What do you think?
Rate this book
Thrones of the Forsaken #1
Labyrinthine
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Every generation, the gods take their due. This time, they might take her.
Princess Azhara was born cursed. Marked by ancient magic. Promised to an unholy bargain sealed in blood. When the Reaping begins, suitors will descend into the labyrinth beneath the palace—each one fighting to win her hand or die trying.
She's never had a choice. Not in the Reaping. Not in her future. Not even in the power buried beneath her skin.
Until now.
The golden prince arrives with charm too slick to trust and eyes that gleam with secrets. Her quiet guardian—once her only constant—has begun to keep dangerous truths from her. And as the labyrinth trials unfold, Azhara realizes the maze isn't her only trap.
It's the men. One lies. One loves. One kills. And she's not sure which is which.
As suitors fall and secrets surface, Azhara must choose what's worth saving—her kingdom, her heart, or herself.
Princess Azhara was born cursed. Marked by ancient magic. Promised to an unholy bargain sealed in blood. When the Reaping begins, suitors will descend into the labyrinth beneath the palace—each one fighting to win her hand or die trying.
She's never had a choice. Not in the Reaping. Not in her future. Not even in the power buried beneath her skin.
Until now.
The golden prince arrives with charm too slick to trust and eyes that gleam with secrets. Her quiet guardian—once her only constant—has begun to keep dangerous truths from her. And as the labyrinth trials unfold, Azhara realizes the maze isn't her only trap.
It's the men. One lies. One loves. One kills. And she's not sure which is which.
As suitors fall and secrets surface, Azhara must choose what's worth saving—her kingdom, her heart, or herself.
Audible Audio
Expected publication May 12, 2026
About the author
C.J. Holmes
15 books160 followersCJ Holmes lives in England, where it's cold and damp, and it's always raining - which provides her with enough time to write stories about magic, fantasy and romance. She'd like to escape to somewhere warm but that might mean that she spends too much time sunbathing and not enough time writing books.
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 28, 2026
Holy love triangle!!!!
I am not typically a love triangle lover, and this one had me emotionally spiraling in the best and most frustrating way. One minute I knew exactly who I wanted Azahara with, and the next I was completely convinced she should choose the other. The internal conflict was REAL but honestly, that just shows how well it was written.
What really stood out to me was Azahara’s character growth. Watching her move from a life shaped by expectations and lack of choice into someone willing to claim her own future was incredibly satisfying. There is something powerful about a heroine who learns to trust herself and ultimately gets to decide what her life will be.
The world-building is rich without feeling overwhelming, and the descriptive writing makes everything feel vivid and immersive. C.J. Holmes creates an atmosphere that pulls you in quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is strong, the tension stays high, and there is always something unfolding to keep you invested.
And the ending? Very satisfying. The emotional payoff felt earned, and I closed the book feeling genuinely glad I took this journey with these characters.
While love triangles aren’t usually my favorite trope, this one is undeniably well done my frustration was less about the trope itself and more about how invested I became.
If you enjoy romantasy with layered characters, strong development, immersive world-building, emotional tension, and a heroine who steps into her own power, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A fast-paced, engaging read and a very solid Romantasy. Thanks to the author for an early copy!
I am not typically a love triangle lover, and this one had me emotionally spiraling in the best and most frustrating way. One minute I knew exactly who I wanted Azahara with, and the next I was completely convinced she should choose the other. The internal conflict was REAL but honestly, that just shows how well it was written.
What really stood out to me was Azahara’s character growth. Watching her move from a life shaped by expectations and lack of choice into someone willing to claim her own future was incredibly satisfying. There is something powerful about a heroine who learns to trust herself and ultimately gets to decide what her life will be.
The world-building is rich without feeling overwhelming, and the descriptive writing makes everything feel vivid and immersive. C.J. Holmes creates an atmosphere that pulls you in quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is strong, the tension stays high, and there is always something unfolding to keep you invested.
And the ending? Very satisfying. The emotional payoff felt earned, and I closed the book feeling genuinely glad I took this journey with these characters.
While love triangles aren’t usually my favorite trope, this one is undeniably well done my frustration was less about the trope itself and more about how invested I became.
If you enjoy romantasy with layered characters, strong development, immersive world-building, emotional tension, and a heroine who steps into her own power, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A fast-paced, engaging read and a very solid Romantasy. Thanks to the author for an early copy!
March 21, 2026
Thank you C.J. Holmes for this eARC!
I’m not typically one to enjoy a love triangle but this was different and I’m here for it!! Azhara’s internal struggle was complicated and it doesn’t help that she has trust issues that are almost beyond repair.
The twists and turns have you constantly questioning how you want the ending of this book to play out. Did I see some of the reveals coming? Of course, but it didn’t help me choose how I wanted this to go.
I love the writing style and it made me feel like I truly knew what Azhara was feeling - even if I did want to slap her occasionally to knock some sense in her. Same with Mallan, I do hope there are future plans for his POV because that would be amazing to read. He has many pretty words but I also wanted to throttle him more often than not. In the end, I believe it was tied up with a pretty bow and what more could we want?
I’m not typically one to enjoy a love triangle but this was different and I’m here for it!! Azhara’s internal struggle was complicated and it doesn’t help that she has trust issues that are almost beyond repair.
The twists and turns have you constantly questioning how you want the ending of this book to play out. Did I see some of the reveals coming? Of course, but it didn’t help me choose how I wanted this to go.
I love the writing style and it made me feel like I truly knew what Azhara was feeling - even if I did want to slap her occasionally to knock some sense in her. Same with Mallan, I do hope there are future plans for his POV because that would be amazing to read. He has many pretty words but I also wanted to throttle him more often than not. In the end, I believe it was tied up with a pretty bow and what more could we want?
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is everything a Dark Romantasy should be! I swear I wanted to throw my Kindle a few times during my read. This book had one of my favorite tropes, a Love Triangle. Not a fluffy love triangle, I'm talking rip your soul out! You have no idea how Azhara will ever choose kind of Love Triangle! Bravo CJ for writing this masterpiece.
