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She Who Chose War
Being empress has been anything but easy for Nevia Bylilly, who left the only life she knew as a primitive clanswoman from the northern mountains of Zenoch to immerse herself in the industrial imperial capital of Velspire. She thought her love for the young, charismatic emperor, Darius II, would be enough to sustain her, yet she didn't foresee what her life would shackled by her jewels and a crown, her voice silenced by customs of a patriarchal society that even Darius dares not challenge.
Nevia's will is tested further when she is approached by an outlawed seer, who informs her that she must make an impossible choice to deliver the entire continent from its path of death. At first it seems absurd, until the empire faces an energy crisis that sends her husband away on a forbidden voyage in pursuit of a material that is so rare, so precious, that Darius would do anything to obtain it.
Even kill.
At the cost of everything she holds dear, Nevia flees the empire to unveil her husband's deadly secret and, in turn, chooses a war she tried so hard to prevent—against her country, and her heart.
Nevia's will is tested further when she is approached by an outlawed seer, who informs her that she must make an impossible choice to deliver the entire continent from its path of death. At first it seems absurd, until the empire faces an energy crisis that sends her husband away on a forbidden voyage in pursuit of a material that is so rare, so precious, that Darius would do anything to obtain it.
Even kill.
At the cost of everything she holds dear, Nevia flees the empire to unveil her husband's deadly secret and, in turn, chooses a war she tried so hard to prevent—against her country, and her heart.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2023
9 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 21, 2024
.5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Feminine rage burned its way throughout this book and I felt it's flames! This will be a read that stays with me long after finishing the last page. This is a political high fantasy with a lot of betrayal and a lot of Feminine Rage. Such an enthralling read! This book had me all kinds of emotional! I loved Nevia's character development throughout the book, she went through so much heartache. And Ardan is such a good MMC The ending had me cheering. and I cannot wait for the next book!
Feminine rage burned its way throughout this book and I felt it's flames! This will be a read that stays with me long after finishing the last page. This is a political high fantasy with a lot of betrayal and a lot of Feminine Rage. Such an enthralling read! This book had me all kinds of emotional! I loved Nevia's character development throughout the book, she went through so much heartache. And Ardan is such a good MMC The ending had me cheering. and I cannot wait for the next book!
November 19, 2024
2024 Reads #627/250
Read for the Sights of Sweden Challenge 2024-2025
September 20, 2024 - January 10, 2025
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Read for the Sights of Sweden Challenge 2024-2025
September 20, 2024 - January 10, 2025
Online Availability:
📖 Kindle Unlimited Subscription/$
June 3, 2025
Madison weaves a fascinating story of political intrigue and emotional damage, with stakes that feel both relatable and fantastical in the same breath. I enjoyed the journey with Nevia, from the simple highs of enjoying a marketplace in the beginning to the harsh crash of the endgame events, and fell in love with the characters she meets along the way. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
January 8, 2025
Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: fantasy
Themes: found family, political upheaval, war
📖 Read if you like: The Hurricane Wars, Witchmark, A Fate Inked in Blood
Thank you to the author for a copy of this novel. I went in thinking this was going to be a romantasy, but it ended up being a really well developed high fantasy. I can’t believe this is a debut given the quality of the writing and story telling. A new world with a complicated political system and a FMC forced to take a stand and do what it right.
Nevia is the unwanted empress from the north. Having married for love, life in the city is one of duality. She must try to assimilate and hide her origins, while her charming husband is at war with himself. Feeling pressure from his fellow lords, the emperor Darius makes a tactical decision to start a war with a peaceful island nation in order to acquire energy resources when the mainland is facing coal shortages and may not survive the winter. Nevia can no longer stand idly by as the man she once knew is replaced by a tyrant, and seeks to share the truth and prevent a genocide. There were some elements that resembled real world historical and current political conflicts, but this was a creative play on them.
I really enjoyed the world building and the complicated relationship between Nevia and Darius. There were a lot of different elements integrated into the world and storyline making for a good start to a longer series. I had some trouble with Nevia. While she was well developed emotionally, she was pretty bland. I was expected a badass FMC who always had her dagger, but she was just stumbling around requiring others to save her. It didn’t really make sense why some of the imperial soldiers would have supported her given the level of vitriol she received, nor how she went so long without notice. I think a little more at the beginning to understand how those in the palace felt about her would have been helpful to understand her general character.
