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The Ascendant #1
Ascendant
Growing up in the longest period of peace in Lionessa, Princess Sybelle never imagined that she’d one day have to fight to keep her kingdom. When her father dies, everything in Sybelle’s life changes. The once-peaceful kingdom is marked by war, her inexperience is mocked, and her sickly brother is used as a pawn in a political game that threatens to take what is rightfully hers. When King Nero calls for her to marry his son, Sybelle knows what she must do to maintain control, but doing so will unleash a wickedness within her that could potentially prolong the war or possibly cause her to lose her kingdom. Can the newly appointed Queen succeed with so many obstacles in front of her?
262 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 2016
61 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Kyra Gregory
31 books29 followersKyra Gregory writes new adult fantasy novels filled with heart-warming found families, slow-burn romances, court intrigue, and a little bit of bloodshed. While she enjoys making her characters suffer she also enjoys writing soft moments, flourishing friendships, intimate romances, and characters who strive for home and peace. While dark at times, her books are perfect for readers who crave emotional depth and a slow build in their fantasy.
She lives on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta and is usually spending time with her husband, son, and dog when she isn’t writing and publishing novels or jotting down ideas for her next.
She lives on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta and is usually spending time with her husband, son, and dog when she isn’t writing and publishing novels or jotting down ideas for her next.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 29, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review.
Ascendant was an interesting if unoriginal story idea which was much darker than I was expecting, the problem I had with this book was that I could not care about the main character Sybelle as she felt lifeless and made decisions which I could never do. I just really struggled with Ascendant and I could not get into it and DNF at 42%.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Ascendant was an interesting if unoriginal story idea which was much darker than I was expecting, the problem I had with this book was that I could not care about the main character Sybelle as she felt lifeless and made decisions which I could never do. I just really struggled with Ascendant and I could not get into it and DNF at 42%.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
March 24, 2021
*I received this copy from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The premise of the book was great, the plot was good and the pacing not bad but somehow I didn't manage to really like the book.
The writing was smooth even though there were some easy avoidable repetitions (same words/adjective repeated more than once in the same sentence/line). I loved the descriptions and found them fancy but felt that the world building lacked some original spark to set it apart from the other books of the same kind. It felt something I read a thousand times before.
I would have overlooked all of this if only I had loved and somehow felt for the characters. If only...
I don't know why but they felt "flat" and "off" giving the whole book an "off" vibe that, for the love of God, I can't explain.
My main problem was with Sybelle. She just hung her head too much for my tastes and her eyes watered too often for me to really like or feel for her. It doesn't matter if she didn't have time develop some pride you still would expect some from it from someone trying to be a good Queen. In fact most of the time Sybelle felt simply pathetic.
On top of all this, at times, I found "Ascendat" gratuitously violent with some deaths as plot device and way to shock more than plot development
The violence per se wasn’t the real problem though, my problem with it was that some of it felt unnecessary and uncalled for, I saw it as a needless onslaught.
Still the book had something I actually liked and that was the ending and the peculiar relationship between the Queen and Deros. I greatly appreciated the "darker turn" the events and character took, their sort of twisted goodness was interesting to say the least.
My personal complaints aside, I wouldn’t say that Ascendant is a bad book, it is sort of okay(ish); sadly it simply left me unconvinced and feeling nothing for the book and its characters.
The premise of the book was great, the plot was good and the pacing not bad but somehow I didn't manage to really like the book.
The writing was smooth even though there were some easy avoidable repetitions (same words/adjective repeated more than once in the same sentence/line). I loved the descriptions and found them fancy but felt that the world building lacked some original spark to set it apart from the other books of the same kind. It felt something I read a thousand times before.
I would have overlooked all of this if only I had loved and somehow felt for the characters. If only...
I don't know why but they felt "flat" and "off" giving the whole book an "off" vibe that, for the love of God, I can't explain.