Labyrinthine, is a Dark seductive myth retelling Romantasy that captures the heart. You have deadly trials, cursed royalty, dark labyrinth, a feared monster, dark gods, high stakes, plus so much more. Also, the slow burn and yearning in this book! The way I devoured this book because I simply couldn't put it down. The world building in this book was fantastic. It is immersive, but well written and allowed you to feel what the characters felt. Labyrinthine follows a princess named Azhara, who was cursed by the gods to hold a power that could only be claimed by someone winning her hand through deadly trials in the annual Reaping. None ever survived the Reaping, but this time things take a Dark and deadly turn. A Golden Prince and a Dark Commander fight for her heart, but who wins? THESE TWO MEN will have your heart and soul in a chokehold! There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming and one of them nearly took me out emotionally.
If you love a book that captures all the elements of Dark Fantasy and lyrical writing style, then this book is exactly what you want to read. Labyrinthine is a standalone in CJs new series "Thrones of the Forsaken". This one was a 6-Star read with a TWO 🌶 spice rating.
Wonder if you will be Team Darian or Team Mallen? I wish I could tell you which Team that I picked from the beginning, but I can't spoil it for you! Amazing book for CJ's Traditionally Published debut series. I recommend to pick this book up as soon as you can!
Labyrinthine, is a Dark seductive myth retelling Romantasy that captures the heart. You have deadly trials, cursed royalty, dark labyrinth, a feared monster, dark gods, high stakes, plus so much more. Also, the slow burn and yearning in this book! The way I devoured this book because I simply couldn't put it down. The world building in this book was fantastic. It is immersive, but well written and allowed you to feel what the characters felt. Labyrinthine follows a princess named Azhara, who was cursed by the gods to hold a power that could only be claimed by someone winning her hand through deadly trials in the annual Reaping. None ever survived the Reaping, but this time things take a Dark and deadly turn. A Golden Prince and a Dark Commander fight for her heart, but who wins? THESE TWO MEN will have your heart and soul in a chokehold! There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming and one of them nearly took me out emotionally.
If you love a book that captures all the elements of Dark Fantasy and lyrical writing style, then this book is exactly what you want to read. Labyrinthine is a standalone in CJs new series "Thrones of the Forsaken". This one was a 6-Star read with a TWO 🌶 spice rating.
Wonder if you will be Team Darian or Team Mallen? I wish I could tell you which Team that I picked from the beginning, but I can't spoil it for you! Amazing book for CJ's Traditionally Published debut series. I recommend to pick this book up as soon as you can!
March 24, 2026
This was one of those rare reads where I went in with sky-high expectations… and somehow still got exactly what I wanted.
The story is drenched in deception, secrets, betrayal, and plot twists that just keep escalating into complete carnage. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening, the rug was pulled out from under me. And don’t even get me started on the love triangle… it’s the kind that melts your insides and then casually ruins your emotional stability for fun.
There’s so much to love here: enemies to lovers, light versus shadow, deadly trials, cursed bloodlines… it’s basically a checklist of addictive tropes done right.
And the characters? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The men are dangerous, morally questionable, and impossible to ignore, while the FMC holds her own with a fierce determination to set things right no matter the cost. The dynamic between them all is electric.
The author crafted relationships that pull you in so deeply you almost stop asking questions… even when you definitely should be. Trust is fragile in this world, and I found myself constantly second-guessing who was genuine and who was about to stab someone in the back.
It kept me hooked, suspicious, and fully invested from beginning to end.
I loved everything about it. The plot, the magic, the romance… all of it just worked.
The story is drenched in deception, secrets, betrayal, and plot twists that just keep escalating into complete carnage. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening, the rug was pulled out from under me. And don’t even get me started on the love triangle… it’s the kind that melts your insides and then casually ruins your emotional stability for fun.
There’s so much to love here: enemies to lovers, light versus shadow, deadly trials, cursed bloodlines… it’s basically a checklist of addictive tropes done right.
And the characters? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The men are dangerous, morally questionable, and impossible to ignore, while the FMC holds her own with a fierce determination to set things right no matter the cost. The dynamic between them all is electric.
The author crafted relationships that pull you in so deeply you almost stop asking questions… even when you definitely should be. Trust is fragile in this world, and I found myself constantly second-guessing who was genuine and who was about to stab someone in the back.
It kept me hooked, suspicious, and fully invested from beginning to end.
I loved everything about it. The plot, the magic, the romance… all of it just worked.
April 15, 2026
Thank you to CJ Holmes and City Owl Press for providing an advanced reader copy of Labyrinthine in exchange for an honest review.
Labyrinthine is a dark, Greek-inspired reimagining of the Athenian-Theseus-Minotaur myth.. add in some dangerous, shadow magic and it becomes a gripping, otherworldly descent into legend.
The gods abandoned Starsfall the night Princess Azhara was born, binding her with powerful magic.. a curse that has defined her life ever since. Every ten years, the kingdom holds the Reaping, where men compete for her hand in marriage. The victor is said to unlock the magic within her and restore it to the realm.
But Azhara is no prize.. she is a prisoner. Her father, the king, is a tyrant behind closed doors. To the kingdom, he plays the role of a devoted father and ruler. In private, he is cruel, manipulative, and abusive, keeping Azhara under tight control to maintain his power. Confined to the palace, she is constantly guarded by the Royal Commander, Mallen, her lifelong protector and mentor. When she tries to escape, it’s he who drags her back, and then.. confesses his undying love for her! The revelation changes everything Azhara thought she understood, forcing her to confront feelings she never allowed herself to have.
This year’s Reaping brings a new contender.. the Prince Larksbind, Darian. He is everything Mallen is not, charming, radiant, and dangerously easy to fall for. Torn between them, she feels the pull of two very different worlds.. Mallen, dark and possessive, and fiercely protective of her… and Darian, golden and princely, and determined to set her free.
As the Reaping unfolds, so do the lies. Everything Azhara has been told about her birth, her mother, and even her magic is a carefully constructed illusion. Darian begins to unravel the truth, while Mallen, claiming to protect her, keeps secrets of his own. But there are revelations in the Labyrinth.. when Azhara finally enters it to save Darian and the remaining tributes, she comes face to face with the reality she was never meant to discover.. the monster was never a myth, and it was never who she thought. But neither were the “truths” she was told.
To unbind her magic, Azhara must face her destiny.. confront her tyrannical father, along with his formidable magic and power. In doing so, she can reclaim what is hers.. what was always hers.. to not only save herself but also her true love and her kingdom.