I don’t think it was exactly insta-love, but I am not sure I found the blooming Arden-Nevia relationship to be an endearing as intended. Someone who just left a complicated and abusive relationship is unlikely to fall into the arms of another so soon. I also found it weird that she told him he would make a good leader on her site. Foreshadowing, but unfounded at that moment. The romance was slow-burn, and while sweet it felt a bit forced. I also found myself searching for a but more comedic banter in their interactions. Without giving away spoilers, the deceleration at the ending also felt too easily received given how most feel about Nevia. I don’t think wars can be ended so easily.
Overall, there were some gaps for me in both the plot and some of the characters, but I was very impressed with this start to a well written series. It set up multiple possible directions for this story to continue and I am looking forward to reading the second book out next month.
Genre: fantasy
Themes: found family, political upheaval, war
📖 Read if you like: The Hurricane Wars, Witchmark, A Fate Inked in Blood
Thank you to the author for a copy of this novel. I went in thinking this was going to be a romantasy, but it ended up being a really well developed high fantasy. I can’t believe this is a debut given the quality of the writing and story telling. A new world with a complicated political system and a FMC forced to take a stand and do what it right.
Nevia is the unwanted empress from the north. Having married for love, life in the city is one of duality. She must try to assimilate and hide her origins, while her charming husband is at war with himself. Feeling pressure from his fellow lords, the emperor Darius makes a tactical decision to start a war with a peaceful island nation in order to acquire energy resources when the mainland is facing coal shortages and may not survive the winter. Nevia can no longer stand idly by as the man she once knew is replaced by a tyrant, and seeks to share the truth and prevent a genocide. There were some elements that resembled real world historical and current political conflicts, but this was a creative play on them.
I really enjoyed the world building and the complicated relationship between Nevia and Darius. There were a lot of different elements integrated into the world and storyline making for a good start to a longer series. I had some trouble with Nevia. While she was well developed emotionally, she was pretty bland. I was expected a badass FMC who always had her dagger, but she was just stumbling around requiring others to save her. It didn’t really make sense why some of the imperial soldiers would have supported her given the level of vitriol she received, nor how she went so long without notice. I think a little more at the beginning to understand how those in the palace felt about her would have been helpful to understand her general character.
I don’t think it was exactly insta-love, but I am not sure I found the blooming Arden-Nevia relationship to be an endearing as intended. Someone who just left a complicated and abusive relationship is unlikely to fall into the arms of another so soon. I also found it weird that she told him he would make a good leader on her site. Foreshadowing, but unfounded at that moment. The romance was slow-burn, and while sweet it felt a bit forced. I also found myself searching for a but more comedic banter in their interactions. Without giving away spoilers, the deceleration at the ending also felt too easily received given how most feel about Nevia. I don’t think wars can be ended so easily.
Overall, there were some gaps for me in both the plot and some of the characters, but I was very impressed with this start to a well written series. It set up multiple possible directions for this story to continue and I am looking forward to reading the second book out next month.
August 31, 2023
📚ARC REVIEW📚
She Who Chose War by Madison Rene
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 🌶️/3
Genres: high fantasy
Tropes: slow burn romance, magic is banned, court politics, multi-nation war
Nevia left her primitive clan of Zenoch to marry the emperor of Velspire. They married for love, even though there was political unrest between the two nations. Nevia thought her love for him (Darius) would be enough, but is faced with distrust and judgement from others (and eventually her husband) based on her background.
When the nation faces a coal shortage and they are unable to peacefully get resources from a neighboring nation, Darius goes behind Nevia’s back and stages an attack to provoke the other nations into war (with the goal of them being distracted enough that the resources can be taken by force). When Nevia realizes the peaceful, charismatic leader she fell in love with is gone, she flees the empire to unveil her husband’s plan and to hopefully halt the war.
This book is written in third person, and is multi-POV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed the plot line of this book, and I definitely think this first book sets the series up pretty well. There is a large cast of characters, and I’m interested to learn more about them in the rest of the series.
However, I had a few issues with the book. I felt that some of the backstory / world building was lacking, like the beginning almost started too abruptly. I would have liked to learn more what Nevia before she got married and how she met Darius, because it seems a little odd that they would have been married for 2 years and he just suddenly started showing signs of changing. When things started to go down as well, it didn’t make sense that the guards would support her over Darius (because we are shown very little of her interaction with the palace guards). I feel like some of the other minor plot holes that come up throughout the story could also have been explained away if there was more detail in the beginning.
That being said, the beginning also felt a bit slow because of all of the court politics. Nevia, in general, was also a pretty simple character, which made it hard to get in to the book.
Overall, I think this was a fairly strong start to the series and I’m interested in seeing how the characters and plot develop moving forward.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this to read ✨
Specific notes (may contain spoilers) :
- some of the character’s reactions to situations didn’t feel believable, like when Nevia is trying to escape the palace and both her and Khatalia are pretty chill about the fact they could die
- She knew Arden for like a day and is making comments like “you would do so well as a leader”?
