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theemptybookshelf's review
5.0
As soon as I turned the last page on the prequel/sequel novella, Smuggler's Fortune, I opened up the ebook of Fortune's Fool and got stuck right in. I was already so eneamoured with Angela Boord's writing style and heart in your mouth action that I couldn't let the opportunity to launch this book to the top of my pile. And wow am I glad that I took this chance.
'After five years of saying it, I have almost come to believe that my name is Kyris di Nada, and that I sprang full-grown, metal-armed, from the rocky brow ridge of the Irondels.'
Kyrra/Kyris continues the trend she set in Smuggler's Fortune as being such a fun character. Whether it was in the past or the present storyline she went through so much evolution and received some amazing characterisation. I loved seeing her struggle in both timeframes.
There were two very constrasting men driving the story. Arsenault was a delight from the first moment he appeared in Kyrra's past. His pleasant demeanour and kindly attitude was just so wholesome and he was so fun to explore. On the other hand, Cassis was an absolute fuck. We knew before he ever got to speak that he was going to be the villain, but he played the part to perfection.
'I laughed. It has always been my way to laugh when I should cry.'
Fortune's full is a thick tome, at over 700 pages, it took me around 15 hours across a week to get through it. You would wonder if maybe it didn't need to be so long, if maybe the plot wandered a bit too much and there was excess padding. But you'd be mistaken. This book required every single word that it contained. The character history, the worldbuilding, the conflict. It was all absolutely necessary. Whenever I got a free moment I was on my phone, devouring it.
This is a story about silk and guns, revenge and love. It is a story told in the present and a timeline five years ago. From chapter to chapter we might get to see Kyrra struggling to survive the events that shaped her, or we might see her as the male presenting Kyris seeking revenge for those events. I loved getting the story told to us in this way. Especially close to the end when everything cascaded towards an eventful conclusion.
'What nobody tells you is that magic is a pain in the ass. It’s like the dinner guest who always shows up uninvited. It comes too early and stays too late. It ruins your evening plans. It’s the mistake you wake up with the morning after.'
Fortune's Fool is a slowburn fantasy flooded with revenge, loss and surviving against all odds. But is it all worth it? That's a resounding, YES! I had such a blast with these characters and this world and enjoyed every single moment of the 700 pages.
Angela Boord and Fortune's Fool definitely deserved the finalist spot in SPFBO 5 (Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition). It came second by only 0.3 and in my opinion it is a better book than the winner from that year which is one of the highest praised Indie novels of all time, The Sword of Kaigen.
'A gun against a man’s head only works for so long. Eventually, he’ll dare you to use it, to see if you’re serious. If you aren’t, you’ll lose him, and if you are…you’ll lose him, too, but it will be worse.'
Angela has proven that she is mightily capable of writing a novella, a short novel, and a full length novel too. The Eterean Empire is already off to a great start and I just cannot wait to see where it goes next. Maybe Kyrra deserves a bit off a break after such a rough life. An unlikely outcome. Bring on the pain.
Rating: 5/5
Check out the review on my blog here. And my full site here.
'After five years of saying it, I have almost come to believe that my name is Kyris di Nada, and that I sprang full-grown, metal-armed, from the rocky brow ridge of the Irondels.'
Kyrra/Kyris continues the trend she set in Smuggler's Fortune as being such a fun character. Whether it was in the past or the present storyline she went through so much evolution and received some amazing characterisation. I loved seeing her struggle in both timeframes.
There were two very constrasting men driving the story. Arsenault was a delight from the first moment he appeared in Kyrra's past. His pleasant demeanour and kindly attitude was just so wholesome and he was so fun to explore. On the other hand, Cassis was an absolute fuck. We knew before he ever got to speak that he was going to be the villain, but he played the part to perfection.
'I laughed. It has always been my way to laugh when I should cry.'
Fortune's full is a thick tome, at over 700 pages, it took me around 15 hours across a week to get through it. You would wonder if maybe it didn't need to be so long, if maybe the plot wandered a bit too much and there was excess padding. But you'd be mistaken. This book required every single word that it contained. The character history, the worldbuilding, the conflict. It was all absolutely necessary. Whenever I got a free moment I was on my phone, devouring it.
