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Wrath of Astoria
Time is scarce, and the wicked are gaining momentum.
Alva's reign as senator takes a dark turn as the land of the faeries is caught in a violent conflict. She is forced to take action and succeed. If only there wasn't her promised fiancé, whose sole goal was the oppression of the people she vowed to protect. While Astoria whisks up in flames, a surprise return promises to set her own life on fire.Dante connects three things to the faerie Provincia. His father's brutal murder. The torment he suffered. And her. Alva. With his return to the Provincia, he carries the burden of his family's expectations to find a wife by the next season. Little did he know that his return would not only end in a fated reunion, but also in Astoria's greatest tragedy.
A gripping tale that takes you on a journey through the shadows of Astoria and a bond that transcends time and space.
Alva's reign as senator takes a dark turn as the land of the faeries is caught in a violent conflict. She is forced to take action and succeed. If only there wasn't her promised fiancé, whose sole goal was the oppression of the people she vowed to protect. While Astoria whisks up in flames, a surprise return promises to set her own life on fire.Dante connects three things to the faerie Provincia. His father's brutal murder. The torment he suffered. And her. Alva. With his return to the Provincia, he carries the burden of his family's expectations to find a wife by the next season. Little did he know that his return would not only end in a fated reunion, but also in Astoria's greatest tragedy.
A gripping tale that takes you on a journey through the shadows of Astoria and a bond that transcends time and space.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2024
5 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Mira Osarenkhoe
1 book21 followersMira is beautifully hunted by the magical worlds, captivating tales, and swoon-worthy romances that unfold in her mind. Hailing from a Nigerian background, she explores diverse themes, staggering conflicts, and breath-taking environments—with a pinch of glitter.
When she isn't writing, snacking pretzels, and sipping tea, Mira enjoys reading a ton of books, painting portraits, listening to oldies, and indulging herself in documentaries.
When she isn't writing, snacking pretzels, and sipping tea, Mira enjoys reading a ton of books, painting portraits, listening to oldies, and indulging herself in documentaries.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 19, 2024
4/5
I got the chance to read the ARC of this book, and I am so grateful bcs I did really enjoy reading it.
In the beginning I kinda had a hard time reading and understanding the story, but that was probably because I needed to get used to the writing style and characters. It also talked a lot about politics, almost the whole book. But I kinda liked that it reflected on what is also happening in the real world. (not like of LIKE bcs it is def horrible what is happening, but like of that it get recognition kinda?)
How the court/senate only cared when it was way too late and many innocent bygons had died already.
Bro I fr felt so bad for the Bygons, they litt payed the price for what people did many many years ago. I was also stressing for Noahin, because I really didn’t want that boy to die.
Alva, Alva is such a girlboss and strong character. I loved how she didn’t back down when she got spoken down too, because in most books the characters stops talking then, but she didn’t. She took responsibility for something so important, and came one w nature and stuff. I also am always a sucker for the characters w bow and arrow, and guess what? Alva her main weapon was a bow and arrow🤭.
The author also drew such stunning fanart of Alva and I am in love guys.
« "I refuse to run away from my sun because I'm scared of getting burned."
"I’d much rather burn than be devoid of your warmth." »
Dante, Dante bro I felt so so bad for him when he was young. I still did for his present self, but he was more confident now then in the past obv. How Fayed and Anthony treated him was just garbage shit fr. I really really really despised Fayed and I also did not like Anthony at all, but I kinda had still a but of hope in me for him. Probably just because I wanted Alva to have a caring brother.
I litt had a tear rolling down my cheek when he finally came to his senses. I was so happy and sad at the same time, because of the moment it took this for. What Fayed tried to do to Alva is disgusting. Also can I just say that I almost hated every single man in this book? Like why were those losers all cheating assholes. I felt so bad for Odette aswell because she was one of the few who was really nice to Alva and Dante. And then that mf Floyd killed her BRO I WAS SO SAD, she didn’t deserve that at all.
« He took her with him. He made her suffer in his grief and eventually swallowed her whole. »
I don’t even wanna talk and think about it but I am gonna do it anyway, Althea. Poor Althea bro I actually feel so so sad. First she doesnt get acknowledged by her own dad and then that same dad kills her :(.
She was such a cute person and she always made me happy with whatever she said and tried to make for Alva/Dante.
I litt almost lost it when a pink butterfly flew around them at the end. :’).
« A pink twirler flew past them. He had never seen a butterfly with such a color, but he never dared to doubt their exis-tence. He smiled. He smiled at Althea. His forever angel. »
Sometimes I still had hope for Floyd, prob because I didn’t want his children to be left alone or have an asshole as dad. Sadly that hope was for nothing because his hatred ate himself up.
« Floyd reminded Dante of a pale green snake choking on its own venom and would eventually burst into black ash. »
Let’s talk a bit more about Dante. HE WROTE 32 LETTERS TO HER AND SHE NEVER GOT THEM😭. Well she did but 10 years later :(.
And she even had letters for him aswell☹️, bro. And them stone skipping at the lake is just everything to me. When their endra became one😭. When she passed away but still had her endra in him😭.
Bro he even added sketches in his letters to her😭. It is so sad and wholesome at same time, I can’t imagine what he must’ve felt when he didn’t get one reply.
Especially his 15th birthday… Like U don’t have the words, it was just so so sad. I am so happy they got reconnected.
« Dante wanted the impossible. A love that was so far away, not even the stars could grasp it. »
« "I got the love not even the stars could grasp." »
I am happy Judy got to go to her lover at the end, because she was also one of few who I actually liked.
Same for Hina and Kian. Kian was so funny tbh💀. I love that they ended up together hehe.
« The sun as a protector. The flowers as their guardians. »
At last I want to say one more thing. But In my mind the world was so so beautiful, especially when they went to the bygones. Like I can just imagine the gorgeous things there, so it hurted extra hard when they got attacked.
« Politics was too dirty to be romanti-cized. »
Some more quotes;
« When one closed their eyes to melt into a kiss, all they saw was darkness, but he saw the beauty of the four seasons blossoming all at once. He saw the moons in their most beautiful state, stars coursing around them like a wild constellation.
She was the moon to his other moon.
