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Partin: the Chosen: In the King's Army Book 1:
The prophecies foretell of a coming savior. A savior, who will bring back the King of Light. Or a champion, who will help the Darkness rule over all. Only one can win.
Rahuin is suddenly thrown from the only life she has ever known into a fight against good and evil. After a fateful night filled with betrayal, loss, and revelation, Rahuin must make a decision-fight for the light or fight for the dark. She must learn to trust her power and accept the protection of others around her as the path she walks becomes a haunting ground for a war she never meant to be a part of.
All his life he's known that he will have to protect his people against the forces of Darkness that threaten to steal his birthright. Prince Dais Verne of Casta has only been taught one thing his entire life-his people come first, and as war starts to harden his resolve, matters of the heart must be thrown aside as he realizes that he has so much to gain, but the most to lose.
To counteract the sinister plot brewing as the Darkness sets his plan in motion, The League of Light, created to protect the Chosen, is formed. But when the Darkness threatens everyone they trust and love, will they be able to overcome? Will the Light triumph over the Darkness, and will it be worth the cost?
Rahuin is suddenly thrown from the only life she has ever known into a fight against good and evil. After a fateful night filled with betrayal, loss, and revelation, Rahuin must make a decision-fight for the light or fight for the dark. She must learn to trust her power and accept the protection of others around her as the path she walks becomes a haunting ground for a war she never meant to be a part of.
All his life he's known that he will have to protect his people against the forces of Darkness that threaten to steal his birthright. Prince Dais Verne of Casta has only been taught one thing his entire life-his people come first, and as war starts to harden his resolve, matters of the heart must be thrown aside as he realizes that he has so much to gain, but the most to lose.
To counteract the sinister plot brewing as the Darkness sets his plan in motion, The League of Light, created to protect the Chosen, is formed. But when the Darkness threatens everyone they trust and love, will they be able to overcome? Will the Light triumph over the Darkness, and will it be worth the cost?
- GenresFantasy
456 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2025
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Riley J. Perrie
4 books35 followersI am a YA/NA Christian Fantasy Author. I have been writing since I was seven years old- A short story I hand-wrote. Sadly, I don't have that story anymore, but my love for writing hasn't changed since! I am a follower of Jesus and I pray that all my writing reflects His grace and story. In my spare time, I see clients as a certified B.N.D (Naturopathic Doctor) or run a health-food store in the little mountain town I call home. I love all the seasons, cats, hot apple cider, cleaning, dancing and playing piano. Follow me on Instagram for more or subscribe to my newsletter to received monthly updates.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!
Partin is a fast paced multiple POV book with Christian themes and fantasy.
I loved the opening of the book and the ending left me ready for more. I’m excited to see where the characters will go next!
That being said I would have liked a little more explanation sometimes (specifically about how they know she’s the chosen one). But overall I really liked it and can’t wait for more!
If you like fast passed, short chapters/sections, quick romance, and fantasy, you’ll probably like this book!
Keep in mind tho that there are a lot of povs in this book (like 10+) so you will have to keep track of lots of characters. But I didn’t find it all that difficult to remember them all.
I hope you all enjoy this book!
Partin is a fast paced multiple POV book with Christian themes and fantasy.
I loved the opening of the book and the ending left me ready for more. I’m excited to see where the characters will go next!
That being said I would have liked a little more explanation sometimes (specifically about how they know she’s the chosen one). But overall I really liked it and can’t wait for more!
If you like fast passed, short chapters/sections, quick romance, and fantasy, you’ll probably like this book!
Keep in mind tho that there are a lot of povs in this book (like 10+) so you will have to keep track of lots of characters. But I didn’t find it all that difficult to remember them all.
I hope you all enjoy this book!
Read
March 20, 2025I didn't finish this book (I made it to 18%), but I think that's because it's not my style. There are some things that I really like about it and I could see being worth finishing to the end, but at the moment, I have to put it down. I do think this book could be appealing to readers, so I'll just describe what you can expect (at least in the first 18%):
- The action picks up right from chapter 1. If you're looking for a book that introduces danger and hurtles onward at breakneck speed, then you'll like this. I personally prefer a few chapters to catch my breath when I start a book, but I was able to follow the stakes that Rahuin was being manipulated, she was in danger, and now she has to make difficult choices about her future.
