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Vertex
Two women defy their fates. Two secrets sharp as steel. Two hearts must conquer.
Aara
My world was ravaged when the king’s hunt obliterated my desert tribe, leaving me a captive in a city drenched in secrets.
Now, I’ve been thrust into a guild of six—an alliance of enslaved survivors, scheming rivals, and pampered heirs of power. To survive, I have to conquer the Vertex, a labyrinthine descent where each level tests me with increasingly dangerous challenges.
But surviving the Vertex isn’t my only battle. There’s a deadlier game unraveling in the shadows, and at its center stands the Blade Master—merciless, unreadable, and the man who slaughtered my people. His blade carved my past, and his secrets could destroy my future. He’s the enemy I swore to kill, yet the only one who can keep me alive. And now I’m trapped in his own lethal game.
Every glance he throws my way is a taunt. Every lesson is a battle of wills. I ache to drive a dagger into his heart—but what terrifies me even more is how he’s slowly slipping into mine.
Alysna
My marriage is a prison. The king, my husband, scorns me, and the court shuns me. But I’ve found solace in the worst place imaginable—my growing obsession with his captivating mistress, Novell.
Bold, unflinching, and dangerously beautiful, Novell ignites a passion that threatens to burn us both. In a court ruled by a jealous king, desiring his mistress is a death sentence. Every stolen glance is a risk, every touch a silent rebellion.
I know the stakes. I know how this ends. But I can’t stop.
Novell’s secrets soon pull me into a deadly plot. One wrong move, and we’ll destroy not just each other—but the realm…
This is an adult fantasy romance 18+ Perfect for those that Romantasy, Page turners, Witty banter, Strong heroine, Morally grey + cinnamon roll hero, high stakes, forbidden love, apprentice romance, found family
Aara
My world was ravaged when the king’s hunt obliterated my desert tribe, leaving me a captive in a city drenched in secrets.
Now, I’ve been thrust into a guild of six—an alliance of enslaved survivors, scheming rivals, and pampered heirs of power. To survive, I have to conquer the Vertex, a labyrinthine descent where each level tests me with increasingly dangerous challenges.
But surviving the Vertex isn’t my only battle. There’s a deadlier game unraveling in the shadows, and at its center stands the Blade Master—merciless, unreadable, and the man who slaughtered my people. His blade carved my past, and his secrets could destroy my future. He’s the enemy I swore to kill, yet the only one who can keep me alive. And now I’m trapped in his own lethal game.
Every glance he throws my way is a taunt. Every lesson is a battle of wills. I ache to drive a dagger into his heart—but what terrifies me even more is how he’s slowly slipping into mine.
Alysna
My marriage is a prison. The king, my husband, scorns me, and the court shuns me. But I’ve found solace in the worst place imaginable—my growing obsession with his captivating mistress, Novell.
Bold, unflinching, and dangerously beautiful, Novell ignites a passion that threatens to burn us both. In a court ruled by a jealous king, desiring his mistress is a death sentence. Every stolen glance is a risk, every touch a silent rebellion.
I know the stakes. I know how this ends. But I can’t stop.
Novell’s secrets soon pull me into a deadly plot. One wrong move, and we’ll destroy not just each other—but the realm…
This is an adult fantasy romance 18+ Perfect for those that Romantasy, Page turners, Witty banter, Strong heroine, Morally grey + cinnamon roll hero, high stakes, forbidden love, apprentice romance, found family
610 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025
8 people are currently reading
4855 people want to read
About the author
Terina Adams
31 books48 followersWhen I wasn’t riding a camel through the Rajasthani desert, white water rafting the rapids on the Zambezi, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls bridge or hiking the peeks in Pakistan, I was piloting a twin prop into remote aboriginal communities in northern Western Australia or staring down a microscope in a laboratory.
Now somewhat tamed, the microscope has morphed into a computer and I spend more time plotting dire situations for my protagonists than being in them myself.
I am the author of books that won’t stay normal.
Now somewhat tamed, the microscope has morphed into a computer and I spend more time plotting dire situations for my protagonists than being in them myself.
I am the author of books that won’t stay normal.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 13, 2025
This book is a behemoth. It’s VERY long and at first moves at glacial pace. It starts to pick up when you get about 40% into the book. Then it starts getting more interesting. The world building in this book is phenomenal the characters are well written and interesting. I was disappointed to reach the end of the book to find that both characters stories kind of end on a cliffhanger. But I can understand why the author chose to end it where she did. That last chapter reveals a lot about one of the main characters and my mind was blown and I was heartbroken when I realized who it’s about.