My main problem was with Sybelle. She just hung her head too much for my tastes and her eyes watered too often for me to really like or feel for her. It doesn't matter if she didn't have time develop some pride you still would expect some from it from someone trying to be a good Queen. In fact most of the time Sybelle felt simply pathetic.
On top of all this, at times, I found "Ascendat" gratuitously violent with some deaths as plot device and way to shock more than plot development
The violence per se wasn’t the real problem though, my problem with it was that some of it felt unnecessary and uncalled for, I saw it as a needless onslaught.
Still the book had something I actually liked and that was the ending and the peculiar relationship between the Queen and Deros. I greatly appreciated the "darker turn" the events and character took, their sort of twisted goodness was interesting to say the least.
My personal complaints aside, I wouldn’t say that Ascendant is a bad book, it is sort of okay(ish); sadly it simply left me unconvinced and feeling nothing for the book and its characters.
November 8, 2017
3.5 stars
I recently received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book sounded really interesting and I have to say it is. The author has a way with words and had me sucked in at the beginning. We meet Princess Sybelle who recently became queen of Lionessa after her father passes away. Even though she knew this day would eventually come, she still doesn't see herself as queen. With her emotions running high she doesn't take the marriage proposal from the Prince of Evrad very well. It turns pretty dangerous and she has to make some pretty heavy decisions to keep her kingdom safe. The way the author described these moments was pretty haunting. I have to say that it took me awhile to connect to Sybelle, because at times she acted as a Queen and at other moments it seemed more like she was still pretty childish and throwing a temper tantrum when things didn't go her way. This made it harder for the people in her kingdom to help her out. I did really enjoy how she wanted the people she had known all her life and worked for her now still to treat her as a friend. She stayed close to them. I liked the idea of how the politics were played out, but I think it would've been nice to see a bit more. I missed some of the details in why decisions were made or how they played out. The "battle" at the end was over pretty fast without being able to read more detail. While books shouldn't be all about romance, I missed a bit of a love story. She connects to someone near the end and I would like to see more about that. This was an okay start to a new series and I am curious to see how it continues.
More descriptive review to come on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com
I recently received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book sounded really interesting and I have to say it is. The author has a way with words and had me sucked in at the beginning. We meet Princess Sybelle who recently became queen of Lionessa after her father passes away. Even though she knew this day would eventually come, she still doesn't see herself as queen. With her emotions running high she doesn't take the marriage proposal from the Prince of Evrad very well. It turns pretty dangerous and she has to make some pretty heavy decisions to keep her kingdom safe. The way the author described these moments was pretty haunting. I have to say that it took me awhile to connect to Sybelle, because at times she acted as a Queen and at other moments it seemed more like she was still pretty childish and throwing a temper tantrum when things didn't go her way. This made it harder for the people in her kingdom to help her out. I did really enjoy how she wanted the people she had known all her life and worked for her now still to treat her as a friend. She stayed close to them. I liked the idea of how the politics were played out, but I think it would've been nice to see a bit more. I missed some of the details in why decisions were made or how they played out. The "battle" at the end was over pretty fast without being able to read more detail. While books shouldn't be all about romance, I missed a bit of a love story. She connects to someone near the end and I would like to see more about that. This was an okay start to a new series and I am curious to see how it continues.
More descriptive review to come on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com
July 4, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Kyra Gregory.)
I liked this book.
It was a good book. In the beginning it was a drag to be honest, but later it became interesting, I guess thanks to the romance and the secrets.
Not going to lie it surprised, shocked and confused me more than 100 times.
I think she had crush on her best gay friend, and I was really hoping that after his love's death author won't turn him into bi or straight. But she did not, which I was happy about.
I really enjoyed the ending, but she became cruel at times, not going to spoil you should read to find out, but well it turned out good at the end and her actions if not fully than at least partly got justified, which is the least we could have hoped for.
Liked it really.
I liked this book.