Overall, this was a gripping story with a compelling plot and high stakes. My only critique is that the writing style felt somewhat truncated. I would have appreciated a smoother flow that allowed the tension and character development to breathe more fully.
Labyrinthine is a dark, Greek-inspired reimagining of the Athenian-Theseus-Minotaur myth.. add in some dangerous, shadow magic and it becomes a gripping, otherworldly descent into legend.
The gods abandoned Starsfall the night Princess Azhara was born, binding her with powerful magic.. a curse that has defined her life ever since. Every ten years, the kingdom holds the Reaping, where men compete for her hand in marriage. The victor is said to unlock the magic within her and restore it to the realm.
But Azhara is no prize.. she is a prisoner. Her father, the king, is a tyrant behind closed doors. To the kingdom, he plays the role of a devoted father and ruler. In private, he is cruel, manipulative, and abusive, keeping Azhara under tight control to maintain his power. Confined to the palace, she is constantly guarded by the Royal Commander, Mallen, her lifelong protector and mentor. When she tries to escape, it’s he who drags her back, and then.. confesses his undying love for her! The revelation changes everything Azhara thought she understood, forcing her to confront feelings she never allowed herself to have.
This year’s Reaping brings a new contender.. the Prince Larksbind, Darian. He is everything Mallen is not, charming, radiant, and dangerously easy to fall for. Torn between them, she feels the pull of two very different worlds.. Mallen, dark and possessive, and fiercely protective of her… and Darian, golden and princely, and determined to set her free.
As the Reaping unfolds, so do the lies. Everything Azhara has been told about her birth, her mother, and even her magic is a carefully constructed illusion. Darian begins to unravel the truth, while Mallen, claiming to protect her, keeps secrets of his own. But there are revelations in the Labyrinth.. when Azhara finally enters it to save Darian and the remaining tributes, she comes face to face with the reality she was never meant to discover.. the monster was never a myth, and it was never who she thought. But neither were the “truths” she was told.
To unbind her magic, Azhara must face her destiny.. confront her tyrannical father, along with his formidable magic and power. In doing so, she can reclaim what is hers.. what was always hers.. to not only save herself but also her true love and her kingdom.
Overall, this was a gripping story with a compelling plot and high stakes. My only critique is that the writing style felt somewhat truncated. I would have appreciated a smoother flow that allowed the tension and character development to breathe more fully.
April 15, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy received by the author.
“It’s what men don’t say that tells the real story.”
Azhara is the ultimate empath, badass survivor. She has been raised in the most toxic environment, forced to perform for her father, and to be the prize to be claimed by whoever wins the impossible trials. She has learned to anticipate the moods/emotions of those around her in order to survive. My god, does her dad SUCK!
I usually don’t care for love triangles, but this one was well done. I liked how she was going back and forth, the turmoil was believeable, and ultimately she made her choice without either man being horrible and making it easy to choose. She just followed her gut and what her heart truly wanted.
Hell yeah for strong FMC’s and imperfect love interests, who are at least feminist and supportive, that’s what I want to read! The worldbuilding was great, not too heavy, and the real focus was on the emotions of the characters. Azhara feels so deeply, but she is the product of the environment she in which she was raised. Such a good book!
“It’s what men don’t say that tells the real story.”
Azhara is the ultimate empath, badass survivor. She has been raised in the most toxic environment, forced to perform for her father, and to be the prize to be claimed by whoever wins the impossible trials. She has learned to anticipate the moods/emotions of those around her in order to survive. My god, does her dad SUCK!
I usually don’t care for love triangles, but this one was well done. I liked how she was going back and forth, the turmoil was believeable, and ultimately she made her choice without either man being horrible and making it easy to choose. She just followed her gut and what her heart truly wanted.
Hell yeah for strong FMC’s and imperfect love interests, who are at least feminist and supportive, that’s what I want to read! The worldbuilding was great, not too heavy, and the real focus was on the emotions of the characters. Azhara feels so deeply, but she is the product of the environment she in which she was raised. Such a good book!
March 31, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the Author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
👑 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Morally gray MMC’s
👑 Love triangle
🗡️ Deadly trials
👑 High stakes
🗡️ Myth retelling
Wow… this book was fantastic!
We follow our FMC Princess Azhara who was born curse, makes by ancient magic. She has never had a choice with anything.
One of my favourite things about this book was Azhara’s character growth. She was so timid in the beginning and now she is someone who will make her own choices and stand by her decisions.
She became such a strong and confident badass and I loved that!
This book has a love triangle and boy was it good!
I couldn’t decided on one man and I couldn’t predict who Azhara was going to end up with.
I won’t say anymore about the men in this as I don’t want to ruin it for other people.
But they are both 🔥🔥🔥 in their own way!
Boy this book took you on a journey and I was here for it! There are so many twists and turns. Betrayals 🤯
This book is very fast paced with high stakes!
I had no idea how this book was going to end!
I was on the end of my seat for like the last 20% of the book.
This author has written a beautiful and descriptive book that I think a lot of people are going to love.
Cannot wait to read more by this author!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
👑 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Morally gray MMC’s
👑 Love triangle
🗡️ Deadly trials
👑 High stakes
🗡️ Myth retelling
Wow… this book was fantastic!
We follow our FMC Princess Azhara who was born curse, makes by ancient magic. She has never had a choice with anything.
One of my favourite things about this book was Azhara’s character growth. She was so timid in the beginning and now she is someone who will make her own choices and stand by her decisions.
She became such a strong and confident badass and I loved that!
This book has a love triangle and boy was it good!
I couldn’t decided on one man and I couldn’t predict who Azhara was going to end up with.
I won’t say anymore about the men in this as I don’t want to ruin it for other people.
But they are both 🔥🔥🔥 in their own way!
Boy this book took you on a journey and I was here for it! There are so many twists and turns. Betrayals 🤯
This book is very fast paced with high stakes!
I had no idea how this book was going to end!
I was on the end of my seat for like the last 20% of the book.
This author has written a beautiful and descriptive book that I think a lot of people are going to love.
Cannot wait to read more by this author!!
