Wish by Sara Flanagan was one of those books that was heavily promoted to me through TikTok and Instagram, and as much as I know to take those recommendations with a grain of salt, I couldn’t resist diving in. As a huge fan of the romantasy genre, I was excited to explore a new world filled with Fae, curses, and a unique twist involving a genie-like character and an enchanter. While the book had a lot of promise, it ultimately left me with mixed feelings.
The premise of the story is fresh and intriguing—fated mates, a dark villain, and plenty of twists—so I went in with high hopes. However, I found myself struggling with a few aspects of the narrative. The book is definitely on the darker side of the romantasy spectrum, and personally, I found it to be a little too dark for my tastes. The themes of torture and assault were especially heavy, and while I understand these elements can serve the plot and the character development, they felt a bit much at times. This might be a personal preference, but I felt some of these darker themes were pushed a little too far.
One of my main issues with Wish was the number of unnecessary character perspectives. There were several points where additional viewpoints seemed to distract rather than enrich the story, leaving me to question their inclusion. I appreciate complexity in character development, but some of these perspectives didn’t feel necessary for moving the plot forward, which made the narrative feel a bit cluttered.
That said, I was intrigued by the love story between the two main characters. At first, I thought the relationship felt a little forced, and I wasn’t entirely sure about the development of Zadriel’s character. However, as the story progressed, I began to understand why the author wrote him and their relationship the way she did. It became clear that the challenges they faced were integral to the overall character arcs, and in hindsight, I could appreciate the depth Flanagan was trying to build.
Sara Flanagan excels at creating a villain who truly gets under your skin. I was so invested in hating the antagonist that I found myself screaming at the book during some intense moments. On the flip side, Mora, the dark grey female protagonist, was one of my favorite elements. She wasn’t purely good or evil, and her complexity made her a captivating lead who kept me engaged even when the story veered into darker territory.
Finally, the cliffhanger ending left me feeling both raging and impressed. It was a roller coaster that wrapped up with a twist that I was hoping for but wasn't too optimistic for. I’m not usually one for cliffhangers, but this one was done in a way that made me want to see where the story goes next, even though it left me with a fair amount of frustration.
In conclusion, Wish is a book that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy a darker, more intense take on the romantasy genre, especially if you're okay with themes of trauma and hardship. While it didn’t fully hit the mark for me in terms of tone and pacing, I can appreciate the world-building, the complexity of Mora, and the author’s ability to craft a truly detestable villain. If you’re a fan of dark, twisted love stories with a dash of magic and an unforgettable ending, this one might be worth picking up. Just be prepared for some heavy moments along the way.