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Daindreth's Assassin #3
Daindreth's Traitor
To free the man she loves, she must face those who enslaved them both.
Against all odds, Amira and Daindreth found the Istovari sorceresses deep within the perilous Cursewood. But that turns out to be only the beginning.
They find the sorceresses greatly weakened and lacking the power they once had. The Istovari claim to be unable to free Daindreth from the curse they placed on him. Worse, most of them want to kill Daindreth to avenge his father’s banishment of their people.
Meanwhile, Thadred finds himself miraculously alive. Not only that but bonded to a creature of myth. As he discovers new power as a sorcerer, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is more to his heritage than he was told and more to his potential than he ever dreamed.
They are one step ahead of the empress’s plans, but the imperial agents are closing in. They are all running out of time before Daindreth is captured by the empress’s men and the Istovari are wiped out completely. If Amira, Daindreth, and Thadred cannot persuade the sorceresses soon, the whole of the empire will pay the price.
The much-anticipated third installment in the five-book Daindreth’s Assassin series.
Against all odds, Amira and Daindreth found the Istovari sorceresses deep within the perilous Cursewood. But that turns out to be only the beginning.
They find the sorceresses greatly weakened and lacking the power they once had. The Istovari claim to be unable to free Daindreth from the curse they placed on him. Worse, most of them want to kill Daindreth to avenge his father’s banishment of their people.
Meanwhile, Thadred finds himself miraculously alive. Not only that but bonded to a creature of myth. As he discovers new power as a sorcerer, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is more to his heritage than he was told and more to his potential than he ever dreamed.
They are one step ahead of the empress’s plans, but the imperial agents are closing in. They are all running out of time before Daindreth is captured by the empress’s men and the Istovari are wiped out completely. If Amira, Daindreth, and Thadred cannot persuade the sorceresses soon, the whole of the empire will pay the price.
The much-anticipated third installment in the five-book Daindreth’s Assassin series.
316 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2022
328 people are currently reading
2455 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Wheatley
34 books4,572 followersElisabeth Wheatley is a fantasy author because warrior princess wasn’t an option. She loves tea and asking questions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
January 14, 2024
This is a Thadred stan account now.
January 1, 2024
The series continues to improve. I still don't recommend the audio. Why is Thadreds voice nasely when he is supposed to be a charmer?
March 28, 2024
Nothing prepared me for the action, suspense, treachery, and sublime grandeur I would find in this entry of the Daindreth's Assassin series. I was not expecting the sheer magnitude of things that could happen in a single novel while still remaining taut, engaging, and easy to follow. I was thrilled to be introduced to several new locales in the empire and meet whom I hoped to be potential allies even with their conflicting personal and political priorities. The stakes grew even higher as did my continued investment in the well-being of the central trio. I was absolutely not expecting what happened during the... let's call it the Big Showdown. I won't say anything else about it because spoilers are no fun. I will mention a very important moment earlier in the novel that I especially appreciated, however. At one point, a very strong character is in a vulnerable position, (briefly) loses hope, and breaks down. I felt such a rush of tenderness in that moment because although I've never been in those exact circumstances, I've had moments of hopelessness in my past. I think it's important to acknowledge that many people do, and I appreciate books where a strong main character loses certainty or optimism for a time and allows themself to express it. It makes the story even more meaningful to me, especially when it's handled in a a non-didactic way, as it was here. I will absolutely be continuing on with this series and highly recommend it to fantasy lovers. Start with Daindreth's Assassin (Book #1).
January 9, 2024
3.2
slowly but surely, the series is finally starting to reel me in. the writing style has improved very slightly from the previous books, in that i rarely found a sentence that tripped me up and made me think, "how on earth did this get past first draft, let alone the editors?"
the plot, as always, is picking up and becoming more interesting. the characters on the other hand are still a problem. dain is your typical man written by a woman in all the wrong ways, and i say this as someone who is married to more fictional men than i can probably remember (no i will not tell you who). in fact, the problems with his character go beyond that; he's too perfect. my man has 0 flaws whatsoever, which makes for a boring read and a very one-dimensional pov. amira's still annoying, but thank God thadred is still there. my man is single handedly keeping me sane. i love his character and his pov so much, even though wheatley does go more than a little overboard trying to make his pov all sassy and whatever. it's fine, i don't mind it too much because it's not as bad as it could be.
i'll be finishing this series before moving on to my other trash ya that i've got lined up.
slowly but surely, the series is finally starting to reel me in. the writing style has improved very slightly from the previous books, in that i rarely found a sentence that tripped me up and made me think, "how on earth did this get past first draft, let alone the editors?"
the plot, as always, is picking up and becoming more interesting. the characters on the other hand are still a problem. dain is your typical man written by a woman in all the wrong ways, and i say this as someone who is married to more fictional men than i can probably remember (no i will not tell you who). in fact, the problems with his character go beyond that; he's too perfect. my man has 0 flaws whatsoever, which makes for a boring read and a very one-dimensional pov. amira's still annoying, but thank God thadred is still there. my man is single handedly keeping me sane. i love his character and his pov so much, even though wheatley does go more than a little overboard trying to make his pov all sassy and whatever. it's fine, i don't mind it too much because it's not as bad as it could be.
i'll be finishing this series before moving on to my other trash ya that i've got lined up.
