snowangel526's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I question rating from Amazon and Goodreads at time, but this book did set up an interesting premise at first for me. A successful and driven woman get transported into a matriarchal world where women are tall, strong and domineering? Hell yea!
Unfortunately, it quickly lost it shine for me because I find the world setting lackluster and the characters surrounding the MC somewhat dull. There are several decisions the MC made that made me sigh loudly and called her a dumb beaver. The author portrayed her as a quick witted and intelligent. Somehow she connected the dots around the secrecy of the world so well, but then I see her make very very impulsive decisions that ended up putting her in danger for the sake of the plot.
Other than that the fight between her and the boss was very anticlimactic. If you read it you'll know what I mean...I can't believe they equipped her companion with such skill.
Unfortunately, it quickly lost it shine for me because I find the world setting lackluster and the characters surrounding the MC somewhat dull. There are several decisions the MC made that made me sigh loudly and called her a dumb beaver. The author portrayed her as a quick witted and intelligent. Somehow she connected the dots around the secrecy of the world so well, but then I see her make very very impulsive decisions that ended up putting her in danger for the sake of the plot.
Other than that the fight between her and the boss was very anticlimactic. If you read it you'll know what I mean...I can't believe they equipped her companion with such skill.
Spoiler
The final fight was basically Queen Valeria saying a line of "I cast the Queen judgement on you" and then 200 something witches die instantly leaving the main boss and 10 lackies left for the MC to fight off using the medallion. It was so silly and that spell has no actual repercussion at all. Apparently it was that easy as long as she was in their presence and say it. The reason that she don't use it a lot (1 time only) was because the death was too gruesome and violent so it causes distress 🙃. Unbelievable, she's a goddamn Queen, yet she lacks any strength that was allegedly revered by many people. Her portrayal to me was that of a quick to anger and emotional monarch.chocolatemilo9's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hardrich's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
marshmallowpirate's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
This is a sapphic romantic fantasy that I adore. The character is brand new to this world, and it isn't just ~erased~ after three chapters. This book really shows us her growth and she isn't just "the chosen one" who gets everything she needs training wise. She WORKS.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Body horror and Genocide
The body horror warning is closer toSpoiler
human experimentationjamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. I can tell this is a series that is going to be better as you go along. I liked the writing, the world and fantasy is rich, and I liked the characters. However, this felt like a set up book with lots of info dumps and world building. I was honestly bored for half of it until things started happening and I got a bit invested. The ending was great and definitely makes me want to continue on but as it is this was just fine. It was well written but the pacing really made it a slog to get through.
gracerichards11's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
thinde's review
2.0
DNF 42%
This is not a bad book but it lacks the polish of an experienced author. The situations rarely unfold naturally. The dialogue is stilted. The prose is short and choppy.
This book should be categorized as "Young Adult." With the emphasis on "young." Almost nobody solves their interpersonal issues in an adult fashion... with words. This is not helped by a lack of individualized voices.
I get why some readers enjoy this type of wish fulfillment story, but I've read much better.
This is not a bad book but it lacks the polish of an experienced author. The situations rarely unfold naturally. The dialogue is stilted. The prose is short and choppy.
This book should be categorized as "Young Adult." With the emphasis on "young." Almost nobody solves their interpersonal issues in an adult fashion... with words. This is not helped by a lack of individualized voices.
I get why some readers enjoy this type of wish fulfillment story, but I've read much better.
zefrien's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
wordwilderness's review
adventurous
tense
fast-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Torture, and Slavery
Minor: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Blood
judeinthestars's review
4.0
3.5⭐️ – As an archaeologist, Savannah Cole is used to discovering other people’s stories. She never expected the story to become her own, until a mysterious medallion calls to her. Compelled to wear it, she searches for answers about it until she finds herself travelling through a portal to another world, full of magical creatures, on the brink of war.
Rand is Maggie Brown’s first foray into fantasy, under a different pen name. It took me a while to get into this story but I’m glad I stayed with it. The world-building is awesome and it makes sense that it would need a while to set. I also hadn’t realized when I started reading that Rand was the first book in a series, which makes even more sense. The good news is, the second book came out recently and I’m looking forward to reading it.
There are a lot of characters in this first book, but I won’t mention any other than Savannah because the way she meets each of them is important to how the story unfolds, and part of the fun is not knowing what happens next. The plot is complex and there are all sorts of twists, not all of which are resolved in this book. There are two main storylines, one of which remains open, leading to book 2, [b:The Forgotten Realms: Book 2: Imperial Rand|60299510|The Forgotten Realms Book 2 Imperial Rand|Silvia Shaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643912406l/60299510._SY75_.jpg|94960954].
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rand is Maggie Brown’s first foray into fantasy, under a different pen name. It took me a while to get into this story but I’m glad I stayed with it. The world-building is awesome and it makes sense that it would need a while to set. I also hadn’t realized when I started reading that Rand was the first book in a series, which makes even more sense. The good news is, the second book came out recently and I’m looking forward to reading it.
There are a lot of characters in this first book, but I won’t mention any other than Savannah because the way she meets each of them is important to how the story unfolds, and part of the fun is not knowing what happens next. The plot is complex and there are all sorts of twists, not all of which are resolved in this book. There are two main storylines, one of which remains open, leading to book 2, [b:The Forgotten Realms: Book 2: Imperial Rand|60299510|The Forgotten Realms Book 2 Imperial Rand|Silvia Shaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643912406l/60299510._SY75_.jpg|94960954].
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.