- High fantasy with many fantastical elements. If you like high fantasy with lots of lore, worldbuilding, and many fantastical creatures (like dwarves, dragons, people that shapeshifter into dragons, fantasy languages, completely different cultures in each kingdom), then you'll probably enjoy Partin the Chosen. I like fantasy worlds, but I have a hard time following if there's too many elements introduced at once (and I have a bad habit of never reading the glossary), so I found myself confused a bit at times. Also, as a matter of personal preference, I don't like shapeshifting in books. Also, there was a character with moon cycles tattooed onto her face (forehead and both cheeks), and I didn't like that imagery.
- Prophecy/chosen one. With the beginning of the book, we're immediately thrust out of Rahuin's normal life into chaos. Then we learn she's someone that can answer a prophecy, either for good or for evil. I like that she has a choice, as usually prophecies in books tend to be very strict.
- The characters. I can tell there's a huge cast of characters here, many of them starting to come to be like family. Rahuin is stripped from all she knows, but she's not alone, and I liked that. There were also some jokes and humor among the characters, which was nice. However, in the first 8 or so chapters I read, there were at least 10+ POVs. I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on sometimes. While I suppose things will come together moving forward and POVs may be combined to flow along the same storyline(s), I am not following enough of the story in order to get there right now.
- I think another factor for me is that the book is 1st person present tense. I am not one who normally reads 1st person present tense, and paired with the POV switches, that may be a big factor in why I had a hard time following the story.
In any case, I was excited to read this book but I think it's just not for me. However, if you like action, high fantasy, and prophecy--and you're okay juggling a few character POVs to digest the main story--then you may enjoy Partin the Chosen.
Disclaimer: I got an ARC of the book, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
- The action picks up right from chapter 1. If you're looking for a book that introduces danger and hurtles onward at breakneck speed, then you'll like this. I personally prefer a few chapters to catch my breath when I start a book, but I was able to follow the stakes that Rahuin was being manipulated, she was in danger, and now she has to make difficult choices about her future.
- High fantasy with many fantastical elements. If you like high fantasy with lots of lore, worldbuilding, and many fantastical creatures (like dwarves, dragons, people that shapeshifter into dragons, fantasy languages, completely different cultures in each kingdom), then you'll probably enjoy Partin the Chosen. I like fantasy worlds, but I have a hard time following if there's too many elements introduced at once (and I have a bad habit of never reading the glossary), so I found myself confused a bit at times. Also, as a matter of personal preference, I don't like shapeshifting in books. Also, there was a character with moon cycles tattooed onto her face (forehead and both cheeks), and I didn't like that imagery.
- Prophecy/chosen one. With the beginning of the book, we're immediately thrust out of Rahuin's normal life into chaos. Then we learn she's someone that can answer a prophecy, either for good or for evil. I like that she has a choice, as usually prophecies in books tend to be very strict.
- The characters. I can tell there's a huge cast of characters here, many of them starting to come to be like family. Rahuin is stripped from all she knows, but she's not alone, and I liked that. There were also some jokes and humor among the characters, which was nice. However, in the first 8 or so chapters I read, there were at least 10+ POVs. I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on sometimes. While I suppose things will come together moving forward and POVs may be combined to flow along the same storyline(s), I am not following enough of the story in order to get there right now.
- I think another factor for me is that the book is 1st person present tense. I am not one who normally reads 1st person present tense, and paired with the POV switches, that may be a big factor in why I had a hard time following the story.
In any case, I was excited to read this book but I think it's just not for me. However, if you like action, high fantasy, and prophecy--and you're okay juggling a few character POVs to digest the main story--then you may enjoy Partin the Chosen.
Disclaimer: I got an ARC of the book, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
This book was phenomenal. I was able to see what the vision was and how the story was supposed to go. There was a little confusion because of the story having so many characters but once you remembered who was who it got easier to understand. The characters were fun and the story was impactful to read. As someone who doesn’t read books like this one, it was refreshing to broaden my horizon. This book helped and encouraged me to read books of similar genre and morals.
February 10, 2025
I wish I could rate this a bit higher, but there were a few elements that bind me from giving more than three stars.
But let's start with the positives!
1. All the cards I got with the book! They were very useful when I need to keep track of all the characters and kingdoms.
