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fool_ofabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
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
libraryofaphrodite's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
3.0
Max is a servant living under the oppressive Gathrax family, constantly pursued by their maniacal eldest son, Julian.
When Julian chases Max into Galloway Forest, Max discovers that he is a mage, something the south lost long ago. This sets off a chain of events leading to an arranged marriage, battles with dragons, and a quest to uncover the truth of Max's identity.
I had really wanted to love this new M/M fantasy but something didn't quite click for me. I felt at times that descriptions were lacking and the characters didn't have as much depth as I would have liked. At points it read more like YA than adult fantasy (albeit with a large amount of gore) which might be why it wasn't for me.
I did really enjoy parts and had trouble putting the book down in those sections. It just didn't feel fully realised or consistent yet.
There is definitely an audience for this book - if you enjoy M/M fantasy, slow burn romance, mythological monsters, and warring nations, this may well be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for an advanced digital copy in return for my honest review.
When Julian chases Max into Galloway Forest, Max discovers that he is a mage, something the south lost long ago. This sets off a chain of events leading to an arranged marriage, battles with dragons, and a quest to uncover the truth of Max's identity.
I had really wanted to love this new M/M fantasy but something didn't quite click for me. I felt at times that descriptions were lacking and the characters didn't have as much depth as I would have liked. At points it read more like YA than adult fantasy (albeit with a large amount of gore) which might be why it wasn't for me.
I did really enjoy parts and had trouble putting the book down in those sections. It just didn't feel fully realised or consistent yet.
There is definitely an audience for this book - if you enjoy M/M fantasy, slow burn romance, mythological monsters, and warring nations, this may well be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for an advanced digital copy in return for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury
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
_kayreads_'s review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
First, thank you for chance to listen to this arc.
There should be a warning of attempted sexual violence, abuse and torture.
It’s a bit rough to read but I understand that is the point of the start of the story. It is needed to set the stage.
I wished I could have enjoyed it more. It has a good subject but I felt like it threw so many different parts of fantasy in there it was a bit lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment