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The Panom Saga #1
Petals for Vicious Secrets
A secret that will change the world.
Revenge that will change her life.
Discarded at birth, Hope Nevada grew up on the brutal island of Verdania, where beings must kill to survive. One Trading Day, a rare device is delivered by an anonymous sender, a device that will unveil the first truth out of the many lies she has been told throughout her life.
After the revelation, there is no going back.
Hope must seek vengeance in Thyria, the four-petal-guarded island with five political Houses. But beings in Thyria possess extremely powerful magical skills she has not yet discovered, and its Rulers have no pity for discarded beings.
Hope has learned by force that trusting others is a liability to her own survival. Yet the Cardinals have written her fate, and it is not lonely.
Petals for Vicious Secrets is the first book in The Panom Saga, an epic fantasy romance trilogy. This enemies-to-lovers series will be loved by fans of slow burn, found family, unique magic systems, morally grey characters, strong female leads, and priceless banter.
This is the perfect next read for lovers of character-driven, plot-heavy romantasy book series like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Crescent City and From Blood and Ash.
Revenge that will change her life.
Discarded at birth, Hope Nevada grew up on the brutal island of Verdania, where beings must kill to survive. One Trading Day, a rare device is delivered by an anonymous sender, a device that will unveil the first truth out of the many lies she has been told throughout her life.
After the revelation, there is no going back.
Hope must seek vengeance in Thyria, the four-petal-guarded island with five political Houses. But beings in Thyria possess extremely powerful magical skills she has not yet discovered, and its Rulers have no pity for discarded beings.
Hope has learned by force that trusting others is a liability to her own survival. Yet the Cardinals have written her fate, and it is not lonely.
Petals for Vicious Secrets is the first book in The Panom Saga, an epic fantasy romance trilogy. This enemies-to-lovers series will be loved by fans of slow burn, found family, unique magic systems, morally grey characters, strong female leads, and priceless banter.
This is the perfect next read for lovers of character-driven, plot-heavy romantasy book series like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Crescent City and From Blood and Ash.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2024
440 people are currently reading
3129 people want to read
About the author
Martha Monteval
9 books43 followersMartha Monteval has been in love with books since she was five. She reads anything in the fantasy romance realm, especially if morally grey characters with dubious manners are involved. When she is not reading or writing, she is practicing martial arts, eating way too much sushi, or playing with her two little ones.
Her debut novel, Petals for Vicious Secrets, was published in 2024.
Find out more at MarthaMonteval.com
Her debut novel, Petals for Vicious Secrets, was published in 2024.
Find out more at MarthaMonteval.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
November 29, 2024
3.5⭐️ I’m a little conflicted as to what I want to rate this book 😅 The story itself is 3.75-4 stars, but the writing 3 stars.
I enjoyed the plot and the magic system was super interested and cool with the balance of using different parts of magic! but the way it's written/paced wasn't my favorite. some important moments were brushed over and described so quickly it felt a bit rushed; like the ceremonies or deaths of characters. they happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to react or feel anything. and the characters don't react as well; they just continue with their lives as if almost nothing happened😅
Hope's POV felt a bit drawn out to me, and Lenna's a bit rushed until the finally meet and then everything happens super quickly. it also had a bit too much fantasy swearing/cursing in my opinion. I think it's fun when authors invent their own swear-words, but it was still a bit toooo much😅
with all that being said, props to the author for making up this really cool and unique magic system/world!
thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review 💗🙏🏼
I enjoyed the plot and the magic system was super interested and cool with the balance of using different parts of magic! but the way it's written/paced wasn't my favorite. some important moments were brushed over and described so quickly it felt a bit rushed; like the ceremonies or deaths of characters. they happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to react or feel anything. and the characters don't react as well; they just continue with their lives as if almost nothing happened😅
Hope's POV felt a bit drawn out to me, and Lenna's a bit rushed until the finally meet and then everything happens super quickly. it also had a bit too much fantasy swearing/cursing in my opinion. I think it's fun when authors invent their own swear-words, but it was still a bit toooo much😅
with all that being said, props to the author for making up this really cool and unique magic system/world!
thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review 💗🙏🏼
July 14, 2024
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️
This has to be one of the most unique magic and power systems I've read as of late. In an oversaturated market where everything feels like a vague ripoff of ACOTAR, Harry Potter, LOTR, and Game of Thrones... Petals for Vicious Secrets really shines in its originality and magic systems. While a bit slow to start, I raced through the last 30% of the book and loved some of the twists at the end. That being said, there were some pacing issues and it would have likely been a 4 star read for me had it not been so difficult to get into at the beginning.
My detailed thoughts below...
What I loved about this book:
💖 Unique Magic System + World Building: Like I mentioned above, I loved how original the magic systems of this book were. It almost felt like Avatar the Last Airbender meets High Fantasy, where the magic systems must work symbiotically to maintain world harmony. There are 4 Petals (North, East, South, West) and the Organ Core (the force that unifies the 4 petals and rules over all of them). How the powers work is also incredibly original and cool, and I loved seeing how they were used in practical application throughout the latter half of the book, as well as how they could be modified, given, trained, and strengthened, with a focus on maintaining perfect internal balance/harmony. It was just a super cool angle and I'll probably be raving about it for a while tbh.
💖 Book Boyfriends: OH MY GOD I LOVED JAKE + CIARAN. Jake has my heart, and I will not be elaborating further. You'll just have to read it yourself.
💖 Spicy Scenes were HOT: Oh man, I loved the few spicy scenes we were granted. They were super 🌶️, and it was amazing to finally see where the tension of our characters led. It wasn't overly sudden and it felt very satisfying given how we had watched their relationship had evolved throughout the book.
💖 Matriarchical Society Enslaved by Patriarchical Ideas: One thing to note about the magic system is how it's built upon a matriarchical foundation, where the founding ideals have largely been discarded in favor of male domination. It felt all too relatable in the world we live in today, and it was amazing to read a novel where the entire premise begins with the power of women.
💖 Metasocial Commentary: One thing I think this book did particularly well was weave in metasocial commentary, particularly how poorer citizens are treated and how being forced into an environment where there are not enough resources for everyone, forces people into a desperate mode of self preservation. There was a lot of really intelligent sub-discourse, particularly with the trading table concept that I really loved.
What I didn't love about this book:
😞 Shallow Character Development + Unclear Character Motivations: One thing that I felt really took away a star from this book was how shallow the characters felt at times, and how little we really got to know them (even the 2 main FMC's from whose perspective the story was told).