2. The message/intention. I liked how you clearly the author's soul, morals and ideals shined through the book.
3. All the world-building. I loved hearing about the different kingdoms and species and times of magic and I can't wait to dive deeper into that in the next installments of the series.
4. Dais!! He was definitely my favorite character. He deserves a break, and a nap.
Now, the negatives.
1. From the start, I was annoyed at the continuous change of POVs. I felt like there were too many POVs to keep track of, and most of them I found unnecessary. And since they were each quite short, it was hard to get into the character's mind.
2. Similiar plot lines. Halfway through the book, I asked myself: "How many more people are going to discover they have a long lost relative/be reunited with a long lost relative?" It happened several times, and while it might be shocking and a cool plot wist the first time, it gets old when this happens to every other character. Another thing that happened a lot was characters reunited with a long lost love during the story. Again, nice the first time, not so much the third time this happens.
3. The Insta Love. This book is pretty long, and just the first one in the series, so I was surprised to see how fast the main couple (and every other couple) gets together. How many conversation have this characters even had before they declared their love for each other? It made the romance(s) feel less genuine.
4. Twists for shock value. At several points during the book, the characters take pretty extreme decisions, putting in danger themselves and everyone around them, and it made me question if it was really necessary for them to be doing all of that. I believe some scenes were mostly added to shock the reader. But that might just be my impression.
5. How quickly things got resolved. Again, an issue that came up several times. Every so often, a new problem would arise, and all the characters would freak out about it, only for it to be resolved in the same chapter. It made me be more emotionally detached from the story because I just knew it was only a matter of pages before things got resolved.
I will still be reading the next few books in the series, as I want to know how the story goes!
But let's start with the positives!
1. All the cards I got with the book! They were very useful when I need to keep track of all the characters and kingdoms.
2. The message/intention. I liked how you clearly the author's soul, morals and ideals shined through the book.
3. All the world-building. I loved hearing about the different kingdoms and species and times of magic and I can't wait to dive deeper into that in the next installments of the series.
4. Dais!! He was definitely my favorite character. He deserves a break, and a nap.
Now, the negatives.
1. From the start, I was annoyed at the continuous change of POVs. I felt like there were too many POVs to keep track of, and most of them I found unnecessary. And since they were each quite short, it was hard to get into the character's mind.
2. Similiar plot lines. Halfway through the book, I asked myself: "How many more people are going to discover they have a long lost relative/be reunited with a long lost relative?" It happened several times, and while it might be shocking and a cool plot wist the first time, it gets old when this happens to every other character. Another thing that happened a lot was characters reunited with a long lost love during the story. Again, nice the first time, not so much the third time this happens.
3. The Insta Love. This book is pretty long, and just the first one in the series, so I was surprised to see how fast the main couple (and every other couple) gets together. How many conversation have this characters even had before they declared their love for each other? It made the romance(s) feel less genuine.
4. Twists for shock value. At several points during the book, the characters take pretty extreme decisions, putting in danger themselves and everyone around them, and it made me question if it was really necessary for them to be doing all of that. I believe some scenes were mostly added to shock the reader. But that might just be my impression.
5. How quickly things got resolved. Again, an issue that came up several times. Every so often, a new problem would arise, and all the characters would freak out about it, only for it to be resolved in the same chapter. It made me be more emotionally detached from the story because I just knew it was only a matter of pages before things got resolved.
I will still be reading the next few books in the series, as I want to know how the story goes!
March 26, 2025
This is the second book by R.Perrie that I read. It is fast-paced, with multiple POV. Once I figured out who was who, I enjoyed the stories - heart-touching, tragic, and sweet.
June 8, 2024
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book and I am excited for books 2! But… I did have a few issues with the book. I felt like the multiple POVs take away from following the story because a lot is happening. From the brewing war to the relationships, I feel like some of the POVs could have been removed and the story would have flowed better. I found myself skimming through some of them to try and get through to the plot
I really enjoyed this book and I am excited for books 2! But… I did have a few issues with the book. I felt like the multiple POVs take away from following the story because a lot is happening. From the brewing war to the relationships, I feel like some of the POVs could have been removed and the story would have flowed better. I found myself skimming through some of them to try and get through to the plot
May 17, 2024
The first thing I loved was the Content warning, I now believe that this little detail should honestly be a standard in the reading world! The Map, pronunciation guide, and list of species were another detail I appreciated. Just Amazing!
