potsy's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun read and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. A magic user that is displaced in time and finds herself and her magic sword in a world that now oppresses magic users. How she navigates waking up in a prison and helps her people even though they would kill her if they knew she used magic is the background of the story. In between there is a little adventure, and romance all mixed into the story.
ladyleshwi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Entretenido
annelives's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
Thoroughly entertaining. A light fun read with some interesting world building. I wish the author had spent a bit more time fleshing out the world, and parts of the action scenes, but other than that it was fun read. I plan on reading the second in the series.
Thoroughly entertaining. A light fun read with some interesting world building. I wish the author had spent a bit more time fleshing out the world, and parts of the action scenes, but other than that it was fun read. I plan on reading the second in the series.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I'd picked up the kindle copy of this book for free at some point. It's also available (text) in Kindle Unlimited, and I saw that the audio was included in AudiblePlus. Anything with audio moves a book from my "Kindle cloud" (where I have thousands of books I've picked up for free, but who knows if I'll ever get to them). I just have more multi-tasking time where audio is allowed - but I LOVE having the kindle copy as well, in case I want to browse the text to review, clarify or highlight.
I liked this. It kept my interest. I'm just not sure it will really stand out in my memory, and I'm not antsy to read the sequels (books 2 and 3 are included in the Audible Plus audio). I took a peek, but the next book doesn't even look like it is these same characters, but two new leads ... and then they come together for the remaining books ... of which there are many. Once, I loved finding a full series, back in the olden days when "what will I read next?" was hard to answer. Now, I have a gazillion books waiting for me. Maybe if I was a sentient sword buried for 300 years I'd get to them all. I didn't quite get the sentient sword, and it just started up, and was explained later, which left me a little ... "huh?"
I liked Ridge and Sardelle ... the narrator was Caitlin Davies, and she has a distinctive voice, but one that sounds the same from series to series. I've heard her narrate a few books (the [b:Bright Young Things|7719248|Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)|Anna Godbersen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339953783l/7719248._SY75_.jpg|10463204] trilogy, the [b:Talon|17331828|Talon (Talon, #1)|Julie Kagawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397581124l/17331828._SX50_.jpg|24035257] saga) and so I really associate her voices, characters with these other series that I spent a while in. And ... her pronunciation of "room" as "rum" drives me a bit crazy.
I liked this. It kept my interest. I'm just not sure it will really stand out in my memory, and I'm not antsy to read the sequels (books 2 and 3 are included in the Audible Plus audio). I took a peek, but the next book doesn't even look like it is these same characters, but two new leads ... and then they come together for the remaining books ... of which there are many. Once, I loved finding a full series, back in the olden days when "what will I read next?" was hard to answer. Now, I have a gazillion books waiting for me. Maybe if I was a sentient sword buried for 300 years I'd get to them all. I didn't quite get the sentient sword, and it just started up, and was explained later, which left me a little ... "huh?"
I liked Ridge and Sardelle ... the narrator was Caitlin Davies, and she has a distinctive voice, but one that sounds the same from series to series. I've heard her narrate a few books (the [b:Bright Young Things|7719248|Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)|Anna Godbersen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339953783l/7719248._SY75_.jpg|10463204] trilogy, the [b:Talon|17331828|Talon (Talon, #1)|Julie Kagawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397581124l/17331828._SX50_.jpg|24035257] saga) and so I really associate her voices, characters with these other series that I spent a while in. And ... her pronunciation of "room" as "rum" drives me a bit crazy.
chaoseisor's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm, the instalove wasn't that interesting, but the two leads were fun enough. Will read the next books
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
4.0
This was a decent little read. I think I picked it up free or super cheap on the Kindle. It started out as gym reading, but when I had a series of flops in dead tree books, I went to this one to finish. I liked it, though I didn't love it. I have no real desire to read more, but prefer to keep this as a stand-alone in my mind.
simply_sam's review against another edition
4.0
***3.5 Stars***
It seems that most of the books I've read lately fall into the "better than 'meh' but still not great" category. This is no exception. It's quick and really easy to read. Like very readable. I was drawn in to the story pretty easily and stayed fairly engaged throughout, though I will admit I got a little bored there towards the end.
My biggest hangup, aside from the instalove factor (which I almost expect from a fairly short novel with a romantic interest), was with the magic "system". Sardelle could literally do almost anything, just on the fly. No sacrifice. No give and take. No preparation. She just thinks it and it happens. There's no explanation and no depth to it. That bothers me. However, I did find Jaxi, her bound soulblade, really fun and a great addition to the story and Ridge was a decent, non-assholey leading guy. Still, at the end I was just "Eh. Okay."
If you're looking for something quick to read with a touch of action, magic, and romance then this may be worth a shot.
It seems that most of the books I've read lately fall into the "better than 'meh' but still not great" category. This is no exception. It's quick and really easy to read. Like very readable. I was drawn in to the story pretty easily and stayed fairly engaged throughout, though I will admit I got a little bored there towards the end.
My biggest hangup, aside from the instalove factor (which I almost expect from a fairly short novel with a romantic interest), was with the magic "system". Sardelle could literally do almost anything, just on the fly. No sacrifice. No give and take. No preparation. She just thinks it and it happens. There's no explanation and no depth to it. That bothers me. However, I did find Jaxi, her bound soulblade, really fun and a great addition to the story and Ridge was a decent, non-assholey leading guy. Still, at the end I was just "Eh. Okay."
If you're looking for something quick to read with a touch of action, magic, and romance then this may be worth a shot.
liacooper's review against another edition
4.0
Between a 3.5/4 star. The action-adventure plot was really good, the romance could be a little cringey, just a little too mushy for my tastes. But I love the world Ms Buroker created and the magic system we got a glimpse of with the sword Jaxi. I'm really curious to see what she has done in later books.
quiraang's review against another edition
3.0
After reading the first 4 volumes of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, I needed a bit of light relief - this seems to fit the bill. A rom/com with a bit of sword and sorcery chucked in. Amusing in parts. I'll read a few more to see if it develops.
syzygi's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it, new concepts and a few funny details too like what the crystals actually are that are so important for the new people.
Character development was good, interactions where alright, could be better but then again it comes off more as a YA-book so it's probably because of that. Appropriate for the genre.
Would recommend for: YA, those looking for a new concept and a good friendship and love story set in a world where magic exists.
Would not recommend for: those looking for high fantasy type stories, those who prefer a deeper story or those looking for a lot of action.
Character development was good, interactions where alright, could be better but then again it comes off more as a YA-book so it's probably because of that. Appropriate for the genre.
Would recommend for: YA, those looking for a new concept and a good friendship and love story set in a world where magic exists.
Would not recommend for: those looking for high fantasy type stories, those who prefer a deeper story or those looking for a lot of action.