- Some of the aspects of the attack on Zenoch are unclear. Did they stage attacks in multiple places? If the mountain clans got attacked in the avalanche, then when was Khatalia’s clan attacked?
- It doesn’t make sense that Nevia was able to stay hidden in her own kingdom for that long without being recognized
She Who Chose War by Madison Rene
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 🌶️/3
Genres: high fantasy
Tropes: slow burn romance, magic is banned, court politics, multi-nation war
Nevia left her primitive clan of Zenoch to marry the emperor of Velspire. They married for love, even though there was political unrest between the two nations. Nevia thought her love for him (Darius) would be enough, but is faced with distrust and judgement from others (and eventually her husband) based on her background.
When the nation faces a coal shortage and they are unable to peacefully get resources from a neighboring nation, Darius goes behind Nevia’s back and stages an attack to provoke the other nations into war (with the goal of them being distracted enough that the resources can be taken by force). When Nevia realizes the peaceful, charismatic leader she fell in love with is gone, she flees the empire to unveil her husband’s plan and to hopefully halt the war.
This book is written in third person, and is multi-POV.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed the plot line of this book, and I definitely think this first book sets the series up pretty well. There is a large cast of characters, and I’m interested to learn more about them in the rest of the series.
However, I had a few issues with the book. I felt that some of the backstory / world building was lacking, like the beginning almost started too abruptly. I would have liked to learn more what Nevia before she got married and how she met Darius, because it seems a little odd that they would have been married for 2 years and he just suddenly started showing signs of changing. When things started to go down as well, it didn’t make sense that the guards would support her over Darius (because we are shown very little of her interaction with the palace guards). I feel like some of the other minor plot holes that come up throughout the story could also have been explained away if there was more detail in the beginning.
That being said, the beginning also felt a bit slow because of all of the court politics. Nevia, in general, was also a pretty simple character, which made it hard to get in to the book.
Overall, I think this was a fairly strong start to the series and I’m interested in seeing how the characters and plot develop moving forward.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this to read ✨
Specific notes (may contain spoilers) :
- some of the character’s reactions to situations didn’t feel believable, like when Nevia is trying to escape the palace and both her and Khatalia are pretty chill about the fact they could die
- She knew Arden for like a day and is making comments like “you would do so well as a leader”?
- Some of the aspects of the attack on Zenoch are unclear. Did they stage attacks in multiple places? If the mountain clans got attacked in the avalanche, then when was Khatalia’s clan attacked?
- It doesn’t make sense that Nevia was able to stay hidden in her own kingdom for that long without being recognized
February 28, 2024
Tropes: found family, slow burn, banned magic, one bed
Genre: Fantasy
The very first line in She Who Chose War starts “Nevia was late…” and I instantly related to that sentence and character because I am late to everything. The story begins with our FMC, Nevia, who was raised in one country, but fell in love and married the emperor of another. She has had to naturalize herself to this new way of living in order to lead the people she is now empress of. However, even in these two years, she is shunned by most in her new life and her only friend is her handmaiden. Even the emperor, her husband who loves her, seems disgusted by her people and treats her father poorly. Life as the empress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and the man she married may not be the man she thought he was.
What I liked: This book was fresh and unique in a way that I haven’t experienced in a while. The characters all had fairly clear motives, though there was a little plot twist in the end. It was very plot driven and while there is romance it isn’t your typical love story. I appreciate that the relationship that develops wasn’t an insta-love. The world building was pretty thorough, but I am terrible with geography in real life, so I’m easily lost in a book. Nevia’s decisions were clear and I was never left wondering, “Why did she do that?”
There are particular magic users, however magic is outlawed and using magic is a death sentence. The magic users (no spoilers) actually make sense in the story because they help move the plot along well and lead to a nice little ending that will roll right into book 2 of the series.
What could have been better: Early on in the book you find out that Nevia never leaves the palace without her dagger, “a learned impulse from living in the north”. This really intrigued me in the beginning and led me to believe she was a very capable and bad ass FMC. However, the dagger is barely mentioned again throughout the book and there are even some situations where, in my opinion, she should have wielded it and didn’t. I hope Nevia continues to grow as a character throughout book two of this duology. The romance was fade-to-black, and while I know not all authors write spicy scenes and not all readers enjoy spicy scenes, for me personally I like a little bit more for my reading habits.