July 20, 2025
3.5/5 stars
Vertex is a slow-burn, world-building-heavy fantasy with dual POVs, intricate politics, and a dash of romance. If you’re coming in looking for a romance-first fantasy, this isn’t it. But if you're the type to sink into a densely imagined world and peel back the layers of two very different, very compelling women? You’re in for a treat.
Aara and Alysna couldn’t be more different; one a scrappy survivor thrust into a gladiatorial-style trial system, the other a quiet, sidelined queen caught in a dangerously sapphic obsession with the king’s mistress. The best part is watching these two women, so far apart in circumstance and temperament, echo one another’s pain, longing, and resilience. I found Alysna’s storyline especially interesting. Ya'll know I can't get enough of yearning and this woman is aching with restraint. Her quiet fire lit up the pages for me, even if the plot gives more spotlight to Aara.
Speaking of Aara: I liked her, even if her arc was the more familiar one. Her stubbornness, her devotion to those she loves, her not-always-well-thought-out decisions, they made her feel real. I'm getting a little tired of trials, so the whole “tournament to survive” aspect of her story started treading worn ground. That said, Vertex managed to make the trials feel relevant to the worldbuilding, which I appreciated. And while I know there’s a love triangle setup here, it didn’t feel like much of a competition. One of them gave off serious “first love in book one who gets taken out later” energy. And Jarin? Look, withholding information “for your own good” will never not make me want to throw something. He was fine, but his emotional depth didn’t quite land for me.
Tonally, this one’s darker than your average court intrigue fantasy, but not as brutal as it could’ve been. Honestly, I was ready for more blood, more emotional devastation. I wasn’t super emotionally invested at every beat, and the pacing definitely dragged in spots. It’s a long book, and while Adams’ writing is always strong and confident, I think the story could’ve been trimmed down quite a bit without losing its impact.
The complexity of the worldbuilding and the emotional undercurrent (especially between Alysna and Novell) made it worthwhile. And as always with Adams, I trust the long game. If the next installment leans into the darker potential already lurking under the surface, I’ll be first in line.
Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Vertex is a slow-burn, world-building-heavy fantasy with dual POVs, intricate politics, and a dash of romance. If you’re coming in looking for a romance-first fantasy, this isn’t it. But if you're the type to sink into a densely imagined world and peel back the layers of two very different, very compelling women? You’re in for a treat.
Aara and Alysna couldn’t be more different; one a scrappy survivor thrust into a gladiatorial-style trial system, the other a quiet, sidelined queen caught in a dangerously sapphic obsession with the king’s mistress. The best part is watching these two women, so far apart in circumstance and temperament, echo one another’s pain, longing, and resilience. I found Alysna’s storyline especially interesting. Ya'll know I can't get enough of yearning and this woman is aching with restraint. Her quiet fire lit up the pages for me, even if the plot gives more spotlight to Aara.
Speaking of Aara: I liked her, even if her arc was the more familiar one. Her stubbornness, her devotion to those she loves, her not-always-well-thought-out decisions, they made her feel real. I'm getting a little tired of trials, so the whole “tournament to survive” aspect of her story started treading worn ground. That said, Vertex managed to make the trials feel relevant to the worldbuilding, which I appreciated. And while I know there’s a love triangle setup here, it didn’t feel like much of a competition. One of them gave off serious “first love in book one who gets taken out later” energy. And Jarin? Look, withholding information “for your own good” will never not make me want to throw something. He was fine, but his emotional depth didn’t quite land for me.
Tonally, this one’s darker than your average court intrigue fantasy, but not as brutal as it could’ve been. Honestly, I was ready for more blood, more emotional devastation. I wasn’t super emotionally invested at every beat, and the pacing definitely dragged in spots. It’s a long book, and while Adams’ writing is always strong and confident, I think the story could’ve been trimmed down quite a bit without losing its impact.
The complexity of the worldbuilding and the emotional undercurrent (especially between Alysna and Novell) made it worthwhile. And as always with Adams, I trust the long game. If the next installment leans into the darker potential already lurking under the surface, I’ll be first in line.
Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
March 20, 2025
Vertex by Terina Adams is an intricately woven fantasy novel with extensive world-building, a complex plot, and deeply layered characters. The story follows Aara and Alysna, two protagonists navigating a world that is as rich as it is unforgiving. However, this is not a fast-paced romantasy—if you’re looking for a quick, easy fantasy romance, this may not be the book for you.
The first half is slow, almost overwhelming at times, as the world-building is dense, and it takes a while to connect the dots and fully grasp what’s happening. The chapters are long, adding to the feeling that you’re wading through a lot of detail before the story picks up in the second half. That said, the writing is well-constructed, and once things start falling into place, the plot and characters become more engaging. I still have some unanswered questions, but the cliffhanger ending was compelling enough that I’ll likely pick up book two.
There is open-door spice, and the book contains some heavy themes and triggers, including the violent death of family members/loved ones (on-page), PTSD experienced by one of the FMCs (current and ongoing), fantasy violence, sexual content, adult language, and apparent child abuse.
Overall, Vertex was a unique and immersive read, though it took time to settle into. If you enjoy complex fantasy worlds and are willing to be patient with the setup, it’s worth the read.
Tropes
• Morally grey hero
• Forbidden love
• Found Family
• Enemies to Lovers
The first half is slow, almost overwhelming at times, as the world-building is dense, and it takes a while to connect the dots and fully grasp what’s happening. The chapters are long, adding to the feeling that you’re wading through a lot of detail before the story picks up in the second half. That said, the writing is well-constructed, and once things start falling into place, the plot and characters become more engaging. I still have some unanswered questions, but the cliffhanger ending was compelling enough that I’ll likely pick up book two.
There is open-door spice, and the book contains some heavy themes and triggers, including the violent death of family members/loved ones (on-page), PTSD experienced by one of the FMCs (current and ongoing), fantasy violence, sexual content, adult language, and apparent child abuse.
Overall, Vertex was a unique and immersive read, though it took time to settle into. If you enjoy complex fantasy worlds and are willing to be patient with the setup, it’s worth the read.
Tropes
• Morally grey hero
• Forbidden love
• Found Family
• Enemies to Lovers
March 25, 2025
Vertex by Terina Adams! The blurb really draws you in.
There is amazing world building and character building, but feel some could have been cut out (I did get a little lost in the beginning) the first 50% is quite slow, but then it picks up its speed.
Some real triggers for people, unaliving of immediate family members on the page.
Open door spice.
Fantasy romance with spice, forbidden love and found family
There is amazing world building and character building, but feel some could have been cut out (I did get a little lost in the beginning) the first 50% is quite slow, but then it picks up its speed.
Some real triggers for people, unaliving of immediate family members on the page.
Open door spice.
Fantasy romance with spice, forbidden love and found family
May 2, 2025
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway!
Firstly, I’d like to note that the page count given on the site is very off. As of the time of writing this review, it says that it’s 610 pages, but it was actually 753 pages.
A note about the formatting as well, VERY few exclamation points are used even though people are yelling, so it makes it feel as though there’s no actual yelling going on. A lot of the yelling ends with just a period or a comma, so it sounds more as though it’s casual speaking until it all of the sudden says “they yelled” afterwards.
This book is a long read. It’s very wordsy for the sake of being wordsy, and it repeats a lot of information as well as includes a lot of information that really doesn’t have to be included, or elaborated on as much as it is. If that doesn’t bother you, that’s great! But there are definitely points in time where you can skip paragraphs at a time and there hasn’t been any progress in the story at all.
There are a lot of details that are given as an entire word dump in the beginning of the story that could have been revealed in small pieces throughout, so it definitely caused the story to start incredibly slowly. There’s all this talk of the Vertex, as an example, but they don’t actually step foot into the games until the 330ish page mark. A lot of things are expressed in detail with very little action in between.
Holy world building. There’s so much of it in this book, which is great, though it can definitely be overwhelming. There’s a lot of detail paid attention to parts that probably don’t need it (such as the hiding place that the tribe uses) or didn’t need where they were placed, but it does add a lot of detail and vividness to the world, which in my opinion shows that the world is genuinely loved by the author, and that she spent a very long time thinking about and planning the lore of this book.
People argue in this book. A LOT. Every time dialogue comes up, it seems to be someone arguing with someone else. And sometimes it does not let up. One of the arguments that I counted lasted eight pages, and there were definitely longer ones in the book before I started counting them. If you like reading people arguing with each other, this is definitely the book for you.
