A review by bookbonds
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad 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

There she is.

fuck me six ways to sunday jfc. so, i finished book 1 like 4 months ago because of how absolutely gagged i was left at the ending and also it takes a *LOT* to dedicate myself properly to a fantasy novel, especially one as great as this one. 
the first thing i want to touch on is oraya’s relationship with vincent and how it hit waaaay too close to home lol (do with that what you will) but the way the author tackled loving someone even when they’re a terrible person at their core (bc let’s be fr, vincent is a fucking vile person lol) just really got me choked up. acknowledging all of his crimes against … well… everyone and also acknowledging that she did and does love him even after everything. ruined me. turned into a baby.
oraya and raihn’s relationship had me feeling like i was drowning in all the best and worst ways. it takes oraya a long time to forgive raihn in any capacity for killing vincent and you can’t really blame her; but two things can be true at once with saying that vincent had it coming and also it felt like a devastating betrayal to oraya. 
their entire journey was beyond worth it and i’m… very sad to be saying goodbye to their main story… but i’m looking forward to more of this very rich world and characters. <3