Overall: I really enjoy the plot and characters. The story took a bit to truly draw me in, but when world building is a necessity that is usually par for the course. I like this family of misfit characters and I look forward to seeing how their story ends in the second novel!
Genre: Fantasy
The very first line in She Who Chose War starts “Nevia was late…” and I instantly related to that sentence and character because I am late to everything. The story begins with our FMC, Nevia, who was raised in one country, but fell in love and married the emperor of another. She has had to naturalize herself to this new way of living in order to lead the people she is now empress of. However, even in these two years, she is shunned by most in her new life and her only friend is her handmaiden. Even the emperor, her husband who loves her, seems disgusted by her people and treats her father poorly. Life as the empress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and the man she married may not be the man she thought he was.
What I liked: This book was fresh and unique in a way that I haven’t experienced in a while. The characters all had fairly clear motives, though there was a little plot twist in the end. It was very plot driven and while there is romance it isn’t your typical love story. I appreciate that the relationship that develops wasn’t an insta-love. The world building was pretty thorough, but I am terrible with geography in real life, so I’m easily lost in a book. Nevia’s decisions were clear and I was never left wondering, “Why did she do that?”
There are particular magic users, however magic is outlawed and using magic is a death sentence. The magic users (no spoilers) actually make sense in the story because they help move the plot along well and lead to a nice little ending that will roll right into book 2 of the series.
What could have been better: Early on in the book you find out that Nevia never leaves the palace without her dagger, “a learned impulse from living in the north”. This really intrigued me in the beginning and led me to believe she was a very capable and bad ass FMC. However, the dagger is barely mentioned again throughout the book and there are even some situations where, in my opinion, she should have wielded it and didn’t. I hope Nevia continues to grow as a character throughout book two of this duology. The romance was fade-to-black, and while I know not all authors write spicy scenes and not all readers enjoy spicy scenes, for me personally I like a little bit more for my reading habits.
Overall: I really enjoy the plot and characters. The story took a bit to truly draw me in, but when world building is a necessity that is usually par for the course. I like this family of misfit characters and I look forward to seeing how their story ends in the second novel!
August 22, 2023
First off, thank you to Madison for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest ARC review. Not only is it a Happy Release Day event, but this book is also Madison’s debut novel. So a lot of excitement is going around today.
To say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel would be an understatement. This entire book is unlike anything I have read recently, the ideas are all so unique. The world-building is incredible (one of the 3 main empires is a pacifist country, how often do you see that?), and the cultures of each country is so different from each other. It’s like stepping into a completely different world everytime Nevia left Ivalia.
The character development was also something else that kept me reading. I mean, on one hand you have the Feishin Prince Qirin who starts out as a disinterested pacifist and becomes a major badass by the end of the book (can’t wait to read more about him in the second book). On the other hand, there’s Darius who I can only describe as a character development backslide equal to Tamlin. I had such high hopes for Darius, wrote so many notes along the lines of “it seems cruel he did that, but I believe he has good intentions” only to throw all those notes away before finishing the book. So don’t feel too bad Nevia, he manipulated me into trusting him too.
I don’t know if I would classify the ending as a cliff-hanger, but I will say that Madison Rene wraps up the story in a beautiful, satisfying little present… and then tosses it onto the floor, stomps on it, and says “ha, jk, here’s a reason to start the second book and be suspicious of everyone that you currently”. So it goes without saying, but I’ll definitely be signing up for the ARC team of the second book.
If you’re looking for a new author to try out and love everything on the list below, check out She Who Chose War by Madison Rene.
-one bed
-court intrigue AND bloody battle scenes
-marriage between “classes”
-abused characters getting a second chance at love
-prophecies
-LGBT+ representation
To say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel would be an understatement. This entire book is unlike anything I have read recently, the ideas are all so unique. The world-building is incredible (one of the 3 main empires is a pacifist country, how often do you see that?), and the cultures of each country is so different from each other. It’s like stepping into a completely different world everytime Nevia left Ivalia.
The character development was also something else that kept me reading. I mean, on one hand you have the Feishin Prince Qirin who starts out as a disinterested pacifist and becomes a major badass by the end of the book (can’t wait to read more about him in the second book). On the other hand, there’s Darius who I can only describe as a character development backslide equal to Tamlin. I had such high hopes for Darius, wrote so many notes along the lines of “it seems cruel he did that, but I believe he has good intentions” only to throw all those notes away before finishing the book. So don’t feel too bad Nevia, he manipulated me into trusting him too.