I did not like the first chapter of the book at all. It was a good set up, but it was poorly laid out. The argument between Aara and Hiran was unnecessarily drawn out, and it felt as though the death of Troy was made completely irrelevant because such a small amount of time was spent on the death of someone Aara supposedly cared a lot about in favor Hiran and Aara’s repetitive back and forth.
On the note of Hiran, Amri’s constant comparison to him is kind of weird. Amri is Aara’s love interest, but he’s constantly compared to Hiran in an almost uncomfortable manner, as if Aara might see Hiran as MORE than a brother, if you catch my drift.
The death of the prince was very satisfying. We’ll see if he’s actually dead though! I did enjoy that scene A LOT. Having Aara face her fears head on was really great to see, and it made for a really impactful scene, I believe. Ces’s death (if she really is dead as well!) didn’t compare at all, if I’m honest. It felt as though it was hastily thrown into the story.
I did not care for Alysna’s story at all until the very end. It was incredibly uninteresting aside from the parts where she and Novell engaged in their romance. I have to say that I really did love them as a couple! They were so cute together, and I did enjoy Novell as a character a lot. I think she was my favorite in the book as she really seems to be the only complex character a lot of the time. She truly was interesting, and her death was really sad. It was a fantastic scene and I definitely saw it coming, but that didn’t mean that the scene was made any less because of that. Honestly, it was a fantastic scene that almost bumped my rating to a 4 star one. I LOVE that Alysna got her talents, supposedly. By the end of that scene, I really did want to see what the next portion of Alysna’s story was. It was just a shame that the rest of her story was so boring at times.
Overall, it was a decent read! I’m not sure if I’ll opt into a second book or not yet, though the page count for it might be the deciding factor. If a lot of unnecessary information is cut out of it, it would definitely be a read more suiting to my tastes, but overall this book was a decent read! The world is super interesting and very elaborate!
Firstly, I’d like to note that the page count given on the site is very off. As of the time of writing this review, it says that it’s 610 pages, but it was actually 753 pages.
A note about the formatting as well, VERY few exclamation points are used even though people are yelling, so it makes it feel as though there’s no actual yelling going on. A lot of the yelling ends with just a period or a comma, so it sounds more as though it’s casual speaking until it all of the sudden says “they yelled” afterwards.
This book is a long read. It’s very wordsy for the sake of being wordsy, and it repeats a lot of information as well as includes a lot of information that really doesn’t have to be included, or elaborated on as much as it is. If that doesn’t bother you, that’s great! But there are definitely points in time where you can skip paragraphs at a time and there hasn’t been any progress in the story at all.
There are a lot of details that are given as an entire word dump in the beginning of the story that could have been revealed in small pieces throughout, so it definitely caused the story to start incredibly slowly. There’s all this talk of the Vertex, as an example, but they don’t actually step foot into the games until the 330ish page mark. A lot of things are expressed in detail with very little action in between.
Holy world building. There’s so much of it in this book, which is great, though it can definitely be overwhelming. There’s a lot of detail paid attention to parts that probably don’t need it (such as the hiding place that the tribe uses) or didn’t need where they were placed, but it does add a lot of detail and vividness to the world, which in my opinion shows that the world is genuinely loved by the author, and that she spent a very long time thinking about and planning the lore of this book.
People argue in this book. A LOT. Every time dialogue comes up, it seems to be someone arguing with someone else. And sometimes it does not let up. One of the arguments that I counted lasted eight pages, and there were definitely longer ones in the book before I started counting them. If you like reading people arguing with each other, this is definitely the book for you.
I did not like the first chapter of the book at all. It was a good set up, but it was poorly laid out. The argument between Aara and Hiran was unnecessarily drawn out, and it felt as though the death of Troy was made completely irrelevant because such a small amount of time was spent on the death of someone Aara supposedly cared a lot about in favor Hiran and Aara’s repetitive back and forth.
On the note of Hiran, Amri’s constant comparison to him is kind of weird. Amri is Aara’s love interest, but he’s constantly compared to Hiran in an almost uncomfortable manner, as if Aara might see Hiran as MORE than a brother, if you catch my drift.
The death of the prince was very satisfying. We’ll see if he’s actually dead though! I did enjoy that scene A LOT. Having Aara face her fears head on was really great to see, and it made for a really impactful scene, I believe. Ces’s death (if she really is dead as well!) didn’t compare at all, if I’m honest. It felt as though it was hastily thrown into the story.
I did not care for Alysna’s story at all until the very end. It was incredibly uninteresting aside from the parts where she and Novell engaged in their romance. I have to say that I really did love them as a couple! They were so cute together, and I did enjoy Novell as a character a lot. I think she was my favorite in the book as she really seems to be the only complex character a lot of the time. She truly was interesting, and her death was really sad. It was a fantastic scene and I definitely saw it coming, but that didn’t mean that the scene was made any less because of that. Honestly, it was a fantastic scene that almost bumped my rating to a 4 star one. I LOVE that Alysna got her talents, supposedly. By the end of that scene, I really did want to see what the next portion of Alysna’s story was. It was just a shame that the rest of her story was so boring at times.
Overall, it was a decent read! I’m not sure if I’ll opt into a second book or not yet, though the page count for it might be the deciding factor. If a lot of unnecessary information is cut out of it, it would definitely be a read more suiting to my tastes, but overall this book was a decent read! The world is super interesting and very elaborate!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2025
Thank you so much to the amazing author for sharing an ARC of this book with me !!!
“Sometimes the weak become the most devastating force”
“Trust no one, little fighter. Least of all me”
“The survivors are the ones who recover from being utterly broken”
This book was … wow. I don’t think I have words … I’m left absolutely speechless!!! When the author reached out to me I was so excited and then life got in the way and I delayed reading it … how bad it was of me!!! Especially considering how amazing this book is!!! Friggin hell what a fantasy story!!! Two main characters with completely different paths and backgrounds both on a similar journey of discovery, betrayal, loss, grief and war. Both will be broken beyond recognition and both will rise from those ashes but what a journey they will have. Aara is my favourite character. It’s incredibly strong the kinship I feel towards her in ways I won’t be able to explain fully. While Alsyna … again another part of my soul. I feel so many contrasting emotions towards her. But most of all, she is the character that made me believe and hope for the better all throughout this book. With Aara … the stubbornness and the strength of her determination and need of revenge brought me forward and allowed me to feel the same things she was feeling which was overwhelming at times. This is a book of found family, grief, action, trials, magic, desert and FF forbidden romance and MF love triangle where you really wanna stand for the good boy but will inevitably be drawn to the dark haired, shadow daddy, morally grey man of the situation … and in this case a very mysterious Blade Master for a terrible king!!! And this book didn’t hold back on the spice either !!!! Loved that !!! But after that kind of cliffhanger, jaw dropping ending … I need the sequel !!! RIGHT NOW !!!
“No one survives alone. Together we’re stronger. Together life means more, life gives us more”
“No survivors spend their life on their knees. It’s time you rose from yours”
“Sometimes the weak become the most devastating force”
“Trust no one, little fighter. Least of all me”
“The survivors are the ones who recover from being utterly broken”
This book was … wow. I don’t think I have words … I’m left absolutely speechless!!! When the author reached out to me I was so excited and then life got in the way and I delayed reading it … how bad it was of me!!! Especially considering how amazing this book is!!! Friggin hell what a fantasy story!!! Two main characters with completely different paths and backgrounds both on a similar journey of discovery, betrayal, loss, grief and war. Both will be broken beyond recognition and both will rise from those ashes but what a journey they will have. Aara is my favourite character. It’s incredibly strong the kinship I feel towards her in ways I won’t be able to explain fully. While Alsyna … again another part of my soul. I feel so many contrasting emotions towards her. But most of all, she is the character that made me believe and hope for the better all throughout this book. With Aara … the stubbornness and the strength of her determination and need of revenge brought me forward and allowed me to feel the same things she was feeling which was overwhelming at times. This is a book of found family, grief, action, trials, magic, desert and FF forbidden romance and MF love triangle where you really wanna stand for the good boy but will inevitably be drawn to the dark haired, shadow daddy, morally grey man of the situation … and in this case a very mysterious Blade Master for a terrible king!!! And this book didn’t hold back on the spice either !!!! Loved that !!! But after that kind of cliffhanger, jaw dropping ending … I need the sequel !!! RIGHT NOW !!!