The Vayeell to his Zynopee. »
« Father once said that ends are where new beginnings unfold. Tales never truly ended, instead, their final words opened doors to a world of boundless imagination.
Every time the sun dipped below the horizon; we were blessed with the sight that was the night. We sat in the embrace of the darkness, watching the trove of stars that were a promise of the light. Surely, the sun would return. »
« The tales said that there were as many pairs of stars in the sky as there were friendships and graceful bonds. At the beginning of time, Lyra, the celestial weaver, threaded stars along the sky, assigning a future and present soul to each one. No star ever stood on its own, but always together with its companion. »
——————————————
13-12: received an arc!!
I got the chance to read the ARC of this book, and I am so grateful bcs I did really enjoy reading it.
In the beginning I kinda had a hard time reading and understanding the story, but that was probably because I needed to get used to the writing style and characters. It also talked a lot about politics, almost the whole book. But I kinda liked that it reflected on what is also happening in the real world. (not like of LIKE bcs it is def horrible what is happening, but like of that it get recognition kinda?)
How the court/senate only cared when it was way too late and many innocent bygons had died already.
Bro I fr felt so bad for the Bygons, they litt payed the price for what people did many many years ago. I was also stressing for Noahin, because I really didn’t want that boy to die.
Alva, Alva is such a girlboss and strong character. I loved how she didn’t back down when she got spoken down too, because in most books the characters stops talking then, but she didn’t. She took responsibility for something so important, and came one w nature and stuff. I also am always a sucker for the characters w bow and arrow, and guess what? Alva her main weapon was a bow and arrow🤭.
The author also drew such stunning fanart of Alva and I am in love guys.
« "I refuse to run away from my sun because I'm scared of getting burned."
"I’d much rather burn than be devoid of your warmth." »
Dante, Dante bro I felt so so bad for him when he was young. I still did for his present self, but he was more confident now then in the past obv. How Fayed and Anthony treated him was just garbage shit fr. I really really really despised Fayed and I also did not like Anthony at all, but I kinda had still a but of hope in me for him. Probably just because I wanted Alva to have a caring brother.
I litt had a tear rolling down my cheek when he finally came to his senses. I was so happy and sad at the same time, because of the moment it took this for. What Fayed tried to do to Alva is disgusting. Also can I just say that I almost hated every single man in this book? Like why were those losers all cheating assholes. I felt so bad for Odette aswell because she was one of the few who was really nice to Alva and Dante. And then that mf Floyd killed her BRO I WAS SO SAD, she didn’t deserve that at all.
« He took her with him. He made her suffer in his grief and eventually swallowed her whole. »
I don’t even wanna talk and think about it but I am gonna do it anyway, Althea. Poor Althea bro I actually feel so so sad. First she doesnt get acknowledged by her own dad and then that same dad kills her :(.
She was such a cute person and she always made me happy with whatever she said and tried to make for Alva/Dante.
I litt almost lost it when a pink butterfly flew around them at the end. :’).
« A pink twirler flew past them. He had never seen a butterfly with such a color, but he never dared to doubt their exis-tence. He smiled. He smiled at Althea. His forever angel. »
Sometimes I still had hope for Floyd, prob because I didn’t want his children to be left alone or have an asshole as dad. Sadly that hope was for nothing because his hatred ate himself up.
« Floyd reminded Dante of a pale green snake choking on its own venom and would eventually burst into black ash. »
Let’s talk a bit more about Dante. HE WROTE 32 LETTERS TO HER AND SHE NEVER GOT THEM😭. Well she did but 10 years later :(.
And she even had letters for him aswell☹️, bro. And them stone skipping at the lake is just everything to me. When their endra became one😭. When she passed away but still had her endra in him😭.
Bro he even added sketches in his letters to her😭. It is so sad and wholesome at same time, I can’t imagine what he must’ve felt when he didn’t get one reply.
Especially his 15th birthday… Like U don’t have the words, it was just so so sad. I am so happy they got reconnected.
« Dante wanted the impossible. A love that was so far away, not even the stars could grasp it. »
« "I got the love not even the stars could grasp." »
I am happy Judy got to go to her lover at the end, because she was also one of few who I actually liked.
Same for Hina and Kian. Kian was so funny tbh💀. I love that they ended up together hehe.
« The sun as a protector. The flowers as their guardians. »
At last I want to say one more thing. But In my mind the world was so so beautiful, especially when they went to the bygones. Like I can just imagine the gorgeous things there, so it hurted extra hard when they got attacked.
« Politics was too dirty to be romanti-cized. »
Some more quotes;
« When one closed their eyes to melt into a kiss, all they saw was darkness, but he saw the beauty of the four seasons blossoming all at once. He saw the moons in their most beautiful state, stars coursing around them like a wild constellation.
She was the moon to his other moon.
The Vayeell to his Zynopee. »
« Father once said that ends are where new beginnings unfold. Tales never truly ended, instead, their final words opened doors to a world of boundless imagination.
Every time the sun dipped below the horizon; we were blessed with the sight that was the night. We sat in the embrace of the darkness, watching the trove of stars that were a promise of the light. Surely, the sun would return. »
« The tales said that there were as many pairs of stars in the sky as there were friendships and graceful bonds. At the beginning of time, Lyra, the celestial weaver, threaded stars along the sky, assigning a future and present soul to each one. No star ever stood on its own, but always together with its companion. »
——————————————
13-12: received an arc!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2024
“i will dedicate the stars to you.”
first of all, thank you, mira for an arc in exchange for an honest review! 🫶🏻🥹
in my opinion this book focuses on the politics, so the romance is more of a heavy sub plot. i loved the world building. oh my god don't even get me started on the banter. the banter was EVERYTHING to me, and overall everything was just flawless.
alva - alva is determind, speaks her truth, and is not afraid to back down from a fight, but has a soft spot for her loved ones.
“if i could find the words to describe the joy you bring me, i'd tell you, but i fear the words of our world are too weak”
dante - this man is going on my book boyfriends, he is a green flag, he is so so smitten and in love with alva, and so affectionate with the people he loves.
“i'm not going anywhere without you. i can't and i won't. we win together and we fall together, okay?”
this is an amazing debut, and i'm exhilarated for mira, as an author, and i can't wait to read more from her.