This is a story about silk and guns, revenge and love. It is a story told in the present and a timeline five years ago. From chapter to chapter we might get to see Kyrra struggling to survive the events that shaped her, or we might see her as the male presenting Kyris seeking revenge for those events. I loved getting the story told to us in this way. Especially close to the end when everything cascaded towards an eventful conclusion.
'What nobody tells you is that magic is a pain in the ass. It’s like the dinner guest who always shows up uninvited. It comes too early and stays too late. It ruins your evening plans. It’s the mistake you wake up with the morning after.'
Fortune's Fool is a slowburn fantasy flooded with revenge, loss and surviving against all odds. But is it all worth it? That's a resounding, YES! I had such a blast with these characters and this world and enjoyed every single moment of the 700 pages.
Angela Boord and Fortune's Fool definitely deserved the finalist spot in SPFBO 5 (Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition). It came second by only 0.3 and in my opinion it is a better book than the winner from that year which is one of the highest praised Indie novels of all time, The Sword of Kaigen.
'A gun against a man’s head only works for so long. Eventually, he’ll dare you to use it, to see if you’re serious. If you aren’t, you’ll lose him, and if you are…you’ll lose him, too, but it will be worse.'
Angela has proven that she is mightily capable of writing a novella, a short novel, and a full length novel too. The Eterean Empire is already off to a great start and I just cannot wait to see where it goes next. Maybe Kyrra deserves a bit off a break after such a rough life. An unlikely outcome. Bring on the pain.
Rating: 5/5
Check out the review on my blog here. And my full site here.
redeyesinferno's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The author provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fortune's Fool is Angela Boord’s first book in the Eterean Empire series. The story revolves around Kyrra d’Aliente, a woman who has lost almost everything—her family, the man she loves, and even her right arm. People even blame her for starting a war. When we first meet her, she has a magical metal arm forged for her by her lover - who disappeared without a trace - and is masquerading herself as a man to escape detection from the house that orchestrated all of this tragedy in her life. Kyrra d’Aliente seeks vengeance for the harshness inflicted on her in her past, and nothing will stop her from serving it.
Characters:
Kyrra is our main character, and she's the character I resonate with the most. The way her story jumps between the past and present adds a cool twist to her development. I loved how she dealt with her disability. Her ability to overcome her limitations and live her life despite her disability was inspiring. Her transformation from a sheltered noble girl to someone who can handle the harsh realities of life was awesome to see.
Arsenault is a fierce and secretive mercenary with a very mysterious and tragic backstory. It made me feel bad for the guy, right up until it didn't. That said, he's still a great counterpart to our heroine.
One of the interesting things about this story is the conversational flow and chemistry between Kyrra and Arsenault. It felt natural and helped to flesh out both of their characters.
Most of the secondary characters were well-developed, adding depth to the world Angela Boord created. Each character, from Kyrra's father to minor figures like a prison guard, had a role to play in building the immersive world. It just happened that some of them could have been more interesting if they had been developed a bit more. And don't even get me started on Mikelo—I need more of his story!
Plot:
I thought the back-and-forth between past and present was done well and added an interesting element to the character-driven story. Kyrra’s first-person perspective gave a personal touch to her journey. I particularly enjoyed the chapters set in the past, where she faced tough challenges and grew from them. Characters learning from the school of hard knocks just resonate with me.
The slow-burn romance was a nice touch and added some spice to the plot. It wasn't the main focus, but it complemented the Epic Fantasy vibe of the story.
While some chapters dragged on a bit too long, other scenes, like the inn sequence in Chapter 24, were just right in terms of length and complexity, making the story engaging.
Worldbuilding:
The world of "Fortune's Fool" is rich and vivid, with its tales of warring gods and intricate power struggles. The gods manipulating humanity and the concept of granting flawed immortality as punishment added depth to the story. The magic system, while intriguing, could use more exploration for a better understanding.
Conclusion:
"Fortune's Fool" was a gripping read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Despite some pacing issues, the story was immersive and entertaining. I can't wait to dive into the prequel novellas and explore more of the world in the upcoming sequel, "Fool's Promise."
3.75 out of 5 stars.
Fortune's Fool is Angela Boord’s first book in the Eterean Empire series. The story revolves around Kyrra d’Aliente, a woman who has lost almost everything—her family, the man she loves, and even her right arm. People even blame her for starting a war. When we first meet her, she has a magical metal arm forged for her by her lover - who disappeared without a trace - and is masquerading herself as a man to escape detection from the house that orchestrated all of this tragedy in her life. Kyrra d’Aliente seeks vengeance for the harshness inflicted on her in her past, and nothing will stop her from serving it.