December 20, 2023
Yes, back on track. The emotional plot moved forward, the political plot hit some major highs, so much action, Thadred is Thadreding (the author has said she is going to do a spin-off on him in 2025 and I can't wait!). Saggy middle syndrome of Book 2 is LONG gone. Book 3 is as good if not better than the first book of the series.
July 16, 2025
Whelp, I'm invested now. I have book 4 already que'd up on the Libby app.
May 30, 2024
This addition to the series definitely has more plot payoff than the last, almost too much, I'm not sure that I care enough about what's left to keep reading. I did enjoy the characters at times, but the dialogue ended up being a bit contrite. For this installment, I found myself thinking the two main protagonists were the least interesting.
Trigger Warning: Death, Language, Nudity, Violence, Violence toward animals
Reminded me of: Throne of Glass, The Queen's Blade
Trigger Warning: Death, Language, Nudity, Violence, Violence toward animals
Reminded me of: Throne of Glass, The Queen's Blade
April 2, 2025
Basic Plot: Amira and company continue to try to save Daindreth from the demon inside.
The book is good enough, and the writing is decent. This book was better than the previous one, if frustrating. The reading of it via audiobook is making it impossible for me to continue. Random accents, voices that don't fit characters (Thadred!), mispronunciation of words are all killing me. I really want to like this series, but it isn't happening. I feel like every plot point gets drawn out to the point of pain, and the serious lack of communication between the groups of people makes me want to do violence. I'm sure if I were just reading instead of listening things would be at least a little different, but at this point, I'm going to take a break from this series.
The book is good enough, and the writing is decent. This book was better than the previous one, if frustrating. The reading of it via audiobook is making it impossible for me to continue. Random accents, voices that don't fit characters (Thadred!), mispronunciation of words are all killing me. I really want to like this series, but it isn't happening. I feel like every plot point gets drawn out to the point of pain, and the serious lack of communication between the groups of people makes me want to do violence. I'm sure if I were just reading instead of listening things would be at least a little different, but at this point, I'm going to take a break from this series.
February 12, 2025
I’d give the first 2/3 of this book 1 star. Nothing happens for a long time, and I swear, if they call out each other’s names ONE MORE TIME I will quit the series right now. “Daindreth!” “Amira!” “Daindreth!” “Amira!” UGHHHH.
But. In the last couple of chapters things start to finally happen that are interesting and clever and actually move the story forward. So, two stars?
But. In the last couple of chapters things start to finally happen that are interesting and clever and actually move the story forward. So, two stars?
December 21, 2024
The action picks up in this third installment. My y favorite part was Thandred and the Kelpie. Things get pretty dark in this one toward the end and the stakes get higher. The villains really give me the creeps in this installment.
November 5, 2024
This was Thadred's story! What a hero and dedicated friend. His sassy attitude and humor just makes him more handsome and courageous with every page, and I’ll love him endlessly for it.❤️❤️❤️
"You were delirious," said the freckled archer. "The Cursewood can play tricks on an unsuspecting mind."
Thadred leveled a flat look toward the girl. "Do you want to try saying that again? Maybe with less shaking in your voice this time?"
CHEF'S KISS. 🤌
And WOW, those plot twists when they visited Istovaries and faced demons! Also, an applause on the doublesided game that Darrigan was playing. You cheeky bastard.
I loved the "fantastic beasts" from the Cursewood. The idea that real nightmares can come to life is brilliant, and one nightmare even turned out to be a savior in disguise. Lleuad was introduced as Thadred's new companion, and I’m excited for this next part of his journey! ❤️
Overall, this story revealed just how powerful fear can be.
"These people are frightened. And frightened people do the stupidest things."
Fear crippled so many, especially those in politics - they only made things worse. While Amira found her way back to her badass, power-princess self, everyone else started to wake up from the delulu they had been living in - the very ones that had been destroying any future of light.
And speaking of light, I loved how it shone on Daindreth and Amira’s love. It is honestly one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever seen. They are inseparable, and I adored every moment of it. My heart melts at the promises they make and keep for each other.
"We'll get you recovered, and we'll get us married. And then we will get to work."
"We'll do it together," Amira whispered.
"Together," Daindreth agreed.
"You were delirious," said the freckled archer. "The Cursewood can play tricks on an unsuspecting mind."
Thadred leveled a flat look toward the girl. "Do you want to try saying that again? Maybe with less shaking in your voice this time?"