TROPES
⚔️ banter!!!
💌 “what letters?”
⚔️he falls harder
💌 political intrigue
⚔️ childhood friends to lovers
💌 faeries
more quotes 🤭
“promise that you won't fall in love,” she joked.
“no man standing in your sight will make such promise.”
“you're as beautiful as the stars.”
first of all, thank you, mira for an arc in exchange for an honest review! 🫶🏻🥹
in my opinion this book focuses on the politics, so the romance is more of a heavy sub plot. i loved the world building. oh my god don't even get me started on the banter. the banter was EVERYTHING to me, and overall everything was just flawless.
alva - alva is determind, speaks her truth, and is not afraid to back down from a fight, but has a soft spot for her loved ones.
“if i could find the words to describe the joy you bring me, i'd tell you, but i fear the words of our world are too weak”
dante - this man is going on my book boyfriends, he is a green flag, he is so so smitten and in love with alva, and so affectionate with the people he loves.
“i'm not going anywhere without you. i can't and i won't. we win together and we fall together, okay?”
this is an amazing debut, and i'm exhilarated for mira, as an author, and i can't wait to read more from her.
TROPES
⚔️ banter!!!
💌 “what letters?”
⚔️he falls harder
💌 political intrigue
⚔️ childhood friends to lovers
💌 faeries
more quotes 🤭
“promise that you won't fall in love,” she joked.
“no man standing in your sight will make such promise.”
“you're as beautiful as the stars.”
December 27, 2023
First of all, my congratulations goes to the author of this debut novel. This is a very exciting step forward with her publishing career. I’m glad that I could be one of her arc readers!
🏛️💍🪷🕯️
I’m not here to bash the book. I honestly thought it was good. The book isn’t exactly my style (I realized that once I started reading it), so I think that’s why my rating for this was a bit low. The writing is good and immersive. I was really happy with the writing style. It wasn’t overly descriptive, but just the right amount. I loved Alva and Dante’s history and relationship. And the storyline is good! I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the world building. It was hard for me to figure out the setting until I went to the author’s instagram page and watched a few reels.
As I said, I loved Alva and Dante’s relationship was my favorite part of the book. I love the childhood best friends to lovers. It’s refreshing after only being able to find enemies-to-lovers romance in fantasy books. The flashbacks to their childhood just added to my love for them.
You can see the heart and passion the author put into this novel. Writing 20 pages is hard, 400?? Incredible. All of my congratulations goes to her.
🏛️💍🪷🕯️
I’m not here to bash the book. I honestly thought it was good. The book isn’t exactly my style (I realized that once I started reading it), so I think that’s why my rating for this was a bit low. The writing is good and immersive. I was really happy with the writing style. It wasn’t overly descriptive, but just the right amount. I loved Alva and Dante’s history and relationship. And the storyline is good! I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the world building. It was hard for me to figure out the setting until I went to the author’s instagram page and watched a few reels.
As I said, I loved Alva and Dante’s relationship was my favorite part of the book. I love the childhood best friends to lovers. It’s refreshing after only being able to find enemies-to-lovers romance in fantasy books. The flashbacks to their childhood just added to my love for them.
You can see the heart and passion the author put into this novel. Writing 20 pages is hard, 400?? Incredible. All of my congratulations goes to her.
September 20, 2023
Thank you to Mira Osarenkhoe for giving me the opportunity to be a beta reader in exchange for an honest review.
4,5 stars
Wrath of Astoria is a romantasy where we get to know and connect on a deeper level with Alva and Dante, while you getting to know their family, each society and goals.
Over the years that the two are apart, the political environment grows into different problems that need solving as soon as possible.
But when Alva is a senator who must satisfy the political needs of her fiancé and family, how will she be as close to Dante as they were as children when he is also in the middle of the political conflits?
This story will take you through the lives of each main characters and their relationship, how they fall in love and fight together for a better world. There's tragedy, but there is also witty banter, lost letters, family drama and an amazing world-building!
As a beta reader, I found myself smiling and even crying throughout at many parts in Wrath Of Astoria. I loved getting to know most of the characters (Fayed, you're absolutey out of this list) and seeing how most of them wanted a better world, they just wanted everyone to be at peace and to be happy. I can't wait for the world to have the opportunity to read about Alva and Dante and fall in love with them as much as I did.
I wish Mira and this debut book (which is coming out next year!) all the best!
4,5 stars
Wrath of Astoria is a romantasy where we get to know and connect on a deeper level with Alva and Dante, while you getting to know their family, each society and goals.
Over the years that the two are apart, the political environment grows into different problems that need solving as soon as possible.
But when Alva is a senator who must satisfy the political needs of her fiancé and family, how will she be as close to Dante as they were as children when he is also in the middle of the political conflits?
This story will take you through the lives of each main characters and their relationship, how they fall in love and fight together for a better world. There's tragedy, but there is also witty banter, lost letters, family drama and an amazing world-building!
As a beta reader, I found myself smiling and even crying throughout at many parts in Wrath Of Astoria. I loved getting to know most of the characters (Fayed, you're absolutey out of this list) and seeing how most of them wanted a better world, they just wanted everyone to be at peace and to be happy. I can't wait for the world to have the opportunity to read about Alva and Dante and fall in love with them as much as I did.
I wish Mira and this debut book (which is coming out next year!) all the best!
January 14, 2025
rating: 3.5 ⭐️
I’d like to start by thanking the author, Mira Osarenkhoe, for sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“You always chase after perfection when that isn’t the goal. Nothing needs to be perfect. Nothing is perfect. And nobody ought to expect perfection.”
I really loved the two main characters Alva & Dante.
Alva is such a badass! She is stubborn, not scared of expressing her opinions nor her thoughts, and just really cool. She’s the type of person that won’t stop until she gets what she wants. She also values freedom and wants everyone to have equal rights, which as a politician is a crucial element. She’s such a great senator for Astoria!
Dante. Oh Dante, Dante! You little romantic. I really liked Dante. His backstory made me tear up🥺. The fact that he felt like he was never good enough as a half-breed (half faerie/half human). “In Circe, they told him he wasn’t human. He was a faerie. In the Provincial, they told him he wasn’t a faerie; he was human. He was none of the above.” It hit too close to home ❤️🩹
He was so romantic and in love with Alva. Some of the things he said had me giggling and kicking my feet 🤭
“I’ll be with you”, he whispered into her mouth. “I cannot watch you fall into the arms of another man. I’ll always be there because there is no one else for me”. He brushed her hair back, beholding her eyes while their lips quivered for the other. “If they see souls are never born and never die, mine has been yearning for you since the beginning of time. I cannot be with anyone else, and I know that, and I burn for you, and I love you all the more for it. You are my everything, and I am yours forever.”
like PLEASE 😭💘
Also, Dante’s niece, Thea!!! She’s so cute and her story is so tragic 🥺. Thea’s relationship with Dante was so precious. They had such a special connection. I felt that added a lot to the story!!
Unfortunately, I found the plot of the book somewhat confusing. I thought the magic system and the politics were unclear. I felt that the author wanted to create this whole world with its own magic and politics (and that’s great!) but it wasn’t executed well. Maybe if there was a little bit less or if it was explained in a simpler way, I would’ve found it less confusing and therefore I would’ve enjoyed the book more.
Overall I really liked the writing style, but at times I felt that the story dragged on a little.The pacing was a bit off for me. I found myself getting a little bored towards the middle of the novel as it lacked action. But then it picked back up again at the end!
The story was unique with its own magic world. The writing gave me slightly Holly Black vibes (which i love!!) so I think that if you are a fan of the Cruel Prince trilogy, you would like this book too!
I really want to congratulate Mira Osarenkhoe for writing her debut novel! I cannot fantom writing a book, but a fanatasy book that’s just absolutely mind blowing to me. Mira, you have such a great imagination and so much potential, I truly cannot wait to see what else you end up writing!
“Your joy is my joy. Your pain is my pain. If I were to give up on you, I’d give up on myself, and if you were to fall, I’d fall with you.”
So although this wasn’t my favorite book, I still enjoyed it and recommend you to check it out!
And again, thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of her debut novel.
tropes:
💌lost letters
🧸childhood friends to lovers
✨political intrigue
🏛️family drama
I’d like to start by thanking the author, Mira Osarenkhoe, for sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“You always chase after perfection when that isn’t the goal. Nothing needs to be perfect. Nothing is perfect. And nobody ought to expect perfection.”
I really loved the two main characters Alva & Dante.
Alva is such a badass! She is stubborn, not scared of expressing her opinions nor her thoughts, and just really cool. She’s the type of person that won’t stop until she gets what she wants. She also values freedom and wants everyone to have equal rights, which as a politician is a crucial element. She’s such a great senator for Astoria!
Dante. Oh Dante, Dante! You little romantic. I really liked Dante. His backstory made me tear up🥺. The fact that he felt like he was never good enough as a half-breed (half faerie/half human). “In Circe, they told him he wasn’t human. He was a faerie. In the Provincial, they told him he wasn’t a faerie; he was human. He was none of the above.” It hit too close to home ❤️🩹
He was so romantic and in love with Alva. Some of the things he said had me giggling and kicking my feet 🤭
“I’ll be with you”, he whispered into her mouth. “I cannot watch you fall into the arms of another man. I’ll always be there because there is no one else for me”. He brushed her hair back, beholding her eyes while their lips quivered for the other. “If they see souls are never born and never die, mine has been yearning for you since the beginning of time. I cannot be with anyone else, and I know that, and I burn for you, and I love you all the more for it. You are my everything, and I am yours forever.”
like PLEASE 😭💘
Also, Dante’s niece, Thea!!! She’s so cute and her story is so tragic 🥺. Thea’s relationship with Dante was so precious. They had such a special connection. I felt that added a lot to the story!!
Unfortunately, I found the plot of the book somewhat confusing. I thought the magic system and the politics were unclear. I felt that the author wanted to create this whole world with its own magic and politics (and that’s great!) but it wasn’t executed well. Maybe if there was a little bit less or if it was explained in a simpler way, I would’ve found it less confusing and therefore I would’ve enjoyed the book more.
Overall I really liked the writing style, but at times I felt that the story dragged on a little.The pacing was a bit off for me. I found myself getting a little bored towards the middle of the novel as it lacked action. But then it picked back up again at the end!
The story was unique with its own magic world. The writing gave me slightly Holly Black vibes (which i love!!) so I think that if you are a fan of the Cruel Prince trilogy, you would like this book too!
I really want to congratulate Mira Osarenkhoe for writing her debut novel! I cannot fantom writing a book, but a fanatasy book that’s just absolutely mind blowing to me. Mira, you have such a great imagination and so much potential, I truly cannot wait to see what else you end up writing!
“Your joy is my joy. Your pain is my pain. If I were to give up on you, I’d give up on myself, and if you were to fall, I’d fall with you.”
So although this wasn’t my favorite book, I still enjoyed it and recommend you to check it out!
And again, thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of her debut novel.
tropes:
💌lost letters
🧸childhood friends to lovers
✨political intrigue
🏛️family drama
Read
July 23, 2025— thank you soooo much, mira, for the arc 🥹🎀
what a way to start of the year! you all are in for a TREAT with this book.
alva diora is powerful, clever, and overall just an incredible character. she’s so stubborn, not stopping until she gets what she wants, and i love her for it. she fights for what she believes is right, not backing down, no matter who she’s facing. she’s so hopeful, believing in what others may find impossible, and that’s something so special about her. i ADORE her.
dante strauss is SO swoony, funny, and he really has a way with words. he is definitely one of my new favourite book boys!! his backstory broke my heart into two, and all i wanted was to give him the biggest hug ever. ALSO, can i just add, THEA. that little girl made me absolutely sob. she was so precious. her and dante’s relationship was so special. the way he was such a father figure to her, even if he was her uncle. he was more a dad than her real father ever was. i love him with my whole heart.
dante and alva, their connection, their chemistry, MY GOD. they are literally everything to me. how she grounded him, and how she felt safe within his arms. the way they just worked together. flawlessly, seamlessly. it was just them, and it was normal. they just existed, together, and it was so beautiful. seeing their relationship blossom as they realised how they truly felt, how they weren’t meant for their betrothed but for each other— it repaired my soul. i adored how they navigated everything alongside each other.