Once I picked his book up to read. I could barely put it down. Yes I read it in a day! The characters and world were well built. There were Dragons, Magic, Kingdoms, gift/curses, adventure, romance, and so much more. I came to care for just about every character. The pull of emotions as the characters work through grief, hope, forgiveness, and morality in this adventure of survival was strong and consistent. There were a good number of POVs, and while I loved the time spent with the characters, sometimes certain parts did pull me from the story.
I was inspired! The Christian themes played well with the story's light vs.. Darkness, the characters demonstrated many Christian virtues. All that and it is still a very 'real story' they don't have it easy, there is hardship, and tough choices that are made, but forgiveness and grace was granted to them.
I had this book on my TBR since I stumbled across Riley's Instagram. The premise intrigued me, the themes caught my attention, and the desire to Indie-authors had be get this Novel signed and delivered to me. I am glad to add it to my collection!
As someone who hopes to have a published work someday, I will take what I learned from this read with me in my writing journey. Thank you Riley for this read! I cannot wait for Book 2!
Once I picked his book up to read. I could barely put it down. Yes I read it in a day! The characters and world were well built. There were Dragons, Magic, Kingdoms, gift/curses, adventure, romance, and so much more. I came to care for just about every character. The pull of emotions as the characters work through grief, hope, forgiveness, and morality in this adventure of survival was strong and consistent. There were a good number of POVs, and while I loved the time spent with the characters, sometimes certain parts did pull me from the story.
I was inspired! The Christian themes played well with the story's light vs.. Darkness, the characters demonstrated many Christian virtues. All that and it is still a very 'real story' they don't have it easy, there is hardship, and tough choices that are made, but forgiveness and grace was granted to them.
I had this book on my TBR since I stumbled across Riley's Instagram. The premise intrigued me, the themes caught my attention, and the desire to Indie-authors had be get this Novel signed and delivered to me. I am glad to add it to my collection!
As someone who hopes to have a published work someday, I will take what I learned from this read with me in my writing journey. Thank you Riley for this read! I cannot wait for Book 2!
November 27, 2023
It's been over a year since I got to beta-read this wonderful book, but I think I remember it well enough to write this review. I will try not to leave spoilers.
It's a very long book, with a TON of povs, which can be hard to keep track of, but I think it adds depth to the story. The characters are amazing, with a variety of backgrounds, struggles and goals. While it does follow the common trope about a Prophecy and the Chosen one, I think it comes with a fresh perspective where it can end in good or evil, depending on the choice of the Chosen one.
The story addresses the consequences of past choices and how they can come back on you in the future, and also has the characters face how far they are willing to go to do what they need to do, resulting in some tragic events. While Rahuin, the main character, makes some choices I could never agree with, you can still see some insight on why she would make such terrible decisions.
So much happens through it, with a war on the rise and different cultures all being introduced, and I think Perrie pulled it all together amazingly. The end left me so excited for more, and so curious as to how the sequel will pick up the story line and what the characters will do next.
It does contain some more mature content, but I do believe it is suitable for anyone ages sixteen and older, assuming you're interested in dragons, royalty, ship captains and the war between light and dark.
It can be a long read, but it is a worthy one.
It's a very long book, with a TON of povs, which can be hard to keep track of, but I think it adds depth to the story. The characters are amazing, with a variety of backgrounds, struggles and goals. While it does follow the common trope about a Prophecy and the Chosen one, I think it comes with a fresh perspective where it can end in good or evil, depending on the choice of the Chosen one.
The story addresses the consequences of past choices and how they can come back on you in the future, and also has the characters face how far they are willing to go to do what they need to do, resulting in some tragic events. While Rahuin, the main character, makes some choices I could never agree with, you can still see some insight on why she would make such terrible decisions.
So much happens through it, with a war on the rise and different cultures all being introduced, and I think Perrie pulled it all together amazingly. The end left me so excited for more, and so curious as to how the sequel will pick up the story line and what the characters will do next.
It does contain some more mature content, but I do believe it is suitable for anyone ages sixteen and older, assuming you're interested in dragons, royalty, ship captains and the war between light and dark.