April 5, 2026
OMG this book is unbelievable. I posted a review on my IG that best articulates how amazing this book is, but if you loved reading the poetic style of Tolkien but with the trials, dark magic, morally gray characters, and a strong female characters of modern fantasy, then you have found the perfect book with Labyrinthine. This book is so beautifully written, the story keeps you captivated and really makes you question if there are actually good or bad people, or just bad people who do good things and good people who do bad things?
This book should be on everyone’s shelf!
This book should be on everyone’s shelf!
April 3, 2026
4 stars!
I received this as an ARC read and I give my review freely.
This was a super fun story, and I was captivated throughout. I think a few things could make this a bit stronger:
1) more description of the setting
2) clearer understanding of her power
Other than those two things, this was a great read that helped me get out of a reading slump. Thank you for the chance to read and enjoy!
I received this as an ARC read and I give my review freely.
This was a super fun story, and I was captivated throughout. I think a few things could make this a bit stronger:
1) more description of the setting
2) clearer understanding of her power
Other than those two things, this was a great read that helped me get out of a reading slump. Thank you for the chance to read and enjoy!
April 3, 2026
ARC Review
This one hooked me in early with the tension — and when I say tension, I mean TENSIONING 😮💨🔥. Between the deadly labyrinth trials, the cursed princess setup, and the men circling Azhara from every direction, it had all the ingredients for a dark, addictive romantasy.
Azhara’s life is one giant prison, and that trapped feeling comes through strongly from the start. Her father is genuinely awful — abusive, power-hungry, and willing to sacrifice his own daughter for control. He constantly treats her like a burden rather than a person, which made it easy to understand why she’s so desperate to escape her world.
The romantic dynamics definitely kept things interesting. The bodyguard starts off giving loyal protector vibes, but once he confesses his feelings, that protective edge quickly starts tipping into possessive and jealous territory 🚩. At first it’s easy to brush off because it feels rooted in concern, but by the halfway mark it definitely starts leaning into the “slightly unhinged” zone. Meanwhile, the prince brings that cheeky, charming, I know I’m hot energy, but at least seems to genuinely see Azhara beyond the role she’s forced to play.
I also loved that Azhara can actually fight — give me an FMC who can wield a sword and put a man on his arse any day ⚔️✨.
That said, the biggest struggle for me was the magic system and curse lore. Even as the story progressed and more of the kingdom politics started to click into place, I still felt a little too in the dark about what her power actually was, why she had it, and what it could really do. There were hints with the neighbouring kingdoms, the monster beneath the city, and the magic bound inside her, but a lot of it felt vague enough that I was left making assumptions rather than feeling grounded in the world.
By the second half, my biggest issue became the characters themselves. Azhara’s indecisiveness started to wear thin — every choice immediately became regret, every moment turned into second-guessing, and instead of growing into the fierce independent heroine I was hoping for, she slipped more into a frustrated, woe-is-me mindset that made her harder to root for. Unfortunately, by the end, I found most of the cast equally irritating.
The final shift into the conflict with her father had potential, and I liked the direction of her magic finally being released, but because the lore still felt underexplained, the ending ended up more confusing than satisfying for me.
Overall: a strong, tension-filled start with intriguing romantasy vibes, but the unclear magic system, frustrating character choices, and confusing ending left this one sitting in the “meh” category for me.
This one hooked me in early with the tension — and when I say tension, I mean TENSIONING 😮💨🔥. Between the deadly labyrinth trials, the cursed princess setup, and the men circling Azhara from every direction, it had all the ingredients for a dark, addictive romantasy.
Azhara’s life is one giant prison, and that trapped feeling comes through strongly from the start. Her father is genuinely awful — abusive, power-hungry, and willing to sacrifice his own daughter for control. He constantly treats her like a burden rather than a person, which made it easy to understand why she’s so desperate to escape her world.
The romantic dynamics definitely kept things interesting. The bodyguard starts off giving loyal protector vibes, but once he confesses his feelings, that protective edge quickly starts tipping into possessive and jealous territory 🚩. At first it’s easy to brush off because it feels rooted in concern, but by the halfway mark it definitely starts leaning into the “slightly unhinged” zone. Meanwhile, the prince brings that cheeky, charming, I know I’m hot energy, but at least seems to genuinely see Azhara beyond the role she’s forced to play.
I also loved that Azhara can actually fight — give me an FMC who can wield a sword and put a man on his arse any day ⚔️✨.
That said, the biggest struggle for me was the magic system and curse lore. Even as the story progressed and more of the kingdom politics started to click into place, I still felt a little too in the dark about what her power actually was, why she had it, and what it could really do. There were hints with the neighbouring kingdoms, the monster beneath the city, and the magic bound inside her, but a lot of it felt vague enough that I was left making assumptions rather than feeling grounded in the world.
By the second half, my biggest issue became the characters themselves. Azhara’s indecisiveness started to wear thin — every choice immediately became regret, every moment turned into second-guessing, and instead of growing into the fierce independent heroine I was hoping for, she slipped more into a frustrated, woe-is-me mindset that made her harder to root for. Unfortunately, by the end, I found most of the cast equally irritating.
The final shift into the conflict with her father had potential, and I liked the direction of her magic finally being released, but because the lore still felt underexplained, the ending ended up more confusing than satisfying for me.
Overall: a strong, tension-filled start with intriguing romantasy vibes, but the unclear magic system, frustrating character choices, and confusing ending left this one sitting in the “meh” category for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is a very powerful book to me. I love the style of CJ Holmes the way she writes her character building. It’s like you’re sitting right with him. The world building you are immersed into not just reading, but you’re in the world, the female character at first how she is I wasn’t sure if I would like her or not, but she is shaped by the world that she was brought up and by her father, and even though she’s a princess, she to me kind of resent how she was brought up if she wanted to escape the world that she was brought up and caught between two men, one of her kingdom and another from another totally different in personality. Both men were the magic I wouldn’t say it’s ordinary or I couldn’t see the Harry Potter in it, but it was in freaking. It was more that she has to adjust to her identity to who she is and what energy she possesses the lifestyle without giving pot line away because I don’t want to. I’m not gonna ruin it for other readers who will read this fuck but I want to talk about the writer in her thought in her phrases and what she says, I like her style of writing like I said, and this is from Azhara it’s a quiet storm sweeping your way as if I were fallen leaves that right there the writer just her thought when she writes wow I mean somebody that may be no big deal but it’s a little subtle things to me not just a plot line. It’s the style. It’s what the writer is saying and speaking that I fall into when reading a book definitely five star
April 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark magic, deadly trials, and a love triangle that keeps you guessing… Labyrinthine completely pulled me in 🖤
Azhara is such a strong yet vulnerable FMC, and watching her navigate secrets, power, and impossible choices had me hooked. The tension between the characters? Unreal. I was constantly trying to figure out who to trust 👀
The atmosphere is rich, moody, and full of danger — everything I want in a romantasy. While the pacing dipped slightly in places, the story overall was gripping and addictive.