i love, love, love, LOVE mira’s writing style. the way she described the atmosphere, and how she formed relationships. this story is so special, so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. get your tissues at the ready, though, because it is gut-wrenching at points. i truly think everyone needs to read this book.
rating : 4.5 ⭐️
what a way to start of the year! you all are in for a TREAT with this book.
alva diora is powerful, clever, and overall just an incredible character. she’s so stubborn, not stopping until she gets what she wants, and i love her for it. she fights for what she believes is right, not backing down, no matter who she’s facing. she’s so hopeful, believing in what others may find impossible, and that’s something so special about her. i ADORE her.
dante strauss is SO swoony, funny, and he really has a way with words. he is definitely one of my new favourite book boys!! his backstory broke my heart into two, and all i wanted was to give him the biggest hug ever. ALSO, can i just add, THEA. that little girl made me absolutely sob. she was so precious. her and dante’s relationship was so special. the way he was such a father figure to her, even if he was her uncle. he was more a dad than her real father ever was. i love him with my whole heart.
dante and alva, their connection, their chemistry, MY GOD. they are literally everything to me. how she grounded him, and how she felt safe within his arms. the way they just worked together. flawlessly, seamlessly. it was just them, and it was normal. they just existed, together, and it was so beautiful. seeing their relationship blossom as they realised how they truly felt, how they weren’t meant for their betrothed but for each other— it repaired my soul. i adored how they navigated everything alongside each other.
i love, love, love, LOVE mira’s writing style. the way she described the atmosphere, and how she formed relationships. this story is so special, so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. get your tissues at the ready, though, because it is gut-wrenching at points. i truly think everyone needs to read this book.
rating : 4.5 ⭐️
November 10, 2023
This book has easily become one of my favourites from the moment i finished it. I myself enjoy reading fantasy, romance and especially a mix (;D) and this book was exactly that but so much more.
This book touched on important subjects like grief, love, politics and loss in an incredibly realistic way despite the fantasy setting. It feels very comforting to read about it in this way despite it being emotional topics for all. The characters took me on a journey through their emotions regarding these themes and I still think about it.
As for character design; the main characters are so well rounded i feel like I left a piece of my heart with them and their future. They were worth investing in and I still think about them on the daily. They felt real, they were human and made mistakes. These characters had the perfect voices to explain the dire situation of their world yet still develop chemistry during all of it.
It’s a story that’s worth reading, it’s worth every singles second I spent on it and it’s worth every single tear spilled (believe me, I spilled many). It was clear that I was reading that mattered, that had strength in its story and in its writing and I enjoyed myself throughout the entire book. I genuinely couldn’t recommend this book enough!
This book touched on important subjects like grief, love, politics and loss in an incredibly realistic way despite the fantasy setting. It feels very comforting to read about it in this way despite it being emotional topics for all. The characters took me on a journey through their emotions regarding these themes and I still think about it.
As for character design; the main characters are so well rounded i feel like I left a piece of my heart with them and their future. They were worth investing in and I still think about them on the daily. They felt real, they were human and made mistakes. These characters had the perfect voices to explain the dire situation of their world yet still develop chemistry during all of it.
It’s a story that’s worth reading, it’s worth every singles second I spent on it and it’s worth every single tear spilled (believe me, I spilled many). It was clear that I was reading that mattered, that had strength in its story and in its writing and I enjoyed myself throughout the entire book. I genuinely couldn’t recommend this book enough!
January 18, 2024
thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I was honestly hooked from the very beginning. These characters really grabbed me and made me root for them so hard throughout this entire book.
Alva is such a strong but empathetic character. I loved that she fought so hard for what she believed in and didn’t let people walk all over her. She was sensitive in a way that showed her strength at the same time. I wish we saw a bit more of her friendships though.
Dante… he felt like a more complicated character. He wasn’t as sure of himself and his beliefs as Alva was but once he was sure about something it was clear. His love for Alva was so deeply passionate and honestly emotional to read. That is an intense love! I think his relationships with his family were also great but I would’ve liked to see them interact more, especially his mom and the kids.
The plot kept me engaged the entire time and felt close to home even though this was a fantasy world. The story of people in power being bigots and using their bigotry to spread hatred is all too real in the real world as well, unfortunately. I thought it was handled with care and I related heavily to how Alva reacted in many scenes.
Overall, I loved this! I would highly recommend it
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I was honestly hooked from the very beginning. These characters really grabbed me and made me root for them so hard throughout this entire book.
Alva is such a strong but empathetic character. I loved that she fought so hard for what she believed in and didn’t let people walk all over her. She was sensitive in a way that showed her strength at the same time. I wish we saw a bit more of her friendships though.
Dante… he felt like a more complicated character. He wasn’t as sure of himself and his beliefs as Alva was but once he was sure about something it was clear. His love for Alva was so deeply passionate and honestly emotional to read. That is an intense love! I think his relationships with his family were also great but I would’ve liked to see them interact more, especially his mom and the kids.
The plot kept me engaged the entire time and felt close to home even though this was a fantasy world. The story of people in power being bigots and using their bigotry to spread hatred is all too real in the real world as well, unfortunately. I thought it was handled with care and I related heavily to how Alva reacted in many scenes.
Overall, I loved this! I would highly recommend it
January 12, 2024
"The sun as a protector. The flowers as their guardians."
First of all, thank you, Mira, for the opportunity to be an arc reader of this beautiful book <3
Mira's writing style is unique, and the way she plays with words is just so beautiful. I fell in love with the world from the very first page. The description was perfect, I could imagine every detail in front of my eyes, and I swear, I would've sold my soul to live there.
The characters, omg, were so lovable (except for certain evil ones, ofc), and I can't even remember how many times I laughed or cried with them. Every little moment shared between Alva and Dante has my heart, they are just so sweet <3 If someone asks me about them, I will be ready to write a 5k-word essay on how they altered my brain chemistry. Anyway, I do wish Alva had received Dante's letters on time.
I also hoped Floyd would turn out to be a better person, I really did🥲 I mean, Fayed was the first character I developed a hatred for, but then there's Floyd–a literal demon. I'm never going to forgive him, I swear.