It was a good book. In the beginning it was a drag to be honest, but later it became interesting, I guess thanks to the romance and the secrets.
Not going to lie it surprised, shocked and confused me more than 100 times.
I think she had crush on her best gay friend, and I was really hoping that after his love's death author won't turn him into bi or straight. But she did not, which I was happy about.
I really enjoyed the ending, but she became cruel at times, not going to spoil you should read to find out, but well it turned out good at the end and her actions if not fully than at least partly got justified, which is the least we could have hoped for.
Liked it really.
July 3, 2016
Sybelle's mourning is cut short when her brother is kidnapped by King Nero of a neighboring kingdom to force her into a marriage with his son. Sybelle is forced to hurry up and figure out how to be the Queen she now is for both her sake and that of her kingdom before she is forced to give into King Nero's demands.
There was a lot of darkness in ASCENDANT. Dark emotions, dark decisions, dark situations and I think the author pulled the mood off beautifully. I didn't always 'get' Sybelle's decisions, but she did pull them all off. I liked a good bit of the secondary characters and I thoroughly disliked the characters I was meant to.
I found ASCENDANT to be one of those meh sorta books. I had no problem reading to the end, but for the most part I finished it and just felt 'meh' about it. Could I read more? Sure. Will I go search out and pre-order book two? No. ASCENDANT was an easy read, but nothing about it blew my mind.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There was a lot of darkness in ASCENDANT. Dark emotions, dark decisions, dark situations and I think the author pulled the mood off beautifully. I didn't always 'get' Sybelle's decisions, but she did pull them all off. I liked a good bit of the secondary characters and I thoroughly disliked the characters I was meant to.
I found ASCENDANT to be one of those meh sorta books. I had no problem reading to the end, but for the most part I finished it and just felt 'meh' about it. Could I read more? Sure. Will I go search out and pre-order book two? No. ASCENDANT was an easy read, but nothing about it blew my mind.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2017
I have received a copy of 'Ascendant' in return for a honest review. When I started this book, I was very excited about it. The synopsis sounded good and I really love the cover of this book (it is so pretty). I think the author has an amazing writing style: it's enchanting and it takes you to the world of Ascendant. It felt like I was reading a dark fairytale. I loved the first 150 pages of this book, but after that, it was losing its enchantment. I thought the beginning of this book was great (it makes you shiver) but after that, the violence was getting dull and I didn't have any feelings for the characters. I tried to feel connected but failed. I don't know why, but I felt like a stranger is the Ascendant world. I had some trouble in understanding some characters feelings for each other. The lines and borders weren't clear and I was wondering who was bedding who. Besides that, I missed some sweet romance and some light in the story. On top of that, I think that Sybelle is inconsistent, because one moment she is crying and pouring her heart out like a baby, but next she is unnecessary cruel, cold as stone and not afraid to take an innocent, little life.
I won't continue with this series. For me, it is really important to feel deeply connected with the characters.
I won't continue with this series. For me, it is really important to feel deeply connected with the characters.
April 14, 2018
Awesome
Twists and turns with deception and beguil while turning down of marriage from one kingdom to another, the sacrifice of an innocent to prevent leverage over another as the feminine while turn another.
Twists and turns with deception and beguil while turning down of marriage from one kingdom to another, the sacrifice of an innocent to prevent leverage over another as the feminine while turn another.
May 30, 2016
NetGalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
The King just died in the Kingdom of Leonassa. His daughter, Princess Sybelle, is to become Queen and rule the country in his stead.
That’s the plan.
But as she is a young woman, people start trying to mess up with her plans, obviously. And it starts right in the middle of the mourning period, when the neighbouring kingdom sends a marriage and alliance proposal, which she promptly refuses.
But when her brother becomes targetted, she can’t ignore this threat, as well as all the others that are coming her way.
Is it possible for her to protect those she loves, herself, and her country at the same time? Which should she choose?