CHEF'S KISS. 🤌
And WOW, those plot twists when they visited Istovaries and faced demons! Also, an applause on the doublesided game that Darrigan was playing. You cheeky bastard.
I loved the "fantastic beasts" from the Cursewood. The idea that real nightmares can come to life is brilliant, and one nightmare even turned out to be a savior in disguise. Lleuad was introduced as Thadred's new companion, and I’m excited for this next part of his journey! ❤️
Overall, this story revealed just how powerful fear can be.
"These people are frightened. And frightened people do the stupidest things."
Fear crippled so many, especially those in politics - they only made things worse. While Amira found her way back to her badass, power-princess self, everyone else started to wake up from the delulu they had been living in - the very ones that had been destroying any future of light.
And speaking of light, I loved how it shone on Daindreth and Amira’s love. It is honestly one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever seen. They are inseparable, and I adored every moment of it. My heart melts at the promises they make and keep for each other.
"We'll get you recovered, and we'll get us married. And then we will get to work."
"We'll do it together," Amira whispered.
"Together," Daindreth agreed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
Secondary characters are pretty two dimensional, and if you're wondering, the spice starts to kick in here. If you had issues with the pacing and motivations of the battles in Rings of Power, you will 100% have the same issue with the fight scenes in this book.
November 9, 2024
The covers are getting worse but the pacing of the story is a lot better than book 2
November 23, 2025
Great plot lines and action in this one. Only a few slow spots, but the end was a big crescendo of action, which was entertaining and made it easy to finish. Looking forward to what happens next!
September 1, 2024
As I continue to read( this might just be my personal opinion) I feel like the love between Amira and Daindreth starts to seem very 2D. In the first book I loved the concept and the enemies to lovers trope but all I got in this book was there reference to each other as lovers.
I did really enjoy the storyline and most of the characters. At least the three main ones.
Good things this book had
- Interesting politics( as in the stories politics)
- Great world building
- Magic
- Badass Amira
- Sweet Daindreth
- Sassy Charming Thadred
Some of the bad things this book had
- This book is pretty short but at times I felt like we kept repeating scenes from the first book.
- The repeated scream from Amira “Daindreth! Daindreth!” 👁️👄👁️
- Repeated scream from Daindreth “ Where is Amira! Amira!” 👁️👄👁️
I get it there are high stakes in this book with fighting scenes where they are openly reaching for each other but I don’t need this every other page. Every time I was in someone else’s POV whether it be Amira, Daindreth, or Thadred they were always worried about somebody else. Which once again I get but I don’t need entire chapters of those inner monologues.
- Infuriating sorceress characters. I honestly felt like ripping my hair out any time one of them told Amira she knew nothing. Like EXCUSE ME?! She was there! She was THE sacrifice! I’m pretty sure she knows a good deal about the situation at hand.
- Also for rangers that are trained to protect their people and travel through the Cursedwood which is FILLED with monsters they are extremely useless when it comes to any real combat. I get it they weren’t trained to be knights but they can���t even throw a punch or hold a sword? Come on man!
- Vesha was just as bad as she was in the first book. She is such a glorified villain. I can see her being an interesting character to dissect considering her good intentions and peaceful way of ruling she’s had this far but I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. She acts like she knows everything and you can tell that she actually sees herself as a good person even through all the heinous acts she’s committed. Also if she says one more word to Daindreth I will lose my flipping mind. How can she not clearly see that maybe sacrificing her son to the devil is not the best way to show affection?! Or perhaps not holding every innocent person at her disposal against him better yet the woman he loves? 🤷♀️
I know I ranted a lot during this review but I promise you I’m not lying when I say this series is worth your read. Thanks for reading! 🤗
I did really enjoy the storyline and most of the characters. At least the three main ones.
Good things this book had
- Interesting politics( as in the stories politics)
- Great world building
- Magic
- Badass Amira
- Sweet Daindreth
- Sassy Charming Thadred
Some of the bad things this book had
- This book is pretty short but at times I felt like we kept repeating scenes from the first book.
- The repeated scream from Amira “Daindreth! Daindreth!” 👁️👄👁️
- Repeated scream from Daindreth “ Where is Amira! Amira!” 👁️👄👁️
I get it there are high stakes in this book with fighting scenes where they are openly reaching for each other but I don’t need this every other page. Every time I was in someone else’s POV whether it be Amira, Daindreth, or Thadred they were always worried about somebody else. Which once again I get but I don’t need entire chapters of those inner monologues.
- Infuriating sorceress characters. I honestly felt like ripping my hair out any time one of them told Amira she knew nothing. Like EXCUSE ME?! She was there! She was THE sacrifice! I’m pretty sure she knows a good deal about the situation at hand.
- Also for rangers that are trained to protect their people and travel through the Cursedwood which is FILLED with monsters they are extremely useless when it comes to any real combat. I get it they weren’t trained to be knights but they can���t even throw a punch or hold a sword? Come on man!