Characters:
Kyrra is our main character, and she's the character I resonate with the most. The way her story jumps between the past and present adds a cool twist to her development. I loved how she dealt with her disability. Her ability to overcome her limitations and live her life despite her disability was inspiring. Her transformation from a sheltered noble girl to someone who can handle the harsh realities of life was awesome to see.
Arsenault is a fierce and secretive mercenary with a very mysterious and tragic backstory. It made me feel bad for the guy, right up until it didn't. That said, he's still a great counterpart to our heroine.
One of the interesting things about this story is the conversational flow and chemistry between Kyrra and Arsenault. It felt natural and helped to flesh out both of their characters.
Most of the secondary characters were well-developed, adding depth to the world Angela Boord created. Each character, from Kyrra's father to minor figures like a prison guard, had a role to play in building the immersive world. It just happened that some of them could have been more interesting if they had been developed a bit more. And don't even get me started on Mikelo—I need more of his story!
Plot:
I thought the back-and-forth between past and present was done well and added an interesting element to the character-driven story. Kyrra’s first-person perspective gave a personal touch to her journey. I particularly enjoyed the chapters set in the past, where she faced tough challenges and grew from them. Characters learning from the school of hard knocks just resonate with me.
The slow-burn romance was a nice touch and added some spice to the plot. It wasn't the main focus, but it complemented the Epic Fantasy vibe of the story.
While some chapters dragged on a bit too long, other scenes, like the inn sequence in Chapter 24, were just right in terms of length and complexity, making the story engaging.
Worldbuilding:
The world of "Fortune's Fool" is rich and vivid, with its tales of warring gods and intricate power struggles. The gods manipulating humanity and the concept of granting flawed immortality as punishment added depth to the story. The magic system, while intriguing, could use more exploration for a better understanding.
Conclusion:
"Fortune's Fool" was a gripping read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Despite some pacing issues, the story was immersive and entertaining. I can't wait to dive into the prequel novellas and explore more of the world in the upcoming sequel, "Fool's Promise."
3.75 out of 5 stars.
theadamholcombe's review
5.0
This tale weaves together amazing characters and a deep world with an ambiguous magic system into a story of one woman’s attempt at vengeance.
Plot: 4/5
The plot has two paths through it, one tells of Kyrra’s past and why she wants revenge, and the other is her trying to get it, and these two stories are weaved together perfectly to avoid either one dragging on, and both have enough content to avoid it seeming to spin in circles just to have something to say. Even knowing parts of how Kyrra’s history was doubtlessly going to end, I was as invested in the flashbacks as the current day events. Both storylines had several twists and reveals that tied into each other expertly, and combined into a beautifully told story.
There are a few moments within the plot where it feels as though things happen for plot convenience rather than feeling natural, but this is in the minority and the rest of this incredible tale dwarfs these moments. For the length of the book, it was not often that I felt there were unnecessary parts of the story, each moment felt like an important moment into Kyrra’s journey.
Characters: 5/5
The array of characters were fantastic. Even beyond those central to the story, it felt like every character in the story was fleshed out. The interactions between the characters were great, and the various relationships between them were intricate and felt natural.
Worldbuilding: 5/5
The world itself was intriguing, and its history was deep and well written. The magic system was ambiguous, its uses never really fully explained, which added great amount of mystery with its use. I loved the ideas she plays with when it comes to the gods and how it interacts with the magic. Overall, the worldbuilding was explored well, creating a rich atmosphere for the story to take place in, and tied into the plot so it never felt superfluous.
Writing: 4/5
I read this as an audiobook, which makes it harder to comment on the prose, however, I still found Angela Boord’s prose to be fantastic. It was able to repeatedly pull me into the story and engage me as I listened. The pacing worked really well, which can definitely be a challenge for longer books. I never felt like the story dragged at parts or was too long or too short. There were a few moments where Kyrra would spend time overanalyzing situations trying to puzzle out the truth, but even in these I was just dragged into the analyzation and enjoyed the ride.