Reading the book at times felt a little bit like (?) because the character motivations were unclear. One example being Hope in the early chapters, who, for all her life had intentionally stayed away from other humans out of self preservation, suddenly felt a desperate need to protect Nina (even after she had rescued her from the woods). Another was Lenna's incessant desire for Theon, when they really had very little pre-established chemistry in the beginning chapters. Her desperation for his friendship made absolutely no sense.
I also felt that some of the characters themselves mirrored ACOTAR characters. Theon + Lenna gave Cassian/Nesta vibes, Ciaran was like a hybrid of Lucien + Azriel (with a bionic arm to boot), and one of Ciaran's friends was described exactly how Amren was described (short black hair, red lips, kept referring to the main character as 'girl').
The dialogue also felt a bit unnatural at times and I wish the author had read some of these lines out loud so they felt less like a movie script and more like natural human language.
😞 Excessive Swearing: For how original the book and the world building was, the excessive amounts of modern day swear words included completely took me out of the story. I found it SUPERRRRRRRRR distracting, and it felt SO out of place for the pseudo-modern medieval society they lived in that still had the equivalents of royal courts and courtrades etc. PLEASE MARTHA, PLEASE use less modern day slang. You made up your own TIME SYSTEM and panom equivalent of saying "Oh My God" -> "By the Cardinals". I know there has to be better words to use. I repeat: this book does not need modern day swear words. It just really detracts from the immersiveness of the story.
😞 Slow Start: My main gripe with this book is that the beginning was incredibly slow, and didn't begin to pick up until I was literally 65% way through the book. Lenna's story was compelling and kept me interested, but Hope's story felt like it dragged through the entire first half of the book. I also felt like some of the revelations about Hope's lineage could have been revealed much more dramatically-- instead they were just kind of said out loud and it felt really anticlimactic.
😞 Excessive Terminologies Introduced at Beginning: One thing I found to also be somewhat confusing in the beginning was the many different terms introduced with very little explanation. I felt like I needed a glossary to understand the difference between Cardinals and Rulers, and I didn't understand who or what the Cardinals truly were until I was 70% done with the book. Along with these terms were The Roix, Roix Reigner, Discarded People, Panom, Trading Day / Trading Table, etc. It just felt like a lot of concepts whereas I wish they were somewhat explained more gradually with each new term that was introduced.
😞 Queerbaiting: My last major concern of this novel was the absolute queerbaiting. The relationship with Nina and Hope felt MUCH more than platonic for the entirety of the book and at the very end a MMC was introduced with the clear intention of being a love interest for Hope. Hope LITERALLY was willing to forsake the safety of the entire life she knew to help a random girl she saved in the woods find her brother in the most guarded military city in their universe? Without having an inkling of feelings? I don't buy it. This felt like a huge plot hole in the story and Hope's motivations here were poorly explained. There were also certain moments between the two characters that definitely hinted at something more.
Overall, I LOVED the concept and world of this book but felt the execution was a miss in certain areas. The book ended on a major cliffhanger, so I'm hopeful the second novel is paced a tad better with deeper exploration into our main group of characters.
Thank you to NetGalley & Martha Monteval for the ARC copy to review!
This has to be one of the most unique magic and power systems I've read as of late. In an oversaturated market where everything feels like a vague ripoff of ACOTAR, Harry Potter, LOTR, and Game of Thrones... Petals for Vicious Secrets really shines in its originality and magic systems. While a bit slow to start, I raced through the last 30% of the book and loved some of the twists at the end. That being said, there were some pacing issues and it would have likely been a 4 star read for me had it not been so difficult to get into at the beginning.
My detailed thoughts below...
What I loved about this book:
💖 Unique Magic System + World Building: Like I mentioned above, I loved how original the magic systems of this book were. It almost felt like Avatar the Last Airbender meets High Fantasy, where the magic systems must work symbiotically to maintain world harmony. There are 4 Petals (North, East, South, West) and the Organ Core (the force that unifies the 4 petals and rules over all of them). How the powers work is also incredibly original and cool, and I loved seeing how they were used in practical application throughout the latter half of the book, as well as how they could be modified, given, trained, and strengthened, with a focus on maintaining perfect internal balance/harmony. It was just a super cool angle and I'll probably be raving about it for a while tbh.
💖 Book Boyfriends: OH MY GOD I LOVED JAKE + CIARAN. Jake has my heart, and I will not be elaborating further. You'll just have to read it yourself.
💖 Spicy Scenes were HOT: Oh man, I loved the few spicy scenes we were granted. They were super 🌶️, and it was amazing to finally see where the tension of our characters led. It wasn't overly sudden and it felt very satisfying given how we had watched their relationship had evolved throughout the book.
💖 Matriarchical Society Enslaved by Patriarchical Ideas: One thing to note about the magic system is how it's built upon a matriarchical foundation, where the founding ideals have largely been discarded in favor of male domination. It felt all too relatable in the world we live in today, and it was amazing to read a novel where the entire premise begins with the power of women.
💖 Metasocial Commentary: One thing I think this book did particularly well was weave in metasocial commentary, particularly how poorer citizens are treated and how being forced into an environment where there are not enough resources for everyone, forces people into a desperate mode of self preservation. There was a lot of really intelligent sub-discourse, particularly with the trading table concept that I really loved.
What I didn't love about this book:
😞 Shallow Character Development + Unclear Character Motivations: One thing that I felt really took away a star from this book was how shallow the characters felt at times, and how little we really got to know them (even the 2 main FMC's from whose perspective the story was told).
Reading the book at times felt a little bit like (?) because the character motivations were unclear. One example being Hope in the early chapters, who, for all her life had intentionally stayed away from other humans out of self preservation, suddenly felt a desperate need to protect Nina (even after she had rescued her from the woods). Another was Lenna's incessant desire for Theon, when they really had very little pre-established chemistry in the beginning chapters. Her desperation for his friendship made absolutely no sense.
I also felt that some of the characters themselves mirrored ACOTAR characters. Theon + Lenna gave Cassian/Nesta vibes, Ciaran was like a hybrid of Lucien + Azriel (with a bionic arm to boot), and one of Ciaran's friends was described exactly how Amren was described (short black hair, red lips, kept referring to the main character as 'girl').
The dialogue also felt a bit unnatural at times and I wish the author had read some of these lines out loud so they felt less like a movie script and more like natural human language.
😞 Excessive Swearing: For how original the book and the world building was, the excessive amounts of modern day swear words included completely took me out of the story. I found it SUPERRRRRRRRR distracting, and it felt SO out of place for the pseudo-modern medieval society they lived in that still had the equivalents of royal courts and courtrades etc. PLEASE MARTHA, PLEASE use less modern day slang. You made up your own TIME SYSTEM and panom equivalent of saying "Oh My God" -> "By the Cardinals". I know there has to be better words to use. I repeat: this book does not need modern day swear words. It just really detracts from the immersiveness of the story.
😞 Slow Start: My main gripe with this book is that the beginning was incredibly slow, and didn't begin to pick up until I was literally 65% way through the book. Lenna's story was compelling and kept me interested, but Hope's story felt like it dragged through the entire first half of the book. I also felt like some of the revelations about Hope's lineage could have been revealed much more dramatically-- instead they were just kind of said out loud and it felt really anticlimactic.
😞 Excessive Terminologies Introduced at Beginning: One thing I found to also be somewhat confusing in the beginning was the many different terms introduced with very little explanation. I felt like I needed a glossary to understand the difference between Cardinals and Rulers, and I didn't understand who or what the Cardinals truly were until I was 70% done with the book. Along with these terms were The Roix, Roix Reigner, Discarded People, Panom, Trading Day / Trading Table, etc. It just felt like a lot of concepts whereas I wish they were somewhat explained more gradually with each new term that was introduced.
😞 Queerbaiting: My last major concern of this novel was the absolute queerbaiting. The relationship with Nina and Hope felt MUCH more than platonic for the entirety of the book and at the very end a MMC was introduced with the clear intention of being a love interest for Hope. Hope LITERALLY was willing to forsake the safety of the entire life she knew to help a random girl she saved in the woods find her brother in the most guarded military city in their universe? Without having an inkling of feelings? I don't buy it. This felt like a huge plot hole in the story and Hope's motivations here were poorly explained. There were also certain moments between the two characters that definitely hinted at something more.
Overall, I LOVED the concept and world of this book but felt the execution was a miss in certain areas. The book ended on a major cliffhanger, so I'm hopeful the second novel is paced a tad better with deeper exploration into our main group of characters.
Thank you to NetGalley & Martha Monteval for the ARC copy to review!
July 16, 2024
1.5 Stars, rounded up
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!
Woof.
This did not start off on a good note with me. I could immediately tell by the writing that this would be a flop. Everything is so clunky and stiff, with short, choppy sentences. Some of them don't even make sense.
Example:
"If there was such a thing as stealing on Trading Day." Definitely should have an 'as' at the beginning.
"There was a vast pile of clothes on her right side of the table, as high as a tall person." What kind of measurement unit is that??
"The woman kept kicking her legs with energy-" My god... kicking with energy is the best we can get?
Every page is littered with lines like these. It was hard to pick just a few.
This book has split perspective, already a pet peeve of mine if done improperly. Surprise. This was also not done well. I don't feel there's much difference between Hope and Lenna. Lenna is made to seem rash, tactless, and angry, while Hope is more gentle and kind, but thats it. I expected a stark difference between them, yet nothing really made them interesting to me. I think they're both incredibly shallow and needed to be developed further. Lenna's story was much more interesting than Hope's, and I hated every time I had to switch back and forth between the two.
Even the Trading Day action was lack-luster, with the stakes supposedly being high, and yet I was left feeling like it was border-line comical. It's like the Cornucopia scene from Hunger Games, yet with a lot of shoving.
The romance is fine, and normally a good romance can carry me through some of my toughest reads but this, yet again, fell flat. I wasn't swept away by the banter.
The magical system is very interesting, I will say at least. I loved that it had a purpose, and the powers all balanced one another. That's the one "win" I will give this book. Unfortunately, I won't be reading any more of this series.
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!
Woof.
This did not start off on a good note with me. I could immediately tell by the writing that this would be a flop. Everything is so clunky and stiff, with short, choppy sentences. Some of them don't even make sense.
Example:
"If there was such a thing as stealing on Trading Day." Definitely should have an 'as' at the beginning.
"There was a vast pile of clothes on her right side of the table, as high as a tall person." What kind of measurement unit is that??
"The woman kept kicking her legs with energy-" My god... kicking with energy is the best we can get?
Every page is littered with lines like these. It was hard to pick just a few.
This book has split perspective, already a pet peeve of mine if done improperly. Surprise. This was also not done well. I don't feel there's much difference between Hope and Lenna. Lenna is made to seem rash, tactless, and angry, while Hope is more gentle and kind, but thats it. I expected a stark difference between them, yet nothing really made them interesting to me. I think they're both incredibly shallow and needed to be developed further. Lenna's story was much more interesting than Hope's, and I hated every time I had to switch back and forth between the two.
Even the Trading Day action was lack-luster, with the stakes supposedly being high, and yet I was left feeling like it was border-line comical. It's like the Cornucopia scene from Hunger Games, yet with a lot of shoving.
The romance is fine, and normally a good romance can carry me through some of my toughest reads but this, yet again, fell flat. I wasn't swept away by the banter.
The magical system is very interesting, I will say at least. I loved that it had a purpose, and the powers all balanced one another. That's the one "win" I will give this book. Unfortunately, I won't be reading any more of this series.
July 18, 2024
ARC REVIEW
I was worried at first that this book would be too much like other popular books out there. Boy was I wrong! The magic system was actually very unique and I loved seeing the FMC's be out of their teens. I felt a lot better about the spicy scenes knowing that they're adults. Also, we got not one, but two bad ass women! This is definitely a series I'm looking forward to coming back to in the future when book 2 releases!
I was worried at first that this book would be too much like other popular books out there. Boy was I wrong! The magic system was actually very unique and I loved seeing the FMC's be out of their teens. I felt a lot better about the spicy scenes knowing that they're adults. Also, we got not one, but two bad ass women! This is definitely a series I'm looking forward to coming back to in the future when book 2 releases!
July 3, 2024
This book had me in a chokehold! Took me in reality around my busy life a day to read haha. I love that the POV is from two very strong FMCs.
What i loved:
The book introduces the adventure straight away. But the characters are introduced alot slower but it works. The description of time, place and scenery is on point.
The F characters:
Hope is determined out of loyalty, curiosity and pure strength. She will devour others to protect those she holds dear. And NEVER hesitates. LOVE!
LENNA is stubborn, strong willed and so sure of her self and her worldview, she also never hesistates even when she knows it could hurt her. She is the epitome of Zero Fks.
Memorable lines:
"you can shove all your fucks and fuckings up your ass, Marcus"
And I don't know why but ".. may the stars not hinder their darkness.." that part of that line hit me and stayed with me the whole book.
The taste of enemies to lovers, finding your family in friendships, loyalty, the morally grey MMCs, forced proximity, asscake family members and a touch on issues with females in power.