- Vesha was just as bad as she was in the first book. She is such a glorified villain. I can see her being an interesting character to dissect considering her good intentions and peaceful way of ruling she’s had this far but I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. She acts like she knows everything and you can tell that she actually sees herself as a good person even through all the heinous acts she’s committed. Also if she says one more word to Daindreth I will lose my flipping mind. How can she not clearly see that maybe sacrificing her son to the devil is not the best way to show affection?! Or perhaps not holding every innocent person at her disposal against him better yet the woman he loves? 🤷♀️
I know I ranted a lot during this review but I promise you I’m not lying when I say this series is worth your read. Thanks for reading! 🤗
November 9, 2024
If you put books 1, 2, and 3 together, you have what feels like a complete story.
This one, unfortunately, has more plot holes than the other ones do, which is unfortunate because we finally get to the climax of the story. (Still no climax for our virgin prude Prince and his sorceress bride to be, though. WTF, Dain?!?)
Slightly more frustrating is that basically the whole book is a giant string of events that, had they done absolutely nothing, would have resulted in basically the same outcome.
The heroes finally get the chance to talk to the Wizard of Oz - oops, sorry, the Mothers of the sorceresses - who, unsurprisingly, have inadequate cosmic powers left to do anything to help. Oh and by the way, no single solitary person has ever breached their inner sanctum in a score of years, except now the ninja sorcerer slaves can get about 60 through. (Of course, no problem. Sigh.) And what do those guys do but steal the *children* from the village instead of just kidnapping the MMC. (Keep falling in this hole, sorry.) Why? Because Empress Mom knows he'd come after them, because MMC is just such a good man... And because the ninja sorcerer slaves need more recruits to be ninja sorcerer slaves, so let's sacrifice some of the ones we have so we can take a decade or so to train them? Long term battle strategy, I... guess?
So, off they go with My Little Kelpie into the magical woods to save the children. Bye Bye, Boys! Have fun storming the monastery! Think it'll work? It'll take a miracle... Or a legal loophole in the demon contract that let any old Istovari take over for the unbreakable curse... You know, the one for which there was no foreseeable way to break it except death? Demon ex machina to the rescue! Sigh.
Am I wishing I were gushing over this more? Absolutely. This series is enjoyable. I've particularly enjoyed Thadred's character evolution. But the MMC is still too boyish for me to take him seriously, and I found myself rooting for the demon every time he mocked him, because he kind of deserved it.
On to part 4! Here's hoping!
This one, unfortunately, has more plot holes than the other ones do, which is unfortunate because we finally get to the climax of the story. (Still no climax for our virgin prude Prince and his sorceress bride to be, though. WTF, Dain?!?)
Slightly more frustrating is that basically the whole book is a giant string of events that, had they done absolutely nothing, would have resulted in basically the same outcome.
The heroes finally get the chance to talk to the Wizard of Oz - oops, sorry, the Mothers of the sorceresses - who, unsurprisingly, have inadequate cosmic powers left to do anything to help. Oh and by the way, no single solitary person has ever breached their inner sanctum in a score of years, except now the ninja sorcerer slaves can get about 60 through. (Of course, no problem. Sigh.) And what do those guys do but steal the *children* from the village instead of just kidnapping the MMC. (Keep falling in this hole, sorry.) Why? Because Empress Mom knows he'd come after them, because MMC is just such a good man... And because the ninja sorcerer slaves need more recruits to be ninja sorcerer slaves, so let's sacrifice some of the ones we have so we can take a decade or so to train them? Long term battle strategy, I... guess?
So, off they go with My Little Kelpie into the magical woods to save the children. Bye Bye, Boys! Have fun storming the monastery! Think it'll work? It'll take a miracle... Or a legal loophole in the demon contract that let any old Istovari take over for the unbreakable curse... You know, the one for which there was no foreseeable way to break it except death? Demon ex machina to the rescue! Sigh.
Am I wishing I were gushing over this more? Absolutely. This series is enjoyable. I've particularly enjoyed Thadred's character evolution. But the MMC is still too boyish for me to take him seriously, and I found myself rooting for the demon every time he mocked him, because he kind of deserved it.
On to part 4! Here's hoping!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2024
I like the book, I mostly don't have many things I'm bothered by.
The audiobook is not great, but ok. There are parts where a certain phrase is repeated for no reason but with a worse audio. Also, someone mentioned and it made me think about it. Why is Thadred's voice so cranky? He is supposed to be a charmer, but he sounds like how I imagine the demon to sound.
The writing is not bad, but I feel like these could have easily been just three books. A lot of things get repeated. A lot of name-shouting when the characters are in danger. Amira states on every page that she will kill everyone who touches Daindreth. He also asks about her a lot. Instead, they could try to get advantages from their situation and learn more about their enemies.
Some paragraphs have no substance. There is no reason why they exist. I was glad the Author didn't break them up just for tension, but they didn't have many wow moments. Besides admitting how much they want to undress each other, there are not many places where you feel like they are truly bonding.
