Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - A Broken Blade

Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

36 reviews

batesbarb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The central concept and world building of this book were really interesting. Unfortunately, the actual writing is clumsy enough in places that it gets in the way of the story at times. The descriptions are often overwritten in a way that clashes with the close first person viewpoint. It feels artificial and grating, which makes it harder to get invested in the characters and events. The characters are all supposed to be well into adulthood (even in the context of long-lived elves and halflings), but they all seem to act and speak like teenagers. Combined with the writing style it winds up feeling much more YA than I think the author intended.

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laurenf106's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Is it a masterpiece of modern literature? No. Is it gonna scratch that itch for a badass assassin FMC and a broody fae shadow daddy MMC? YES. It also had a fresh and interesting take on a world with not only fae and mortals, but also elves and halflings.

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maregred's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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

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staygold91's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read this book and its sequel over the course of one weekend. The world is rich and well-developed. The characters feel like real people, and I love the FMC. Keera’s adventure of loss and rediscovering hope is something many could relate to.

I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys reading about political intrigue and liberation, and love in the face of overwhelming odds.

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chronicacademia's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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melissaslibraryy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

Wow wow wowwww! I had no idea what to expect from this book since I only picked up the audiobook on Libby for being a fantasy romance (without reading the blurb) but it beat every expectation I had. I assumed it was YA, so imagine my surprise when the characters started cussing in some parts and there was even some spice (though they didn’t go all the way). I love that it was a high stakes fantasy that didn’t shy away from the violence and gore especially since most of it was done by our badass female lead. As for the romance, I’m not mad about the person who was “The Shadow” being predictable bc it leads to an amazing enemies to lovers situation filled with tension due to their forced proximity (and even the “single bed” trope😉.)

The ending may have also been a bit obvious with its plot twist but it left off at a good cliffhanger, so I can’t wait to pick up the next book!

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wy_'s review against another edition

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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

3.75

So I happened to fall terribly ill right after I bought this book, which gave me ample amount of time to sit down and read (which usually never happens). This book went by so fast, I didn't even realize I was done until I started reading the Acknowledgements.

The world building was fascinating, and I love a lot of the choices made by including themes of colonization, passing, and genocide. Unfortunately the weakest part of this fantasy romance happened to be the romance, which heavily detracts from this otherwise addicting book.

I wanted to love Riven and Keera, but they're relationship felt forced. There was never quite enough yearning between the two to make it feel like their relationship was building to something. And their coming together felt both too quick and too slow for what it's set up to be. There's definitely some elements that I can tell the author is saving for the sequel (although I can guess where it's going based off similar book premises), but overall their coming together didn't feel earned. With how their relationship ends in this first book, hopefully we'll get some more drama out of it in the sequel, but we'll see.

Either way, this definitely scratched the itch I had for a good fantasy romance, and I'm super excited to read the sequel.

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booksalacarte's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A Broken Blade- 3.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️

Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the King’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure called the Shadow starts making moves against the Crown, Keera is forced to hunt the masked menace down.

She crosses into the magical lands of the Fae, trying to discern if her enemy is Mortal, Elf, or a Halfling like her. But the Faeland is not what it seems, and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she discovers and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is…

The King that destroyed her people? The Prince that tortures them? Or the Shadow that threatens her place at court?

As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago. A promise not only to save herself but an entire kingdom.

✨My Opinion✨

The cover is beautiful! The iridescent is so fitting for the mystery of an assassin.

The FMC is an alcoholic, so be aware of that being actively described throughout the book. She also self-harms. It brings a severity to her character that is heavy and hard to get past.

The book takes a look at the genocide of a race of Elves and a war brewing beneath the surface. Characters are multidimensional from the start. The foreshadowing was great and I really enjoyed the characters.

Morally grey FMC

Chosen one

Female assassin

Enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

One horse

One bed

Who did that to you

Betrayal

Bi rep

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kowhaiii's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a great book! I loved Keera and her struggles throughout the story. I found her relationships alright, but somewhat stale at times. Wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but I'll have to wait for the sequel to really decide! Loved the diversity and queer representation in this book. I really couldn't fault the world, premise, or character concepts if I tried!

A Broken Blade was a brilliant debut novel with wonderful world building and memorable characters. I have many unanswered questions in the best and worst ways, and I can't wait for the series to continue! :D

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dragonwriter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

“A Broken Blade” by Melissa Blair is a standard adult fantasy, with semi-slow pacing though it kept my attention pretty well.
Keera is a halfling, half elf, half human, and halflings belong to the king. Males are sent to work hard labor, females are trained as assassins. Keera has been the King’s Blade, his chief assassin, for thirty years, using her position to protect other halflings or smuggle them to safety, but it isn’t enough. She’s still haunted by the lives she was ordered to snuff, forced to serve a king who doesn’t care about her people. Do when she’s ordered to eliminate the rebel Shade, she instead sees an opportunity to save all halflings by eliminating the royal line instead. But to do that, she has to win the trust of people who only see her as the King’s Blade.
A standard enemies to lovers story, my favorite part was when Keera yelled at Riven and made him see the importance of leadership and the consequences of poor leadership. It was a powerful section that shone bright in a paint-by-the-numbers fantasy.

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