Enjoyability: 5/5
I was invested in this story from early on. I enjoyed the two storylines and how they supplemented each other and came together at the end. The characters were fantastic, and the world was so well realized that I am excited to return to this world again. I look forward to the chance to reread this physically so I can pick up on all the details I missed when listening as an audiobook. (Due to the nature of how I listen to audiobooks, I am more easily distracted, this is to no fault of the narrator or Angela Boord’s writing).
OVERALL: 5/5 Magic Metal Arms
Narration: 4.5/5 (This does not come into play for the Overall score)
Gabrielle Baker was the narrator for this book, and she did an excellent job. There were a few moments early on where the voices were difficult to differentiate, but that issue disappeared as th story continued. Her narration gave life to this story in a whole new way and added so much to the various characters.
Plot: 4/5
The plot has two paths through it, one tells of Kyrra’s past and why she wants revenge, and the other is her trying to get it, and these two stories are weaved together perfectly to avoid either one dragging on, and both have enough content to avoid it seeming to spin in circles just to have something to say. Even knowing parts of how Kyrra’s history was doubtlessly going to end, I was as invested in the flashbacks as the current day events. Both storylines had several twists and reveals that tied into each other expertly, and combined into a beautifully told story.
There are a few moments within the plot where it feels as though things happen for plot convenience rather than feeling natural, but this is in the minority and the rest of this incredible tale dwarfs these moments. For the length of the book, it was not often that I felt there were unnecessary parts of the story, each moment felt like an important moment into Kyrra’s journey.
Characters: 5/5
The array of characters were fantastic. Even beyond those central to the story, it felt like every character in the story was fleshed out. The interactions between the characters were great, and the various relationships between them were intricate and felt natural.
Worldbuilding: 5/5
The world itself was intriguing, and its history was deep and well written. The magic system was ambiguous, its uses never really fully explained, which added great amount of mystery with its use. I loved the ideas she plays with when it comes to the gods and how it interacts with the magic. Overall, the worldbuilding was explored well, creating a rich atmosphere for the story to take place in, and tied into the plot so it never felt superfluous.
Writing: 4/5
I read this as an audiobook, which makes it harder to comment on the prose, however, I still found Angela Boord’s prose to be fantastic. It was able to repeatedly pull me into the story and engage me as I listened. The pacing worked really well, which can definitely be a challenge for longer books. I never felt like the story dragged at parts or was too long or too short. There were a few moments where Kyrra would spend time overanalyzing situations trying to puzzle out the truth, but even in these I was just dragged into the analyzation and enjoyed the ride.
Enjoyability: 5/5
I was invested in this story from early on. I enjoyed the two storylines and how they supplemented each other and came together at the end. The characters were fantastic, and the world was so well realized that I am excited to return to this world again. I look forward to the chance to reread this physically so I can pick up on all the details I missed when listening as an audiobook. (Due to the nature of how I listen to audiobooks, I am more easily distracted, this is to no fault of the narrator or Angela Boord’s writing).
OVERALL: 5/5 Magic Metal Arms
Narration: 4.5/5 (This does not come into play for the Overall score)
Gabrielle Baker was the narrator for this book, and she did an excellent job. There were a few moments early on where the voices were difficult to differentiate, but that issue disappeared as th story continued. Her narration gave life to this story in a whole new way and added so much to the various characters.
ccardi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
cloudsinthecupboard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
theemptybookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
As soon as I turned the last page on the prequel/sequel novella, Smuggler's Fortune, I opened up the ebook of Fortune's Fool and got stuck right in. I was already so eneamoured with Angela Boord's writing style and heart in your mouth action that I couldn't let the opportunity to launch this book to the top of my pile. And wow am I glad that I took this chance.
'After five years of saying it, I have almost come to believe that my name is Kyris di Nada, and that I sprang full-grown, metal-armed, from the rocky brow ridge of the Irondels.'
Kyrra/Kyris continues the trend she set in Smuggler's Fortune as being such a fun character. Whether it was in the past or the present storyline she went through so much evolution and received some amazing characterisation. I loved seeing her struggle in both timeframes.
There were two very constrasting men driving the story. Arsenault was a delight from the first moment he appeared in Kyrra's past. His pleasant demeanour and kindly attitude was just so wholesome and he was so fun to explore. On the other hand, Cassis was an absolute fuck. We knew before he ever got to speak that he was going to be the villain, but he played the part to perfection.
