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honeyviv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, and Grief
emmybemmy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing female main character, loveable male love interests.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Gaslighting
kitbruin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Pleasantly surprised. This was a page turner. There were definitely moments I felt this was a bit formulaic. But i really enjoyed the end plot twist and curveball. The FMC was written in a way i can get behind and root for! I can’t wait to read the second bk follow up to see where this goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
rachelpacz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Abandonment, and Alcohol
enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
"'I’m tougher than I look, I assure you. The strongest weapon a woman has at her disposal is that she is often underestimated,' I answer with a small smile. 'And I wield that all the time.'”
When I started reading this, I thought this was a copycat of The Hunger Games. Don't get me wrong, that series is one of my faves, but mirroring its formula feels unnecessary. That said, the more I kept reading, the more unique elements of this story emerged. The Trials are a series of challenges, there are less contestants, more than one survivor is allowed but there's only one winner. Plus, there's quite the variation in abilities people have without it being too confusing.
"... we are trading off blows and blocks as we toy with one another. It’s like a dance, and she is a fierce partner... One minute we’re flirting and the next we’re fighting—possibly even both at the same time. I can’t seem to figure this vicious girl out."
Okay, so I get it now… this is a great book! It’s very “The Hunger Games” but with a unique twist. The relationship dynamic between Kai and Paedyn is amazing (some of their scenes are my absolute favorite). Plus, the way the Trials are set up leaves me on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what’s going to happen next. And it’s interesting to have so many different kinds of enabled people that society can’t keep track of all the different power types, allowing Paedyn to fake an ability in order to blend in. Some moments broke my heart, some made me laugh out loud, but all of them were entertaining and engaging. Highly recommend this book and look forward to the rest of the series!
"I’ve never been looked at like it’s a privilege to be in my presence, an honor to hold my gaze, a gift to get a glimpse of me. Not until I met him. His mask slips, splinters, shatters, leaving only a boy beholding a girl like she is worthy of his wanting... I can’t help but long for this boy who has saved my life more times than I care to admit. This boy who is equally calculating and charming, equally cool and caring. The one who’s tended to my wounds, learned about my past, been my distraction when I needed it most. The one who understands me."
As for the audio, I'm a bit spoiled & have only listened to duet or full cast audiobooks, but dual narration makes up the majority of the audiobook space. And this book is narrated in dual form: the male POV chapter is read entirely by the male narrator & vice versa, meaning he reads female parts & she reads some male parts that occur within their specified chapters. So, this is not my favorite style because when the narrators switch genders, it takes me out of the performance a little bit. That said, it didn't make me hate the narration or take much away from the story's impact because both of these narrators did a fantastic job (especially with the banter moments).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
While all of these warnings apply to the story, this book firmly remains in the Young Adult category. So even the graphic warnings are not at the New Adult or Adult level of description.ilanamarie's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
O👏M👏G👏
Okay okay okay this book ??
No but this book is everything. I heard that it was a fantasy version of the hunger games and it didn't disappoint.
Loved the political aspects and it's sad how much they resonate with our today's world. Paedyn is everything i love in a FMC. and Kai ? KAI ??
I loved the slow genuine true slow burn between them (and it's still slow burning even by the end ?? can't wait to read book two ).
Very picky with the 5 stars, and honestly it was more of a 4,75, i would've liked a little more action in the trials, more details about the resistance, but Kai deserves those 5 stars.
🏃🏻♀️ = me running to read book two
Okay okay okay this book ??
No but this book is everything. I heard that it was a fantasy version of the hunger games and it didn't disappoint.
Loved the political aspects and it's sad how much they resonate with our today's world. Paedyn is everything i love in a FMC. and Kai ? KAI ??
I loved the slow genuine true slow burn between them (
Very picky with the 5 stars, and honestly it was more of a 4,75, i would've liked a little more action in the trials, more details about the resistance, but Kai deserves those 5 stars.
🏃🏻♀️ = me running to read book two
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
madiireynolds's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
pkreads2024's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
YA book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
pandachrissan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.
I really liked it, it was a very fun read, especially because of the banter and the tension, here an example:
‘So, you just want me? No powers?’
‘Yes. I just want you,’ she breathes, annoyed with me. My mouth twists into a crooked grin. ‘I knew you wanted me, Gray.’
It really made me laugh, giggle and grin a few times.