I don’t know if I would classify the ending as a cliff-hanger, but I will say that Madison Rene wraps up the story in a beautiful, satisfying little present… and then tosses it onto the floor, stomps on it, and says “ha, jk, here’s a reason to start the second book and be suspicious of everyone that you currently”. So it goes without saying, but I’ll definitely be signing up for the ARC team of the second book.
If you’re looking for a new author to try out and love everything on the list below, check out She Who Chose War by Madison Rene.
-one bed
-court intrigue AND bloody battle scenes
-marriage between “classes”
-abused characters getting a second chance at love
-prophecies
-LGBT+ representation
December 2, 2024
She Who Chose War is a fantasy set in a rich world full of political intrigue, betrayal, and complex character dynamics. The book excels in its world-building by introducing an imperial capital filled with drama and tension as well as a pacifist empire with unique magical elements that set it apart from typical fantasy novels. The various cultures and nations within the story create an engaging setting that drew me in.
Nevia is a strong and determined character, though I found myself wishing she had developed a bit more backbone earlier in the story. Her growth throughout the book is clear, however, her tendency to fall for every man who shows her compassion was a bit frustrating at times. Despite this, I appreciated her overall character arc, and I'm excited to see how she continues to evolve in the next book.
The plot itself was action-packed and full of twists which made it difficult to predict what would happen next. The book reads like a strong foundation for a series and it doesn’t end on a traditional cliffhanger, however, the unresolved elements and questions have me eager to dive into the next book in the series.
She Who Chose War is a strong start to a promising series with an engaging world, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Though some aspects of the romance and pacing could be improved, I’m definitely looking forward to what happens next in this exciting fantasy tale. Highly recommend to fans of fantasy and political drama!
Nevia is a strong and determined character, though I found myself wishing she had developed a bit more backbone earlier in the story. Her growth throughout the book is clear, however, her tendency to fall for every man who shows her compassion was a bit frustrating at times. Despite this, I appreciated her overall character arc, and I'm excited to see how she continues to evolve in the next book.
The plot itself was action-packed and full of twists which made it difficult to predict what would happen next. The book reads like a strong foundation for a series and it doesn’t end on a traditional cliffhanger, however, the unresolved elements and questions have me eager to dive into the next book in the series.
She Who Chose War is a strong start to a promising series with an engaging world, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Though some aspects of the romance and pacing could be improved, I’m definitely looking forward to what happens next in this exciting fantasy tale. Highly recommend to fans of fantasy and political drama!
August 23, 2023
Thank you to Madison Rene for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure where the storyline would take me. I’m happy to say I really enjoyed the world building and the sprinkling in of magical elements. The main character, Nevia was easy to love and I quickly became invested in her story. She stood firm in her beliefs, even when facing the wrath of the emperor. I really liked Nevia’s strong character development during the book and I hope to see more of her in the future.
This book has multiple POVs, but it takes a bit to realize whose point of view it is as each chapter isn’t marked by the name of the character. This didn’t bother me and I think labeling each chapter would detract from the overall flow of the book. But others may feel differently.
While I really enjoyed the historical/empirical/ fantasy world and plot, I wasn’t a fan of the seemingly quick romance elements between Nevia and Arden. Some of their interactions felt forced and rushed and I’m wondering if there is a reason for that…maybe in book 2?
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure where the storyline would take me. I’m happy to say I really enjoyed the world building and the sprinkling in of magical elements. The main character, Nevia was easy to love and I quickly became invested in her story. She stood firm in her beliefs, even when facing the wrath of the emperor. I really liked Nevia’s strong character development during the book and I hope to see more of her in the future.
This book has multiple POVs, but it takes a bit to realize whose point of view it is as each chapter isn’t marked by the name of the character. This didn’t bother me and I think labeling each chapter would detract from the overall flow of the book. But others may feel differently.