I feel like is pretty hard to care about the characters sometimes. They get reduced to their stereotypical selves. Their motivation at points seems empty. Like for instance, the empress. She seems to be the type to do bad things for the sake of the greater good. But making a deal with the devil is bound to destroy her and everything she worked for.
I can't believe there are 2 more books to go. There is no reason why the story is this long.
I'm still a bit curious about what will happen next, but I don't think I can go through two more books.
The audiobook is not great, but ok. There are parts where a certain phrase is repeated for no reason but with a worse audio. Also, someone mentioned and it made me think about it. Why is Thadred's voice so cranky? He is supposed to be a charmer, but he sounds like how I imagine the demon to sound.
The writing is not bad, but I feel like these could have easily been just three books. A lot of things get repeated. A lot of name-shouting when the characters are in danger. Amira states on every page that she will kill everyone who touches Daindreth. He also asks about her a lot. Instead, they could try to get advantages from their situation and learn more about their enemies.
Some paragraphs have no substance. There is no reason why they exist. I was glad the Author didn't break them up just for tension, but they didn't have many wow moments. Besides admitting how much they want to undress each other, there are not many places where you feel like they are truly bonding.
I feel like is pretty hard to care about the characters sometimes. They get reduced to their stereotypical selves. Their motivation at points seems empty. Like for instance, the empress. She seems to be the type to do bad things for the sake of the greater good. But making a deal with the devil is bound to destroy her and everything she worked for.
I can't believe there are 2 more books to go. There is no reason why the story is this long.
I'm still a bit curious about what will happen next, but I don't think I can go through two more books.
October 10, 2024
Enjoying the series but you need to find a better editor. There are random spelling or syntax issues that pull me out randomly. I’m far from being a grammar expert, but when I notice it, it feels like it should be glaring.
Each book the writing is improving. The pace of the story feels comfortable. The twists are engaging and don’t jar me like some other trending authors. Still a solid read.
Each book the writing is improving. The pace of the story feels comfortable. The twists are engaging and don’t jar me like some other trending authors. Still a solid read.
December 31, 2024
Since Thadred and the kelpie are my favorite characters, I evidently need to switch to a different series. I’m rather tired of Daindreth and Amira screaming their names at each other, and demons threatening evil torture against one of them to control the other. It was an all right read, but I’m not incredibly drawn to either Amira or Daindreth.
September 22, 2024
It was ok. I guess I expected this to be a fantasy romance, but the romance part is not quite developed in my opinion. The plot is okay, I mean I made it to book 3. Not sure if I’ll continue reading the rest of the series though. It’s just lacking in a way and I’m not sure even how to explain it.
May 29, 2024
The writing is much improved but still leaves a lot to be desired. Fewer grammatical errors but it can still come off as clunky. I’m hoping the next arc will improve on pacing and depth.
June 9, 2024
Overall a good book, however, I waited three books for things to get spicy/steamy and then I get a bloody fade to black? *Flips table* (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
April 27, 2025
DNF @74%
I think changing from single POV in book one to multiple POVs from book two onward destroyed the pacing. We also know that all three MCs are fine(-ish) all of the time.
I think changing from single POV in book one to multiple POVs from book two onward destroyed the pacing. We also know that all three MCs are fine(-ish) all of the time.
December 25, 2024
I am happy to say that, with this installment, the series finally struck four star gold for me!
Because this was much better than book two, with the second half being unputdownable.
First off, I really liked seeing Amira's rage. And there was plenty of it due to her very interesting interactions with her mother and grandmother and the Istovari in general. I would like to see more, especially regarding her grandmother.
It irritated me that she never told them about her broken curse but I suppose it did give her a specific, small advantage.
Anyway, it was quite nice how her and Thadred's dynamic shifted, they are more than mere allies by now, rather truly friends, found family even. And speaking of Thadred, I'm officially excited about his book now, after having confirmed who his match is going to be. Plus, I enjoy his faible for cursing and loved seeing his bond to Lleaud get stronger. I'm also eager to see him really become a sorcerer. If that's what he wants, at least.
As mentioned, the plot truly picked up in the second half. We even got that classic moment when everything seems hopeless for one of our protagonists, literally in a dungeon. Not knowing Thadred's plans from the outside only added to the suspense.
This book further made me realize how fascinating the concept of Kadra'han really is, especially through Darrigan. Being essentially a slave and yet gaining power by serving well. Being bound to obey but seeking to go around commands anyway is almost an artform. I certainly did not expect that plot twist involving his reaction to Vesha having become genuinely unhighed. Neither did I expect that an important goal would be reached here already.
In short, the climax absolutely had some epicness to it.
Overall, this third book did finally leave me feeling electrified. Vesha is that kind of persistent villain I look forward to seeing defeated, and I mostly can't wait to see how Daindreth and Amira go about making him take his place as not just heir but Emperor now. And see them get married of course!