If you love cursed heroines, shadowy love interests, and high-stakes trials… this one’s for you ✨
Dark magic, deadly trials, and a love triangle that keeps you guessing… Labyrinthine completely pulled me in 🖤
Azhara is such a strong yet vulnerable FMC, and watching her navigate secrets, power, and impossible choices had me hooked. The tension between the characters? Unreal. I was constantly trying to figure out who to trust 👀
The atmosphere is rich, moody, and full of danger — everything I want in a romantasy. While the pacing dipped slightly in places, the story overall was gripping and addictive.
If you love cursed heroines, shadowy love interests, and high-stakes trials… this one’s for you ✨
March 27, 2026
This is everything a dark romantasy should be! Love triangle, deadly trials, and magic.
I loved how strong Azarha was admist everything she had to endure. Every year, 10 men compete for a chance to win her hand in marriage in this year something is different. This time she has a choice.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot twists kept twisting and I found myself rooting for each of the MMCs at different points of the book!!
Thank you CJ for the opportunity to be an ARC reader. These thoughts are my own.
I loved how strong Azarha was admist everything she had to endure. Every year, 10 men compete for a chance to win her hand in marriage in this year something is different. This time she has a choice.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot twists kept twisting and I found myself rooting for each of the MMCs at different points of the book!!
Thank you CJ for the opportunity to be an ARC reader. These thoughts are my own.
March 27, 2026
Thank you so much to CJ Holmes for an ARC of this book. I absolutely devoured this! Usually a love triangle annoys me, but this one kept me guessing! Azhara is a strong, brave FMC who feels deeply but isn’t allowed her own thoughts and ideas. Her power hungry father makes sure of this. The writing was beautifully descriptive with fabulous character development. I was left guessing who to trust throughout the story, and I felt for Azhara as she navigated the fight between her heart and her mind.
March 21, 2026
I LOVED this story!!! Seriously DEVOURED IT!!! I’m usually not one to enjoy love triangles but this one was done perfectly and I ate it up!!! I mean the way this all played out was great!! The twists! 🎤 drop!! I loved the trials it was all written so well! This was intriguing and captivating! Kept me invested the entire time! It is a slow burn but it was worth the wait!! The plot was amazing nothing like I’ve read before!! Seriously loved it!! Definitely recommend!!
April 6, 2026
“I would kneel for you a thousand times if it meant the world sees you as I do,” 🖤
WOW- this book absolutely sucked me in right off the gate and brought a lot of unique qualities to the whole ‘trials’ trope. I adored the love triangle and C.J. Holmes did such an incredible job having you feel torn between the 2 MMCS just as Azhara felt, I imagine. Who she chose BLEW ME AWAY and I was waiting till the last page for it to change; THAT’S the level of whiplash that I felt!! I really enjoyed being wrong in that aspect and the redemption arc for that character had was really touching. (trying to be somewhat spoiler free!)
Thank you so much to the Author and team for sending this ARC my way, I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the pages for Labyrinthine!
WOW- this book absolutely sucked me in right off the gate and brought a lot of unique qualities to the whole ‘trials’ trope. I adored the love triangle and C.J. Holmes did such an incredible job having you feel torn between the 2 MMCS just as Azhara felt, I imagine. Who she chose BLEW ME AWAY and I was waiting till the last page for it to change; THAT’S the level of whiplash that I felt!! I really enjoyed being wrong in that aspect and the redemption arc for that character had was really touching. (trying to be somewhat spoiler free!)
Thank you so much to the Author and team for sending this ARC my way, I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the pages for Labyrinthine!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
Holy intensity galore Batman!
This book definitely drew me right in. A story with Greek myth elements. It’s advertised as a retelling but I’m not sure I would quite agree in the sense that I think people would only recognize any tie to the myth because of a labyrinth and a monster within. Other than that, this story was its own!
We have an FMC whose evolution from a victim to victor is well written and so well done.
We have a love triangle done right!!! Two men you could make a case for her to be with either one.
This is an intense story that is dark and gritty. Don’t come to this if you want warm, cozy, and fuzzy. It’s not happening. But it’s a great book!
My only critique is that there were a few phrases that were used a lot. I’m not sure everyone will notice but it do start to take away some of the experience for me. However, this book was really good otherwise!
This book definitely drew me right in. A story with Greek myth elements. It’s advertised as a retelling but I’m not sure I would quite agree in the sense that I think people would only recognize any tie to the myth because of a labyrinth and a monster within. Other than that, this story was its own!
We have an FMC whose evolution from a victim to victor is well written and so well done.
We have a love triangle done right!!! Two men you could make a case for her to be with either one.
This is an intense story that is dark and gritty. Don’t come to this if you want warm, cozy, and fuzzy. It’s not happening. But it’s a great book!
My only critique is that there were a few phrases that were used a lot. I’m not sure everyone will notice but it do start to take away some of the experience for me. However, this book was really good otherwise!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2026
I personally was not able to connect to this story or characters in a meaningful way but I am choosing to rate and write my review on things I think other readers will enjoy. There is a love triangle in this story that keeps you guessing. I went back and forth on who I thought the MFC should end up with. I also liked Azhara.
Why I struggled to connect? It was the cadence of the writing. “Not a spell, not a force, a hunger” or “Not a promise. A certainty. A warning”. I felt there was an over use of these types of sentences in this book. I understand what the author was trying to do with these, but I found there were so many of them that it became distracting. To me the characters and story got buried underneath.