'I laughed. It has always been my way to laugh when I should cry.'
Fortune's full is a thick tome, at over 700 pages, it took me around 15 hours across a week to get through it. You would wonder if maybe it didn't need to be so long, if maybe the plot wandered a bit too much and there was excess padding. But you'd be mistaken. This book required every single word that it contained. The character history, the worldbuilding, the conflict. It was all absolutely necessary. Whenever I got a free moment I was on my phone, devouring it.
This is a story about silk and guns, revenge and love. It is a story told in the present and a timeline five years ago. From chapter to chapter we might get to see Kyrra struggling to survive the events that shaped her, or we might see her as the male presenting Kyris seeking revenge for those events. I loved getting the story told to us in this way. Especially close to the end when everything cascaded towards an eventful conclusion.
'What nobody tells you is that magic is a pain in the ass. It’s like the dinner guest who always shows up uninvited. It comes too early and stays too late. It ruins your evening plans. It’s the mistake you wake up with the morning after.'
Fortune's Fool is a slowburn fantasy flooded with revenge, loss and surviving against all odds. But is it all worth it? That's a resounding, YES! I had such a blast with these characters and this world and enjoyed every single moment of the 700 pages.
Angela Boord and Fortune's Fool definitely deserved the finalist spot in SPFBO 5 (Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition). It came second by only 0.3 and in my opinion it is a better book than the winner from that year which is one of the highest praised Indie novels of all time, The Sword of Kaigen.
'A gun against a man’s head only works for so long. Eventually, he’ll dare you to use it, to see if you’re serious. If you aren’t, you’ll lose him, and if you are…you’ll lose him, too, but it will be worse.'
Angela has proven that she is mightily capable of writing a novella, a short novel, and a full length novel too. The Eterean Empire is already off to a great start and I just cannot wait to see where it goes next. Maybe Kyrra deserves a bit off a break after such a rough life. An unlikely outcome. Bring on the pain.
Rating: 5/5
Check out the review on my blog here. And my full site here.
'After five years of saying it, I have almost come to believe that my name is Kyris di Nada, and that I sprang full-grown, metal-armed, from the rocky brow ridge of the Irondels.'
Kyrra/Kyris continues the trend she set in Smuggler's Fortune as being such a fun character. Whether it was in the past or the present storyline she went through so much evolution and received some amazing characterisation. I loved seeing her struggle in both timeframes.
There were two very constrasting men driving the story. Arsenault was a delight from the first moment he appeared in Kyrra's past. His pleasant demeanour and kindly attitude was just so wholesome and he was so fun to explore. On the other hand, Cassis was an absolute fuck. We knew before he ever got to speak that he was going to be the villain, but he played the part to perfection.
'I laughed. It has always been my way to laugh when I should cry.'
Fortune's full is a thick tome, at over 700 pages, it took me around 15 hours across a week to get through it. You would wonder if maybe it didn't need to be so long, if maybe the plot wandered a bit too much and there was excess padding. But you'd be mistaken. This book required every single word that it contained. The character history, the worldbuilding, the conflict. It was all absolutely necessary. Whenever I got a free moment I was on my phone, devouring it.
This is a story about silk and guns, revenge and love. It is a story told in the present and a timeline five years ago. From chapter to chapter we might get to see Kyrra struggling to survive the events that shaped her, or we might see her as the male presenting Kyris seeking revenge for those events. I loved getting the story told to us in this way. Especially close to the end when everything cascaded towards an eventful conclusion.
'What nobody tells you is that magic is a pain in the ass. It’s like the dinner guest who always shows up uninvited. It comes too early and stays too late. It ruins your evening plans. It’s the mistake you wake up with the morning after.'
Fortune's Fool is a slowburn fantasy flooded with revenge, loss and surviving against all odds. But is it all worth it? That's a resounding, YES! I had such a blast with these characters and this world and enjoyed every single moment of the 700 pages.
Angela Boord and Fortune's Fool definitely deserved the finalist spot in SPFBO 5 (Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition). It came second by only 0.3 and in my opinion it is a better book than the winner from that year which is one of the highest praised Indie novels of all time, The Sword of Kaigen.
'A gun against a man’s head only works for so long. Eventually, he’ll dare you to use it, to see if you’re serious. If you aren’t, you’ll lose him, and if you are…you’ll lose him, too, but it will be worse.'