At the beginning I actually had a hard time to get into the story, because it was kinda Hunger Games vibes with supernatural powers, predictable in some aspects, not moving forward and very trope-driven (what isn't necessarily a bad thing), but from the half of the book the author got me hooked completely, it got more and more interesting. The Fantasy world is creative and unique I think. And Kai is such a sweet guy and a gentleman.
But for your information: It was not really enemies to lovers, like described, more like Insta-Attraction and forbidden love or sth like this, they have to hate eachother but actually don't.
I definitely gonna read the second book, I'm so excited for this, especially because there was no relief to the tension, as there wasn't even one real kiss and this end omg.
I really was just gasping the whole time in the end and sitting there with my mouth open in complete shock.
All in all a book, which shows, that even if you maybe seem powerless, you can still have the power to reach bigger things.
I really liked it, it was a very fun read, especially because of the banter and the tension, here an example:
‘So, you just want me? No powers?’
‘Yes. I just want you,’ she breathes, annoyed with me. My mouth twists into a crooked grin. ‘I knew you wanted me, Gray.’
It really made me laugh, giggle and grin a few times.
At the beginning I actually had a hard time to get into the story, because it was kinda Hunger Games vibes with supernatural powers, predictable in some aspects, not moving forward and very trope-driven (what isn't necessarily a bad thing), but from the half of the book the author got me hooked completely, it got more and more interesting. The Fantasy world is creative and unique I think. And Kai is such a sweet guy and a gentleman.
But for your information: It was not really enemies to lovers, like described, more like Insta-Attraction and forbidden love or sth like this, they have to hate eachother but actually don't.
I definitely gonna read the second book, I'm so excited for this, especially because there was no relief to the tension, as there wasn't even one real kiss and this end omg.
I really was just gasping the whole time in the end and sitting there with my mouth open in complete shock.
All in all a book, which shows, that even if you maybe seem powerless, you can still have the power to reach bigger things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sherlene_06's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.75
I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK. OH MY GOSH. I'M STILL GUSHING OVER IT AND IN DISBELIEF WITH THE ENDING. THE GOOSEBUMPS I GOT WHEN KITT SAID THAT HE LIKED BEING CALLED YOUR MAJESTY
Anyway, Roberts' description and writing style were devastatingly beautiful, especially when it came to such strong feelings of grief, anger, love, and desire and more so when she described Paedyn's claustrophobia, it felt so real (I have it, too). The very familiar feeling put into words made me feel everything in real-time while I read it. Oh, and the way she wrote the fight scenes was easy to picture and follow through, but there was a lot of predictability when it came to her father's death.
I loved every banter between Paedyn and Kai, so fun, so sensual, so sarcastic and so dangerous; and I loved every single thought and every single word that was written in Kai's POV, it was such a delicious meal to devour.
The only thing I didn't like much is the repetitiveness in some parts of the story, like the word 'huff' was used a lot and I'm pretty sure there are better descriptors to use alternatively, oh and also the phrase 'seeing spots' or something like that every time Paedyn or Kai was hit in the head. Even Paedyn's silver hair was mentioned excruciatingly many times.
I can't wait to devour the sequels. Hoping for a happy ending between Kai and Paedyn, because oh my gosh, I almost cried when Kai said he would never again make the mistake of feeling for her
Anyway, Roberts' description and writing style were devastatingly beautiful, especially when it came to such strong feelings of grief, anger, love, and desire and more so when she described Paedyn's claustrophobia, it felt so real (I have it, too). The very familiar feeling put into words made me feel everything in real-time while I read it. Oh, and the way she wrote the fight scenes was easy to picture and follow through, but there was a lot of predictability when it came to her father's death.
I loved every banter between Paedyn and Kai, so fun, so sensual, so sarcastic and so dangerous; and I loved every single thought and every single word that was written in Kai's POV, it was such a delicious meal to devour.
The only thing I didn't like much is the repetitiveness in some parts of the story, like the word 'huff' was used a lot and I'm pretty sure there are better descriptors to use alternatively, oh and also the phrase 'seeing spots' or something like that every time Paedyn or Kai was hit in the head. Even Paedyn's silver hair was mentioned excruciatingly many times.
I can't wait to devour the sequels. Hoping for a happy ending between Kai and Paedyn, because oh my gosh, I almost cried when Kai said
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Alcohol, and Classism