Why I struggled to connect? It was the cadence of the writing. “Not a spell, not a force, a hunger” or “Not a promise. A certainty. A warning”. I felt there was an over use of these types of sentences in this book. I understand what the author was trying to do with these, but I found there were so many of them that it became distracting. To me the characters and story got buried underneath.
March 28, 2026
Wow! Getting lost in this labyrinth of a story was worth that ending! Mallen has some red flags not gonna lie but he’s soo sexy and just a man built by a terrible king. Darian is the pompous prince and kinda sweet. Azhara though, she is the one to watch. Strong, resilient, and tangled between why choice she should make. You have to read this to see who she chooses! CJ does an excellent job of story telling here. It was hard to put this down. The spice is just one 🌶️ but it’s the perfect amount. 5 stars!!
March 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! The twist with Mallens magic was unexpected and really locked me in to loving him again. This FMC story takes “finding herself” to a whole new level!! I really enjoyed the storyline and loved the “love triangle” throughout the story!!
April 17, 2026
Review of advanced copy.
3.5 stars - Labyrinthine felt like stepping into a maze made of words — beautifully written - incredibly descriptive and intricate - making every scene feel vivid, alive and the world feel real.
At its heart, this story is about choices — impossible ones — woven through trials that constantly push the FMC to her limits. And the growth? So satisfying. Watching her change, struggle, and become stronger was easily my favourite part.
The love triangle adds delicious tension and intrigue. Leaving you guessing what choice she will make! Raw emotion, a ‘touch her and die’ energy and feelings hidden between lies and deception.
An incredible read and one I would definitely recommend!
-love triangle ❤️
-trials ⚔️
-morally grey MMC’s
-fierce FMC
-blood curses 🩸
3.5 stars - Labyrinthine felt like stepping into a maze made of words — beautifully written - incredibly descriptive and intricate - making every scene feel vivid, alive and the world feel real.
At its heart, this story is about choices — impossible ones — woven through trials that constantly push the FMC to her limits. And the growth? So satisfying. Watching her change, struggle, and become stronger was easily my favourite part.
The love triangle adds delicious tension and intrigue. Leaving you guessing what choice she will make! Raw emotion, a ‘touch her and die’ energy and feelings hidden between lies and deception.
An incredible read and one I would definitely recommend!
-love triangle ❤️
-trials ⚔️
-morally grey MMC’s
-fierce FMC
-blood curses 🩸
April 16, 2026
Thank you to C.J. Holmes for the eARC!
I think I’m going to give this 3.5 stars as it took me awhile to become invested with the storyline and characters. At the beginning I felt like some of our FMC’s behaviors felt very juvenile for her age, which may have been the point all along but she rapidly became this strong person overnight it felt like and I feel like there should have been more depth?
I will say once I got to 70%, buckle in cause A LOT starts to go down and you just want to inhale it.
There atmosphere and world was perfect for a dark romantasy and how the author wrote the world made you really feel like you were able to picture it in your head. The writing style was so poetic and beautiful, even if at times some phrasing seemed repetitive.
I’m not super knowledgeable when it comes to Greek folklore but this is supposed to be loosely based so if that’s something you like then you’ll love this.
Overall, I felt like there were things done really well: the push and pull between the FMC and our MMC’s, the world building, the strength our FMC begins to possess.
The ending left everything wrapped up and for once I’m thankful there was no cliffhanger so if you need a book with an ending that doesn’t gut you then here you go!
I think I’m going to give this 3.5 stars as it took me awhile to become invested with the storyline and characters. At the beginning I felt like some of our FMC’s behaviors felt very juvenile for her age, which may have been the point all along but she rapidly became this strong person overnight it felt like and I feel like there should have been more depth?
I will say once I got to 70%, buckle in cause A LOT starts to go down and you just want to inhale it.
There atmosphere and world was perfect for a dark romantasy and how the author wrote the world made you really feel like you were able to picture it in your head. The writing style was so poetic and beautiful, even if at times some phrasing seemed repetitive.
I’m not super knowledgeable when it comes to Greek folklore but this is supposed to be loosely based so if that’s something you like then you’ll love this.
Overall, I felt like there were things done really well: the push and pull between the FMC and our MMC’s, the world building, the strength our FMC begins to possess.
The ending left everything wrapped up and for once I’m thankful there was no cliffhanger so if you need a book with an ending that doesn’t gut you then here you go!
April 16, 2026
Hello, people!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the first book in the Thrones of the Forsaken series.
The protagonists are Azhara, Darian and Mallen. This love triangle is the best I have ever read. In general, I am not in favor of it, but here I was really in a dilemma. At one moment I wanted Azhara with Darian and at the other with Mallen. Oh, my god, what was that... In addition, I have to say that all the characters have depth, they are well developed, strong, dynamic, they claim their wants, life and every moment.
Her world building is incredible, magical and enchanting at the same time. The flow is fast, making the reading breathless. The story is dark, has tension, suspense and twists and pulls you into it, feeling like a part of it.
Finally, regarding the author's writing, I have no words. I think they are poor compared to the greatness of her pen, which is stormy, detailed, intense, descriptive, vivid, full, rich, immediate, exciting, shocking, captivating, enjoyable, emotional and fast.
Read it... yesterday!
Thank you very much to the author for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the first book in the Thrones of the Forsaken series.
The protagonists are Azhara, Darian and Mallen. This love triangle is the best I have ever read. In general, I am not in favor of it, but here I was really in a dilemma. At one moment I wanted Azhara with Darian and at the other with Mallen. Oh, my god, what was that... In addition, I have to say that all the characters have depth, they are well developed, strong, dynamic, they claim their wants, life and every moment.
Her world building is incredible, magical and enchanting at the same time. The flow is fast, making the reading breathless. The story is dark, has tension, suspense and twists and pulls you into it, feeling like a part of it.
Finally, regarding the author's writing, I have no words. I think they are poor compared to the greatness of her pen, which is stormy, detailed, intense, descriptive, vivid, full, rich, immediate, exciting, shocking, captivating, enjoyable, emotional and fast.
Read it... yesterday!
Thank you very much to the author for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
April 17, 2026
Labyrinthine delivers a layered love triangle built on trust, fear, and the need to be truly seen. What I loved most is that the choice isn’t easy—and it isn’t about choosing the safest option. It’s about choosing the one who sees you completely… and having the strength to stand by it.
This story thrives on choice—not just who she loves, but who she’s allowed to become when everything is stripped away. The love triangle isn’t surface-level or predictable. It’s messy, emotional, and grounded in the weight of those choices.
One love interest represents security and certainty, while the other challenges her in ways that feel dangerous but undeniably real—and that tension carries through the entire story.
And the ending? Exactly what I wanted. Not just a resolution, but a future—one where love and power exist side by side.
If you love romantasy with:
* emotional tension
* morally complex characters
* a love story built on choice, not fate
this one is absolutely worth the read.
A beautifully tense romantasy with a satisfying, earned ending.
This story thrives on choice—not just who she loves, but who she’s allowed to become when everything is stripped away. The love triangle isn’t surface-level or predictable. It’s messy, emotional, and grounded in the weight of those choices.
One love interest represents security and certainty, while the other challenges her in ways that feel dangerous but undeniably real—and that tension carries through the entire story.
And the ending? Exactly what I wanted. Not just a resolution, but a future—one where love and power exist side by side.
If you love romantasy with:
* emotional tension
* morally complex characters
* a love story built on choice, not fate
this one is absolutely worth the read.
A beautifully tense romantasy with a satisfying, earned ending.
April 16, 2026
Thank you C.J. Holmes & City Owl Press for this eArc!
Such stunning writing, Holmes makes in almost lyrical. The prologue was such a banger, it drew me in right away.
This story follows Azhara, a cursed princess with deadly magic. She is tired of being trapped in a place with an abusive father who does not care about her at all and is just using her till she is old enough to give him the power he so desperately craves.
The tension of this love triangle was crazy. There is the hot bodyguard who is overprotective, and jealous when the charming prince comes into the picture. I will say there were some serious red flags in the way both acted. You never knew which way Azhara was leaning as you were with her in time as she tried to process her feelings.
I do wish that the magic system was explained a bit more as I felt a little in the dark.
Overall I had a good time reading.
Such stunning writing, Holmes makes in almost lyrical. The prologue was such a banger, it drew me in right away.
This story follows Azhara, a cursed princess with deadly magic. She is tired of being trapped in a place with an abusive father who does not care about her at all and is just using her till she is old enough to give him the power he so desperately craves.
The tension of this love triangle was crazy. There is the hot bodyguard who is overprotective, and jealous when the charming prince comes into the picture. I will say there were some serious red flags in the way both acted. You never knew which way Azhara was leaning as you were with her in time as she tried to process her feelings.
I do wish that the magic system was explained a bit more as I felt a little in the dark.
Overall I had a good time reading.
April 15, 2026
This was a different read to anything I think I’ve read before, which I really enjoyed about the book. The characters have you guessing which is the MMC up to the lash third of the book which I liked. There’s mystery, there’s intrigue, pining and forbidden feelings from all directions.
For me, the curse that has befallen the FMC is overly complex and I’m still not sure that I fully understood it which takes away from the rest of the book.
The character arcs are great and there’s plenty of plot twists to keep you busy throughout.
🌟🌟🌟.75/5
🌶️/5
For me, the curse that has befallen the FMC is overly complex and I’m still not sure that I fully understood it which takes away from the rest of the book.
The character arcs are great and there’s plenty of plot twists to keep you busy throughout.
🌟🌟🌟.75/5
🌶️/5
April 18, 2026
Thank you for the ARC! This was my very first read of CJ Holmes. I throughly enjoyed reading Labyrinthine. It kept me drawn in. Some felt it could have had more explanation of the magic system but I felt it had just enough. I wasn’t overwhelmed with trying to figure the ins and outs of the system as I have been with other books. I leaned in different directions within the love triangle, as I found love for each of the characters. I would be interested in getting into Mallens head more and reading more from his point of view.
April 18, 2026
I’m not emotionally over this book 😭
Throw out the tropes and the tiktok books, THIS feels fresh and old and new and cuts to the bone. More fool you if you go in expecting this to be like every other romantasy/ love triangle/ princess book
Throw out the tropes and the tiktok books, THIS feels fresh and old and new and cuts to the bone. More fool you if you go in expecting this to be like every other romantasy/ love triangle/ princess book
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all I would like to thank C.J Holmes for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review of my thoughts.
To say I absolutely loved this book would be an understatement, I literally devoured it in a 5 hour read and annotated to my hearts content. One of the things that makes this book such a strong read is the author's writing, which is beautiful, with depth and lyrical. All things which I enjoy in my reading. I love writing you can feel and imagine in 4k color and that's what Holmes does. This is a story of female strength, of finding your inner voice, of fighting for your rights and your power. Princess Azhara is the kind of female character that makes you want to fight (lol), she is such a strong willed woman and I truly loved her progression through the story. I haven't found a character in any other fantasy series that I have read since TOG that made me feel as passionate about the MFC as Azhara has. I love when female characters are written with this type of strength. When they aren't just lost all the time or can't own who they are because of others or their lack of self assurance. Our princess is a powerhouse, in all senses of the word, and I am here for that.
We have two MMC and I can already tell they will be the point of debate, do we love the Guardian or the Prince? They are complete opposites so it makes for good development in the story. I have my favorite, from the beginning and I am sure I am in the minority, but that is alright. I loved his character and I can't wait for book 2.
One think I want to say ahead of this review is that this is a planned series (more than one book) so as a reader you need to be aware that you will not 100% understand the magic system or world building at once. That's not how series work. You will get a glimpse into the magic system, it is easy to understand how the powers that our protagonist has comes from the Gods. And you will understand that she lives in a world plagued by the consequences of the God's wrath upon her kingdom. Honestly I feel this is perfectly explained, clear and concise. And I know that as the story progresses in other books we will learn why. What would be the point of giving it all in the first book?
This story moves from beginning to end. There is barely any relaxed moments in the book, it keeps the pace strong but does pick pockets to breathe life into the main characters personalities and motivations. The villain, Azhara's father, is despicable and you hate him with every fiber from the get go. Our characters are morally grey, which builds a great story in the end. No one is perfect and that is also one of the assets of this book. If you enjoy stories that make you feel all the feelings, then get ready for this ride, this is a fantasy series that will take you to the depths of love, hate and war. If you love TOG, The War of Lost Hearts & Crimson Heart, you will most likely love this debut series.