“No one survives alone. Together we’re stronger. Together life means more, life gives us more”
“No survivors spend their life on their knees. It’s time you rose from yours”
May 10, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
“Sometimes the weak become the most devastating force”
This is an epic high stakes romantasy with forbidden love and spice, morally grey shadow daddies and strong-willed fierce FMCs, found family and witty banter, magic and trials, grief and loss, betrayals and war. It is important to note that before indulging, the reader should check the triggers, some of these topics are heavy.
The story follows two FMCs, Aara and Alysna on different journeys. After Aara’s desert tribe is devastated and the world around her wrecked, she is left as a captive and thrust into a labyrinthine where her wits will be tested and her list of allies grows slim and her competitors are growing ever more dangerous. At the of the Vertex is the one who slayed her people, with the ache of destroying him threating her sanity, she fights against the feelings she doesn’t wait to admit she has. Then there is Alysna, who is stuck in a seemingly loveless marriage to the King, where his cruelty knows no bounds and she feels utterly alone. That is until she is mesmerized by her husband’s mistress. The Kings jealousy is a death sentence to anyone who dares seek his mistress. Alysna is willing to risk it all, because this woman has brought feeling and passion back to her life, and she is not willing to let it go so easily.
If you are looking for a light and fast read, turn away now. This is a THICCC book, but so worth it. The plot and world building are very well done, but the pacing is a little slow in the beginning. But fear not, when it picks up, buckle in because you are in for a wild ride. The cliff hanger and twists definitely left me stunned!
“The survivors are the ones who recover from being utterly broken”
“Sometimes the weak become the most devastating force”
This is an epic high stakes romantasy with forbidden love and spice, morally grey shadow daddies and strong-willed fierce FMCs, found family and witty banter, magic and trials, grief and loss, betrayals and war. It is important to note that before indulging, the reader should check the triggers, some of these topics are heavy.
The story follows two FMCs, Aara and Alysna on different journeys. After Aara’s desert tribe is devastated and the world around her wrecked, she is left as a captive and thrust into a labyrinthine where her wits will be tested and her list of allies grows slim and her competitors are growing ever more dangerous. At the of the Vertex is the one who slayed her people, with the ache of destroying him threating her sanity, she fights against the feelings she doesn’t wait to admit she has. Then there is Alysna, who is stuck in a seemingly loveless marriage to the King, where his cruelty knows no bounds and she feels utterly alone. That is until she is mesmerized by her husband’s mistress. The Kings jealousy is a death sentence to anyone who dares seek his mistress. Alysna is willing to risk it all, because this woman has brought feeling and passion back to her life, and she is not willing to let it go so easily.
If you are looking for a light and fast read, turn away now. This is a THICCC book, but so worth it. The plot and world building are very well done, but the pacing is a little slow in the beginning. But fear not, when it picks up, buckle in because you are in for a wild ride. The cliff hanger and twists definitely left me stunned!
“The survivors are the ones who recover from being utterly broken”
March 13, 2025
I should be taking the time to process this book, but we are going to process it together:
This book has SO much in it. The world building, the character building, the minute details of each scene...it is all very specific and it builds.
If you want a quick, easy Romantasy read, this is not it. But if you want gritty, detailed world building with a complex plot and even more complex characters? Enter the Vertex.
Aara is one of my favorite kinds of FMCs. She is flawed and strong-willed. She gets annoying, and she doesn't listen. Her lessons are learned the hard way, and she doesn't listen to reason. That being said, she grows immensely from the first chapter to the last and I just know that she's going to end up being a force to be reckoned with.
Alysna is our wallflower. She tries to stay as small as possible and lets others rule her life. Her part in this story is smaller than Aara's, but her arc was also really cool to see and she's going to be fierce as the series progresses.
This world building is hefty and the pacing is pretty slow, I'll be honest. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing. This is thorough story writing, and I stored it all away because it's going to be important later, we are trusting the process.
I spent a lot of my time trying to connect the dots and figure out the mysteries (I never did), and I was completely caught off-guard by the ending. The ending actually made me want to throw my kindle because while I LOVED the twist, I also didn't love it because that's not what I wanted to happen. But again, I'm trusting the process!
I'm already ready for Book 2. Let's go!
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
This book has SO much in it. The world building, the character building, the minute details of each scene...it is all very specific and it builds.
If you want a quick, easy Romantasy read, this is not it. But if you want gritty, detailed world building with a complex plot and even more complex characters? Enter the Vertex.