It can be a long read, but it is a worthy one.
August 18, 2025
What a stunning read! Rahuin was a wonderful fmc although I wanted to scream at some of the choices she made. Jet and Jarrett had my heart. This is such an intense dark read but there is hope. There is love and there is hope. Even in the worst moments there is a shred of hope. What is a good story without some hope? I cannot wait to read the next one
June 7, 2025
First off, I want to say, I'm excited to see where this story is headed and I think it's a fine start to a broader, epic fantasy!
My positives I had while reading this book:
1. I think my favorite characters have to be Grimall and Esther!
2. I love page 473 and the theme of respecting the sanctity of all life, whether unborn or not ❤️
3. I love how Perrie describes scenery—it helps immense the reader more in the scene.
A couple of critiques however..
1. There were too many POVs and it was hard to keep track of all the characters.
2. Problems were either brushed under the rug or resolved too quickly/easily.
3. Some of the plot twists either got old or came out of nowhere.
But overall, this was a fast-paced fantasy read and I'm not ruling out reading the next book! 🤗
My positives I had while reading this book:
1. I think my favorite characters have to be Grimall and Esther!
2. I love page 473 and the theme of respecting the sanctity of all life, whether unborn or not ❤️
3. I love how Perrie describes scenery—it helps immense the reader more in the scene.
A couple of critiques however..
1. There were too many POVs and it was hard to keep track of all the characters.
2. Problems were either brushed under the rug or resolved too quickly/easily.
3. Some of the plot twists either got old or came out of nowhere.
But overall, this was a fast-paced fantasy read and I'm not ruling out reading the next book! 🤗
January 25, 2024
Whoa! This book was great! Sorry to Riley for taking so long to read it 😅 fall semester started and I had zero free time.
I loved this book so much and all the themes! I can’t wait to read the next one and follow the characters!
As per Riley’s request, my favorite character had to have been Dias because he is just so pure and doesn’t deserve anything that happens to him and so I love him!
I loved this book so much and all the themes! I can’t wait to read the next one and follow the characters!
As per Riley’s request, my favorite character had to have been Dias because he is just so pure and doesn’t deserve anything that happens to him and so I love him!
October 25, 2023
I received a copy of Partin: the Chosen and I thought it was a great high fantasy with a fast paced plot. I thought the world building and plot were very interesting and imaginative. I also liked the different fantasy species that were created, they were very cool. I wasn't a big fan of the main romance because it felt too fast and I felt like we didn't really get to see it develop that much. I also wasn't a fan of all the POVs, especially when most POVs at the beginning dwindled off by the end but overall, I enjoyed Partin: the Chosen and look forward to reading the sequel.
June 12, 2025
I won this book as part of a fundraiser giveaway and all thoughts/opinions are my own.
First, I struggled with the rating for this book because there are some great things about it, but there were also issues that made it difficult to read. I had a hard time with the POV switches throughout the book. There were so many and at the beginning it was very hard to keep track especially since there were so many characters. As I continued reading it did get easier. Also, a majority of the conflict was resolved very quickly and felt unrealistic. For example, some characters forgiving or changing sides within a few paragraphs/pages felt out of place for what people would really do. I appreciated the content warning at the beginning of the book and while most of it was implied and not described, I don’t know that all of it even needed to be included. By the end of the book I had grown to love several of the characters and was eager to see what happened to them so I would probably read the next book.
First, I struggled with the rating for this book because there are some great things about it, but there were also issues that made it difficult to read. I had a hard time with the POV switches throughout the book. There were so many and at the beginning it was very hard to keep track especially since there were so many characters. As I continued reading it did get easier. Also, a majority of the conflict was resolved very quickly and felt unrealistic. For example, some characters forgiving or changing sides within a few paragraphs/pages felt out of place for what people would really do. I appreciated the content warning at the beginning of the book and while most of it was implied and not described, I don’t know that all of it even needed to be included. By the end of the book I had grown to love several of the characters and was eager to see what happened to them so I would probably read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2023
If you're looking for a dark fantasy, with twists and turns every chapter, along with irresistible drama and romance that will leave you screaming, ranting and speeding through pages to find your answers and get to a kiss, Partin the chosen is the book for you.
Oh! You also can't forget the corruption arks, and redemption arks.