Wrath of Astoria is such a beautiful book with a heart-touching plot, lovable characters, and captivating scenarios. I'm so proud of you, Mira! And congratulations <3
– altana
First of all, thank you, Mira, for the opportunity to be an arc reader of this beautiful book <3
Mira's writing style is unique, and the way she plays with words is just so beautiful. I fell in love with the world from the very first page. The description was perfect, I could imagine every detail in front of my eyes, and I swear, I would've sold my soul to live there.
The characters, omg, were so lovable (except for certain evil ones, ofc), and I can't even remember how many times I laughed or cried with them. Every little moment shared between Alva and Dante has my heart, they are just so sweet <3 If someone asks me about them, I will be ready to write a 5k-word essay on how they altered my brain chemistry. Anyway, I do wish Alva had received Dante's letters on time.
I also hoped Floyd would turn out to be a better person, I really did🥲 I mean, Fayed was the first character I developed a hatred for, but then there's Floyd–a literal demon. I'm never going to forgive him, I swear.
Wrath of Astoria is such a beautiful book with a heart-touching plot, lovable characters, and captivating scenarios. I'm so proud of you, Mira! And congratulations <3
– altana
January 22, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
thank you so much to the author for the arc!!
this book is an absolute gem, i loved every aspect of it! i haven't read a fantasy book in a while and wrath of astoria reminds me why this is my favourite genre. mira's writing is so beautiful, i want her to narrate my life so maybe i can actually romanticize it lmao. the worldbuilding is gorgeous, i literally had images of historical manhwa backgrounds in my mind whenever i read descriptions. also, the uniqueness of it is so fascinating for me because i swear every time i imagined something as such, random things i never expected would pop out like refrigerators... this book is also the reason i love fantasy books because it manages to fit in so many important topics that are so relevant in a fictional story.
the characters in this book are everything to me. alva and dante are the absolute sweetest and i'm so obsessed with the childhood friends to lovers trope <33 their chemistry comes so easily and the amount of pining is just perfect. also, the author is so great at writing evil characters, i swear my blood pressure has never been so high reading about a specific character *ahem ahem*
overall, this book is amazing and everyone needs to pick it up immediately, i promise it will not disappoint!
thank you so much to the author for the arc!!
this book is an absolute gem, i loved every aspect of it! i haven't read a fantasy book in a while and wrath of astoria reminds me why this is my favourite genre. mira's writing is so beautiful, i want her to narrate my life so maybe i can actually romanticize it lmao. the worldbuilding is gorgeous, i literally had images of historical manhwa backgrounds in my mind whenever i read descriptions. also, the uniqueness of it is so fascinating for me because i swear every time i imagined something as such, random things i never expected would pop out like refrigerators... this book is also the reason i love fantasy books because it manages to fit in so many important topics that are so relevant in a fictional story.
the characters in this book are everything to me. alva and dante are the absolute sweetest and i'm so obsessed with the childhood friends to lovers trope <33 their chemistry comes so easily and the amount of pining is just perfect. also, the author is so great at writing evil characters, i swear my blood pressure has never been so high reading about a specific character *ahem ahem*
overall, this book is amazing and everyone needs to pick it up immediately, i promise it will not disappoint!
December 29, 2023
AHH where do I start?
The story of Alva and Dante takes place in a well thought-out fantasy world. I'm not going to spoil anything, but there are political disputes between different protagonists who, of course, all follow their own goals. What I really enjoyed about that is that the motive of each character is at least a little relatable (even with the scumbags lol). Of course you can relate to some more than others but people don't do random sh*t without reasoning. Very well done.
I also feel like every single interaction was very authentic due to the very detailed descriptions; the way people act feels very similar to what people with these specific characteristics would actually do and feel in reality. THE IMAGERY IN THIS IS CRAZY.
All that together creates a totally new atmosphere with characters that actually feel like people and not just words on paper.
Another aspect I liked is that the political issues can be projected into reallife: Being different doesn't make you any less worthy; but some people are not accepting of that and it shows in this book.
The pacing was great, the characters were even better and the relationships between them can make you scream, cry and smile.
I'm happy that I got the chance to read "Wrath of Astoria" before its official release. Thank you for this experience to the amazing author Mira Osarenkhoe💌
The story of Alva and Dante takes place in a well thought-out fantasy world. I'm not going to spoil anything, but there are political disputes between different protagonists who, of course, all follow their own goals. What I really enjoyed about that is that the motive of each character is at least a little relatable (even with the scumbags lol). Of course you can relate to some more than others but people don't do random sh*t without reasoning. Very well done.
I also feel like every single interaction was very authentic due to the very detailed descriptions; the way people act feels very similar to what people with these specific characteristics would actually do and feel in reality. THE IMAGERY IN THIS IS CRAZY.
All that together creates a totally new atmosphere with characters that actually feel like people and not just words on paper.
Another aspect I liked is that the political issues can be projected into reallife: Being different doesn't make you any less worthy; but some people are not accepting of that and it shows in this book.
The pacing was great, the characters were even better and the relationships between them can make you scream, cry and smile.
I'm happy that I got the chance to read "Wrath of Astoria" before its official release. Thank you for this experience to the amazing author Mira Osarenkhoe💌
January 17, 2024
This book has the perfect equilibrium for a romantasy novel; whilst having a political basis and philosophical nuances it does not leave aside the romance. Alva and Dante's dialogues was, without a doubt, the strong point of the novel.
On the other hand, the characterisation was very well developed. (We really need more people like Dante) 🥺
Besides, this is the kind of novel that makes you love the side characters very much, sighs, and there was a nice sense of familiarity that felt very comforting.
Yet, what's true is that throughout the story, sometimes I've been a bit confused or I've missed quite a bit of the world building, as in many of the chapters I felt there's a lot of dialogue. I definitely would have loved to know more of this fantasy.
Also, I really liked the flashback chapters and the letters. They were so useful and lovely as they let you know about Alva and Dante's friendship 💕
On the other hand, the characterisation was very well developed. (We really need more people like Dante) 🥺
Besides, this is the kind of novel that makes you love the side characters very much, sighs, and there was a nice sense of familiarity that felt very comforting.
Yet, what's true is that throughout the story, sometimes I've been a bit confused or I've missed quite a bit of the world building, as in many of the chapters I felt there's a lot of dialogue. I definitely would have loved to know more of this fantasy.
Also, I really liked the flashback chapters and the letters. They were so useful and lovely as they let you know about Alva and Dante's friendship 💕
March 8, 2024
This is totally the most heartfelt but at the same time heart wrenching story I have ever read. Not just read, heck, I felt the story with every fibre of my body. I found yet another home in Astoria, and my own imagination would have failed to envision it if it weren't for Mira's eloquent and pure writing.
The book got me out of my reading slump. It feels like I can breathe again.
Though, tiny emotional spoiler alert, you might sob to death at some point during the book. I wasn't mentally prepared, but truth to be told, nobody was.
Mira, I'm glad that your debut book turned out so successfully. I can't wait to hear more about what's cooking for us in the second book!
The book got me out of my reading slump. It feels like I can breathe again.
Though, tiny emotional spoiler alert, you might sob to death at some point during the book. I wasn't mentally prepared, but truth to be told, nobody was.
Mira, I'm glad that your debut book turned out so successfully. I can't wait to hear more about what's cooking for us in the second book!
January 20, 2024
⤷‧₊˚ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑.25
„𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫.“
This was an great debut novel. the characters were amazing especially dante, he‘s was such a sweetheart even with this tragic background story.
„𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐧.“
But no matter how great the characters are i wasn’t a fan of the plot. It‘s still a great book that i would always recommend to other people.
💌- thank you to the author for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
„𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫.“
This was an great debut novel. the characters were amazing especially dante, he‘s was such a sweetheart even with this tragic background story.
„𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐧.“
But no matter how great the characters are i wasn’t a fan of the plot. It‘s still a great book that i would always recommend to other people.
💌- thank you to the author for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2024
I was a beta reader for this one, so I’m a bit partial but this book is AMAZING
Clever worldbuilding, politics, swoonworthy romance…
The characters are well-written, and you can easily get lost in the world of Astoria. The plot was also entertaining. My favorite thing is probably the letters before each chapter — it’s a unique and cute idea💕
i really enjoyed this book, and seeing your friends’ books out in the wild is a different feeling entirely🫶🏻
Clever worldbuilding, politics, swoonworthy romance…
The characters are well-written, and you can easily get lost in the world of Astoria. The plot was also entertaining. My favorite thing is probably the letters before each chapter — it’s a unique and cute idea💕
i really enjoyed this book, and seeing your friends’ books out in the wild is a different feeling entirely🫶🏻
February 26, 2024
Firstly, I would like to thank Mira to give me the honor of being a beta reader for her beautiful book!
'Wrath of Astoria' has an incredibly passionate story and a wonderful writing style.
All the characters are so dense and Mira explored all of them so well. Although this is a fantasy book it deals with so many important themes in a way that the reader can connect with our reality.
I knew very quickly that this book would be 5 stars and want to congratulate Mira on her sucess <3
'Wrath of Astoria' has an incredibly passionate story and a wonderful writing style.
All the characters are so dense and Mira explored all of them so well. Although this is a fantasy book it deals with so many important themes in a way that the reader can connect with our reality.
I knew very quickly that this book would be 5 stars and want to congratulate Mira on her sucess <3
February 1, 2024
“i got the love even the stars could grasp”
rating: 4.5☆
༉‧₊˚. book review:
i loved so many things about this book. the characters, the aesthetic, the plot was pretty good too. it was a really fun read, especially if you enjoy romantasy books. the world building was very interesting, however it took me some time to understand how everything works, whether with the different characters or the politics.
first of all alva. she was such a and strong and amazing character. she knew what she wanted and what she stood for and she always fought for what she believed in. she was funny and loyal and also can we talk about the bow and arrow?? literally my favourite weapon!!
now dante. the poor guy went through so much as a kid but he turned out so perfect. seriously, i want a man like him. he met alva when they were just kids and that man wrote her not 1, not 2 but 32 letters that she didn't even got (until 10 years later). you could see he truly care about alva, never doing anything that might hurt her.
some characters (*cough* floyd and fayed) made me so mad i literally wanted to throw my kindle away every time i saw their names. they were such assholes but i still had some hope for floyd until i didn't. anthony was alright, i didn't like him at first, and how he used to treat dante definitely didn't help but in the end he was okay. however there were other side characters that i absolutely loved, like the sweet little althea, octavia, hinata, and even noahlin.
overall i really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you're into fantasy (with amazing romance in it). thank you so much for the arc copy!!
rating: 4.5☆
༉‧₊˚. book review:
i loved so many things about this book. the characters, the aesthetic, the plot was pretty good too. it was a really fun read, especially if you enjoy romantasy books. the world building was very interesting, however it took me some time to understand how everything works, whether with the different characters or the politics.
first of all alva. she was such a and strong and amazing character. she knew what she wanted and what she stood for and she always fought for what she believed in. she was funny and loyal and also can we talk about the bow and arrow?? literally my favourite weapon!!
now dante. the poor guy went through so much as a kid but he turned out so perfect. seriously, i want a man like him. he met alva when they were just kids and that man wrote her not 1, not 2 but 32 letters that she didn't even got (until 10 years later). you could see he truly care about alva, never doing anything that might hurt her.
some characters (*cough* floyd and fayed) made me so mad i literally wanted to throw my kindle away every time i saw their names. they were such assholes but i still had some hope for floyd until i didn't. anthony was alright, i didn't like him at first, and how he used to treat dante definitely didn't help but in the end he was okay. however there were other side characters that i absolutely loved, like the sweet little althea, octavia, hinata, and even noahlin.
overall i really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you're into fantasy (with amazing romance in it). thank you so much for the arc copy!!
February 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
this book deserves so much more than 5 stars. it is poetically written and the imagery weaved inbetween the narrative was the epitome of what story-telling should be.
the world building development was precise and not too complex that it helped immerse me in the culture and society of Astoria.
alva is our dashing leader who has a heart of gold and would do anything for her people and then some. her compassion towards the minority of this world is something not only admiral, but contributes to the fleshing out her character.
and come on, women in politics? we don’t see it as much as we should but alva came and served, pun intended.
dante can have my heart. I can’t even bring up the words to describe him because he’s literally a dream love boat.
kind, smart, funny, poetic, passionate, and good with kids? someone tell me where i can buy one of these.
AND THE ROMANCE??????!!??
*swoons*
the friends to lovers trope never fails to make my heart melt. alva’s and dante’s friendship and dynamic is something I yearn for and try my best to embody whenever I write 🤭.
like literally, yall need to take notes on how friends-to-lovers is meant to be like.
“I will dedicate the stars to you.”
Somebody come bring me tissues and a box of chocolates as I cry my single-heart out.
JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO WRITE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LINE.
and there’s so many more but I’d suggest for you to go and read it yourself to find these stunning and beautiful lines.
ALSO, thank you for the ARC. it was a great experience and I had to buy the physical copy because I’m going to reread it and annotate!! 🤍🤍🤍💌💌💌
this book deserves so much more than 5 stars. it is poetically written and the imagery weaved inbetween the narrative was the epitome of what story-telling should be.
the world building development was precise and not too complex that it helped immerse me in the culture and society of Astoria.
alva is our dashing leader who has a heart of gold and would do anything for her people and then some. her compassion towards the minority of this world is something not only admiral, but contributes to the fleshing out her character.
and come on, women in politics? we don’t see it as much as we should but alva came and served, pun intended.
dante can have my heart. I can’t even bring up the words to describe him because he’s literally a dream love boat.
kind, smart, funny, poetic, passionate, and good with kids? someone tell me where i can buy one of these.
AND THE ROMANCE??????!!??
*swoons*
the friends to lovers trope never fails to make my heart melt. alva’s and dante’s friendship and dynamic is something I yearn for and try my best to embody whenever I write 🤭.
like literally, yall need to take notes on how friends-to-lovers is meant to be like.
“I will dedicate the stars to you.”
Somebody come bring me tissues and a box of chocolates as I cry my single-heart out.
JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO WRITE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LINE.
and there’s so many more but I’d suggest for you to go and read it yourself to find these stunning and beautiful lines.
ALSO, thank you for the ARC. it was a great experience and I had to buy the physical copy because I’m going to reread it and annotate!! 🤍🤍🤍💌💌💌
November 10, 2024
(thanks for this arc copy in exchange for an honest review!)
Before going into this I was a bit sceptical because Romantasy has let me down more than once and is not really my usual genre anymore - but I gladly announce that this book surpassed my expectations 🤭🧡.
The Plot evolves around Alva, fighting in congress for equality, and eventually becoming close again with her childhood friend, Dante Strauss. While the politics were clever thought out, they’re clearly about real life issues and tbh I’m not a fan of that when reading fantasy – but in this case they were well implemented in the world and made sense in the context, instead of just adding a half-baked political message to a love story.
The characters are richly developed and left very much an impression on me (looking at you, Fayed 💀). And omg did I love the dynamic between Dante and Alva, our main characters! They had such a special connection because of their childhood friendship – I don’t know if childhood-friends to lovers is a thing – but if it is, please recommend me more!! Dante especially was so respectful and funny and I also loved the bond he had with his niece, Althea… crying.
The other side characters are also fairly interesting, it really felt like they existed long before the story, and now you just got to experience a glimpse into their lives.
One thing I’d liked to have seen more of is the main “villains” reasoning - don’t get me wrong, he had reasons but I got the impression that I had seen too little of his character to actually understand why he choose such drastic actions – especially with his family… Also what exactly had he to gain, doing what he did?
The worldbuilding involved no infodumping whatsoever, really appreciated that, altough I will say that the world confused me sometimes – probably bc it was a bit underexplained idk?
The descriptions though were very lively and beautiful – lush, ethereal, with a lot of gold accents in my head, loved that ✨
All considered, this was a pleasant reading experience, especially for a self-published debut novel!
Before going into this I was a bit sceptical because Romantasy has let me down more than once and is not really my usual genre anymore - but I gladly announce that this book surpassed my expectations 🤭🧡.
The Plot evolves around Alva, fighting in congress for equality, and eventually becoming close again with her childhood friend, Dante Strauss. While the politics were clever thought out, they’re clearly about real life issues and tbh I’m not a fan of that when reading fantasy – but in this case they were well implemented in the world and made sense in the context, instead of just adding a half-baked political message to a love story.
The characters are richly developed and left very much an impression on me (looking at you, Fayed 💀). And omg did I love the dynamic between Dante and Alva, our main characters! They had such a special connection because of their childhood friendship – I don’t know if childhood-friends to lovers is a thing – but if it is, please recommend me more!! Dante especially was so respectful and funny and I also loved the bond he had with his niece, Althea… crying.
The other side characters are also fairly interesting, it really felt like they existed long before the story, and now you just got to experience a glimpse into their lives.
One thing I’d liked to have seen more of is the main “villains” reasoning - don’t get me wrong, he had reasons but I got the impression that I had seen too little of his character to actually understand why he choose such drastic actions – especially with his family… Also what exactly had he to gain, doing what he did?
The worldbuilding involved no infodumping whatsoever, really appreciated that, altough I will say that the world confused me sometimes – probably bc it was a bit underexplained idk?
The descriptions though were very lively and beautiful – lush, ethereal, with a lot of gold accents in my head, loved that ✨
All considered, this was a pleasant reading experience, especially for a self-published debut novel!
September 29, 2025
3 ⭐️s
ARC REVIEW
First, I want to say thank you to Mira for sending me an ARC copy and your very first book.
To begin, the story was a little hard for me to comprehend but I understood the farther along I went. Then, the world building and characters were everything. Alva and Dante’s relationship from when they were young till the present was refreshing to see.
Tropes include:
Childhood friends to lovers
Lost letters
Political intrigue
ARC REVIEW
First, I want to say thank you to Mira for sending me an ARC copy and your very first book.
To begin, the story was a little hard for me to comprehend but I understood the farther along I went. Then, the world building and characters were everything. Alva and Dante’s relationship from when they were young till the present was refreshing to see.
Tropes include:
Childhood friends to lovers
Lost letters
Political intrigue
December 14, 2023
Okay hii first of all i just got my beta copy yesterday but like this so far is such a good book I've always loved fantasy stories and the character (expect fayed) sound greaat
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