gbixler80's review
3.0
very quick
Very quick read. Time was not spent building the foundation or the characters. After the first few chapters the book reads like a conclusion and summarizes what’s happening instead of painting a picture. It’s still an ok read. Good for when you’re tired or distracted. I’ll probably read the next book in the series.
Very quick read. Time was not spent building the foundation or the characters. After the first few chapters the book reads like a conclusion and summarizes what’s happening instead of painting a picture. It’s still an ok read. Good for when you’re tired or distracted. I’ll probably read the next book in the series.
withyly's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I thought I was reading a YA teenager POV book because of the writing style. Turns out the protagonist is a 20 year old woman with an asshole ex-husband who she can't stop mentioning.
There were so many ways this book could have been better and I'm disappointed it wasn't. Any conflict is glossed over and resolved far too easily-- the love interests, the enemy king, the key which is said to appear as disappear at all except when it's convenient for the protagonist. There was no detail or depth to the story or characters and I found myself glazing over more than once.
This could've been a gripping read but unfortunately not for me.
There were so many ways this book could have been better and I'm disappointed it wasn't. Any conflict is glossed over and resolved far too easily-- the love interests, the enemy king, the key which is said to appear as disappear at all except when it's convenient for the protagonist. There was no detail or depth to the story or characters and I found myself glazing over more than once.
This could've been a gripping read but unfortunately not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
timap's review
3.0
Creative fun read. I enjoyed the characters. I liked the respect even between enemies and the resolutions that were created.
kayemcie's review
2.0
I really hoped this book would get better but it ended before it even started. While I enjoy fast paced books this had no interesting or elaborated plot which made the conclusion comical.
momwithareadingproblem's review
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Azure Kingdom by Michelle Dare hooked me from the first page! It is a sweet romance set in a medieval realm, featuring one of my favorite paranormal creatures — dragons. It’s been a year since Alison Wescot’s mother died, leaving her with her antique store, when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens a hidden room in her closet to another world. Lucas Azure is a prince and leader of the king’s elite guard when the girl from his dreams walks into the middle of his hunt.
Alison is easy to like. She’s independent, a bit lonely, and ready for adventure. After losing her mother over a year earlier, she finds a note and skeleton key back to her mother’s home realm. She packs a bag and in the middle of the night uses it to go to another world. Personally I was impressed by this. There’s no way I would use a key knowing it would take me somewhere like that and possibly strand me there. That took guts!
The novella’s only downfall was the insta-love. If there was a definition for insta-love, it could take the relationship between Alison and Lucas as an example. There was no build-up, getting to know you type thing with these two. It was just instant love/lust. Granted the book does start with Alison dreaming she is in the Azure Kingdom and Lucas is there as well. Supposedly these dreams have been happening for a year. I could see where she would instantly love and trust him if she’s been dreaming of him for a year!
Overall I really enjoyed this novella. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and creating a magnificent realm complete with backstory and history in a short novella. If you enjoy medieval stories, civil wars, and dragons, I would recommend you check out Michelle Dare’s installment of the Skeleton Key series.
The Azure Kingdom by Michelle Dare hooked me from the first page! It is a sweet romance set in a medieval realm, featuring one of my favorite paranormal creatures — dragons. It’s been a year since Alison Wescot’s mother died, leaving her with her antique store, when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens a hidden room in her closet to another world. Lucas Azure is a prince and leader of the king’s elite guard when the girl from his dreams walks into the middle of his hunt.
Alison is easy to like. She’s independent, a bit lonely, and ready for adventure. After losing her mother over a year earlier, she finds a note and skeleton key back to her mother’s home realm. She packs a bag and in the middle of the night uses it to go to another world. Personally I was impressed by this. There’s no way I would use a key knowing it would take me somewhere like that and possibly strand me there. That took guts!
The novella’s only downfall was the insta-love. If there was a definition for insta-love, it could take the relationship between Alison and Lucas as an example. There was no build-up, getting to know you type thing with these two. It was just instant love/lust. Granted the book does start with Alison dreaming she is in the Azure Kingdom and Lucas is there as well. Supposedly these dreams have been happening for a year. I could see where she would instantly love and trust him if she’s been dreaming of him for a year!
Overall I really enjoyed this novella. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and creating a magnificent realm complete with backstory and history in a short novella. If you enjoy medieval stories, civil wars, and dragons, I would recommend you check out Michelle Dare’s installment of the Skeleton Key series.
naduah82's review against another edition
4.0
This book is mainly romance with a paranormal/fantasy element thrown in. I loved that Ali was from the world we know and that she later discovered this other realm!
The romance is quick but I loved it! Luke and Ali kind of remind me of Edward and Bella but only in the way they fall in love. I cannot wait for the next book, I'm starting it today!!
This book has epic love, dragons, steamy scenes, and a fast-paced plot.
The romance is quick but I loved it! Luke and Ali kind of remind me of Edward and Bella but only in the way they fall in love. I cannot wait for the next book, I'm starting it today!!
This book has epic love, dragons, steamy scenes, and a fast-paced plot.
aquariandancer's review against another edition
4.0
The Iridescent Realm Book One.
Alison Wescot is working in the shop she inherited from her mother when an older couple finds a hidden compartment in one of the cabinets. Alison opens the box inside to find a key and a tale of another realm and her father. With nothing to hold her to this realm, Alison decides to take the leap and go to the other world. When she arrives, she finds out that her father is known as a ruthless king who killed the best friend of the man she has been dreaming about for years. Now, Alison has to figure out who her enemies and friends truly are before she is traded as a war prisoner. Her instincts tell her that Lucas Azure is her only way forward, even though her father is Lucas's mortal enemy.
If you're looking for a story about another world, one with danger tempered by love, this is the book for you.
Alison Wescot is working in the shop she inherited from her mother when an older couple finds a hidden compartment in one of the cabinets. Alison opens the box inside to find a key and a tale of another realm and her father. With nothing to hold her to this realm, Alison decides to take the leap and go to the other world. When she arrives, she finds out that her father is known as a ruthless king who killed the best friend of the man she has been dreaming about for years. Now, Alison has to figure out who her enemies and friends truly are before she is traded as a war prisoner. Her instincts tell her that Lucas Azure is her only way forward, even though her father is Lucas's mortal enemy.
If you're looking for a story about another world, one with danger tempered by love, this is the book for you.
mcoppadge07's review against another edition
1.0
I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know how this book is getting 5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book and I thought I would after reading the description. Then I saw the cover. My first thought after seeing it was this is going to be one of those books. Little plot, no growth, lots of lust/sex. Note: I'm not a prude I would just like to know what I'm getting into before starting a book. Someone used the words tripe and smut in another review and those perfectly describe how I feel about this book.
The book started off really good and I thought/hoped I would be wrong about the vibe I was getting from the cover. That didn't last long.
This is my reading progress and the thoughts that went with it:
01/27 29.0% "I really want to like this book but Alison is making it really difficult. I'm pretty sure she's trying to be sarcastic but she's failing miserably."
01/27 29.0% "Also her insta-lust is weird. And there are too many words. Way to many details about everything."
01/27 36.0% "Bless. My Kindle says 2 hours and 18 min left in book. I can do this."
01/28 68.0% "I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes so much while reading a book."
Alison fell completely flat for me. I felt no connection and honestly didn't like her. She's been dreaming of Luke and when she finally meets him it's like insta-lust for her and insta-love for him. Alison's insta-lust was weird and uncomfortable. Luke's insta-love was whatever.
There are way too many words in this book. There are descriptions about everything and they aren't brief descriptions. I could honestly care less about what a door looks like. It wasn't important to the story except for maybe the color of it but EVERYTHING in the AZURE kingdom was blue. Who cares? Not me! Also the way that this book was written felt like the author was writing for children. What I mean by that is super simple like the reader couldn't comprehend what they were reading.
The only story line I really cared about and was interested in was King Azures. I can't say any thing else because that would give away pretty much the entire book. But I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen to him more then what was going to happen to Alison.
I'm proud of myself for pushing through to the end of this book but I can't help but thinking I could've been reading something better. I have no interest in the second book. I don't even know who I would recommend this book to because I wouldn't want to waste anyones time.
I don't know how this book is getting 5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book and I thought I would after reading the description. Then I saw the cover. My first thought after seeing it was this is going to be one of those books. Little plot, no growth, lots of lust/sex. Note: I'm not a prude I would just like to know what I'm getting into before starting a book. Someone used the words tripe and smut in another review and those perfectly describe how I feel about this book.
The book started off really good and I thought/hoped I would be wrong about the vibe I was getting from the cover. That didn't last long.
This is my reading progress and the thoughts that went with it:
01/27 29.0% "I really want to like this book but Alison is making it really difficult. I'm pretty sure she's trying to be sarcastic but she's failing miserably."
01/27 29.0% "Also her insta-lust is weird. And there are too many words. Way to many details about everything."
01/27 36.0% "Bless. My Kindle says 2 hours and 18 min left in book. I can do this."
01/28 68.0% "I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes so much while reading a book."
Alison fell completely flat for me. I felt no connection and honestly didn't like her. She's been dreaming of Luke and when she finally meets him it's like insta-lust for her and insta-love for him. Alison's insta-lust was weird and uncomfortable. Luke's insta-love was whatever.
There are way too many words in this book. There are descriptions about everything and they aren't brief descriptions. I could honestly care less about what a door looks like. It wasn't important to the story except for maybe the color of it but EVERYTHING in the AZURE kingdom was blue. Who cares? Not me! Also the way that this book was written felt like the author was writing for children. What I mean by that is super simple like the reader couldn't comprehend what they were reading.
The only story line I really cared about and was interested in was King Azures. I can't say any thing else because that would give away pretty much the entire book. But I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen to him more then what was going to happen to Alison.
I'm proud of myself for pushing through to the end of this book but I can't help but thinking I could've been reading something better. I have no interest in the second book. I don't even know who I would recommend this book to because I wouldn't want to waste anyones time.
illidia316's review against another edition
4.0
This is a super quick read with a great story! The plot is very unique, and I loved all of the characters. Just as a warning, there are some pretty explicit scenes, and I was not expecting that. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.