The book is a hefty size, but I enjoyed the fact is was a pleasantly surprising, fast read.
Its challenging to find a Fantasy that doesn't info dump on you, but, this comes close. I liked that it felt like you explored the world along side the characters and learned it in bite sized peices. It would be a wonderful world to step into- asides the whole villainous creatures and war.
(A few times though it did feel as if a character was over explaining considering that they would have already lived in this world- but, considering the amount of cultures and kingdoms and information, its understandable)
I liked the vast array of characters, and that each of them have their own stores that skillfully interconnect together.
Though, In my own opinion, the characters were so caught up into the plot, it left little time for the reader to really fall inlove with them.
The banter between Dias, a prince and Jet his guardian was both adorable and witty - and not enough you ask me! (Though I am a fan of fluff and fun back and fourths to build character)
Don't get me started on how cute and hilarious the league of light can be. This rag tag found family - "army" feels homey, I would have read nothing but them trying to get along or perform a simple mission.
I liked that the story kept you guessing and trying to figure out who would betray who next, who who would confess their love to another and how could the kingdom be saved.
Though at times the stories plot twists left a bit wanting: the pay off was too soon / there wasn't enough attachment to the characters yet to enjoy the "pay off" of the reveal, or, some of the reveals felt like there was too much mystery to understand what had happend - or there was not enough explanation/ hints leading up to it.
The writing is fast, and prompted by the emotion of the characters and their powerful diologue with eachother. Though, it was peppered with several memorable and awe worthy lines that simply left me longing for more.
I personally adore lots of poetic description and even a healthy hint of "purple prose" to convey emotion and the storyline, but, if you want something that gets to the point and isn't overly wordy, this is certainly for you!
In this story a lot happens to the characters...
They each make decisions to try and protect the ones they love. But, I feel like with all of the human and morally grey decisions it left me searching for the true good guys, for a plumb line of right and wrong- especially when following darkness as a means to an end comes into play. There was also a character stated to be a goddess of death, despite leaning on the side of the "good guys". It didn't quite sit right with me, personally, I feel like a better label or species could have been used to capture the intensity of their power.
I wasn't a fan that a couple of characters chose cheating as a solution, even if perhaps the ends weighed out the decision. I wish more would have been acknowledged, or the struggle and thought of the characters be shown. I'm not really for such a extreme act being used.
The devoted love of one of the characters is absolutely indearing , but it eers on the side of unhealthy and self destructive . I would have liked there to be more acknowledgement that this couple is not a ideal.
Though, I was a fan of the well written connection between the characters, and the wonderful variety of chemistry in the ships.
I liked that the story didn't shy away from deep themes and intense topics, including what forgiveness really means and what stakes do you go to for love, along with having very human characters that make mistakes and get scared. There is a moment where Dias is expected to "perform" or be brave, and he finds he can barely say much at all, because he's a scared boy. I love that it was real, that even royalty isn't always prepared.
The ending ramped up, and had me flipping pages faster then I thought was possible. I could feel the strung tension, the rising hopes, and what I love the most the impossible odds with a feeling that good surely will win.
The choices made to make allies for kingdoms leave me bitting my nails and at the edge of my seat for the sequel
Oh! You also can't forget the corruption arks, and redemption arks.
The book is a hefty size, but I enjoyed the fact is was a pleasantly surprising, fast read.
Its challenging to find a Fantasy that doesn't info dump on you, but, this comes close. I liked that it felt like you explored the world along side the characters and learned it in bite sized peices. It would be a wonderful world to step into- asides the whole villainous creatures and war.
(A few times though it did feel as if a character was over explaining considering that they would have already lived in this world- but, considering the amount of cultures and kingdoms and information, its understandable)
I liked the vast array of characters, and that each of them have their own stores that skillfully interconnect together.
Though, In my own opinion, the characters were so caught up into the plot, it left little time for the reader to really fall inlove with them.
The banter between Dias, a prince and Jet his guardian was both adorable and witty - and not enough you ask me! (Though I am a fan of fluff and fun back and fourths to build character)
Don't get me started on how cute and hilarious the league of light can be. This rag tag found family - "army" feels homey, I would have read nothing but them trying to get along or perform a simple mission.
I liked that the story kept you guessing and trying to figure out who would betray who next, who who would confess their love to another and how could the kingdom be saved.