***
What I like about this book is how interesting the angle was, plot-wise. I’ve read fantasy books, I’ve read about kingdoms, kings and queens, but I’ve rarely read about politics in fantasy. I enjoyed that aspect, because it’s truly the centre of this book: it is all about political plotting, and even though it is very fast-paced, you don’t get a lot of action per se, since it’s about diplomacy.
This story felt, in my opinion, like a giant chessboard. And I love chess, so, that’s that.
And I think this is an interesting angle.
The main character, Princess Sybelle, is also interesting, but in a much different way. At the beginning of the book, she seems nice and intelligent. And intelligent, indeed she is. But her character development takes her to a whole other spectrum. We usually see young princesses/queens as they turn from good to better, bad to good, and so on. We rarely see them going from good to slightly less good. She doesn’t turn evil as it is, but she gets slightly darker, slightly more wicked, in order to play the game of war at her best.
The writing was great. The descriptions were good, setting the mood and atmosphere just as it was needed. You know it’s good writing when I hate characters that much (YES NICOLAS, I’M LOOKING AT YOU!).
If you like themes such as sacrifice, politics, trust, pride and greed, you might like this story. However, one big drawback, for me (and the reason why I can’t give it a better rating) is that I didn’t manage to really connect with the characters. They all seemed a bit grey, somehow flat, and I didn’t not feel any one standing up to my liking over the others. So I feel a bit disappointed about that particular aspect, but it’s still a promising book, with a promising ending.
The King just died in the Kingdom of Leonassa. His daughter, Princess Sybelle, is to become Queen and rule the country in his stead.
That’s the plan.
But as she is a young woman, people start trying to mess up with her plans, obviously. And it starts right in the middle of the mourning period, when the neighbouring kingdom sends a marriage and alliance proposal, which she promptly refuses.
But when her brother becomes targetted, she can’t ignore this threat, as well as all the others that are coming her way.
Is it possible for her to protect those she loves, herself, and her country at the same time? Which should she choose?
***
What I like about this book is how interesting the angle was, plot-wise. I’ve read fantasy books, I’ve read about kingdoms, kings and queens, but I’ve rarely read about politics in fantasy. I enjoyed that aspect, because it’s truly the centre of this book: it is all about political plotting, and even though it is very fast-paced, you don’t get a lot of action per se, since it’s about diplomacy.
This story felt, in my opinion, like a giant chessboard. And I love chess, so, that’s that.
And I think this is an interesting angle.
The main character, Princess Sybelle, is also interesting, but in a much different way. At the beginning of the book, she seems nice and intelligent. And intelligent, indeed she is. But her character development takes her to a whole other spectrum. We usually see young princesses/queens as they turn from good to better, bad to good, and so on. We rarely see them going from good to slightly less good. She doesn’t turn evil as it is, but she gets slightly darker, slightly more wicked, in order to play the game of war at her best.
The writing was great. The descriptions were good, setting the mood and atmosphere just as it was needed. You know it’s good writing when I hate characters that much (YES NICOLAS, I’M LOOKING AT YOU!).
If you like themes such as sacrifice, politics, trust, pride and greed, you might like this story. However, one big drawback, for me (and the reason why I can’t give it a better rating) is that I didn’t manage to really connect with the characters. They all seemed a bit grey, somehow flat, and I didn’t not feel any one standing up to my liking over the others. So I feel a bit disappointed about that particular aspect, but it’s still a promising book, with a promising ending.
August 2, 2016
Well I really wish I hadn't waited so long to review this book cause it's definitely not fresh in my mind right now, but also there was nothing that would have really made it resonate with me.
Ascendant is the story of Sybelle, a young princess whose mourning over the death of her father, the King, is cut short when her brother is kidnapped by a rival kingdom. With her new ascension to the throne, Sybelle must decide how to put her personal emotions aside to deal with the threat against her kingdom and keep her people at peace.
