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A review by cait_beneath_the_covers
The Shadow of Polaris by D.L. Houpt, D.L. Houpt
4.0
ARC review: Rounding up from 3.75/5.
This fantasy romance has a lot going for it. Elpis, the sister of the recently deceased Queen of Ursae, ends up imprisoned after her young nephew takes the throne. After spending five years in captivity, she manages to escape and starts a journey to regain her freedom and figure out who she truly is. Elpis is a great, complex character—she’s tough and flawed but still capable of growth and learning to trust again.
The book really shines with its world-building and strong character development. I was hooked from the start, drawn into Elpis's journey and the rich fantasy setting. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the world of Ursae to life without making it feel overwhelming.
That said, the story gets a bit messy and rushed as it heads toward the climax. The romance, which begins slowly and subtly, suddenly ramps up way too quickly, making the transition feel a bit jarring. The pacing issues were noticeable, and there were moments where I felt frustrated with how fast things were moving.
Even with these hiccups, I stayed engaged and was genuinely curious about how everything would turn out. I didn’t put the book down, but I did find myself wishing for a smoother flow. Given that this is the author’s debut, I’m optimistic about her future work. I’d definitely be interested in reading more if she can work out these rough patches and fine-tune the pacing.
This fantasy romance has a lot going for it. Elpis, the sister of the recently deceased Queen of Ursae, ends up imprisoned after her young nephew takes the throne. After spending five years in captivity, she manages to escape and starts a journey to regain her freedom and figure out who she truly is. Elpis is a great, complex character—she’s tough and flawed but still capable of growth and learning to trust again.
The book really shines with its world-building and strong character development. I was hooked from the start, drawn into Elpis's journey and the rich fantasy setting. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the world of Ursae to life without making it feel overwhelming.
That said, the story gets a bit messy and rushed as it heads toward the climax. The romance, which begins slowly and subtly, suddenly ramps up way too quickly, making the transition feel a bit jarring. The pacing issues were noticeable, and there were moments where I felt frustrated with how fast things were moving.
Even with these hiccups, I stayed engaged and was genuinely curious about how everything would turn out. I didn’t put the book down, but I did find myself wishing for a smoother flow. Given that this is the author’s debut, I’m optimistic about her future work. I’d definitely be interested in reading more if she can work out these rough patches and fine-tune the pacing.