While I really enjoyed the historical/empirical/ fantasy world and plot, I wasn’t a fan of the seemingly quick romance elements between Nevia and Arden. Some of their interactions felt forced and rushed and I’m wondering if there is a reason for that…maybe in book 2?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2024
Spice: 0.5/5
After having read He Who Chose Love (the prequel novella), the direction this book went took me entirely by surprise. It had been a while since I had read the book overview, and so I had basically gone into this read blind and my heart was hurting so much! I think that some of this may have come from the expectations I set for the story after reading the prequel and may have been part of the reason I struggled to get into the book at the beginning. As such, I highly recommend sticking to the author’s suggested reading order. She suggests it that way for a reason, I just didn’t see the order until I had already finished the prequel. I was glad to see Nevia’s character development in this book and am excited to see where it continues to go in the second book. Her bravery and resolve were extremely admirable and I enjoyed the side characters that she met and befriended as well, especially Khatalia. The fact that Madison writes in such strong female characters is just awesome; I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
Tropes Include:
- Lovers to Enemies
- Strong FMC
- Political Intrigue
- Hidden Truth
After having read He Who Chose Love (the prequel novella), the direction this book went took me entirely by surprise. It had been a while since I had read the book overview, and so I had basically gone into this read blind and my heart was hurting so much! I think that some of this may have come from the expectations I set for the story after reading the prequel and may have been part of the reason I struggled to get into the book at the beginning. As such, I highly recommend sticking to the author’s suggested reading order. She suggests it that way for a reason, I just didn’t see the order until I had already finished the prequel. I was glad to see Nevia’s character development in this book and am excited to see where it continues to go in the second book. Her bravery and resolve were extremely admirable and I enjoyed the side characters that she met and befriended as well, especially Khatalia. The fact that Madison writes in such strong female characters is just awesome; I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
Tropes Include:
- Lovers to Enemies
- Strong FMC
- Political Intrigue
- Hidden Truth
August 21, 2023
I was in a reading slump and this book got me hooked.
I truly felt invested in Nevia's story and evolution. It's not the typical love story that you can find in other book well yes some thing are easy to guess but it doesn't take out of the story.
It is in fact a lovers to ennemies and well needless to say that it's a messy situation to be in.
Halfway through the book I couldn't put it down, I found that the action was there and that the rhythm of the book was perfectly paced. I was anxiously waiting to see how everything would unfold.
Madison does a great job of showing multiple side of a character and showing all that can lead to a "bad" decisio, she humanize her characters. I also really enjoyed the setting of the story.
I enjoyed reading from multiple point of view but sometime the change was a little confusing since it was not clearly marked.
Overall, it was an amazing story and congratulations Madison on your first book !
I truly felt invested in Nevia's story and evolution. It's not the typical love story that you can find in other book well yes some thing are easy to guess but it doesn't take out of the story.
It is in fact a lovers to ennemies and well needless to say that it's a messy situation to be in.
Halfway through the book I couldn't put it down, I found that the action was there and that the rhythm of the book was perfectly paced. I was anxiously waiting to see how everything would unfold.
Madison does a great job of showing multiple side of a character and showing all that can lead to a "bad" decisio, she humanize her characters. I also really enjoyed the setting of the story.
I enjoyed reading from multiple point of view but sometime the change was a little confusing since it was not clearly marked.
Overall, it was an amazing story and congratulations Madison on your first book !
September 6, 2023
She Who Chose War
Madison Rene
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐
Review
An awesome book that I read every spare second I read till I finished and now I NEED book 2 NOW!!
Nevia is from the clan of Zenoch but she fell in love with the emperor of Velspire, their nations were at war so she hoped her marriage would mend the relationship but it doesn't change anything. She fell in love with a charismatic leader but the man whom her husband has transformed into isn't anything like her husband so she flees from the emperor to try to make peace.
The book had multiple POVs which is always my favourite type of writing, the writing was good ,the pace had a steady rhythm, the plot was well executed a few plot holes but I'm sure it will be closed up in book 2, the word building was adequate, the characters are all brilliantly constructed, the ending was my favourite and I can't wait to read book 2!!
Madison Rene
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐
Review
An awesome book that I read every spare second I read till I finished and now I NEED book 2 NOW!!
Nevia is from the clan of Zenoch but she fell in love with the emperor of Velspire, their nations were at war so she hoped her marriage would mend the relationship but it doesn't change anything. She fell in love with a charismatic leader but the man whom her husband has transformed into isn't anything like her husband so she flees from the emperor to try to make peace.
The book had multiple POVs which is always my favourite type of writing, the writing was good ,the pace had a steady rhythm, the plot was well executed a few plot holes but I'm sure it will be closed up in book 2, the word building was adequate, the characters are all brilliantly constructed, the ending was my favourite and I can't wait to read book 2!!
August 26, 2023
Thank you to Madison for allowing me to be a part of your ARC team! 🫶🏼 A huge congrats to you on your debut novel! 🥰
This was a fantasy/war read, like any other fantasy book, there’s tons of world building and character building which was amazing especially the main character Nevia, she is so easy to get attached to. She’s strong, her beliefs are strong and you can’t help but lover her for it. The romance was developing and it seems there will be a second book! So maybe it will be further developed there?
I’m giving it a three because I felt a bit all over the place with the different POVs and kept having to backtrack which is why it took me longer to finish. Maybe it’s just me.
