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amandadwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sidekickyin's review
3.0
I wavered between giving this review a 3 or a 4, but the last 6 chapters put it firmly into a 3 rating. It wasn't a bad story, but it wasn't a great one either. There's plenty I felt was lacking, but it still managed to keep my interest and entertain me enough to read through the ending.
The love triangle was not needed in the slightest. If anything, it was a distraction and simply a way to fill pages of the story but not give any real meat to it. Gabriel was a rather sad figure and the sort of twisted Stockholm Syndrome he'd been brought up in was heart breaking. But at one point about 2/3 into the story I wondered what would've made him better as a character than a love interest. I honestly think he would've been better off as a true cousin - an actual relative that her feelings of kinship leaned towards instead of how it played out in the novel. That would've been infinitely more interesting and bearable than yet another annoying ego-pissing contest between two annoying, bratty boys playing at being adults. Unfortunately, by the end of the story Gabe was a neutered, petulant boy constantly grumbling due to his lot in life. Even the ending felt cheap, trapping him further into the Stockholm Syndrome world carved out for him when he was young, never allowing the poor guy to actually decide something for himself for a change. That greatly disappointed me with the ending.
Bastian and Lore were pretty much plain vanilla character tropes. Characters like Bastian are a dime a dozen and I can see how he'd turn into either a full fledged villain like his father or a self-righteous saint like his uncle in any sequels that might be happening for this story. Character tropes like his are rarely given a true comeuppance they deserve and it doesn't seem any more likely with this story.
While Lore was also a basic trope, I went back and forth between liking her and hoping she would die for the sake of something Different to happen with the story because most of it was predictable. Here is where the writing really failed as well. What may have been considered plot breadcrumbs were really eye-lollingly obvious boulders the author had no experience disguising nor writing in a more clever or dismissive manner. Also, the whole idea of Lore being sent to spy in the court and get close to Bastian amounted to a whole lot of her not doing fuck-all and Bastian doing everything. Even the court politics Lore was supposed to delve into was nowhere to be found and greatly lacking in potential and or possibly more cleverly hidden plot points. I get the underlying spy being spied on concept the story told, but the execution stumbled and eventually failed entirely. The story needed more information on the villains, the politics and the theology in every way and could've been much more engaging. Simply avoiding writing about them and focusing on the main trio running around in circles to create romantic tension only to have the villains close in on them in a cartoonish styled "Aha! You fell into my evil plan!" type of scenario sunk the rating in the last several chapters. As is, I'm surprised this was in the regular adult fantasy section of the bookstore. The characters are clearly New Adult in age, but their behaviors and petulant love bickering as well as the villain monologuing were clearly in YA writing style.
The love triangle was not needed in the slightest. If anything, it was a distraction and simply a way to fill pages of the story but not give any real meat to it. Gabriel was a rather sad figure and the sort of twisted Stockholm Syndrome he'd been brought up in was heart breaking. But at one point about 2/3 into the story I wondered what would've made him better as a character than a love interest. I honestly think he would've been better off as a true cousin - an actual relative that her feelings of kinship leaned towards instead of how it played out in the novel. That would've been infinitely more interesting and bearable than yet another annoying ego-pissing contest between two annoying, bratty boys playing at being adults. Unfortunately, by the end of the story Gabe was a neutered, petulant boy constantly grumbling due to his lot in life. Even the ending felt cheap, trapping him further into the Stockholm Syndrome world carved out for him when he was young, never allowing the poor guy to actually decide something for himself for a change. That greatly disappointed me with the ending.
Bastian and Lore were pretty much plain vanilla character tropes. Characters like Bastian are a dime a dozen and I can see how he'd turn into either a full fledged villain like his father or a self-righteous saint like his uncle in any sequels that might be happening for this story. Character tropes like his are rarely given a true comeuppance they deserve and it doesn't seem any more likely with this story.
While Lore was also a basic trope, I went back and forth between liking her and hoping she would die for the sake of something Different to happen with the story because most of it was predictable. Here is where the writing really failed as well. What may have been considered plot breadcrumbs were really eye-lollingly obvious boulders the author had no experience disguising nor writing in a more clever or dismissive manner. Also, the whole idea of Lore being sent to spy in the court and get close to Bastian amounted to a whole lot of her not doing fuck-all and Bastian doing everything. Even the court politics Lore was supposed to delve into was nowhere to be found and greatly lacking in potential and or possibly more cleverly hidden plot points. I get the underlying spy being spied on concept the story told, but the execution stumbled and eventually failed entirely. The story needed more information on the villains, the politics and the theology in every way and could've been much more engaging. Simply avoiding writing about them and focusing on the main trio running around in circles to create romantic tension only to have the villains close in on them in a cartoonish styled "Aha! You fell into my evil plan!" type of scenario sunk the rating in the last several chapters. As is, I'm surprised this was in the regular adult fantasy section of the bookstore. The characters are clearly New Adult in age, but their behaviors and petulant love bickering as well as the villain monologuing were clearly in YA writing style.
alexangelas's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the premise of this going into it. Necromancy isn’t my thing (it’s just a tad too creepy to me), but I found the story interesting - a woman with a forbidden power (necromancy) is kidnapped to raise people from the dead so they can reveal who killed them only for other things to happen.
However, what I didn’t like is that all the characters were just okay. I didn’t care for them; they weren’t annoying, they just weren’t particularly amenable to me.
I also didn’t like that this book seems to set up a “why choose” trope, which isn’t my thing either.
Lastly, and probably most problematic was the pacing. It was SO slow at times and downright boring. A lot more work needs to go into the editing to make it read smoother.
I wouldn’t recommend this and I won’t be reading the follow up books in this series.
However, what I didn’t like is that all the characters were just okay. I didn’t care for them; they weren’t annoying, they just weren’t particularly amenable to me.
I also didn’t like that this book seems to set up a “why choose” trope, which isn’t my thing either.
Lastly, and probably most problematic was the pacing. It was SO slow at times and downright boring. A lot more work needs to go into the editing to make it read smoother.
I wouldn’t recommend this and I won’t be reading the follow up books in this series.
catsbooks_uk's review against another edition
5.0
This book is absolutely beautiful.
Initially, I found it a little hard to get into - but the opening chapters by no means reflect the whole book. The steady setup quickly moves into a stunning fantasy novel, with sympathetic, well-drawn characters, a city that we still need to know more about, understandable politics and a brilliant magic system.
Our protagonist is absolutely a Strong Female, but she's fallible without becoming a parody, human with everything that entails. The world changes around her at the drop of (usually someone else's) hat, and assumptions are not to be trusted based on first sight. In particular, the romance angle wasn't a core aspect of the book, which I was very appreciate of. Let's have a good story that doesn't hinge on a love triangle, please and thankyou.
Also it gets dark in places. Very dark. Oh yes.
I finished this in two days, and that was only because I had real-life chores to do. Very eagerly awaiting the sequel, and I'll certainly be rereading this in the meantime - a rarity, as I've always got a lot on my TBR review pile!
Clever, engrossing and magical. A definite 10/10.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
Initially, I found it a little hard to get into - but the opening chapters by no means reflect the whole book. The steady setup quickly moves into a stunning fantasy novel, with sympathetic, well-drawn characters, a city that we still need to know more about, understandable politics and a brilliant magic system.
Our protagonist is absolutely a Strong Female, but she's fallible without becoming a parody, human with everything that entails. The world changes around her at the drop of (usually someone else's) hat, and assumptions are not to be trusted based on first sight. In particular, the romance angle wasn't a core aspect of the book, which I was very appreciate of. Let's have a good story that doesn't hinge on a love triangle, please and thankyou.
Also it gets dark in places. Very dark. Oh yes.
I finished this in two days, and that was only because I had real-life chores to do. Very eagerly awaiting the sequel, and I'll certainly be rereading this in the meantime - a rarity, as I've always got a lot on my TBR review pile!
Clever, engrossing and magical. A definite 10/10.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
catsbooks_uk's review against another edition
5.0
This book is absolutely beautiful.
Initially, I found it a little hard to get into - but the opening chapters by no means reflect the whole book. The steady setup quickly moves into a stunning fantasy novel, with sympathetic, well-drawn characters, a city that we still need to know more about, understandable politics and a brilliant magic system.
Our protagonist is absolutely a Strong Female, but she's fallible without becoming a parody, human with everything that entails. The world changes around her at the drop of (usually someone else's) hat, and assumptions are not to be trusted based on first sight. In particular, the romance angle wasn't a core aspect of the book, which I was very appreciate of. Let's have a good story that doesn't hinge on a love triangle, please and thankyou.