Though at times the stories plot twists left a bit wanting: the pay off was too soon / there wasn't enough attachment to the characters yet to enjoy the "pay off" of the reveal, or, some of the reveals felt like there was too much mystery to understand what had happend - or there was not enough explanation/ hints leading up to it.
The writing is fast, and prompted by the emotion of the characters and their powerful diologue with eachother. Though, it was peppered with several memorable and awe worthy lines that simply left me longing for more.
I personally adore lots of poetic description and even a healthy hint of "purple prose" to convey emotion and the storyline, but, if you want something that gets to the point and isn't overly wordy, this is certainly for you!
In this story a lot happens to the characters...
They each make decisions to try and protect the ones they love. But, I feel like with all of the human and morally grey decisions it left me searching for the true good guys, for a plumb line of right and wrong- especially when following darkness as a means to an end comes into play. There was also a character stated to be a goddess of death, despite leaning on the side of the "good guys". It didn't quite sit right with me, personally, I feel like a better label or species could have been used to capture the intensity of their power.
I wasn't a fan that a couple of characters chose cheating as a solution, even if perhaps the ends weighed out the decision. I wish more would have been acknowledged, or the struggle and thought of the characters be shown. I'm not really for such a extreme act being used.
The devoted love of one of the characters is absolutely indearing , but it eers on the side of unhealthy and self destructive . I would have liked there to be more acknowledgement that this couple is not a ideal.
Though, I was a fan of the well written connection between the characters, and the wonderful variety of chemistry in the ships.
I liked that the story didn't shy away from deep themes and intense topics, including what forgiveness really means and what stakes do you go to for love, along with having very human characters that make mistakes and get scared. There is a moment where Dias is expected to "perform" or be brave, and he finds he can barely say much at all, because he's a scared boy. I love that it was real, that even royalty isn't always prepared.
The ending ramped up, and had me flipping pages faster then I thought was possible. I could feel the strung tension, the rising hopes, and what I love the most the impossible odds with a feeling that good surely will win.
The choices made to make allies for kingdoms leave me bitting my nails and at the edge of my seat for the sequel
July 14, 2024
I can tell how much hard work Riley has put into this novel. From start to finish, she paints a world full of interesting characters who are all unique with their personalities. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, as they really highlight what’s going on inside the characters head.
As a fan of multiple POVs and it’s also in the present with their POVs, it makes it more relatable to how someone is feeling. The antagonist gives major chills, as it wants to take Rahuin, the main character to the dark side. Rahuin and Dais are very strong main characters, and get the majority of POVs, however the other POVs still add good balance to the story, making it more interesting.
I recommend this book and can’t wait for the 2nd one. Great read. Perrie is very talented and devoted to her work:)
As a fan of multiple POVs and it’s also in the present with their POVs, it makes it more relatable to how someone is feeling. The antagonist gives major chills, as it wants to take Rahuin, the main character to the dark side. Rahuin and Dais are very strong main characters, and get the majority of POVs, however the other POVs still add good balance to the story, making it more interesting.
I recommend this book and can’t wait for the 2nd one. Great read. Perrie is very talented and devoted to her work:)
February 4, 2024
A story told in multiple POVs with twists, turns, magic, unique peoples, prophecies, dark vs. light, and more that lead to a surprising ending. Curious what comes next!
July 16, 2025
I received a copy of this book as a free ARC. I was not required to give a good review.
That was intense O-O the whirlwind of emotions. It was good I was on an 11-hour flight cause any other day this (large) book woulda wrecked my schedule. The heartbreak. the fear. the never knowing for sure how this is going to end. It was constant suspense.
While reading the book I have never been so conflicted. I was constantly worried I'd actually end up hating the book. And even at the end, I wasn't sure I liked the ending. But the more time I had to think about the story (cause this is a story one has to think about. it is NOT a light read. it is heavy, with many questions of morality and choice.) the more the ending was right (even if it wasn't what I wanted it to be.)
It was incredibly well written. Even though it had an enormous cast of characters, all alternating in first person POV. Which was initially difficult but after the second chapter the characters were already distant enough for me to start keeping track. All the characters were very well fleshed out with solid pasts, motivations, and reasonings behind each of their decisions. This is incredibly important in the story as it has a strong theme of each individual's ability to choose and each person's ability to react and respond to those choices, maybe with anger, maybe with grief, and hopefully eventually with forgiveness and love when those choices are not the ones we wished for. Which was...quite often... I was near crying the whole time for different outcomes but the choices truly were the ones that fit the characters.
I loved it...I did. I loved the story and all the characters so much. But man it was not what I was expecting and waiting for the next book after all the things still needing resolving and the healing the characters (*cough* and now me) need is gonna be agony XD
Content: There are multiple innuendos and mentions of characters having sex and a couple fade to black moments that get to the point of characters undressing each other, but change scenes after that. There's lots of kissing but it's never descriptive (I'm easy to make uncomfortable with kissing sense. these didn't make me uncomfortable.) The index for word pronunciations and meanings includes a couple of curse words, the story itself only uses the fantasy equivalent of those curse words mentioned.
The story includes mature themes. It's alluded that a character was raped in the past. The moral predicaments and choices are difficult and sometimes put the characters in compromising places.
It has strong themes of courage, choosing not to give up, love, forgiveness, and overcoming evil that tie the story together with hope even as it gets dark and painful.
Edit review for book two content (for readers who dont like to be caught by surprise by increasingly heavy topics) Book two is in many ways heavier, but I think I loved it even more than book one. It has such incredible and powerful themes.
Book two Content warnings:
There is a lot of heavy topics (some of this may be considered spoilers)
Other less sensitive: kissing both pre and post marriage (mildly descriptive, I'm sensitive and I wasn’t uncomfortable but it wasn't just a “they kissed”) magic- both the kind related to darkness and curses and possession, and kinds viewed as gifts from God and by working with magical elements that He created.
That was intense O-O the whirlwind of emotions. It was good I was on an 11-hour flight cause any other day this (large) book woulda wrecked my schedule. The heartbreak. the fear. the never knowing for sure how this is going to end. It was constant suspense.
While reading the book I have never been so conflicted. I was constantly worried I'd actually end up hating the book. And even at the end, I wasn't sure I liked the ending. But the more time I had to think about the story (cause this is a story one has to think about. it is NOT a light read. it is heavy, with many questions of morality and choice.) the more the ending was right (even if it wasn't what I wanted it to be.)
It was incredibly well written. Even though it had an enormous cast of characters, all alternating in first person POV. Which was initially difficult but after the second chapter the characters were already distant enough for me to start keeping track. All the characters were very well fleshed out with solid pasts, motivations, and reasonings behind each of their decisions. This is incredibly important in the story as it has a strong theme of each individual's ability to choose and each person's ability to react and respond to those choices, maybe with anger, maybe with grief, and hopefully eventually with forgiveness and love when those choices are not the ones we wished for. Which was...quite often... I was near crying the whole time for different outcomes but the choices truly were the ones that fit the characters.
I loved it...I did. I loved the story and all the characters so much. But man it was not what I was expecting and waiting for the next book after all the things still needing resolving and the healing the characters (*cough* and now me) need is gonna be agony XD
Content: There are multiple innuendos and mentions of characters having sex and a couple fade to black moments that get to the point of characters undressing each other, but change scenes after that. There's lots of kissing but it's never descriptive (I'm easy to make uncomfortable with kissing sense. these didn't make me uncomfortable.) The index for word pronunciations and meanings includes a couple of curse words, the story itself only uses the fantasy equivalent of those curse words mentioned.
The story includes mature themes. It's alluded that a character was raped in the past. The moral predicaments and choices are difficult and sometimes put the characters in compromising places.
It has strong themes of courage, choosing not to give up, love, forgiveness, and overcoming evil that tie the story together with hope even as it gets dark and painful.
Edit review for book two content (for readers who dont like to be caught by surprise by increasingly heavy topics) Book two is in many ways heavier, but I think I loved it even more than book one. It has such incredible and powerful themes.
Book two Content warnings:
There is a lot of heavy topics (some of this may be considered spoilers)
Other less sensitive: kissing both pre and post marriage (mildly descriptive, I'm sensitive and I wasn’t uncomfortable but it wasn't just a “they kissed”) magic- both the kind related to darkness and curses and possession, and kinds viewed as gifts from God and by working with magical elements that He created.
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