Overall I thought she did an amazing job and would totally recommend it! ☺️🫶🏼
This was a fantasy/war read, like any other fantasy book, there’s tons of world building and character building which was amazing especially the main character Nevia, she is so easy to get attached to. She’s strong, her beliefs are strong and you can’t help but lover her for it. The romance was developing and it seems there will be a second book! So maybe it will be further developed there?
I’m giving it a three because I felt a bit all over the place with the different POVs and kept having to backtrack which is why it took me longer to finish. Maybe it’s just me.
Overall I thought she did an amazing job and would totally recommend it! ☺️🫶🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2023
Firstly I want to thank @madisonrene for allowing me the opportunity to read her debut novel before its official release!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I was truly captivated from the very first chapter and I struggled to put it down! I love the world that Madison has created. The characters are well written and the plot is one that keeps you wanting more and more with each chapter!
I absolutely LOVED Neiva. She is so beautifully written and I adore her loyalty and strong heart. She truly is an amazing character and I cannot wait to continue her journey.
A truly wonderful read ❤️
Well done Madison, I am super proud of you 🥹❤️
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I was truly captivated from the very first chapter and I struggled to put it down! I love the world that Madison has created. The characters are well written and the plot is one that keeps you wanting more and more with each chapter!
I absolutely LOVED Neiva. She is so beautifully written and I adore her loyalty and strong heart. She truly is an amazing character and I cannot wait to continue her journey.
A truly wonderful read ❤️
Well done Madison, I am super proud of you 🥹❤️
August 31, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! The world building is incredible, character development is on point, and the action is killer ;). We do get dual POV, although I do wish it was stated who perspective the chapter was from.
There is so much growth in the FMC, Nevia. She starts out kind of naive, but definitely develops a strong personality. I love how relatable and “human” Madison is able to make each character.
I could not put this book down! It was so interesting and captivating that I did not want to stop reading it. It does end on a cliffhanger!
You should go give this book a read!
There is so much growth in the FMC, Nevia. She starts out kind of naive, but definitely develops a strong personality. I love how relatable and “human” Madison is able to make each character.
I could not put this book down! It was so interesting and captivating that I did not want to stop reading it. It does end on a cliffhanger!
You should go give this book a read!
December 2, 2025
I met this author at a local Barnes and noble and picked up this book immediately she was incredibly sweet and so kind to my daughter and I. As someone who loves romantasy I knew I wanted to not only support a local newer author but to actually read it and start a new world. I liked this book and thought the characters and story were very good and well written. There was a lot of political elements and at times confusing/overwhelming story building. I think the pacing was a little slow but otherwise a good debut novel. I think it was also a little harder to get into when I was experiencing a massive book slump the last month or so.
November 1, 2024
She Who Chose War is an absolutely captivating read that I devoured in just one day! Madison Rene weaves a gripping narrative filled with complex characters and intense conflicts that keep you on the edge of your seat. The themes of choice and empowerment resonate strongly throughout, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining. The pacing perfect, leaving you eager to turn the page and discover what happens next. I was left craving more after the last chapter, and I can’t wait for the next installment. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an engaging and immersive adventure!
December 22, 2024
The best of a mess my situation
Overall, I enjoyed the story! It was intriguing. The plot was interesting, and I was pleasantly surprised by the politics involved.
My biggest struggle was just getting through the first third of the story because of the mistreatment Nevia goes through. I hated Darius, and the whole time I'm reading, I'm wondering why exactly did she fall in love with him?! But as we learn in the end, he is manipulated and in turn it comes back onto her.
I'm eager to read the next book and see how Nevia overcomes the next part of her life.
Overall, I enjoyed the story! It was intriguing. The plot was interesting, and I was pleasantly surprised by the politics involved.
My biggest struggle was just getting through the first third of the story because of the mistreatment Nevia goes through. I hated Darius, and the whole time I'm reading, I'm wondering why exactly did she fall in love with him?! But as we learn in the end, he is manipulated and in turn it comes back onto her.
I'm eager to read the next book and see how Nevia overcomes the next part of her life.
July 30, 2023
The story of this book is interesting and makes you question the limits of how far are you willing to endure for the person you love.
There are interesting twists and turns that will make you wonder what will happen next and how the story will unfold. The more you continue to read, the more your come to understand the characters and their actions.
There are interesting twists and turns that will make you wonder what will happen next and how the story will unfold. The more you continue to read, the more your come to understand the characters and their actions.
August 16, 2023
I went into reading this book thinking it would be a Romance/fantasy book, but instead, I found it to be a phenomenal fantasy/war read with a less-than-stellar romance. For a debut novel, the world-building and the character development were honestly one of my favorite parts. It was action-packed and had twist and turn at every corner. I never knew what was going to happen next. It was easy to get stuck in the world of the imperial capital of Velspire and all the drama that was happening.