On to book four!
Because this was much better than book two, with the second half being unputdownable.
First off, I really liked seeing Amira's rage. And there was plenty of it due to her very interesting interactions with her mother and grandmother and the Istovari in general. I would like to see more, especially regarding her grandmother.
It irritated me that she never told them about her broken curse but I suppose it did give her a specific, small advantage.
Anyway, it was quite nice how her and Thadred's dynamic shifted, they are more than mere allies by now, rather truly friends, found family even. And speaking of Thadred, I'm officially excited about his book now, after having confirmed who his match is going to be. Plus, I enjoy his faible for cursing and loved seeing his bond to Lleaud get stronger. I'm also eager to see him really become a sorcerer. If that's what he wants, at least.
As mentioned, the plot truly picked up in the second half. We even got that classic moment when everything seems hopeless for one of our protagonists, literally in a dungeon. Not knowing Thadred's plans from the outside only added to the suspense.
This book further made me realize how fascinating the concept of Kadra'han really is, especially through Darrigan. Being essentially a slave and yet gaining power by serving well. Being bound to obey but seeking to go around commands anyway is almost an artform. I certainly did not expect that plot twist involving his reaction to Vesha having become genuinely unhighed. Neither did I expect that an important goal would be reached here already.
In short, the climax absolutely had some epicness to it.
Overall, this third book did finally leave me feeling electrified. Vesha is that kind of persistent villain I look forward to seeing defeated, and I mostly can't wait to see how Daindreth and Amira go about making him take his place as not just heir but Emperor now. And see them get married of course!
On to book four!
July 12, 2025
Well done, Wheatley! I was convinced almost to the last minute that Daindreth and Amira were doomed to failure and Caa Iss would get his way, but Darrigan really swooped in and saved them. I appreciate, looking back on the past few books, the build up Wheatley put in so that Amira would intuit that Darrigan planned to betray Vesha. I was so pleased to see that bitch finally get her comeuppance. I will be happier still when Daindreth gets her off the throne.
These characters have become quite complex. Even the side characters, like Vesha, Darrigan, Cyne, Thadred, and Sair. I see a lot of very real humanity in them. I am starting to see that this series is an exploration in the power women can wield and surpass men with, and also the complexity of a mother's love. There is an interesting parallel that several characters observe between Vesha and Cyne. Both were Queens, both loved their child, and both threw said child away for their perceived "greater good". It's a pity that both of their "greater good" is a load of emotionally clouded shit. The world is a fucked up, ugly, painful place, but that's never a reason to kill and erase the innocent and ally with demons. I really hate Vesha, but I kind of hate Cyne too. I suppose that's a compliment, Wheatley--you made Cyne and Vesha evil and real enough for me to hate them.
At this point, I've read about half the series, and I'm coming to observe that Wheatley really wrote this series more as an overall story arc and not as an arc per book. There is a dead spot in the middle of this book where it feels like nothing is happening, very reminiscent of the majority of book 2. All three end on cliffhangers, and I get vibes that the story will continue until Daindreth sits on the throne and makes amends for the atrocities his mother and father committed, as is mentioned by Amira in this book.
These characters have become quite complex. Even the side characters, like Vesha, Darrigan, Cyne, Thadred, and Sair. I see a lot of very real humanity in them. I am starting to see that this series is an exploration in the power women can wield and surpass men with, and also the complexity of a mother's love. There is an interesting parallel that several characters observe between Vesha and Cyne. Both were Queens, both loved their child, and both threw said child away for their perceived "greater good". It's a pity that both of their "greater good" is a load of emotionally clouded shit. The world is a fucked up, ugly, painful place, but that's never a reason to kill and erase the innocent and ally with demons. I really hate Vesha, but I kind of hate Cyne too. I suppose that's a compliment, Wheatley--you made Cyne and Vesha evil and real enough for me to hate them.
At this point, I've read about half the series, and I'm coming to observe that Wheatley really wrote this series more as an overall story arc and not as an arc per book. There is a dead spot in the middle of this book where it feels like nothing is happening, very reminiscent of the majority of book 2. All three end on cliffhangers, and I get vibes that the story will continue until Daindreth sits on the throne and makes amends for the atrocities his mother and father committed, as is mentioned by Amira in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
Maybe 2.5, but not rounded up. I made it this far in the series (Ch 9) because I thought some of the world-building elements were interesting, but the characters are so BORING. Amira goes from being pretty cool in the first book to being stupidly unaware of how her trauma affects her actions, and she did exactly zero reflection before going to the Haven apparently, because she loses her shit over and over while antagonizing the very people she's supposed to ask for help. Daindreth is almost too good: he has no flaws except for being possessed by a demon and being rather milquetoast.