Aara is one of my favorite kinds of FMCs. She is flawed and strong-willed. She gets annoying, and she doesn't listen. Her lessons are learned the hard way, and she doesn't listen to reason. That being said, she grows immensely from the first chapter to the last and I just know that she's going to end up being a force to be reckoned with.
Alysna is our wallflower. She tries to stay as small as possible and lets others rule her life. Her part in this story is smaller than Aara's, but her arc was also really cool to see and she's going to be fierce as the series progresses.
This world building is hefty and the pacing is pretty slow, I'll be honest. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing. This is thorough story writing, and I stored it all away because it's going to be important later, we are trusting the process.
I spent a lot of my time trying to connect the dots and figure out the mysteries (I never did), and I was completely caught off-guard by the ending. The ending actually made me want to throw my kindle because while I LOVED the twist, I also didn't love it because that's not what I wanted to happen. But again, I'm trusting the process!
I'm already ready for Book 2. Let's go!
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
March 25, 2025
Vertex is a fantasy romance thats heavy on the Fantasy light on the Romance. The tropes include Hidden Magic, forbidden love, evil/corrupt power structures, secrets kept and destinies to be revealed.
Triggers include death of loved ones, child neglect, confinement, and characters mental health and trauma. The spice is 1.5 chilli's with some on page scenes but mild action.
The world building in this story takes up a lot of space and you get a real feel for the different areas of the story. The dry desert, the dark and ominous surrounds of the vertex contrasted with the Elites and the colours and imaginary that surrounds them. It all assists in setting the tone for the characters journeys. The main characters and conflicts are introduced early and we get a taste of the mystery and quest to come and then the pace slows right down. We are right there with Aara in her confusion in not knowing what the heck is going on. The revelations and infrequent and vague at best. The pace takes away from the intrigue as frustration is the main feeling. There is enough breadcrumbs to keep you interested and I do want to know what it all means.
Alysna story moves a little quicker and we get to see her character development more clearly and she is the oppressed woman turned feminist rage we all love to read.
Warning do NOT get attached to characters, there will be death.
Overall this book is recommended for fantasy lovers who are willing to put in the time and effort into a well developed and fleshed out series with what is building to quite the epic quest and an enemies to lovers trope with a sunshine love interest to complete the triangle.
Triggers include death of loved ones, child neglect, confinement, and characters mental health and trauma. The spice is 1.5 chilli's with some on page scenes but mild action.
The world building in this story takes up a lot of space and you get a real feel for the different areas of the story. The dry desert, the dark and ominous surrounds of the vertex contrasted with the Elites and the colours and imaginary that surrounds them. It all assists in setting the tone for the characters journeys. The main characters and conflicts are introduced early and we get a taste of the mystery and quest to come and then the pace slows right down. We are right there with Aara in her confusion in not knowing what the heck is going on. The revelations and infrequent and vague at best. The pace takes away from the intrigue as frustration is the main feeling. There is enough breadcrumbs to keep you interested and I do want to know what it all means.
Alysna story moves a little quicker and we get to see her character development more clearly and she is the oppressed woman turned feminist rage we all love to read.
Warning do NOT get attached to characters, there will be death.
Overall this book is recommended for fantasy lovers who are willing to put in the time and effort into a well developed and fleshed out series with what is building to quite the epic quest and an enemies to lovers trope with a sunshine love interest to complete the triangle.
March 27, 2025
Adams has done it again! I absolutely loved this book, with its perfect blend of intrigue and excitement. The story features two strong, determined female characters, Aara and Alysna, who will fight tooth and nail to defend what they desire and need in a dystopian gladiator style setting. In this world, everyone seems to have unique abilities or powers and is forced to battle in an arena for the King’s cruel amusement. It gave me more of a mature version of The Hunger Games.
Aara, captured and forced to fight in the King’s sadistic games, will do anything in her mission to stay alive and protect her newfound family. But to do so, she must team up with Jarin, the one person she despises most. Jarin is a morally complex, devilishly handsome Blade Master whom Aara has sworn to kill. Oh, Jarin… the book boyfriend readers will love to hate, yet secretly yearn for.
While the first half of the book is rich in world building and character development, trust me, it’s worth sticking with it. The spice and the intense battle scenes that follow will make it all come together in an epic read!