This book had such a slow beginning, but to be completely honest, the first major plot twist in this book completely threw me. It was dark and intriguing and completely shocking. I didn't expect it, and I think it was arguably one of the only moments of true character development.
All in all, I didn't really like Sybelle. Her character is meant to be portrayed as a strong female lead, but there isn't much about her that really supported that or made me feel empowered. I felt like she cried too much and just came off as extremely whiny and self-absorbed. Even when she would talk to her best friend, the gay captain of the guard, it felt like she didn't always take into account his thoughts and feelings, and it really bothered me.
It WAS pretty cool to see a gay character in this type of setting. I know that LGBTQ roles are becoming more and more prominent, but I still find them lacking in fantasy, so I did appreciate that aspect quite a bit.
Overall, it's just not a memorable story. The dark undertones of this story had so much potential, but it just fell flat. The characters are uninteresting, the kingdoms at war plot was unoriginal, the romance was bland, and it was a whole lot of talk with little action. NOTHING REMARKABLE HAPPENS.
While I don't regret this read, I can't say I'll be seeking out the second book in this series.
Ascendant is the story of Sybelle, a young princess whose mourning over the death of her father, the King, is cut short when her brother is kidnapped by a rival kingdom. With her new ascension to the throne, Sybelle must decide how to put her personal emotions aside to deal with the threat against her kingdom and keep her people at peace.
This book had such a slow beginning, but to be completely honest, the first major plot twist in this book completely threw me. It was dark and intriguing and completely shocking. I didn't expect it, and I think it was arguably one of the only moments of true character development.
All in all, I didn't really like Sybelle. Her character is meant to be portrayed as a strong female lead, but there isn't much about her that really supported that or made me feel empowered. I felt like she cried too much and just came off as extremely whiny and self-absorbed. Even when she would talk to her best friend, the gay captain of the guard, it felt like she didn't always take into account his thoughts and feelings, and it really bothered me.
It WAS pretty cool to see a gay character in this type of setting. I know that LGBTQ roles are becoming more and more prominent, but I still find them lacking in fantasy, so I did appreciate that aspect quite a bit.
"'Your majesty, a raven is a terrible omen,' she whispered, her mouth hanging open as Sybelle extended her fingers delicately to stroke the birds feathers.
Sybelle laughed softly, leaning into the bird with an amused smile growing onto her features, 'You are weeks too late,' she told him in a quiet voice."
Overall, it's just not a memorable story. The dark undertones of this story had so much potential, but it just fell flat. The characters are uninteresting, the kingdoms at war plot was unoriginal, the romance was bland, and it was a whole lot of talk with little action. NOTHING REMARKABLE HAPPENS.
While I don't regret this read, I can't say I'll be seeking out the second book in this series.
July 11, 2016
So I didn't love it. It's a lot of talking, not a lot happening.
Sybelle, the main character, is a hard person to take this journey with because you just can't get inside her head. She is meant to be this young princess who gets thrust into a position of power long before she is ready, but you never get a chance to see this as her youth and greenness quickly wear off into something that I just couldn't keep up. She has this very sudden coldness that just didn't make sense to me.
Also the relationships between characters are often confusing, pushing boundaries that are uncomfortable to say the least.
I will commend Gregory though for a openly gay character. That is always a nice surprise, especially when it's not announced as a gimmick, but more just a trait to his or her character.
One thing I keep coming back to with this book is the extreme case of Stockholm syndrome that happens in the middle. It was really disturbing to me and made for a super sketchy read. I couldn't help but go back to that thought again and again when thinking how I would review this.
Gregory literally writes a broken soul, beaten and tortured into pining for her character like a dog. It was in poor taste to me, and greatly discolored much of my reading experience.
Over all, I didn't enjoy this book, nor would I continue of with the series. It feels like a book that had the outline of what it wanted to be, but got lost along the way.
