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A review by wizardingwisteria
Kairos by Ulysse Malassagne
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
" The hardest challenge a knight must face is not slaying a dragon to save his princess... But realizing that, no matter what he does, she will never belong to him. "
I read this in one sitting and loved it. It was refreshing to see a classic fantasy trope flipped around. That being said, it could have been improved. There were some elements that I also found unsettling but could have been easily solved by fleshing out the characters or adding to the length of the narrative
The primary issue is that the leading lady, Anaelle, is kidnapped by royal guards sent out by her family to return her to the world of dragons so she can marry her father and continue her family's rule. Gross. I didn't like how she just kind of accepted that she had to do it, although she makes very clear that the bloodline ends with her, specifically stating that she will not have children (I guess implying there will technically be no incest?). She continues with the wedding ceremony without much resistance which seems to play into the exact trope the book is trying to subvert. In the first few pages while she is with her human fiance, Nills, she expresses some discontent with their relationship, but is quick to dismiss the issue. She is avoidant. But when it comes time to marry her father and rule her kingdom, she faces it head on by just submitting. She doesn't fight at all once she crosses the barrier into her home realm. She already escaped once, where she fled to the human world and met the man she claimed she loved, but I guess was too tired to do it again? Despite this, the ending twist was still refreshing, but it left me wishing things had played out differently. This author still could have twisted the trope around, but used a different route to get there
Nills transformation was fascinating to watch, especially following the events at the very end of the story. I also really loved how the changes in his personality and demeanor where mirrored subtly in the way his body changes
Artistically, it was beautiful. Narrative wise, I really enjoyed it, but I wish it was longer so it could dive deeper into the characters and the stakes involved
I read this in one sitting and loved it. It was refreshing to see a classic fantasy trope flipped around. That being said, it could have been improved. There were some elements that I also found unsettling but could have been easily solved by fleshing out the characters or adding to the length of the narrative
The primary issue is that the leading lady, Anaelle,
Nills transformation was fascinating to watch, especially following the events at the very end of the story. I also really loved how the changes in his personality and demeanor where mirrored subtly in the way his body changes
Artistically, it was beautiful. Narrative wise, I really enjoyed it, but I wish it was longer so it could dive deeper into the characters and the stakes involved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Incest and Adult/minor relationship