*Thank you Terina Adams for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
Aara, captured and forced to fight in the King’s sadistic games, will do anything in her mission to stay alive and protect her newfound family. But to do so, she must team up with Jarin, the one person she despises most. Jarin is a morally complex, devilishly handsome Blade Master whom Aara has sworn to kill. Oh, Jarin… the book boyfriend readers will love to hate, yet secretly yearn for.
While the first half of the book is rich in world building and character development, trust me, it’s worth sticking with it. The spice and the intense battle scenes that follow will make it all come together in an epic read!
*Thank you Terina Adams for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
May 30, 2025
So, I am still reading this novel currently. I'm almost halfway through it. I will say that so far the world building is so incredibly detailed and it's a long one. I however did spot 2 grammatical mistakes in this first half. I was not actively looking for any
When I am very into a book I never notice these things but these were obvious ones, one of which was during a dialogue where the word "are" had a typo and it was arw. It's a great book so far but I think it does need some polishing.
When I am very into a book I never notice these things but these were obvious ones, one of which was during a dialogue where the word "are" had a typo and it was arw. It's a great book so far but I think it does need some polishing.
March 26, 2025
Aara is a young girl who has been plucked from her home to compete in the games of the Vertex. She is broken, but needs to hone her talent to survive. She seeks out Jarin, the Blade Master, to train her. Her love for others is holding her back, she needs to learn how to love herself enough to survive.
Queen Alysna lives in the shadows. Trying to avoid king Takasi as much as possible. She finds a friendship for Novell, the king’s mistress, and learns her secrets. Then they find themselves having to flee the life they know and love.
Triggers:
- Lost Family
- Violence
Tropes:
- Found family
- Games and trials
- Forbidden love
This was not an easy read. High fantasy can be hard to follow, but the descriptions are so well done, you feel immersed in the world. You feel with the characters.
Queen Alysna lives in the shadows. Trying to avoid king Takasi as much as possible. She finds a friendship for Novell, the king’s mistress, and learns her secrets. Then they find themselves having to flee the life they know and love.
Triggers:
- Lost Family
- Violence
Tropes:
- Found family
- Games and trials
- Forbidden love
This was not an easy read. High fantasy can be hard to follow, but the descriptions are so well done, you feel immersed in the world. You feel with the characters.
May 9, 2025
This was a great read. The world building was rich, complex, and intriguing.
It was a long read, and it took me a few days to get through, but I was entertained throughout. There wasn't a dull page.
It was intense, heartbreaking, and thrilling.
It was a long read, and it took me a few days to get through, but I was entertained throughout. There wasn't a dull page.
It was intense, heartbreaking, and thrilling.
July 12, 2025
I was the lucky winner of a copy of Vertex, thank you so much to the publisher, and to Goodreads for hosting the giveaway contest.
Vertex offers a solid take on a classic and always enjoyable fantasy setup: an underdog race of people forced to fight for survival and dignity in a brutal competition, this time, in an arena known as the Vertex, designed for the amusement of the nobility. It’s a world with high stakes, vivid injustice, and the kind of backdrop that fantasy readers love to sink into.
The protagonist is plucky, likable, and easy to root for, carrying the story with heart and determination. Terina Adams clearly has a passion for her world and characters, and that shines through in the narrative.
That said, I did find the book to be much longer than it needed to be. The story could have benefited from a tighter edit, trimming 100 pages or so would have helped the pacing immensely and made the action and emotional beats land more effectively.
Still, fans of the genre will likely find plenty to enjoy, especially those who appreciate detailed worldbuilding and underdog-driven stories. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing me with a copy and look forward to seeing how this author grows in future work.
Vertex offers a solid take on a classic and always enjoyable fantasy setup: an underdog race of people forced to fight for survival and dignity in a brutal competition, this time, in an arena known as the Vertex, designed for the amusement of the nobility. It’s a world with high stakes, vivid injustice, and the kind of backdrop that fantasy readers love to sink into.
The protagonist is plucky, likable, and easy to root for, carrying the story with heart and determination. Terina Adams clearly has a passion for her world and characters, and that shines through in the narrative.
That said, I did find the book to be much longer than it needed to be. The story could have benefited from a tighter edit, trimming 100 pages or so would have helped the pacing immensely and made the action and emotional beats land more effectively.
Still, fans of the genre will likely find plenty to enjoy, especially those who appreciate detailed worldbuilding and underdog-driven stories. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing me with a copy and look forward to seeing how this author grows in future work.
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