Sybelle, the main character, is a hard person to take this journey with because you just can't get inside her head. She is meant to be this young princess who gets thrust into a position of power long before she is ready, but you never get a chance to see this as her youth and greenness quickly wear off into something that I just couldn't keep up. She has this very sudden coldness that just didn't make sense to me.
Also the relationships between characters are often confusing, pushing boundaries that are uncomfortable to say the least.
I will commend Gregory though for a openly gay character. That is always a nice surprise, especially when it's not announced as a gimmick, but more just a trait to his or her character.
One thing I keep coming back to with this book is the extreme case of Stockholm syndrome that happens in the middle. It was really disturbing to me and made for a super sketchy read. I couldn't help but go back to that thought again and again when thinking how I would review this.
Gregory literally writes a broken soul, beaten and tortured into pining for her character like a dog. It was in poor taste to me, and greatly discolored much of my reading experience.
Over all, I didn't enjoy this book, nor would I continue of with the series. It feels like a book that had the outline of what it wanted to be, but got lost along the way.
May 31, 2016
Ascendant was an interesting read for me personally because I was faced with conflicting emotions about the novel. I really loved the story and was immediately drawn into the plot. The author did a great job of creating a unique and interesting story that any fantasy reader would love and I was no different.
The problem I was faced with was the fact that I didn't always like the characters or even knew what to think of them. Usually I have a pretty good idea of the characters and their next actions and I like the characters but his didn't hold true in this book. Instead these characters were a little dark and i never knew what they would do next. There were so many surprises in this novel because the characters weren't the usual expected ones. I really liked this aspect of the novel even if it challenged me.
I would say this book was a darker fantasy than I expected as the characters were darker than usual and their actions and the plot reflected this. I wasn't sure where I stood with the book but I did become completely captured by the plot and everything that went down.
Overall this was a really good fantasy read and I definitely would be interested to see what other books this author has to offer. Even though the character were a little twisted, it fit the book and I really loved the author's ability to bring them to life.
The problem I was faced with was the fact that I didn't always like the characters or even knew what to think of them. Usually I have a pretty good idea of the characters and their next actions and I like the characters but his didn't hold true in this book. Instead these characters were a little dark and i never knew what they would do next. There were so many surprises in this novel because the characters weren't the usual expected ones. I really liked this aspect of the novel even if it challenged me.
I would say this book was a darker fantasy than I expected as the characters were darker than usual and their actions and the plot reflected this. I wasn't sure where I stood with the book but I did become completely captured by the plot and everything that went down.
Overall this was a really good fantasy read and I definitely would be interested to see what other books this author has to offer. Even though the character were a little twisted, it fit the book and I really loved the author's ability to bring them to life.
August 1, 2016
I am surprised at the number of negative reviews this book has gotten. I liked it. It intrigued me. While I can't say it is the best fantasy book I have ever read, it is nowhere near the worst. The concept is interesting and one that is rarely addressed. Historically there have been very few female monarchs and the few there were had to fight tooth and nail to keep their power. This book addresses that.
Queen Sybelle is the first female monarch to have full control over a kingdom. The other countries assume she is weak and needs a husband to take over for her. One neighboring kingdom sets their sights on hers and she must defend her right to rule. She has to make difficult decisions, ones that at first seem harsh to us as an outsider. As I continued reading, I began to empathize with her. In order to keep her crown and her subjects safe, she had to make seemingly callous choices and difficult sacrifices that weighed heavily on her soul. She did what she had to to show her enemies that she was stronger than they first thought. This book shows the reader that ruling a kingdom isn't like a fairy tale. Frankly, I found it to be a refreshing change of pace.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I was not monetarily compensated for my review and all my opinions are my own.