Characters over explain so often that I feel dumber for having read certain passages; e.g., Amira's mom tells her "your blood summoned Caa Iss" and then some dialogue happens that doesn't indicate that Amira hasn't understood, and then later in that conversation, her mom is like, "you were the sacrifice to bind the cythraul" which is saying the SAME THING she just said, but this time Amira acts like it's a revelation. This sort of thing happens over and over in this series, and I wonder every time why an editor didn't catch these redundancies.
Speaking of things editors didn't catch...there are so many instances of missing words, at least in the e-book version that I've been reading on Kindle. Beyond this, I simply don't enjoy the writing style very much, and the author's liberal use of the phrase "let off [a shout, a cry, a verbal response" instead of just using different verbs takes me right out of the story every time it happens. I will probably read spoilers to see what happens in the rest of the series because it's a chore to read these, and there are two more after this one. Whether I finish this one remains undecided. Thadred and his kelpie are the only interesting part of this book, so if there's more of those two, it might be worth it.
Characters over explain so often that I feel dumber for having read certain passages; e.g., Amira's mom tells her "your blood summoned Caa Iss" and then some dialogue happens that doesn't indicate that Amira hasn't understood, and then later in that conversation, her mom is like, "you were the sacrifice to bind the cythraul" which is saying the SAME THING she just said, but this time Amira acts like it's a revelation. This sort of thing happens over and over in this series, and I wonder every time why an editor didn't catch these redundancies.
Speaking of things editors didn't catch...there are so many instances of missing words, at least in the e-book version that I've been reading on Kindle. Beyond this, I simply don't enjoy the writing style very much, and the author's liberal use of the phrase "let off [a shout, a cry, a verbal response" instead of just using different verbs takes me right out of the story every time it happens. I will probably read spoilers to see what happens in the rest of the series because it's a chore to read these, and there are two more after this one. Whether I finish this one remains undecided. Thadred and his kelpie are the only interesting part of this book, so if there's more of those two, it might be worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
This book is sure better than pervious one, at least the plot moves and the plot overall being interesting is the only reason I keep pushing though some really bad parts. Because at this point, the only character that has any personal growth and story development is Thadred. Main characters not only have none, they also have no personal interactions, no personal dialogs or connection. It's as shallow as it is - MMC has no personality aside of constantly feeling guilty, FMC constantly going on "imma kill em all" and their interactions are summarized to yelling each other names ad nauseam every five pages or so. It has lost any meaning and just feels annoying at this point. I fail to see how this is even romance aside of "they are madly in love just because the author said so so you gotta believe regardless them having zero personal interactions or development".
I have really complicated relationship with this series, because the plot is interesting, the idea is interesting, the author tries to avoid modern romance tropes a lot but there are so much plain boring, shallow parts and zero development or depth, I feel really conflicted about picking up the next book. Do I want to know what happens next? Kinda. But do I honestly care? Not really. I also feel that Vesha being dragged out as a more and more crazy villain becomes stale and I really want MMC to grow if not a pair, at least one ball for a change. For two books he's just a punching bag constantly having hurt feelings and zero use/impact on the plot aside of being a trophy.
And a small detail, I really don't know how a little child with a slit throat can lie around for an hour while all the epic fighting happens and then still be alive to get some magical medical help. I mean, I'm happy the kid is not dead, but at this point is just ridiculous.
I have really complicated relationship with this series, because the plot is interesting, the idea is interesting, the author tries to avoid modern romance tropes a lot but there are so much plain boring, shallow parts and zero development or depth, I feel really conflicted about picking up the next book. Do I want to know what happens next? Kinda. But do I honestly care? Not really. I also feel that Vesha being dragged out as a more and more crazy villain becomes stale and I really want MMC to grow if not a pair, at least one ball for a change. For two books he's just a punching bag constantly having hurt feelings and zero use/impact on the plot aside of being a trophy.
And a small detail, I really don't know how a little child with a slit throat can lie around for an hour while all the epic fighting happens and then still be alive to get some magical medical help. I mean, I'm happy the kid is not dead, but at this point is just ridiculous.
January 9, 2025
This book continues to be a disappointment after the first book. And continues to only be good for like a third of it? And continues to have main characters be annoying and useless for the majority of that time. Specifically Amira is useless for most of this book. She doesn't even act like someone with the skills and understanding she supposedly has for a lot of this. Which is even more painful when we have Daindreth imagining what she would do in his place if held prisoner. Which is contrasted terribly with what she actually does while actually held prisoner. She is a raging disappointment for most of this book. Does she KNOW who she is supposed to be or what she is supposed to know how to do? Because I don't think she does, for some reason? The power scaling and professionalism as an assassin OF AMIRA in the 1st book is just so much higher in the first book than in the following two and makes her seem like a joke. Daindreth is also rather useless in this book, and also annoying, but less so than she is.
Thadred is the bright spot of the three. He actually doesn't suck in this book. Like, at all. Good for Thadred. He is a bright spot in this series after he finds his new fancy steed. Thadred before his new fancy steed also sucked. But after is good, and this book comes after that point.