Angela has proven that she is mightily capable of writing a novella, a short novel, and a full length novel too. The Eterean Empire is already off to a great start and I just cannot wait to see where it goes next. Maybe Kyrra deserves a bit off a break after such a rough life. An unlikely outcome. Bring on the pain.
Rating: 5/5
Check out the review on my blog here. And my full site here.
briggamooz's review
5.0
Kyrra has an arm made of metal, and her story grips you by the heart with said metal fist and squeezes.
This was lovely, horrifying, intriguing and altogether a fantastic read. I'm still reeling, twenty-four hours after finishing the novel, hastily scribbling fever dream conspiracies and little dangling threads left unsolved on bits of paper. Someone get me red twine because I have a webbed map to weave.
I'm going full Charlie Day over here.
The author, [a:Angela Boord|2942569|Angela Boord|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540134160p2/2942569.jpg], has quickly become a hero of mine. Managing to put to paper a story this complex, yet still tight and concise, while mothering NINE children has me in awe. I anxiously await the novella she is releasing in 2020 and have already annoyed several friends by ramming this title down their throats.
For fans of: mercenaries, strong female leads, AGENCY FOR ALL! Lore and world building, combat, war, political intrigue, Renaissance style and an honest, respect based romance at the center of a baller high stakes fantasy plot.
This was lovely, horrifying, intriguing and altogether a fantastic read. I'm still reeling, twenty-four hours after finishing the novel, hastily scribbling fever dream conspiracies and little dangling threads left unsolved on bits of paper. Someone get me red twine because I have a webbed map to weave.
I'm going full Charlie Day over here.
The author, [a:Angela Boord|2942569|Angela Boord|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540134160p2/2942569.jpg], has quickly become a hero of mine. Managing to put to paper a story this complex, yet still tight and concise, while mothering NINE children has me in awe. I anxiously await the novella she is releasing in 2020 and have already annoyed several friends by ramming this title down their throats.
For fans of: mercenaries, strong female leads, AGENCY FOR ALL! Lore and world building, combat, war, political intrigue, Renaissance style and an honest, respect based romance at the center of a baller high stakes fantasy plot.
lcasswrites's review
4.0
Lots of great political intrigue!
This is quite a long read, but I was engaged all the way through, particularly by the ongoing political intrigues that are at the centre of this story. I found that I liked the supporting cast of characters more than the protagonist..they all seemed a bit more engaged and dynanic, but the central relationship between Arsenault and Kyrra was rich and extremely well done. If you like medievil Italian-themed political fantasy with magic and swords and lots of power playing between families, you'll like this one!
This is quite a long read, but I was engaged all the way through, particularly by the ongoing political intrigues that are at the centre of this story. I found that I liked the supporting cast of characters more than the protagonist..they all seemed a bit more engaged and dynanic, but the central relationship between Arsenault and Kyrra was rich and extremely well done. If you like medievil Italian-themed political fantasy with magic and swords and lots of power playing between families, you'll like this one!
alwroteabook's review
5.0
In a fit of whimsy, I hereby announce I will give everyone five stars, but the reviews may not reflect it.
I didn't love this, but I definitely liked it. It was an interesting tale, set in an alternate renaissance era with all sorts of spies, thieves and archaeologists. The audio was good, capturing Kyrra personality perfectly and detailing her different relationships. The plot is full of intrigue and the worldbuilding is first class. Why didn't I love it? Well, it's me, not you. Much as I love first-person stories on audio, 700+ pages with a ton of world-building packed in makes it hard for me to stay on task. I'm sure if I read it, my opinion would be more favourable, but my TBR doesn't really permit a second crack at a book. It's 4.04 rating says a lot about it, so give it a chance.
I didn't love this, but I definitely liked it. It was an interesting tale, set in an alternate renaissance era with all sorts of spies, thieves and archaeologists. The audio was good, capturing Kyrra personality perfectly and detailing her different relationships. The plot is full of intrigue and the worldbuilding is first class. Why didn't I love it? Well, it's me, not you. Much as I love first-person stories on audio, 700+ pages with a ton of world-building packed in makes it hard for me to stay on task. I'm sure if I read it, my opinion would be more favourable, but my TBR doesn't really permit a second crack at a book. It's 4.04 rating says a lot about it, so give it a chance.
readingwithrogues's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5