Queen Sybelle is the first female monarch to have full control over a kingdom. The other countries assume she is weak and needs a husband to take over for her. One neighboring kingdom sets their sights on hers and she must defend her right to rule. She has to make difficult decisions, ones that at first seem harsh to us as an outsider. As I continued reading, I began to empathize with her. In order to keep her crown and her subjects safe, she had to make seemingly callous choices and difficult sacrifices that weighed heavily on her soul. She did what she had to to show her enemies that she was stronger than they first thought. This book shows the reader that ruling a kingdom isn't like a fairy tale. Frankly, I found it to be a refreshing change of pace.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I was not monetarily compensated for my review and all my opinions are my own.
June 12, 2016
My Take on: Ascendant by Kyra Gregory Kyra Gregory
WHAT REALLY INTERESTED ME
The conflict between Lionessa and Evrad was very interesting for me, especially when the King and the Prince were to afraid to meet the new Queen outside their own castle. The only one who would was Deros, who honestly, should have been the Prince. Deros grew up in such a bad environment, that he guarded himself from feeling anything, yet that all changed when the Queen saved his life twice, making him in her debt.
WHO DID I LIKE THE MOST
Deros, obviously. He was so loyal to Sybelle, cause she was one that actually respected and trusted him with her life and the information he hears. And his desription, hot damn.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
I was confused at the start on what caused the conflict between the kingdoms, but I didn't realize that that information came later on in the book.
*I received this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given for this review, and all opinions are my own.*
WHAT REALLY INTERESTED ME
The conflict between Lionessa and Evrad was very interesting for me, especially when the King and the Prince were to afraid to meet the new Queen outside their own castle. The only one who would was Deros, who honestly, should have been the Prince. Deros grew up in such a bad environment, that he guarded himself from feeling anything, yet that all changed when the Queen saved his life twice, making him in her debt.
WHO DID I LIKE THE MOST
Deros, obviously. He was so loyal to Sybelle, cause she was one that actually respected and trusted him with her life and the information he hears. And his desription, hot damn.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
I was confused at the start on what caused the conflict between the kingdoms, but I didn't realize that that information came later on in the book.
*I received this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given for this review, and all opinions are my own.*
June 22, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this ebook for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Sybelle's father has just died. Nero, ruler of the neighboring kingdom, sends the new queen a letter, asking for her hand in marriage to his son, the crown prince. Still heavy with grief, Sybelle refuses the proposal, causing King Nero to kidnap her brother on his way to his weekly doctor's visit. Thus begins a deadly game between the newly-minted queen and an aged king.
There is no fantasy to be seen in this book, other it being set in another world. The tone is rather dark and desperate, and it was hard to feel anything for the character of Sybelle.
Princess Sybelle's father has just died. Nero, ruler of the neighboring kingdom, sends the new queen a letter, asking for her hand in marriage to his son, the crown prince. Still heavy with grief, Sybelle refuses the proposal, causing King Nero to kidnap her brother on his way to his weekly doctor's visit. Thus begins a deadly game between the newly-minted queen and an aged king.
There is no fantasy to be seen in this book, other it being set in another world. The tone is rather dark and desperate, and it was hard to feel anything for the character of Sybelle.
July 28, 2016
*I received a copy of Ascendant via Net Galley for an honest review.*
I wanted to sail through Ascendant like many other books but sadly I couldn't get through it. I strongly advocate keeping with a story all the way but I just had little desire to continue reading this one. I felt no pull to any of the characters or their stories and waited and waited to want to know more about this new world but it never came.
I wanted to sail through Ascendant like many other books but sadly I couldn't get through it. I strongly advocate keeping with a story all the way but I just had little desire to continue reading this one. I felt no pull to any of the characters or their stories and waited and waited to want to know more about this new world but it never came.
April 20, 2017
Warnings for "bury your gays" trope & gratuitous on-page violence toward a disabled child.
I dnf'd this pretty early on, and I don't really care to do a full review of it. Poorly written & plotted, plus the ableist/homophobic tropes are a deal-breaker.
I dnf'd this pretty early on, and I don't really care to do a full review of it. Poorly written & plotted, plus the ableist/homophobic tropes are a deal-breaker.
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