To say I absolutely loved this book would be an understatement, I literally devoured it in a 5 hour read and annotated to my hearts content. One of the things that makes this book such a strong read is the author's writing, which is beautiful, with depth and lyrical. All things which I enjoy in my reading. I love writing you can feel and imagine in 4k color and that's what Holmes does. This is a story of female strength, of finding your inner voice, of fighting for your rights and your power. Princess Azhara is the kind of female character that makes you want to fight (lol), she is such a strong willed woman and I truly loved her progression through the story. I haven't found a character in any other fantasy series that I have read since TOG that made me feel as passionate about the MFC as Azhara has. I love when female characters are written with this type of strength. When they aren't just lost all the time or can't own who they are because of others or their lack of self assurance. Our princess is a powerhouse, in all senses of the word, and I am here for that.
We have two MMC and I can already tell they will be the point of debate, do we love the Guardian or the Prince? They are complete opposites so it makes for good development in the story. I have my favorite, from the beginning and I am sure I am in the minority, but that is alright. I loved his character and I can't wait for book 2.
One think I want to say ahead of this review is that this is a planned series (more than one book) so as a reader you need to be aware that you will not 100% understand the magic system or world building at once. That's not how series work. You will get a glimpse into the magic system, it is easy to understand how the powers that our protagonist has comes from the Gods. And you will understand that she lives in a world plagued by the consequences of the God's wrath upon her kingdom. Honestly I feel this is perfectly explained, clear and concise. And I know that as the story progresses in other books we will learn why. What would be the point of giving it all in the first book?
This story moves from beginning to end. There is barely any relaxed moments in the book, it keeps the pace strong but does pick pockets to breathe life into the main characters personalities and motivations. The villain, Azhara's father, is despicable and you hate him with every fiber from the get go. Our characters are morally grey, which builds a great story in the end. No one is perfect and that is also one of the assets of this book. If you enjoy stories that make you feel all the feelings, then get ready for this ride, this is a fantasy series that will take you to the depths of love, hate and war. If you love TOG, The War of Lost Hearts & Crimson Heart, you will most likely love this debut series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐
Labyrinthine by CJ Holmes started incredibly strong and immediately pulled me in. From the beginning, I felt deeply for the FMC; her subjugation and entrapment by both her father and her guard made her situation feel heavy and emotional. At times, I truly hated her personal guard and commander of the army, which shows how effectively the author built that tension.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the FMC’s character development. Watching her slowly fight for her independence and reclaim her power was satisfying and gave the story a strong emotional backbone.
The introduction of the new love interest gave me whiplash in the best way. At first, I was instantly intrigued. However, it also gave me strong “Tamlin vibes,” and from that point on, I had a sense of where things were headed, which made parts of the story feel a bit predictable.
CJ Holmes did an amazing job creating atmosphere. I genuinely felt like I was inside the labyrinth alongside the characters. The love triangle added a lot of tension early on, and the frustration I felt on behalf of the FMC was intense.
That said, I struggled with the romance at times. The forced kiss early in the story made the relationship feel one sided, and it was hard for me to fully connect with the love story after that. For most of the book, the feelings felt very one sided, with barely any emotional development from the FMC. Then, after a major conflict, there’s a sudden realization where her feelings seem to appear almost out of nowhere, which gave me a bit of emotional whiplash and made it harder to fully invest in the romance.
That said, I struggled with the romance at times. The forced kiss early in the story made the relationship feel one-sided, and it was hard for me to fully connect with the love story after that. For most of the book, the feelings felt very one-sided, with barely any emotional development from the FMC. She came across as acting more out of appreciation and friendship than genuine romantic feelings, which made the dynamic feel unbalanced. Then, after a major conflict, there’s a sudden realization where her feelings seem to appear almost out of nowhere, which gave me a bit of emotional whiplash and made it harder to fully invest in the romance.
Some of the descriptions, especially around the commander being “angry,” “unhinged,” and “dangerous” all the time, felt a bit repetitive and heavy handed at times. I would have loved a bit more subtlety there.
Overall, this story offers strong character growth, immersive world building, and emotional tension. I think readers who are newer to the romantasy genre will especially enjoy this story.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this!
Labyrinthine by CJ Holmes started incredibly strong and immediately pulled me in. From the beginning, I felt deeply for the FMC; her subjugation and entrapment by both her father and her guard made her situation feel heavy and emotional. At times, I truly hated her personal guard and commander of the army, which shows how effectively the author built that tension.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the FMC’s character development. Watching her slowly fight for her independence and reclaim her power was satisfying and gave the story a strong emotional backbone.
The introduction of the new love interest gave me whiplash in the best way. At first, I was instantly intrigued. However, it also gave me strong “Tamlin vibes,” and from that point on, I had a sense of where things were headed, which made parts of the story feel a bit predictable.
CJ Holmes did an amazing job creating atmosphere. I genuinely felt like I was inside the labyrinth alongside the characters. The love triangle added a lot of tension early on, and the frustration I felt on behalf of the FMC was intense.
That said, I struggled with the romance at times. The forced kiss early in the story made the relationship feel one sided, and it was hard for me to fully connect with the love story after that. For most of the book, the feelings felt very one sided, with barely any emotional development from the FMC. Then, after a major conflict, there’s a sudden realization where her feelings seem to appear almost out of nowhere, which gave me a bit of emotional whiplash and made it harder to fully invest in the romance.
That said, I struggled with the romance at times. The forced kiss early in the story made the relationship feel one-sided, and it was hard for me to fully connect with the love story after that. For most of the book, the feelings felt very one-sided, with barely any emotional development from the FMC. She came across as acting more out of appreciation and friendship than genuine romantic feelings, which made the dynamic feel unbalanced. Then, after a major conflict, there’s a sudden realization where her feelings seem to appear almost out of nowhere, which gave me a bit of emotional whiplash and made it harder to fully invest in the romance.
Some of the descriptions, especially around the commander being “angry,” “unhinged,” and “dangerous” all the time, felt a bit repetitive and heavy handed at times. I would have loved a bit more subtlety there.
Overall, this story offers strong character growth, immersive world building, and emotional tension. I think readers who are newer to the romantasy genre will especially enjoy this story.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews