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tsuyoi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It's an interesting world and magic system that isn't fully explored. The main character Max doesn't seem to actually affect the plot but has the plot happen upon him. His agency is teased at but never a thing. Honestly what annoys me most is how some of the deaths were just there to shock and not allow Max to ever have closure. Additionally the betrayals felt unearned when there was potential for so much more. I get that the main characters need to have motivation to grow but this was almost all telling and not showing. Max was defined by others not his own actions.
I'm going to read the sequel because I'm still interested but I'm saddened by what could have been.
the betrayals by Camron and Bea felt like such a waste. Camron was the only character to seemingly care about Max's actual wishes and had the potential for an interesting love triangle or for Max to actually decide what he wants. But instead we got a dissapointing, flat, mustache twirling villain. Additionally the muguffin of his parents never paid off and how his father was killed off was even more disappointing. Dame's death was also so poorly handled. Suddenly miracously alive and then dead at the end of the chapter.
I'm going to read the sequel because I'm still interested but I'm saddened by what could have been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
traebear1990's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
nikki_b's review against another edition
3.5
Read this if you like…
- Magic directly intertwined with nature (dryads, etc.)
- Political intrigue and war
This may not be for you if you don't like...
- Insta-love
- Everyone lying and/or dying
Rating Breakdown
Characters: ★★
We got a little bit of character building with Maximus in the beginning (love of books, especially romance). But he was immediately thrust into a traumatic situation that just did not stop for the whole book. I feel like I never got to know him. I feel bad for the character, but I should feel more than pity for the main character of a series.
All I really learned about the other characters was that they loved Max. But why? What do they have in common? This was especially evident with the love interests. What do they see in each other outside of attraction?
Writing: ★★★
I generally enjoyed the writing style, but it veered into "purple" territory with descriptions sometimes.
Plot: ★★★★
Despite my big issues with the characters, I actually liked the plot and world-building quite a bit. It's not often that a plot twist gets me... but consider me <i>got</i> by the final act!
Enjoyment: ★★★
Quick read, interesting world. I plan to give the next book a go with the hope that the character building will get better 🤞🏻
- Magic directly intertwined with nature (dryads, etc.)
- Political intrigue and war
This may not be for you if you don't like...
- Insta-love
- Everyone lying and/or dying
Rating Breakdown
Characters: ★★
We got a little bit of character building with Maximus in the beginning (love of books, especially romance). But he was immediately thrust into a traumatic situation that just did not stop for the whole book. I feel like I never got to know him. I feel bad for the character, but I should feel more than pity for the main character of a series.
All I really learned about the other characters was that they loved Max. But why? What do they have in common? This was especially evident with the love interests. What do they see in each other outside of attraction?
Writing: ★★★
I generally enjoyed the writing style, but it veered into "purple" territory with descriptions sometimes.
Plot: ★★★★
Despite my big issues with the characters, I actually liked the plot and world-building quite a bit. It's not often that a plot twist gets me... but consider me <i>got</i> by the final act!
Enjoyment: ★★★
Quick read, interesting world. I plan to give the next book a go with the hope that the character building will get better 🤞🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
anapthine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot put it into words how much I love this book. The plot just flowed so flawlessly and had you hooked the entirety of the way through. Alderson writes in such an incredible way that you form such a connection with the characters, with their emotions so perfectly written, making it so easy to imagine - almost as if this is happening right in front of you. There were so many twists and turns in this novel, many of which were not expected, always keeping you on your toes.
This book contains the following tropes (as if the things I have already listed haven’t made you put this book on your TBR):
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Multiple love interests
- Elemental magic
- Dragons, dragon riders
- A lost child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
bittennailbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
Inviting, bold, and surprisingly bloody - Heir to Thorne and Flame sets up a brand new world to get lost on a dragon's back in.
Thumbs up: A servant boy is just trying to keep his head down as he serves a cruel king and his wicked family. The only adventure I've read that started with just wanting to read smut in a library after hours, this fantasy has it all! MM romance, dragons, mage magic, betrayal, lies - a fun first installment.
Thumbs down: I think because it's advertised as a romance, I thought there would be more romance? There is definitely a romantic plot but sprinkled as a treat. It's widely spread throughout politics and epic battles, still fun, just was unexpected. I also found the pacing a bit slow in the later half which had my mind wandering a bit.
Was it a nail biter? I had fun with this one! It pulled a lot of smiles from me and the characters were lovable and surprisingly layered. Thank you to the publishers for sending this one my way! 3.75/5 ⭐
Thumbs up: A servant boy is just trying to keep his head down as he serves a cruel king and his wicked family. The only adventure I've read that started with just wanting to read smut in a library after hours, this fantasy has it all! MM romance, dragons, mage magic, betrayal, lies - a fun first installment.
Thumbs down: I think because it's advertised as a romance, I thought there would be more romance? There is definitely a romantic plot but sprinkled as a treat. It's widely spread throughout politics and epic battles, still fun, just was unexpected. I also found the pacing a bit slow in the later half which had my mind wandering a bit.
Was it a nail biter? I had fun with this one! It pulled a lot of smiles from me and the characters were lovable and surprisingly layered. Thank you to the publishers for sending this one my way! 3.75/5 ⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death