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A review by sarietales
Heart Sworn by Cia Petrichor
5.0
I need a few hours, maybe a day, to recover from this. This was an absolutely phenomenal, magical, enchanting novel. I am stunned. I've recovered enough to write a review.
"I would rather you say what you think freely, without restricting your true thoughts and feelings. Most people have that quality as children, only for the world to rush in and suffocate it out of them."
My love for beasts began at a young age. I can count my childhood (before six years of age and imaginary) boyfriends on two fingers, one a charming skeleton attempting to steal Christmas, the other - a beast (quite literally). Like any healthy adult who grew up being told they were too old for fairytales, I've waited and wished for a Beauty and The Beast rendition that would repair the damage and fill a void in my heart. Well, let me introduce you to the author who finally accomplished what others could not. Cia Petrichor.
Filled with death, chaos, sex, mythical creatures and magic, Heart Sworn is one hell of dark fantasy novel. Cia has truly written what could only be described as a sensational start to a series. Fear not, dear friends, you are not left with an incomplete, horrific cliff hanger - this installment tells the story of Luciana and Dorran from start to (not quite) finish, but finished enough so that you can rest easy until the next adventure.
Let's talk about Cia Petrichor's writing for a second. I'm not sure I have enough words to describe how engrossing and riveting her writing style is. Captivating and magic - no, enchanting - captivating and enchanting are the correct words. A force. An actual force that pumps life into my blood and had me weak, engrossed, inflamed, aching, riveted, and undone. Lush world building, suspenseful and tense. It's not often a book makes me cry, makes me writhe with gut churning sadness or creates a need to vomit from the unjustified... stop. There's no spoilers here.
The plot, the plot, the plot. I was interested from the first three chapters, no lie. However, the plot actually thickens the further you go. When I told Cia I was at page 200 and obsessed, she said "well buckle in because it's gonna be a bumpy ride." I heeded her warning, or so I thought? There is no preparing anyone for that ride! Bumpy? No. Mountainous potholes that throw you from the carriage is a better warning. It...just...kept...coming. I thought I could recover for a moment but Heart Sworn does not even give you two minutes to breathe - it just throws you from the carriage, drags you along, runs you over, carries you along again, and runs you over again, and again.
I felt the heart break. I felt the betrayal. I felt the continued curiosity, the confusion, the unknown that just pulled me under and drowned me in sorrow. The history of the characters is rich and thick - and I mean, thick. Just think, wading through the brambles and finding a flower, just to get stabbed with ten thorns and strung up in all the vines - thick. Cia executes and sows their discord and dark history throughout the story and engages the reader without giving it all away upfront. I'm not just talking about the main characters either. We've got a whole slew of side characters to unravel and reveal, and I...am... a mess. Papa. Theo. Roarke. Shadow. The Dam. Duvessa. Theiry. Oh for the love of character development and execution, Cia nailed it every single time.
The suspense crushed me, took my breath away. There are so many elements to Cia's writing, her execution is flawless.
The love between Beast and Beauty, Dorran and Luciania - the heat, the lust, the lack of control - the chemistry. Oh dear, my heart. I love every aspect of their story. THIS IS IT! This is the Beauty and the Beast I need forever, so much so, I ordered the hardcover immediately so I can reread this much like I rewatch Beauty and the Beast every time my sorrowful heart gets the better of me.
Cia, thank you for this beautiful and enchanting tale.
"I would rather you say what you think freely, without restricting your true thoughts and feelings. Most people have that quality as children, only for the world to rush in and suffocate it out of them."
My love for beasts began at a young age. I can count my childhood (before six years of age and imaginary) boyfriends on two fingers, one a charming skeleton attempting to steal Christmas, the other - a beast (quite literally). Like any healthy adult who grew up being told they were too old for fairytales, I've waited and wished for a Beauty and The Beast rendition that would repair the damage and fill a void in my heart. Well, let me introduce you to the author who finally accomplished what others could not. Cia Petrichor.
Filled with death, chaos, sex, mythical creatures and magic, Heart Sworn is one hell of dark fantasy novel. Cia has truly written what could only be described as a sensational start to a series. Fear not, dear friends, you are not left with an incomplete, horrific cliff hanger - this installment tells the story of Luciana and Dorran from start to (not quite) finish, but finished enough so that you can rest easy until the next adventure.
Let's talk about Cia Petrichor's writing for a second. I'm not sure I have enough words to describe how engrossing and riveting her writing style is. Captivating and magic - no, enchanting - captivating and enchanting are the correct words. A force. An actual force that pumps life into my blood and had me weak, engrossed, inflamed, aching, riveted, and undone. Lush world building, suspenseful and tense. It's not often a book makes me cry, makes me writhe with gut churning sadness or creates a need to vomit from the unjustified... stop. There's no spoilers here.
The plot, the plot, the plot. I was interested from the first three chapters, no lie. However, the plot actually thickens the further you go. When I told Cia I was at page 200 and obsessed, she said "well buckle in because it's gonna be a bumpy ride." I heeded her warning, or so I thought? There is no preparing anyone for that ride! Bumpy? No. Mountainous potholes that throw you from the carriage is a better warning. It...just...kept...coming. I thought I could recover for a moment but Heart Sworn does not even give you two minutes to breathe - it just throws you from the carriage, drags you along, runs you over, carries you along again, and runs you over again, and again.
I felt the heart break. I felt the betrayal. I felt the continued curiosity, the confusion, the unknown that just pulled me under and drowned me in sorrow. The history of the characters is rich and thick - and I mean, thick. Just think, wading through the brambles and finding a flower, just to get stabbed with ten thorns and strung up in all the vines - thick. Cia executes and sows their discord and dark history throughout the story and engages the reader without giving it all away upfront. I'm not just talking about the main characters either. We've got a whole slew of side characters to unravel and reveal, and I...am... a mess. Papa. Theo. Roarke. Shadow. The Dam. Duvessa. Theiry. Oh for the love of character development and execution, Cia nailed it every single time.
The suspense crushed me, took my breath away. There are so many elements to Cia's writing, her execution is flawless.
The love between Beast and Beauty, Dorran and Luciania - the heat, the lust, the lack of control - the chemistry. Oh dear, my heart. I love every aspect of their story. THIS IS IT! This is the Beauty and the Beast I need forever, so much so, I ordered the hardcover immediately so I can reread this much like I rewatch Beauty and the Beast every time my sorrowful heart gets the better of me.
Cia, thank you for this beautiful and enchanting tale.