participants are happy to engage together like adults?
A huge recommend for those who like their vampires smart as well as sexy.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
This book proves that there is still a good deal of life (yes, yes, I know) left in this trope, with the vampire acting as a whole new type of metaphor for society while still retaining a strong sense of seductive threat.
Set in a land ruled by Vampires as an Elite class, blood is a form of magical ‘fuel’, with the non-gifted (ie regular folk) being tithed to keep the balance of benefits dispensed by the Blood-Worker rulers. One of the first scenes is a public sacrifice to this end, which is an ironic reflection of a French Revolution guillotine scene - only it’s a criminal being sacrificed by the rich for the good of the people.
Of course it’s not that simple, and we’re immediately in for a fantastic ride of politics and very morally ambiguous characters. How can any form of justice be found when those at the top are virtually immortal? Yes, the working classes outnumber the elites, but why would the former revolt? They should be grateful for what they have in this twisted welfare state!
The protagonists are engaging and complex, with initially clear goals that are gradually broken down as more truths come to light. Nothing is as straightforward as ‘good/evil’ here - this society reflects our own so skilfully that even as I type this, I’m thinking of the online tangles of misinformation happening in our world right now. There’s also the unfortunately-familiar idea of ‘well, if you’re rich enough to get away with something…’
Our heroine-of-sorts Shan battles with her own ethical code versus what she sees as her duty to her family, while being openly challenged by her own lower-caste brother. She finds Samuel, who in a lesser novel would be a ‘chosen one’ here to save the day… except he really does not want that job, having lived in the poverty that all are forbidden to question. And there’s Shan’s ex-lover, Isaac, perhaps this Revolution’s Chauvelin - but caught in his own prison, seeking to hold on to his true self while enslaved within the Blood hierarchy. From the ruling class to the workers, we see the need to come together against the corrupt system, but like the best mystery thrillers, for most of the book I could not for the life of me see how this would be done!
It’s never difficult to keep up, thankfully. The relatable nature and motivation of the characters was simple to follow, even if I had to juggle the pieces of who to root for based on the latest information. The twisting plot kept me guessing until the very last moments, and I was left with a huge book hangover at the end!
Incidentally, I’ve not been a fan of the often-contrived Vampire Romance Novel, but here it was a genuine pleasure to see the nature of such inhuman (and often bloody) relationships portrayed so beautifully. We have a mix of queerness and polyamory that is handled with true care - it’s not subtext, it’s just the way these people feel about each other. What if blood could help someone find their true self as a trans person? Why have a conflicting relationship triangle (I’m looking at you, Twilight) when all three participants are happy to engage together like adults?
A huge recommend for those who like their vampires smart as well as sexy.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.