It is a slow burn but it has enough spice and chapter cliffhangers to keep you entralled. I cant wait for the next one.
Also i already know Im dreaming about CIARANs eyes and the little connection formed there with HOPE.
I would recommend this to any female who has an opinion. It would be great for those moving into fantasy. Romance and fantasy.
What i loved:
The book introduces the adventure straight away. But the characters are introduced alot slower but it works. The description of time, place and scenery is on point.
The F characters:
Hope is determined out of loyalty, curiosity and pure strength. She will devour others to protect those she holds dear. And NEVER hesitates. LOVE!
LENNA is stubborn, strong willed and so sure of her self and her worldview, she also never hesistates even when she knows it could hurt her. She is the epitome of Zero Fks.
Memorable lines:
"you can shove all your fucks and fuckings up your ass, Marcus"
And I don't know why but ".. may the stars not hinder their darkness.." that part of that line hit me and stayed with me the whole book.
The taste of enemies to lovers, finding your family in friendships, loyalty, the morally grey MMCs, forced proximity, asscake family members and a touch on issues with females in power.
It is a slow burn but it has enough spice and chapter cliffhangers to keep you entralled. I cant wait for the next one.
Also i already know Im dreaming about CIARANs eyes and the little connection formed there with HOPE.
I would recommend this to any female who has an opinion. It would be great for those moving into fantasy. Romance and fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
The book is centered around two strong women who embark on separate journeys that eventually intertwine, allowing them to discover their true power together. Initially, the alternating chapters between their stories was a bit frustrating as I became invested in each character, but in the end, this narrative technique paid off satisfyingly.
Hope's story is characterized by struggle and bravery, as she uncovers truths about her family. On the other hand, Lenna's story revolves around reclaiming power and fighting against injustices, demonstrating resilience and determination. Their combined narrative is a compelling exploration of women growing stronger together.
Romantic elements are woven into the story, adding to its romantasy genre appeal. The two main male characters, Jake and Ciaran, possess distinct qualities that complement the protagonists' journeys, with Jake being depicted as ruthless yet morally complex, and Ciaran as protective and resilient with unique abilities.
Overall, the book is praised for its unique magic system and the way it intricately weaves together the characters' stories, leaving the reader eager to uncover more about the characters and their evolving plots.
Hope's story is characterized by struggle and bravery, as she uncovers truths about her family. On the other hand, Lenna's story revolves around reclaiming power and fighting against injustices, demonstrating resilience and determination. Their combined narrative is a compelling exploration of women growing stronger together.
Romantic elements are woven into the story, adding to its romantasy genre appeal. The two main male characters, Jake and Ciaran, possess distinct qualities that complement the protagonists' journeys, with Jake being depicted as ruthless yet morally complex, and Ciaran as protective and resilient with unique abilities.
Overall, the book is praised for its unique magic system and the way it intricately weaves together the characters' stories, leaving the reader eager to uncover more about the characters and their evolving plots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
This just didn't really do it for me. It got better bear the end but it was a slow and confusing start and it didn't flow for me. Based on the other reviews it looks like it just wasn't a match for me, but it wasn't bad. I don't know that I'll stick around for future releases in the series
July 17, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️
I ate this book up!!
What initially interested me was the fact that it’s a romantasy where characters weren’t children or freshly 18.
The magic system was so cool. I haven’t read anything like it which was refreshing. There was just enough world building without being overwhelming. The only part that was kind of hard to follow was the weird tunnels. I was just having a hard time picturing it. The tension during those parts still hit though.
I do kinda hope we get more POVs in the second book (since it ends on a cliffhanger I’m assuming we get one). The romance was 🤌🏻 so good. But that’s where my one complaint comes in. I thought for sure Hope and Nina had some feelings starting for each other but then Hope meets Cieran (who I LOVE). It was just a bit disappointing because I love them together.
I need fan art NOW plz.
I really enjoyed this book though! The twists and turns. The BETRAYAL. Beautiful. Can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you Martha for ARC copy!
I ate this book up!!
What initially interested me was the fact that it’s a romantasy where characters weren’t children or freshly 18.
The magic system was so cool. I haven’t read anything like it which was refreshing. There was just enough world building without being overwhelming. The only part that was kind of hard to follow was the weird tunnels. I was just having a hard time picturing it. The tension during those parts still hit though.
I do kinda hope we get more POVs in the second book (since it ends on a cliffhanger I’m assuming we get one). The romance was 🤌🏻 so good. But that’s where my one complaint comes in. I thought for sure Hope and Nina had some feelings starting for each other but then Hope meets Cieran (who I LOVE). It was just a bit disappointing because I love them together.
I need fan art NOW plz.
I really enjoyed this book though! The twists and turns. The BETRAYAL. Beautiful. Can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you Martha for ARC copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2024
3.75 🌟 The glossary is your best friend with this one!
This book is a lot more in depth and intricate than you would believe. I was genuinely surprised with how unique this is, it isn’t your regular fantasy. It took me a while to get into it/figure out the world and magic system and I kept having to flick to the glossary throughout.
I enjoyed the dual pov of these two strong female main characters and I think this is a really promising start to the series. If you’re sick of reading the same kind of predictable fantasy books, definitely give this one a try for a refreshing new take on the genre.
This book is a lot more in depth and intricate than you would believe. I was genuinely surprised with how unique this is, it isn’t your regular fantasy. It took me a while to get into it/figure out the world and magic system and I kept having to flick to the glossary throughout.
I enjoyed the dual pov of these two strong female main characters and I think this is a really promising start to the series. If you’re sick of reading the same kind of predictable fantasy books, definitely give this one a try for a refreshing new take on the genre.
July 1, 2024
Petals for Vicious Secrets is a uniquely written fantasy with plenty of twists, OH! moments and . The book unfolds from the POV of two FMCs; it's worth noting the FMCs are 25. I personally prefer stories where the MCs age doesnt end in teen. 😉
Your FMCs are no damsels in distress. They quite literally embodied "Girl Boss". In fact, I appreciate the world being rooted in women as Rulers, Queens, etc. with jabs at the bruised male ego.
This is a great debut novel, looking forward to finishing the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌍Worldbuilding: 5/5 - Map included
⚔️Plot: 4/5
🪄Magic System: 4/5
•
🔥Spice: 🌶️
•The banter just wasn't quite swoony enough for me.
•Spicy Chapters:
📚Continue with Series: Yes!
🤐TW:
⏳Time to Complete: 2 (mostly dedicated) days - estimate around 10
📰Expected Publication: July 18, 2024
I received an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for providing honest feedback
Your FMCs are no damsels in distress. They quite literally embodied "Girl Boss". In fact, I appreciate the world being rooted in women as Rulers, Queens, etc. with jabs at the bruised male ego.
This is a great debut novel, looking forward to finishing the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌍Worldbuilding: 5/5 - Map included
⚔️Plot: 4/5
🪄Magic System: 4/5
•
🔥Spice: 🌶️
•The banter just wasn't quite swoony enough for me.
•Spicy Chapters:
📚Continue with Series: Yes!
🤐TW:
⏳Time to Complete: 2 (mostly dedicated) days - estimate around 10
📰Expected Publication: July 18, 2024
I received an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for providing honest feedback
September 13, 2024
Wow! This book perfectly ticks all the boxes of a great romantasy for me ✨🤍
In this day and age with an extremely oversaturated fantasy romance market I think it can be hard to meet the brief but petals does just that -
💫We get not one but two kick ass FMCs, they are strong in their own individual ways and I loved watching each character grow through their journey, the fact you get both of their POVs before they cross over is brilliant as you feel as though you are getting a very well rounded side to the story from two women, usually dual POV is the FMC and the MMC, so this was different and provided excellent women power moments 💪🏻
💫I dislike the phrase ‘a unique magic system’ as fear it can be overused but we genuinely get that with this book. And the way the magic works slowly reveals itself as the book goes on which is brilliant. I loved the fact that each character has their own handwriting which correlates to the ink they send to one another
💫ACOTAR feels in the found family - need I say more!
💫The bad guy in this is genuinely bad, he’s psychotic and in one of the chapters I actually felt horrified at what he did, I was recoiling as I read and wanted to shield my eyes 👀
💫OF COURSE we have love interest (s) for our FMCs, it’s a slow burn which we loveeeee and at the end I was routing in many different directions (trying to avoid spoilers here)!!
💖Expect world building, magic, love, revenge, banter, loyalty, curiosity, slow burn and spice 🌶️
In this day and age with an extremely oversaturated fantasy romance market I think it can be hard to meet the brief but petals does just that -
💫We get not one but two kick ass FMCs, they are strong in their own individual ways and I loved watching each character grow through their journey, the fact you get both of their POVs before they cross over is brilliant as you feel as though you are getting a very well rounded side to the story from two women, usually dual POV is the FMC and the MMC, so this was different and provided excellent women power moments 💪🏻
💫I dislike the phrase ‘a unique magic system’ as fear it can be overused but we genuinely get that with this book. And the way the magic works slowly reveals itself as the book goes on which is brilliant. I loved the fact that each character has their own handwriting which correlates to the ink they send to one another
💫ACOTAR feels in the found family - need I say more!
💫The bad guy in this is genuinely bad, he’s psychotic and in one of the chapters I actually felt horrified at what he did, I was recoiling as I read and wanted to shield my eyes 👀
💫OF COURSE we have love interest (s) for our FMCs, it’s a slow burn which we loveeeee and at the end I was routing in many different directions (trying to avoid spoilers here)!!
💖Expect world building, magic, love, revenge, banter, loyalty, curiosity, slow burn and spice 🌶️
August 8, 2024
Petals for Vicious Secrets by Martha Monteval was exactly what I needed! I absolutely loved the dual point of view, and the strong female main characters. This book left me sitting on the edge of my seat and counting down days for Book 2 of the Pan0m Saga.
Hope's story reveals her bravery, as she uncovers truths about her family that she must now avenge. While Lenna's is focused on fighting injustices, with her fierce determination. Both Hope and Lenna's POV came together nicely, I really enjoyed both their stories equally. But the magic system was quite unique and unlike anything I have read. The Romance was slow, not too spicy, but definitely worth the wait.
My only complaints were that I didn't really love the title, though it is clear why it was chosen, And how do I get a physical copy for my shelf? I have been able to recommend it on the Kindle, but I need one for my shelf. Looking forward to book 2,
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hope's story reveals her bravery, as she uncovers truths about her family that she must now avenge. While Lenna's is focused on fighting injustices, with her fierce determination. Both Hope and Lenna's POV came together nicely, I really enjoyed both their stories equally. But the magic system was quite unique and unlike anything I have read. The Romance was slow, not too spicy, but definitely worth the wait.
My only complaints were that I didn't really love the title, though it is clear why it was chosen, And how do I get a physical copy for my shelf? I have been able to recommend it on the Kindle, but I need one for my shelf. Looking forward to book 2,
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 12, 2025
I finally got to read an ARC through book sprout and I was not disappointed.
4.25 ⭐️
I really liked this book, but will you?
- if you’re looking for strong female leads, who aren’t teenagers ✔️
- if you like discovering new magic systems ✔️
- if you enjoy a good villain and the evil societal systems they put in place ✔️
- if you don’t mind a good cry now and then ✔️
4.25 ⭐️
I really liked this book, but will you?
- if you’re looking for strong female leads, who aren’t teenagers ✔️
- if you like discovering new magic systems ✔️
- if you enjoy a good villain and the evil societal systems they put in place ✔️
- if you don’t mind a good cry now and then ✔️
July 23, 2024
Imagine Hunger Games meets Harry Potter-ish, meets ACATOR-ish. I know it sounds weird but let me tell you, it 100% works!!! This was an entirely unique reading experience, and I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to do an arc read for this debut novel.
At first, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect with the duel POV. I’m normally not a fan of it at all, but this actually worked out for the better. I found myself actually liking the staggered timelines of Hope and Lenna. It felt almost like a race to figure out when the two would meet, and how they would react to one another. The cast of characters is decently sized, and each held their own unique personality which kept the story interesting. There is a lot of political inner workings and political intrigue that happens within the plot line. Again it’s good for the plot but it’s a lot for the reader to keep track of.
I’ll be honest, I wish there was more snd heavier spice lol. This is 100% my opinion and I will say that I really loved what we got, including the build up to said spice. Because we have two FMC you can in fact expect a few different routes. I will say I thought we would get more LGBTQIA rep but I was mistaken 😅 still overall besides my opinion, I thought it was well done and I really am excited to see the progression in future books.
The world building and magic system is incredible and it absolutely blew me away. There are bits and pieces that reminded me of certain aspects of different books, but nothing felt too copy and pasted. This world is seemingly gigantic, and I would have loved to see more of it. I’m hopeful that we’ll see more of that in the future books. Because this is a magic system that is first of its kind (duh) there is a lot to learn and keep track of. For the most part it’s done well with clear explanations and it’s not all at once. But still, it is a lot of information to process so the story at points can feel kinda bogged down. There were portions of the story that I didn’t really understand the dynamics of at first which created a lot of re-reading. Again not a huge deal but it didn’t flow as seamlessly as I would have liked. 
For a debut novel, I thought this was really, really well done. I noticed a few flaws concerning the tone as well as how the reader was presented information was given, but nothing that definitively ruined the story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At first, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect with the duel POV. I’m normally not a fan of it at all, but this actually worked out for the better. I found myself actually liking the staggered timelines of Hope and Lenna. It felt almost like a race to figure out when the two would meet, and how they would react to one another. The cast of characters is decently sized, and each held their own unique personality which kept the story interesting. There is a lot of political inner workings and political intrigue that happens within the plot line. Again it’s good for the plot but it’s a lot for the reader to keep track of.
I’ll be honest, I wish there was more snd heavier spice lol. This is 100% my opinion and I will say that I really loved what we got, including the build up to said spice. Because we have two FMC you can in fact expect a few different routes. I will say I thought we would get more LGBTQIA rep but I was mistaken 😅 still overall besides my opinion, I thought it was well done and I really am excited to see the progression in future books.
The world building and magic system is incredible and it absolutely blew me away. There are bits and pieces that reminded me of certain aspects of different books, but nothing felt too copy and pasted. This world is seemingly gigantic, and I would have loved to see more of it. I’m hopeful that we’ll see more of that in the future books. Because this is a magic system that is first of its kind (duh) there is a lot to learn and keep track of. For the most part it’s done well with clear explanations and it’s not all at once. But still, it is a lot of information to process so the story at points can feel kinda bogged down. There were portions of the story that I didn’t really understand the dynamics of at first which created a lot of re-reading. Again not a huge deal but it didn’t flow as seamlessly as I would have liked. 
For a debut novel, I thought this was really, really well done. I noticed a few flaws concerning the tone as well as how the reader was presented information was given, but nothing that definitively ruined the story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2024
4.25 stars!!
I loved this story about two tough as nails and empathetic women each going through their own adventures (until their adventures converge!) and tapping into their true powers!
At first, the chapters alternating between the two parallel stories was was frustrating because I’d get invested in following Hope and then get pulled to Lenna, or vice versa- but in the end it really worked! The author did a great job of sprinkling clues throughout as to how their stories would connect- and I was absolutely not disappointed at all when they finally did (in a very fun and very Lenna way)!!
Hope’s story was one of struggle, one of having to be the bravest, toughest one in the room, one of needing to uncover truths about her own family. Lenna’s story was one of power imbalance and the fight to regain it, one of a girl refusing to take the easy route, one of a girl willing to fight for those that her own family would step on. Together, this was a gorgeous story of strong women getting stronger- and you love to see it!
Obviously it’s the romantasy vibe, so we’ve gotta get some love interests in there- and I’m very intrigued by the two different main men for our gals. They each have some of the typical romantasy man vibes, but not much the same between them- highlighting Jake’s ruthlessness and morally grey empathy, following Ciaran’s protective and resilient drive and mix of some special powers.
I’m super excited to continue with this story for the pure need to learn more about a character I was sus of for most of the book (I am proud I called it) and what exactly is going on with Hope’s plot line and how Lenna is going to be key in advancing it. This was so fun and so unique- with a very very cool magic system!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Martha Montreal for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this story about two tough as nails and empathetic women each going through their own adventures (until their adventures converge!) and tapping into their true powers!
At first, the chapters alternating between the two parallel stories was was frustrating because I’d get invested in following Hope and then get pulled to Lenna, or vice versa- but in the end it really worked! The author did a great job of sprinkling clues throughout as to how their stories would connect- and I was absolutely not disappointed at all when they finally did (in a very fun and very Lenna way)!!
Hope’s story was one of struggle, one of having to be the bravest, toughest one in the room, one of needing to uncover truths about her own family. Lenna’s story was one of power imbalance and the fight to regain it, one of a girl refusing to take the easy route, one of a girl willing to fight for those that her own family would step on. Together, this was a gorgeous story of strong women getting stronger- and you love to see it!
Obviously it’s the romantasy vibe, so we’ve gotta get some love interests in there- and I’m very intrigued by the two different main men for our gals. They each have some of the typical romantasy man vibes, but not much the same between them- highlighting Jake’s ruthlessness and morally grey empathy, following Ciaran’s protective and resilient drive and mix of some special powers.
I’m super excited to continue with this story for the pure need to learn more about a character I was sus of for most of the book (I am proud I called it) and what exactly is going on with Hope’s plot line and how Lenna is going to be key in advancing it. This was so fun and so unique- with a very very cool magic system!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Martha Montreal for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
July 10, 2024
I LOVED this book! The synopsis on Goodreads does not do it justice IMO. I probably won't be able to describe it any better, but just trust me when I say... YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! I was hooked after the first few chapters and finished it in one day! I absolutely fell in love with the characters (Lenna and Jake are my fave!). The magic system is super unique and the found family is just 😍. I'm SHOCKED that this is a debut novel! Her characterization, world building, and creative magical system is incredible!
We follow two FMCs:
Lenna- Heir to the North Kingdom
Hope- from Verdania, an island where people go if they are discarded from one of the Kingdoms. A twist of fate brings these two together in ways they never would have imagined, and sets them on a path to destroy a great evil.
Tons of other supporting characters are added throughout and they are superb!
For lovers of
✨️ Banter
✨️ Morally grey characters
✨️ Slow burn
✨️ Epic fantasy
✨️ Unique magic systems
✨️ Enemies to lovers
✨️ Strong female leads
✨️ Found family
I cannot express enough how in love I am with this book and can't wait for you to read it!
Thank you so much for allowing me to read an ARC of your debut novel! I'm blown away and cannot wait to read the sequel!
We follow two FMCs:
Lenna- Heir to the North Kingdom
Hope- from Verdania, an island where people go if they are discarded from one of the Kingdoms. A twist of fate brings these two together in ways they never would have imagined, and sets them on a path to destroy a great evil.
Tons of other supporting characters are added throughout and they are superb!
For lovers of
✨️ Banter
✨️ Morally grey characters
✨️ Slow burn
✨️ Epic fantasy
✨️ Unique magic systems
✨️ Enemies to lovers
✨️ Strong female leads
✨️ Found family
I cannot express enough how in love I am with this book and can't wait for you to read it!
Thank you so much for allowing me to read an ARC of your debut novel! I'm blown away and cannot wait to read the sequel!
