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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
puddlejumper's review against another edition
1.0
This is rather clunky and the pacing is off. This is marketed as adult fantasy but reads more like a YA novel.
There is no subtlety at all and the characters are one dimensional. Much of the plot is predictable and there was far too much sexual assault for my liking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
stormeno's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
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
tofugal's review against another edition
I DNF this at Chapter 9 (20%). Though I adore m/m fantasy and really wanted to love this, there was too much violence for me to continue, especially since so much of it was sexual violence. That’s something I’m not comfortable reading about. For similarly sensitive readers, I’d recommend checking the content warnings before reading.
That said, what I did read was well-written with interesting world building.
For anyone who’d prefer a lighter, cozier m/m fantasy novel minus the triggers, I recommend A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R. K. Ashwick.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
SA attempt, past SA, and murderadelaide's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Slow burn fantasy romance. Lacks a bit in the romance department. Overall, loved the story and will definitely read any sequels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
cyrr's review against another edition
I didn't connect with the characters, specially not with the main character, which I liked at first, didn't quite like the romance and wasn't a fan of all the gore. Also, this was marketed to me by the author as something similar to Merthur, but I don't feel it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
behindpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
impishelf's review
The concept of the book was fun but characterization felt to be all over the place. There was also a lot of what felt like purple prose going on in the first quarter that made it hard to focus on what was actually happening.
The book is from the perspective of the main character, Maximus, and the perspective was not set up to be omniscient but there are times when it feels like Maximus is reading other character’s minds to explain their actions and feelings before the character in question can do so.
The farther it got into the book the more it was also starting to feel like Maximus just existed to be the center of attention. Whether by a king who couldn’t decide if magic was bad or good because he could manipulate the mage, or by the implication that he was sexualized by multiple side characters with little to no build up or explanation.
There is a scene mentioning Maximus having been sexually assaulted when he was “younger” (and I’m not sure if younger meant teen or even before that) but the way the scene was written and the way it ended made it feel more like an explanation for why the character is a light sleeper. It felt more like a shock factor spoof than insight for characterization.
There’s another scene in chapter 17 that felt more like a last minute addition. Silas had previously been set up as an advisor and teacher, albeit one that was never more than crooked and cruel, but the implication in chapter 17 with the last exchange between him and Maximus was bordering on sexually charged. This could have been the narrator interpreting the scene, as I was listening to the audiobook, and not the author’s intent but that moment came out of left field as there had been no build up or even hint that Silas had such inclinations.
The book is from the perspective of the main character, Maximus, and the perspective was not set up to be omniscient but there are times when it feels like Maximus is reading other character’s minds to explain their actions and feelings before the character in question can do so.
The farther it got into the book the more it was also starting to feel like Maximus just existed to be the center of attention. Whether by a king who couldn’t decide if magic was bad or good because he could manipulate the mage, or by the implication that he was sexualized by multiple side characters with little to no build up or explanation.
There’s another scene in chapter 17 that felt more like a last minute addition. Silas had previously been set up as an advisor and teacher, albeit one that was never more than crooked and cruel, but the implication in chapter 17 with the last exchange between him and Maximus was bordering on sexually charged. This could have been the narrator interpreting the scene, as I was listening to the audiobook, and not the author’s intent but that moment came out of left field as there had been no build up or even hint that Silas had such inclinations.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
amobrien's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The premise of this book was so good, and I loved how queer the story was, but I just could not get into it at all. I honestly wish I DNF'd, but I kept hoping it would get better. I didn't like the characters at all - not even in a fun unlikeable type of way because I think we are supposed to like a few of them. But the main character often comes across as whiny, and there really weren't any side characters that redeemed it for me. It's the start of the series, but I felt like this book could've been broken into several itself - it kept dragging on every time I thought it would end soon. Unfortunately, it just did not work for me at all.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Toxic relationship