Also it gets dark in places. Very dark. Oh yes.
I finished this in two days, and that was only because I had real-life chores to do. Very eagerly awaiting the sequel, and I'll certainly be rereading this in the meantime - a rarity, as I've always got a lot on my TBR review pile!
Clever, engrossing and magical. A definite 10/10.
Initially, I found it a little hard to get into - but the opening chapters by no means reflect the whole book. The steady setup quickly moves into a stunning fantasy novel, with sympathetic, well-drawn characters, a city that we still need to know more about, understandable politics and a brilliant magic system.
Our protagonist is absolutely a Strong Female, but she's fallible without becoming a parody, human with everything that entails. The world changes around her at the drop of (usually someone else's) hat, and assumptions are not to be trusted based on first sight. In particular, the romance angle wasn't a core aspect of the book, which I was very appreciate of. Let's have a good story that doesn't hinge on a love triangle, please and thankyou.
Also it gets dark in places. Very dark. Oh yes.
I finished this in two days, and that was only because I had real-life chores to do. Very eagerly awaiting the sequel, and I'll certainly be rereading this in the meantime - a rarity, as I've always got a lot on my TBR review pile!
Clever, engrossing and magical. A definite 10/10.
dr_disco's review against another edition
5.0
Surprised by how great this story was. There was good world building; i especially liked the quotes from the sacred texts. I liked the descriptions of how Lore was affected by her powers when she used them. The plot kept me engaged throughout so it was an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to the sequel next year.
slwmtiondaylite's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
kair_ree's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know. This one was pretty boring in the end.
I kind of liked the initial start. Lore is a poison runner (basically a drug runner) with an illegal magical ability that she reveals very publicly and impulsively. She gets arrested and hauled before the king who decides he needs her to spy on his son, Bastian, who may be spying for the enemy.
Then there's Gabe who is a priest that also has the illegal magic ability - but it's not illegal for clergy. He's weaker than Lore in the power, but is assigned to assist her because he used to be a Duke's heir and will help her infiltrate the court and get close to Bastian.
There's much made of Bastian being a numpty and Lore being street smart and clever, but he outsmarts her over and over in the book. Lore jabs him later in the book for being easily fooled, which makes no sense because he basically played her the whole time.
I guess there's a love triangle in this? Lore doesn't have chemistry with either guy and none of them are particularly interesting. In fact the only pairing that seems like it would be worth reading about is Bastian/Gabe. Someone please let me know if that's the pairing that ends up winning out. The court life was pretty generic, the religious institution and magic rules seemed shallow, and what the bad guys were planning to do was incredibly obvious to everyone but Lore. She really does come off like a clueless idiot for most of the book. When you're rooting for the bad guy to kill off the three main characters because they're all too stupid to live you know the book you're reading has gone somewhat awry.
There's a sequel to this or there will be. I can't imagine taking the time to read it even if Bastian and Gabe end up running away together.
I kind of liked the initial start. Lore is a poison runner (basically a drug runner) with an illegal magical ability that she reveals very publicly and impulsively. She gets arrested and hauled before the king who decides he needs her to spy on his son, Bastian, who may be spying for the enemy.
Then there's Gabe who is a priest that also has the illegal magic ability - but it's not illegal for clergy. He's weaker than Lore in the power, but is assigned to assist her because he used to be a Duke's heir and will help her infiltrate the court and get close to Bastian.
There's much made of Bastian being a numpty and Lore being street smart and clever, but he outsmarts her over and over in the book. Lore jabs him later in the book for being easily fooled, which makes no sense because he basically played her the whole time.
I guess there's a love triangle in this? Lore doesn't have chemistry with either guy and none of them are particularly interesting. In fact the only pairing that seems like it would be worth reading about is Bastian/Gabe. Someone please let me know if that's the pairing that ends up winning out. The court life was pretty generic, the religious institution and magic rules seemed shallow, and what the bad guys were planning to do was incredibly obvious to everyone but Lore. She really does come off like a clueless idiot for most of the book. When you're rooting for the bad guy to kill off the three main characters because they're all too stupid to live you know the book you're reading has gone somewhat awry.
There's a sequel to this or there will be. I can't imagine taking the time to read it even if Bastian and Gabe end up running away together.
totterfox's review against another edition
4.0
this book is so good I’m mad that i read it before the next two books came out