I feel like I have commited myself to finishing this series, for some reason. Maybe because parts of it are still what they should be. I am not completely sure. I do not recommend this series, but I am going to POSSIBLY see what else happens in it. Or I might talk myself out of it because I don't think I have ever read in a series after more than one entry in a row got only 3 stars from me.
Thadred is the bright spot of the three. He actually doesn't suck in this book. Like, at all. Good for Thadred. He is a bright spot in this series after he finds his new fancy steed. Thadred before his new fancy steed also sucked. But after is good, and this book comes after that point.
I feel like I have commited myself to finishing this series, for some reason. Maybe because parts of it are still what they should be. I am not completely sure. I do not recommend this series, but I am going to POSSIBLY see what else happens in it. Or I might talk myself out of it because I don't think I have ever read in a series after more than one entry in a row got only 3 stars from me.
September 23, 2024
To free the man she loves, she must face those who enslaved them both.
Against all odds, Amira and Daindreth found the Istovari sorceresses deep within the perilous Cursewood. But that turns out to be only the beginning.
They find the sorceresses greatly weakened and lacking the power they once had. The Istovari claim to be unable to free Daindreth from the curse they placed on him. Worse, most of them want to kill Daindreth to avenge his father’s banishment of their people.
Meanwhile, Thadred finds himself miraculously alive. Not only that but bonded to a creature of myth. As he discovers new power as a sorcerer, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is more to his heritage than he was told and more to his potential than he ever dreamed.
They are one step ahead of the empress’s plans, but the imperial agents are closing in. They are all running out of time before Daindreth is captured by the empress’s men and the Istovari are wiped out completely. If Amira, Daindreth, and Thadred cannot persuade the sorceresses soon, the whole of the empire will pay the price.
Heather's Notes
So I like this story. I like the characters. I would have liked Amira to be more stabby. For some reason, I just like it when she goes all bada$$. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of that in this book. I mean she did fight several times, but it was in the mist of bigger battles and didn't really show off her skill set. Still a good book, and I will be continuing the series.
Against all odds, Amira and Daindreth found the Istovari sorceresses deep within the perilous Cursewood. But that turns out to be only the beginning.
They find the sorceresses greatly weakened and lacking the power they once had. The Istovari claim to be unable to free Daindreth from the curse they placed on him. Worse, most of them want to kill Daindreth to avenge his father’s banishment of their people.
Meanwhile, Thadred finds himself miraculously alive. Not only that but bonded to a creature of myth. As he discovers new power as a sorcerer, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is more to his heritage than he was told and more to his potential than he ever dreamed.
They are one step ahead of the empress’s plans, but the imperial agents are closing in. They are all running out of time before Daindreth is captured by the empress’s men and the Istovari are wiped out completely. If Amira, Daindreth, and Thadred cannot persuade the sorceresses soon, the whole of the empire will pay the price.
Heather's Notes
So I like this story. I like the characters. I would have liked Amira to be more stabby. For some reason, I just like it when she goes all bada$$. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of that in this book. I mean she did fight several times, but it was in the mist of bigger battles and didn't really show off her skill set. Still a good book, and I will be continuing the series.
May 19, 2024
Solid 4 stars for this installment. I do think the first book will always be my favorite though. There was a lot going on in this book compared to the second one. I think the Kelpie is now my favorite character.
Sair is still a pain in the ass and I hope that she and Thadred don't end up together. He's starting to grow on me and I would prefer he end up with a character who did not kidnap him and also happens to be part of a society who thinks his main worth is breeding because of his magic.
Amira and Daindreth are still adorable together. I love the touch him and die vibe Amira puts out. I also love her unshakeable faith in him and how well he understands her. They are one of those book couples that just work on every level.
The ending with Darrigan's betrayal was excellent but as it solved Daindreth's curse I am unsure what to expect in the next 2 books. I am definitely going to read them just not sure where everything is going. I am super excited for Daindreth and Amira to get married though. I hope her mother and her grandmother choke on their unhappiness about it.
All in all this is an excellent fantasy series so far. I will probably reread it from time to time.
Sair is still a pain in the ass and I hope that she and Thadred don't end up together. He's starting to grow on me and I would prefer he end up with a character who did not kidnap him and also happens to be part of a society who thinks his main worth is breeding because of his magic.
Amira and Daindreth are still adorable together. I love the touch him and die vibe Amira puts out. I also love her unshakeable faith in him and how well he understands her. They are one of those book couples that just work on every level.
The ending with Darrigan's betrayal was excellent but as it solved Daindreth's curse I am unsure what to expect in the next 2 books. I am definitely going to read them just not sure where everything is going. I am super excited for Daindreth and Amira to get married though. I hope her mother and her grandmother choke on their unhappiness about it.
All in all this is an excellent fantasy series so far. I will probably reread it from time to time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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