July 19, 2024
** Spoiler Free Review **
For lovers of:
Banter
Morally grey characters
Slow burn
Epic fantasy
Unique magic systems (that are ACTUALLY unique)
Enemies to lovers
Strong female leads
Found family
TW: Violence & Death, Torture, Emotional Abuse, Reference to Abandonment & Slavery, Profanity & Sexually Explicit Scenes
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️
Petals For Vicious Secrets is a Dual POV novel that, in my opinion started a bit slow so it took me a while to get through, but when things started to pick up? Whewee! What a ride! I feel like my emotions were really put through the wringer!
We follow 2 FMCs who are most definitely NOT damsels in distress:
Lenna: Heir to the North Kingdom
Hope: who is from Verdania, an island where people go if they are discarded from one of the Kingdoms.
These girl bosses are brought together by a twist of fate and fight off a great evil (please read to find out ;) )
Lastly, please laugh with me at this line because I have been thinking about it all morning and it just reminds me of something Violet Sorrengail from The Empyrean Series would say lol..
"you can shove all your fucks and fuckings up your ass, Marcus"
The book was officially released yesterday 07/18/2024!!
For lovers of:
Banter
Morally grey characters
Slow burn
Epic fantasy
Unique magic systems (that are ACTUALLY unique)
Enemies to lovers
Strong female leads
Found family
TW: Violence & Death, Torture, Emotional Abuse, Reference to Abandonment & Slavery, Profanity & Sexually Explicit Scenes
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️
Petals For Vicious Secrets is a Dual POV novel that, in my opinion started a bit slow so it took me a while to get through, but when things started to pick up? Whewee! What a ride! I feel like my emotions were really put through the wringer!
We follow 2 FMCs who are most definitely NOT damsels in distress:
Lenna: Heir to the North Kingdom
Hope: who is from Verdania, an island where people go if they are discarded from one of the Kingdoms.
These girl bosses are brought together by a twist of fate and fight off a great evil (please read to find out ;) )
Lastly, please laugh with me at this line because I have been thinking about it all morning and it just reminds me of something Violet Sorrengail from The Empyrean Series would say lol..
"you can shove all your fucks and fuckings up your ass, Marcus"
The book was officially released yesterday 07/18/2024!!
July 18, 2024
Thrilling Adventure, Fierce Female Characters (main & support), Playful (and even a bit playboy) Male Characters - This Book will keep you up reading at night!
I really enjoyed reading Martha Monteval's Panom Saga Book I - Petals for Vicious Secrets!! It has the right amount of the best ingredients: adventure, political twists and drama, the characters are not teens, so they have been through life, which brings up the character development experience for the reader. I always enjoy seeing the characters (specially Female Characters) realize their own power, and oh boy! we are for a full ride with this one!!
Martha is able to transport us to her very own universe, where two Islands connected but discarded are all we know...and all we need to know!
Petals for Vicious Secrets is a page-turner, adventure-packed, plod-twisty novel that left me wanting more! Good thing that I know for a fact that Martha is working on the next instalment & I am already excited!!
Thanks again for the great experience Martha - It was my absolute honor to read your craft!!
I really enjoyed reading Martha Monteval's Panom Saga Book I - Petals for Vicious Secrets!! It has the right amount of the best ingredients: adventure, political twists and drama, the characters are not teens, so they have been through life, which brings up the character development experience for the reader. I always enjoy seeing the characters (specially Female Characters) realize their own power, and oh boy! we are for a full ride with this one!!
Martha is able to transport us to her very own universe, where two Islands connected but discarded are all we know...and all we need to know!
Petals for Vicious Secrets is a page-turner, adventure-packed, plod-twisty novel that left me wanting more! Good thing that I know for a fact that Martha is working on the next instalment & I am already excited!!
Thanks again for the great experience Martha - It was my absolute honor to read your craft!!
October 15, 2024
Wow this was so engaging and interesting. It reminded me of Lightlark with the different realms for different types of citizens i.e the panoms and servants etc
I would like to expand more on the world building, but I can appreicate some of the characters aren’t in a position currently to freely to explore. Also, the characters who’ve grown up around the corentre aren’t going to provide detailed view points of their surroundings as they aren’t seeing it through fresh eyes.
This book has complex characters, amazing spice and some great banter along the way. There’s fierce FMC’s, morally grey characters and some serious enemies to lovers vibes 🥵. I’m really excited that there’s still more to explore within this world and the problems the characters are facing. Book 1 was a great introduction to the story and characters, but I look forward to the next book expanding on this and answering more questions.
I’d rate this 4.25-4.5 stars 🤩📚
I would like to expand more on the world building, but I can appreicate some of the characters aren’t in a position currently to freely to explore. Also, the characters who’ve grown up around the corentre aren’t going to provide detailed view points of their surroundings as they aren’t seeing it through fresh eyes.
This book has complex characters, amazing spice and some great banter along the way. There’s fierce FMC’s, morally grey characters and some serious enemies to lovers vibes 🥵. I’m really excited that there’s still more to explore within this world and the problems the characters are facing. Book 1 was a great introduction to the story and characters, but I look forward to the next book expanding on this and answering more questions.
I’d rate this 4.25-4.5 stars 🤩📚
July 19, 2024
For Cardinals Sake
This is a debut novel, and she knocked it out of the park. Petals for Vicious Secrets features a creative and unique magic “panoms” system and depicts the dystopian world in descriptive and imaginative details. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is told from dual POVs. Lenna is a rebellious royal heir about to come into her powers. Hope is a slave from Verdainia who has to fight to survive. Both women are strong and resilliant, and the book really took off once their opposing worlds collide. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Read if you like:
Dual POV
World Building
Unique Magic Systems
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Enemies To Lovers
Strong Female Leads
Morally Gray MMC
Revenge
Dystopian Vibes
This is a debut novel, and she knocked it out of the park. Petals for Vicious Secrets features a creative and unique magic “panoms” system and depicts the dystopian world in descriptive and imaginative details. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is told from dual POVs. Lenna is a rebellious royal heir about to come into her powers. Hope is a slave from Verdainia who has to fight to survive. Both women are strong and resilliant, and the book really took off once their opposing worlds collide. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Read if you like:
Dual POV
World Building
Unique Magic Systems
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Enemies To Lovers
Strong Female Leads
Morally Gray MMC
Revenge
Dystopian Vibes
July 15, 2024
Wow! This book is pretty incredible considering it’s her first published novel! My favorite parts were the fantastic magic system, two POV, found family, seeing the storylines begin to weave together, and the overall world building and setting for the story.
As with many fantasy books, there were a few moments that felt unrealistic - but overall I couldn’t have been more happy reading this and I seriously plowed through it.
