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cathverge's review
adventurous
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Slow burn, medium angst. This 1st book was more about the world building & storytelling of the characters. Looking forward to seeing how it continues
jg1987's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
[b:Silk & Steel|50811263|Silk & Steel (Silk and Steel #1)|Ariana Nash|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562779148l/50811263._SX50_SY75_.jpg|65508590] is my first [a:Ariana Nash|18510938|Ariana Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539505956p2/18510938.jpg] book and the first in her Silk and Steel series. High fantasy novels can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I took a risk here as the story sounded different, and the audiobook narrator was a really good one. Dragon shifters are not a fantasy species that I have read a whole lot of, so the novelty there was nice. I enjoyed the world building elements and I liked the whole enemies who develop deeper feelings theme that linked the two MCs. The first third of the book captivated me and had some great potential. It set up the political situation, hinted at some possible allies and had a touch of mystical foreshadowing for the future. But the subsequent prolonged separation between the MCs was not what I was looking for and really made the story feel like it was dragging on. I found the fact that Eroan and Lysander were so close, but kept just missing each other so bloody frustrating that my enjoyment of the book suffered. Also would it have killed the author to give us some non coerced, fully consenting sexual activity for once. I'm all for having darker sexual elements, but could have seriously used some lighter moments of sex that the participants actually wanted to participate in. I am holding out hope that will come in later installments, but ultimately by the end of the novel I was full of mixed feelings. I will give the second book another shot, especially as it has a higher rating (although I have been misled by that in the past), and hope the potential that I sensed at the start of the book gets actualized.
[b:Silk & Steel|50811263|Silk & Steel (Silk and Steel #1)|Ariana Nash|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562779148l/50811263._SX50_SY75_.jpg|65508590] is my first [a:Ariana Nash|18510938|Ariana Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539505956p2/18510938.jpg] book and the first in her Silk and Steel series. High fantasy novels can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I took a risk here as the story sounded different, and the audiobook narrator was a really good one. Dragon shifters are not a fantasy species that I have read a whole lot of, so the novelty there was nice. I enjoyed the world building elements and I liked the whole enemies who develop deeper feelings theme that linked the two MCs. The first third of the book captivated me and had some great potential. It set up the political situation, hinted at some possible allies and had a touch of mystical foreshadowing for the future. But the subsequent prolonged separation between the MCs was not what I was looking for and really made the story feel like it was dragging on. I found the fact that Eroan and Lysander were so close, but kept just missing each other so bloody frustrating that my enjoyment of the book suffered. Also would it have killed the author to give us some non coerced, fully consenting sexual activity for once. I'm all for having darker sexual elements, but could have seriously used some lighter moments of sex that the participants actually wanted to participate in. I am holding out hope that will come in later installments, but ultimately by the end of the novel I was full of mixed feelings. I will give the second book another shot, especially as it has a higher rating (although I have been misled by that in the past), and hope the potential that I sensed at the start of the book gets actualized.
mayorst's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't even finish this but felt that I spent enough time with it that I should include it in my read books. This had promise but fell so far short.
j_readsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I almost DNF’d. I really loved Lysander and Eroan, but this series is a super slow burn and apparently that’s just not for me. I felt invested in Eroan and Lysander which is the only reason I continued.
This was pretty dark, definitely check the TWs if you need to. The story begins after Eroan was captured and is being held prisoner in the dragon queen’s castle. The connection between Lysander (the prince) and Eroan (the assassin) is pretty immediate, but of course they’re enemies. At the beginning I was a little confused to what the story actually was, especially after the villain died pretty early on. The story started to get more interesting near the end. But the MCs thought each other was dead multiple times, I think it happened three times in this book and that’s just a lot.
Overall, I enjoyed the series as a whole, but it was a bit of a struggle to get through this first book.
This was pretty dark, definitely check the TWs if you need to. The story begins after Eroan was captured and is being held prisoner in the dragon queen’s castle. The connection between Lysander (the prince) and Eroan (the assassin) is pretty immediate, but of course they’re enemies. At the beginning I was a little confused to what the story actually was, especially after the villain died pretty early on. The story started to get more interesting near the end. But the MCs thought each other was dead multiple times, I think it happened three times in this book and that’s just a lot.
Overall, I enjoyed the series as a whole, but it was a bit of a struggle to get through this first book.
zie22214's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thalia332's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
unicorn91's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really love both of the main characters. I like that its multi pov, and that the series has a happy ending. reason for two stars. this book has actual sexual assault on page to one of the main characters. the two main characters are always getting separated and I felt like lysander could never catch a break. i picked it up because my kindle recommended it after captive prince. in my opinion, the two are nothing alike
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
sowhitemocha's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
platoniclume's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
3.5