Reviews

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

mschaub2's review against another edition

4.0

This was a VERY fun time. If you’re wanting to get into adult fantasy but don’t want too much world building, this is a great start. Non stop action!! Does not read like YA, but the spice is minimal and if anything the action/plot takes the front seat over any romance. And i LIKED the romance-can’t wait to get more into it in book 2

sundragonscrolls's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Tropes:
*assassination plot
*reluctant allies
*secret identity
*found family
*revenge 

Overall Rating: 7.5/10 or 3.5/5 stars
plot: 1                       
pacing: 1
themes: 1                 
setting: 1                
originality: 1           
characters: .5          
writing style: .5     
emotional impact:0 
ending: 1                     
overall enjoyment: .5

Spice: 2.5/5 (BL) (Fade to black)
Language: yes, alot

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland is an exciting first installment in a new dark fantasy series that grips you from the start. The book centers around a group of damaged, morally gray characters who band together for a dangerous mission. Each character has a haunting past, making their interactions full of depth and emotional complexity.

The plot moves at a fast pace, filled with action, intrigue, and a dash of magic. Corland’s world-building is vivid, immersing readers in a dark, gritty setting where survival is never guaranteed. Themes of loyalty, redemption, and sacrifice are woven throughout the story, making it much more than just a fantasy epic. The story's intensity builds towards a thrilling conclusion, leaving readers eager for the next book.

This novel will appeal to fans of dark fantasy, found family, and action-packed adventures. If you enjoy complex characters, brutal worlds, and emotional stakes, Five Broken Blades is a must-read.

Very well done plot twist at the end.

laura_gblr99's review against another edition

2.5

Puuh, ich muss sagen, es hat mich wirklich nicht überzeugt. 5/6 Personen, die Experten in ihrem Gebiet sind, verbünden sich, um den Gottkönig umzubringen. Ich hatte Hoffnungen, dass es in Richtung Six of Crows von Leigh Bardugo geht, bin aber sehr enttäuscht worden. 
Die kurzen Kapitel fand ich sehr angenehm, auch die wechselnden Perspektiven fand ich nicht zu überladen. Allerdings fand ich den Plot nicht ganz ausgereift, sodass gegen Ende einiges einfach so hingenommen werden musste. 
Es wird aller Voraussicht nach einen weiteren Teil geben, den werde ich allerdings nicht in die Hand nehmen. Dafür hat mich der erste Teil zu wenig packen können. 

nat_json's review against another edition

I DNFed this at 27%. I wanted to DNF this at 20% but wanted to give the book more time considering how many POVs we have. Like dang I feel like I kinda know everyone but also know no one. 

tryme's review against another edition

The author needs to learn the meaning of show not tell. And also I read the last page and felt nothing about it

panieya's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

shmadsie's review against another edition

3.0

I am definitely intrigued but I also hated twenty percent of this six-some. Royo was a super sexist cliche (the manpain was beyond obnoxious, 'I can't love anyone because some girl got fridged in my past, boohoo' also him: *"falls" for literally the first girl he comes into contact with*) so it made a lot of sense that he was immediately susceptible to Aeri who was.... I don't know, I just kept thinking there's no way she wasn't bullied with the name 'airhead' because that is just too fitting. Like, the name felt a little on the nose considering her character. And it's not like it's a front because everyone's a PoV character so.... that's what she's actually like. Of course Royo - who is thinking things like: girls can do things? With their delicate ankles and noodle arms? I think not. They need a strongman (literally, that's literally what he's called) - would immediately find the girliest girl (by his definition) and decide she needs him to live and he loves her and Aeri, being who she is, was like: yeah, that's exactly right. I was almost willing to forgive most of her character after she was aged down but she would've had to be fifteen at most, honestly, for it to fit her personality.

Anyway, they were gross and I hated them, lol. But I liked everyone else (though Euyn was also sexist but more in an: I'm royalty and everyone is probably useless but me and he was slowly learning that was not true via his exile. Royo is out in the world with experience and still thinks women only exist to look pretty) - maybe because they had the benefit of their relationships already being formed? They didn't meet in this book, they picked up and if that's the cheat code that works for this author then, no shame, keep using it because Aeri and Royo are godawful.

laineypops1990's review against another edition

4.0

I did not see any of that twist coming! This was such a good book I really enjoyed the different talents and bonds that came together 

autumnwitch27's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

5.0

jazzxreads's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Stars.

This was a unique premise that was fun. I enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the multiple narrators of the audiobook. The plot twist was one I didn’t see coming, all the book I tried to guess what would happen and I couldn’t.

New adult, and I wouldn’t say it was spicy. Everything was fade to black.