Nevias' character was a significant FMC lead, but I wish she would have gained a backbone sooner and stopped trying to fall in love with every guy that showed her some compassion. The book read like a sequel was in mind, so halfway through, I knew it was going to end in a cliffhanger.
I enjoyed the Dual POV aspect, but I wish it were more clearly marked on whose mind/who was talking because, initially, it got a little confusing before getting invested in the characters. I wanted to root for the romance that was blossoming between Arden and Nevia, but there is something sketchy about him that I hope we find out about in book 2.
It was a fascinating fantasy/war read that kept me entertained and my mind swirling. I would 100% recommend it.
Nevias' character was a significant FMC lead, but I wish she would have gained a backbone sooner and stopped trying to fall in love with every guy that showed her some compassion. The book read like a sequel was in mind, so halfway through, I knew it was going to end in a cliffhanger.
I enjoyed the Dual POV aspect, but I wish it were more clearly marked on whose mind/who was talking because, initially, it got a little confusing before getting invested in the characters. I wanted to root for the romance that was blossoming between Arden and Nevia, but there is something sketchy about him that I hope we find out about in book 2.
It was a fascinating fantasy/war read that kept me entertained and my mind swirling. I would 100% recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
She who chose war was such a great book. The story line was so exciting and the characters were so diverse and likable. I’m beyond impressed by the author’s writing ability. The way she describes things, especially characters’ emotions, is honestly remarkable. I cannot believe this is her first novel! The story had me hooked, and I finished it in two days. Absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!
November 23, 2024
please mark pov changes !!!
The plot was so interesting from the start i will say i see some character flaws with darius through out it. Also i feel like the characters had more off scene moments that built relationships … hopefully book two will fill is in. I also don’t know why the seers are to be killed in all these mythologys .. like they should be protected and revered
The plot was so interesting from the start i will say i see some character flaws with darius through out it. Also i feel like the characters had more off scene moments that built relationships … hopefully book two will fill is in. I also don’t know why the seers are to be killed in all these mythologys .. like they should be protected and revered
December 20, 2024
Gee Willies, what an intense story! Nevia is such a strong FMC who the odds have been stacked against from the start but that never stops her from going through HELL to fight for what is right. There were several instances where I cried for her but it is clear that her story has only just begun and I can't wait to see what's next!
Oh and idc, I hate Darius. You can't change my mind LOL.
Oh and idc, I hate Darius. You can't change my mind LOL.
September 21, 2025
I struggled to get into this book. There was an interesting introduction but I did not enjoy the protagonist in this story. The main character felt much more like a traditional side character. I found it interesting Nevia’s background and how the story developed but struggled to root for the protagonist’s in the story. 2.1/5 ⭐
August 8, 2023
She Who Chose War is an excellent debut adult novel by Madison Rene. The political intrigue, character growth, plot twists, and budding romance really contributed to my enjoyment - and that cliffhanger is one that you will never see coming! 5 stars.
October 31, 2024
I didn't know what to expect entering into this book. It didn't take long to feel for Nevia. Right off the bat her marriage to Darius seemed tense and only got worse when she discovered his nefarious plans. Constantly at conflict with herself for going against the husband and country she has grown to love while also doing what is right for the good of all people.
She found a new love and friends on her journey to stop Darius from completeing his plans. She lost a lot in the process and was left with a darker prophecy if she isn't careful with those she thinks she can trust. Can't wait for book two in a couple weeks since I was rooting for Nevia and Ardan.
She found a new love and friends on her journey to stop Darius from completeing his plans. She lost a lot in the process and was left with a darker prophecy if she isn't careful with those she thinks she can trust. Can't wait for book two in a couple weeks since I was rooting for Nevia and Ardan.
November 3, 2024
Such a great read!! Nevia became my favorite FMC in the beginning of this book. Was a slow burning book but kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next!! Book does have some romance in it but it’s more of a fantasy/war book. Super excited for the next book to come out!!
November 26, 2024
Interesting story concept, and I really wanted to like it more than I did. But the pacing threw me off and so it took a while to get through this book, didn’t really feel invested until the final battle
December 23, 2024
This book focused a lot on politics. That being said, I just don’t think I was the right audience for it. It wasn’t bad, but I just couldn’t get into it and and think that’s more about me than the book itself. I’d recommend it if you like that kind of stuff.
September 3, 2023
A beautifully written and well crafted story that transported me to another place in time. Madison is a wonderful writer and I’m so impressed with this debut author!
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