The story follows two perspectives of females with seemingly different upbringings, but throughout the book their stories become interwoven as lies are revealed, secrets discovered, and friendships/unexpected love with morally grey men bloom.
*I received an ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review.
As with many fantasy books, there were a few moments that felt unrealistic - but overall I couldn’t have been more happy reading this and I seriously plowed through it.
The story follows two perspectives of females with seemingly different upbringings, but throughout the book their stories become interwoven as lies are revealed, secrets discovered, and friendships/unexpected love with morally grey men bloom.
*I received an ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2024
I enjoyed this book especially with it being dual pov from 2 very strong female characters Hope and Lenna who both have their own battles to fight to unlock what is hidden. Each chapter follows the characters untill they eventually meet each other. It was so nice to read a book with 2 strong fmc and some Morally Grey mmc. This is a fantasy romance and set in its own unique magic world. It was slow to start but does getting better if you push through it, I would recommend to anyone who loves a fantasy romance.
July 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
2 FMC
2 MMC
Parallel story line, that meets along the way
Intriguing magic system
World building, but not too much to slow down the plot
Found family
Enemies to lovers
And so much more!
I could not put this one down. I wanted to keep reading Lenna and Hope’s story and man, I was NOT disappointed!
Both are strong willed women, and will do whatever it takes to save people they love and get their revenge. Finding friends and love along the way is just a plus. Love all the banter and few spicy scenes 👀
Book 2, I’m ready for you!
ARC copy provided for this honest review.
🌶️🌶️
2 FMC
2 MMC
Parallel story line, that meets along the way
Intriguing magic system
World building, but not too much to slow down the plot
Found family
Enemies to lovers
And so much more!
I could not put this one down. I wanted to keep reading Lenna and Hope’s story and man, I was NOT disappointed!
Both are strong willed women, and will do whatever it takes to save people they love and get their revenge. Finding friends and love along the way is just a plus. Love all the banter and few spicy scenes 👀
Book 2, I’m ready for you!
ARC copy provided for this honest review.
July 20, 2024
Date Read and Reviewed - July 20, 2024
Ratings: 2 ⭐️
°
Honestly speaking, I really have high hopes for this fantasy romance novel. The first few chapters were really promising, especially the characters, and I was really looking forward to it.
Sad to say, everything really did turn to 360 degrees.
The first thing I noticed was the characters. I really like strong female characters, and unfortunately, this book really tried to give off these aspects, but it did not. Not to mention the writing. Feels really rough for me.
Lena, who, especially her regard towards her people— sounds promising, but as it goes on, she becomes a character who just doesn't have a solid agent and whatsoever but her characters seemed to do one thing but be immature and angry at everything else. It was annoying. The same goes for her sister, Ayla. Don't like them.
Hope and Nina, I'm still looking forward to them. They just need more development.
The men here. I'm so sorry. They were pathetic 🙈 I also did high hopes for them.
Didn't even care for the romance and the steam here tbh.
Overall, the only thing I liked in this novel is the magic system. Nothing more and nothing else.
Thank you to the author for the e-arc.
Ratings: 2 ⭐️
°
Honestly speaking, I really have high hopes for this fantasy romance novel. The first few chapters were really promising, especially the characters, and I was really looking forward to it.
Sad to say, everything really did turn to 360 degrees.
The first thing I noticed was the characters. I really like strong female characters, and unfortunately, this book really tried to give off these aspects, but it did not. Not to mention the writing. Feels really rough for me.
Lena, who, especially her regard towards her people— sounds promising, but as it goes on, she becomes a character who just doesn't have a solid agent and whatsoever but her characters seemed to do one thing but be immature and angry at everything else. It was annoying. The same goes for her sister, Ayla. Don't like them.
Hope and Nina, I'm still looking forward to them. They just need more development.
The men here. I'm so sorry. They were pathetic 🙈 I also did high hopes for them.
Didn't even care for the romance and the steam here tbh.
Overall, the only thing I liked in this novel is the magic system. Nothing more and nothing else.
Thank you to the author for the e-arc.
July 20, 2024
There is much to love about this book!
The parallels we draw as we se two girls fighting with their circumstances!
We see the stark contrast between the have-s and the have not-s! The political turmoil, economical struggles of the real world is neatly wrapped in a book about a fascinating magic system and intense drama!
Hope is seen fighting in a hunger games-esque setting with her neighbours to get supplies to survive! She is brave and stands strong against all else as she figures out what her reality is!
Lenna , on the other side, is the future ruler, eldest progeny. she is determined to change the world, question the reality fed to her!
I loved Jake! Loved the second half of the book! Loved the way the story brings the two strong women together!
The parallels we draw as we se two girls fighting with their circumstances!
We see the stark contrast between the have-s and the have not-s! The political turmoil, economical struggles of the real world is neatly wrapped in a book about a fascinating magic system and intense drama!
Hope is seen fighting in a hunger games-esque setting with her neighbours to get supplies to survive! She is brave and stands strong against all else as she figures out what her reality is!
Lenna , on the other side, is the future ruler, eldest progeny. she is determined to change the world, question the reality fed to her!
I loved Jake! Loved the second half of the book! Loved the way the story brings the two strong women together!
July 17, 2024
This book starts out with two different timelines.
Hope is doing everything she can to survive.
Lenna is the heir and wants to fight the injustice of the system.
Eventually, their timelines intersect and become cohesive. Each FMC ends up with their own morally grey MMC.
The book was a little difficult to follow at first, but did get much better as you continued to read. I am very interested to see how the story continues in the next book.
Hope is doing everything she can to survive.
Lenna is the heir and wants to fight the injustice of the system.
Eventually, their timelines intersect and become cohesive. Each FMC ends up with their own morally grey MMC.
The book was a little difficult to follow at first, but did get much better as you continued to read. I am very interested to see how the story continues in the next book.
September 12, 2024
I absolutely cannot wait for the next part of the story. Strong FMC, spicy MMC, deception, adventure, heartache, and Hope. You don’t want to pass on this one!
July 6, 2024
Not gonna lie, I had a hard time getting into Hope’s story. But overall it made sense and now I’m speechless 😶 loved this book!
July 18, 2024
The book was great! It took me some time to get into it but when I did it was absolutely fantastic. I loved the dual POV.
July 7, 2024
High fantasy worldbuilding and two storylines waiting to collide.
Badass female maincharcters, unique magic system, action and romance... I mean, what's not to like 4,5 ⭐️
And a thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Badass female maincharcters, unique magic system, action and romance... I mean, what's not to like 4,5 ⭐️
And a thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews