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The Tales of Iradas #1
The Dark Maiden
*COMPLETED SERIES*
Paper Owl Publishing presents the first book in The Tales of Iradas.
The war between the Redbanes and the Valentis was never supposed to have lasted this long. But generations have since passed, and the fire between both families continues to rage on. Desperate to see the end of it, Hathor Redbane, the Emperor of The Allied Kingdoms, seeks an alliance through his son in the east. Whilst protecting his beloved daughter, Adelaide, from those who wish to abduct her for their own sinister unions.
When rumors spread of a daughter lost to the Redbane family, Marcus Valenti launches an attack and goes in search of her. A perfect pawn for the already distraught emperor.
But the girl is not what Marcus had expected. Under a false identity for the last sixteen years, Serendipity Redbane is cursed; plagued with violent visions of a dark future she cannot change. She soon finds herself a pawn in a very dangerous game. She must play spy to her enemies; to the very man who holds her hostage. With a band of unexpected new friends, she could work to undermine the sadist Lord of Valkenn and change the fate of The Allied Kingdoms. But not without consequences…
Paper Owl Publishing presents the first book in The Tales of Iradas.
The war between the Redbanes and the Valentis was never supposed to have lasted this long. But generations have since passed, and the fire between both families continues to rage on. Desperate to see the end of it, Hathor Redbane, the Emperor of The Allied Kingdoms, seeks an alliance through his son in the east. Whilst protecting his beloved daughter, Adelaide, from those who wish to abduct her for their own sinister unions.
When rumors spread of a daughter lost to the Redbane family, Marcus Valenti launches an attack and goes in search of her. A perfect pawn for the already distraught emperor.
But the girl is not what Marcus had expected. Under a false identity for the last sixteen years, Serendipity Redbane is cursed; plagued with violent visions of a dark future she cannot change. She soon finds herself a pawn in a very dangerous game. She must play spy to her enemies; to the very man who holds her hostage. With a band of unexpected new friends, she could work to undermine the sadist Lord of Valkenn and change the fate of The Allied Kingdoms. But not without consequences…
- GenresFantasy
361 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2016
9 people are currently reading
2374 people want to read
About the author
Adrianna J. Tetnowski
14 books33 followersHello, we're Paper Owl Publishing!
Adrianna J. Tetnowski is the author of The Tales of Iradas series, The Mortaery Chronicles and The Anari.
She loves to write dark fantasy novels for new adults, featuring steadfast heroines and morally grey villains.
If you're looking for your next great read, we have a few series to help you out:
1. Looking for an NA Dark Fantasy series based on family feuds and forbidden romance? -The Tales of Iradas.
2. A fast paced, steamy (but gory!) NA Dark Fantasy with a strong female assassin lead? - The Anari
3. An Asian inspired NA fantasy with a clever and resourceful female alchemist? - The Mortaery Chronicles
Adrianna J. Tetnowski is the author of The Tales of Iradas series, The Mortaery Chronicles and The Anari.
She loves to write dark fantasy novels for new adults, featuring steadfast heroines and morally grey villains.
If you're looking for your next great read, we have a few series to help you out:
1. Looking for an NA Dark Fantasy series based on family feuds and forbidden romance? -The Tales of Iradas.
2. A fast paced, steamy (but gory!) NA Dark Fantasy with a strong female assassin lead? - The Anari
3. An Asian inspired NA fantasy with a clever and resourceful female alchemist? - The Mortaery Chronicles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 23, 2025
The Dark Maiden is the first book in The Tales of Iridas series where two rival families; the Redbanes and the Valentis, have been at war for generations. As one family figurehead makes a move to try to end the war for good whilst protecting his daughter from harm, a rumour of another young girl lost to him over 16 years ago sneaks up on him leading him off the path he was set upon achieving.
This book has many POV and short chapters, which does get a little confusing in the first 40% of the book. I started making notes to refresh myself, who was who, which helped. The characters are interesting and well formed, and I did get Game of Thrones vibes with all the political plots and power-hungry characters, which I enjoyed. I look forward to getting book two in the near future and continuing the series to see where the book will take me.
This book has many POV and short chapters, which does get a little confusing in the first 40% of the book. I started making notes to refresh myself, who was who, which helped. The characters are interesting and well formed, and I did get Game of Thrones vibes with all the political plots and power-hungry characters, which I enjoyed. I look forward to getting book two in the near future and continuing the series to see where the book will take me.
started-but-not-finished
October 25, 2019Usually I don't write review about a book I haven't finished yet, but I am part of the Beta Readers team and have to keep my word. I will add up to this review once I will finish reading the book.
What I have to start with is the fact that there is a lot happening in this story. At first it's hard to keep track, because point of view keeps changing and chapters are really short. Yet, once you have a hang of it - story sucks you in.
Characters are build beautifully. Every one has their own special vibe that set them apart from others. Descriptions are write creatively, you read and ca see all the interesting places where story line leads us. Really quick I started to like some characters and strongly dislike others. Like Axel. Oh, I hate Axel the most! But villains only make the story more spicy, so I can't wait to finish the book and tell you more about it!
What I have to start with is the fact that there is a lot happening in this story. At first it's hard to keep track, because point of view keeps changing and chapters are really short. Yet, once you have a hang of it - story sucks you in.
Characters are build beautifully. Every one has their own special vibe that set them apart from others. Descriptions are write creatively, you read and ca see all the interesting places where story line leads us. Really quick I started to like some characters and strongly dislike others. Like Axel. Oh, I hate Axel the most! But villains only make the story more spicy, so I can't wait to finish the book and tell you more about it!
August 31, 2024
I am a big lover of fantasy but I have to say that while I did enjoy the Dark Maiden there were a few points where I almost had to take a break. I did enjoy it is written in third person but at the same time the amount of different Point of Views became a bit confusing at times. I think this was because the chapters were short so it gave the novel a bit of a jumpy feel. As readers we are sent between character to character quickly and if you don’t keep focused it can get a bit confusing.
That said, I did enjoy it overall. The characters were also interesting and rather well developed. I did find at moments there was a lot of information given to us. This does happen in fantasy a lot, especially one with a lot of world building but my personal preference is to weave it into the narrative in a more subtle way. But, that’s just me.
Overall though I did enjoy the story and the characters and I do want to read the second in the series. If you are okay with multiple points of view and jumping between them you should really enjoy this one.
As always thank you to Love Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
That said, I did enjoy it overall. The characters were also interesting and rather well developed. I did find at moments there was a lot of information given to us. This does happen in fantasy a lot, especially one with a lot of world building but my personal preference is to weave it into the narrative in a more subtle way. But, that’s just me.
Overall though I did enjoy the story and the characters and I do want to read the second in the series. If you are okay with multiple points of view and jumping between them you should really enjoy this one.
As always thank you to Love Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
February 1, 2020
Firstly thank you Paper Owl Publishing for giving me a copy of this book to review. I read this a few weeks ago but just realised I hadn’t reviewed this on Goodreads!
I found the book immersive and very well planned out with the world building and the depth to the characters. Character wise I think there may have been slightly too many than needed, and this was one weaker point for me - when I first started the novel I found it tricky to keep up with who was who which made the start a bit confusing - however the characters were rich in description and very varied which was nice.
I recommend you push through as once you get used to the characters and the multiple POV it is a really interesting read - especially towards the end. I found this quite a political read with all the friction in the books setting - The Allied Kingdoms and this was quite interesting to read. I found it very similar to Game of Thrones with the different places and characters which was good!!
Overall, once the book got going this was a promising start to a new series and I’m looking forward to the next instalment!
I found the book immersive and very well planned out with the world building and the depth to the characters. Character wise I think there may have been slightly too many than needed, and this was one weaker point for me - when I first started the novel I found it tricky to keep up with who was who which made the start a bit confusing - however the characters were rich in description and very varied which was nice.
I recommend you push through as once you get used to the characters and the multiple POV it is a really interesting read - especially towards the end. I found this quite a political read with all the friction in the books setting - The Allied Kingdoms and this was quite interesting to read. I found it very similar to Game of Thrones with the different places and characters which was good!!
Overall, once the book got going this was a promising start to a new series and I’m looking forward to the next instalment!
September 1, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish! I have been reading a lot of fantasy the past few months and the dark maiden for me did not disappoint, I loved the characters, the world, the plot and the twists and turns throughout.
The Dark Maiden is the first in the Tales of Iradas series and tells the story of the war between the Redbanes and the Valentis in this world. We are introduced to multiple characters in this and the story is told from multiple points of view. Desperate to see the end of the war Hathor Redbanes, the emperor of the Allied Kingdoms seeks an alliance through his son in the east by marrying him. While protecting his daughter Adelaide from those who wish to abduct her to use in their gain. Rumors begin to spread of a lost other daughter of the Redbanes family and Marcus Valenti launches an attack to find her and destroy the emperor. But not is all it seems with Serendipity Redbane.
At first we are introduced to a lot of characters, which does take a little getting used to at the start and a lot happens from the get go. The stakes are high and the book continues this way wihich keeps you on your toes while reading. Also the chapters are short and snappy which definitely kept me entertained throughout! There is lots of political tension between the families and I loved that we got to see the plotting from both sides of the war. Family dynamics are also explored in a big way and we see the tensions within the families in terms of everyday life, marriage prospects for alliances and relationships. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapters on the Redbane family but I also enjoyed getting into the minds of the Valentis and their scheming ways.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and can't wait to continue on with the series!
The Dark Maiden is the first in the Tales of Iradas series and tells the story of the war between the Redbanes and the Valentis in this world. We are introduced to multiple characters in this and the story is told from multiple points of view. Desperate to see the end of the war Hathor Redbanes, the emperor of the Allied Kingdoms seeks an alliance through his son in the east by marrying him. While protecting his daughter Adelaide from those who wish to abduct her to use in their gain. Rumors begin to spread of a lost other daughter of the Redbanes family and Marcus Valenti launches an attack to find her and destroy the emperor. But not is all it seems with Serendipity Redbane.
At first we are introduced to a lot of characters, which does take a little getting used to at the start and a lot happens from the get go. The stakes are high and the book continues this way wihich keeps you on your toes while reading. Also the chapters are short and snappy which definitely kept me entertained throughout! There is lots of political tension between the families and I loved that we got to see the plotting from both sides of the war. Family dynamics are also explored in a big way and we see the tensions within the families in terms of everyday life, marriage prospects for alliances and relationships. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapters on the Redbane family but I also enjoyed getting into the minds of the Valentis and their scheming ways.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and can't wait to continue on with the series!
December 15, 2020
Actual rating is 3.5
Review copy is provided to me by Paper Owl Publishing in exchange for an honest review! Photo and review will be posted also on my bookstagram which is @dbookishprincess
The dark maiden has an interesting plot, the magic and characters are strong.
The synopsis is so good too!
I would have enjoyed it more if the book doesn't contain so much POVs and when I said so much I mean like more than 6 POVs and it was throwing me off and confusing me page after page. I think I was only at page 70 when I noticed there is at least 7 or 8 POVs already. There's just a lot going on to every characters in different part of the kingdom in this book.
What confuses me more is that in every POV there is like another POV of the person they were talking to. Its like a POV inside another POV. Did you get that? Cause even I cant understand it.
It was confusing maybe because im used on reading books with just less than 3 POV.
But the writing is good, words are understandable, no deep words and stuffs like that, the characters are well thought and unique. Sadly I couldn't connect with any of the characters though.
I liked the plot, i find it very interesting. But i dont love it cause the whole time Im reading it, its like my mind is buffering and i feel dumb cause of the POVs. I wanna love it really but the struggle is real while reading this one.
Will read the 2nd and 3rd book! And maybe I will give it another chance next year and re read it maybe I can grasp and the multiple POV wont throw me off when I do!
Review copy is provided to me by Paper Owl Publishing in exchange for an honest review! Photo and review will be posted also on my bookstagram which is @dbookishprincess
The dark maiden has an interesting plot, the magic and characters are strong.
The synopsis is so good too!
I would have enjoyed it more if the book doesn't contain so much POVs and when I said so much I mean like more than 6 POVs and it was throwing me off and confusing me page after page. I think I was only at page 70 when I noticed there is at least 7 or 8 POVs already. There's just a lot going on to every characters in different part of the kingdom in this book.
What confuses me more is that in every POV there is like another POV of the person they were talking to. Its like a POV inside another POV. Did you get that? Cause even I cant understand it.
It was confusing maybe because im used on reading books with just less than 3 POV.
But the writing is good, words are understandable, no deep words and stuffs like that, the characters are well thought and unique. Sadly I couldn't connect with any of the characters though.
I liked the plot, i find it very interesting. But i dont love it cause the whole time Im reading it, its like my mind is buffering and i feel dumb cause of the POVs. I wanna love it really but the struggle is real while reading this one.
Will read the 2nd and 3rd book! And maybe I will give it another chance next year and re read it maybe I can grasp and the multiple POV wont throw me off when I do!
August 26, 2024
With a staggering array of characters, you're hit with a tide of information almost immediately upon starting The Dark Maiden. That, coupled with the multiple points-of-view and short chapters, may be off-putting to some readers. But the dramatic world building and splendid imagery more than compensate for the work needed to put in to get to grips with the diverse and complex cast.
The thrilling plot moves quickly through those short chapters, the author taking us on a conspicuously tense ride through the political minefield that is Iradas, where battles are motivated by power and control, and people may not always be who they appear to be.
Aside from needing the attention of a proofreader and editor to iron out the rough spots, The Dark Maiden is a promising debut and introduction to the series.
The thrilling plot moves quickly through those short chapters, the author taking us on a conspicuously tense ride through the political minefield that is Iradas, where battles are motivated by power and control, and people may not always be who they appear to be.
Aside from needing the attention of a proofreader and editor to iron out the rough spots, The Dark Maiden is a promising debut and introduction to the series.
August 29, 2024
This is Book 1 The Tales of Iradas.
The story follows Serendipity, who, after finding out she may be a long list princess, enters a glorified game of cat and mouse as she fights to save her kingdom.
The first thing I should mention is the artwork and the overall formatting of the book which is absolutely lovely - vibrant purple, lovely cover artwork, gorgeous maps and a crown at the start of every chapter just lovely.
I adore a good fantasy map ❤.
While chapters are short and snappy, the story moves at a decent pace, and with the various points of views you really do get a well-rounded view of the entire story.
While vast, the characters are intriguing as is the world building - you can tell a lot of work has gone into thinking these through.
It's a great start to the series!
The story follows Serendipity, who, after finding out she may be a long list princess, enters a glorified game of cat and mouse as she fights to save her kingdom.
The first thing I should mention is the artwork and the overall formatting of the book which is absolutely lovely - vibrant purple, lovely cover artwork, gorgeous maps and a crown at the start of every chapter just lovely.
I adore a good fantasy map ❤.
While chapters are short and snappy, the story moves at a decent pace, and with the various points of views you really do get a well-rounded view of the entire story.
While vast, the characters are intriguing as is the world building - you can tell a lot of work has gone into thinking these through.
It's a great start to the series!
September 2, 2024
I want to say thank you to love book tours and the publishing, and to the author for gifting me this digital arc, for an exchange an honest review.
Oh my gosh! This book, besides being lucky to even get a copy. I loved the world building. This is the first book in the series, I read it too quickly, that I’m disappointed in myself that I have to wait for the rest to come out.
I love love LOVE, the short chapters, (it makes me feel that I’m reading the book faster😅)
One chapter to the next, there’s no rest on action, twist and turns. That ending, if I didn’t care if my kindle I would have throw it across the room 🤣 because man that cliffhanger! Definitely recommend.
Oh my gosh! This book, besides being lucky to even get a copy. I loved the world building. This is the first book in the series, I read it too quickly, that I’m disappointed in myself that I have to wait for the rest to come out.
I love love LOVE, the short chapters, (it makes me feel that I’m reading the book faster😅)
One chapter to the next, there’s no rest on action, twist and turns. That ending, if I didn’t care if my kindle I would have throw it across the room 🤣 because man that cliffhanger! Definitely recommend.
February 5, 2020
I definitely enjoyed this story a lot and look forward to book two. I am not sure if my copy was an ARC or a published copy, I recieved it from Paper Owl Press. One chapter seemed misplaced, a character was in two places at the same time. There were also grammatical errors. So I hope my copy was an ARC.
The story was excellent and strong. I enjoy that the magic and fantasy of the book is slight.
The characters are well thought out and work well together.
The story was excellent and strong. I enjoy that the magic and fantasy of the book is slight.
The characters are well thought out and work well together.
August 25, 2024
The Dark Maiden by Adrianna J Tetnowsk.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover. I did like the crowns at the start of each chapter. I got into it straight away. I did like the story. Non-stop Action. I did like how Victor, Saff, and Adelaide were together. I liked Serendipity. I liked how she was with Reynald in the barracks. That was my favourite part. Omg I can't wait to read the next book.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover. I did like the crowns at the start of each chapter. I got into it straight away. I did like the story. Non-stop Action. I did like how Victor, Saff, and Adelaide were together. I liked Serendipity. I liked how she was with Reynald in the barracks. That was my favourite part. Omg I can't wait to read the next book.
October 9, 2024
Thanks to the author for the copy 💕
Although for me I felt this book took a while to get into due to all the different povs each chapter, I did really enjoy this book. I loved reading all the different characters and sides of the story as well as the politics that there was in the royalty in the universe. The last few chapters were incredible and had me on the edge of my seat while I read and it definitely left me needing more from this world!!
Although for me I felt this book took a while to get into due to all the different povs each chapter, I did really enjoy this book. I loved reading all the different characters and sides of the story as well as the politics that there was in the royalty in the universe. The last few chapters were incredible and had me on the edge of my seat while I read and it definitely left me needing more from this world!!
August 26, 2024
First of all, what a cover! It really caught my attention. Although I found the range of characters confusing at first, I soon settled in and enjoyed the various points of view. The chapters are short and I found myself whizzing through The Dark Maiden, eager to know what happened next.
Adelaide was a well rounded character at the centre of the story along with the suspected long lost princess Serendipity. Both girls find themselves the pawns of kings. I really enjoyed this dark fantasy and look forward to reading the next in the series. Especially as the author left the reader on an exciting cliffhanger. I really need to know what happens next.
Adelaide was a well rounded character at the centre of the story along with the suspected long lost princess Serendipity. Both girls find themselves the pawns of kings. I really enjoyed this dark fantasy and look forward to reading the next in the series. Especially as the author left the reader on an exciting cliffhanger. I really need to know what happens next.
March 9, 2024
An enjoyable read
This was a Goodreads sweepstakes win, and I am glad to be one of the winners. The story held my interest and I am sad to see it end. Looking forward to the next installment to this epic story
This was a Goodreads sweepstakes win, and I am glad to be one of the winners. The story held my interest and I am sad to see it end. Looking forward to the next installment to this epic story
September 6, 2024
When I first saw the cover for this book, I was instantly drawn in to it. And then after reading the synopsis I was intrigued to know more about the story and the characters.
Unlike in other fantasy books, the set up for the world and characters didn’t negate the storyline, they happened simultaneously without being confusing. The characters were all really easy to get to know, especially with the varied POV.
I loved the short chapter style of the book and found it so easy to read and very hard to put down. I cannot wait to see where this series heads next.
Unlike in other fantasy books, the set up for the world and characters didn’t negate the storyline, they happened simultaneously without being confusing. The characters were all really easy to get to know, especially with the varied POV.
I loved the short chapter style of the book and found it so easy to read and very hard to put down. I cannot wait to see where this series heads next.
January 8, 2019
I struggled to get into this one at first, I must admit. The multiple viewpoints and vast array of characters and names threw me off a bit to start with and it took me a while to settle into the story.
But once I got into it a bit more it was definitely worth it!
This is a fantastic debut novel from a lovely, talented writer!
The way the story was written and the massive scope of the world reminded me a lot of Game Of Thrones.
There's lots of strong, powerful, full-of-personality characters here and they're all so different from each other. If you can cope with the switching viewpoints in every chapter then there's a lot or character and world building within these pages!
The characters all feel very fleshed out and the world the story is set in could almost be a real place!
There are a few grammatical errors - specifically the authors way of writing speech by starting on a new line every time, even when the same character is still talking (for example after a "she paused" line or other pause in the dialogue) confused me sometimes and I often lost track of who was meant to be saying what.
But despite a few small errors like this, this book is definitely worth picking up!
If you enjoy a fantasy with strong characters and immersive world building then this might just be a book for you!
But once I got into it a bit more it was definitely worth it!
This is a fantastic debut novel from a lovely, talented writer!
The way the story was written and the massive scope of the world reminded me a lot of Game Of Thrones.
There's lots of strong, powerful, full-of-personality characters here and they're all so different from each other. If you can cope with the switching viewpoints in every chapter then there's a lot or character and world building within these pages!
The characters all feel very fleshed out and the world the story is set in could almost be a real place!
There are a few grammatical errors - specifically the authors way of writing speech by starting on a new line every time, even when the same character is still talking (for example after a "she paused" line or other pause in the dialogue) confused me sometimes and I often lost track of who was meant to be saying what.
But despite a few small errors like this, this book is definitely worth picking up!
If you enjoy a fantasy with strong characters and immersive world building then this might just be a book for you!
January 7, 2019
Overall i'm enjoying The Dark Maiden though i can understand that it wont be to everyone's taste.
I'll start with the negatives that i didn't like. I felt that it was hard to get initially invested in the book due to the large cast of characters and the short chapter length, it felt like i was standing at a roadside with all these characters whizzing by me. This meant it was hard to get a feel for each of the characters, i feel like it would be easier to get into the book if some of the chapters were condensed into several longer chapters so the reader is not overwhelmed. Secondly i felt as though the premise was a bit cliche and can understand if some initially write the book off as a Game of Thrones rip off.
However the book has a lot of positives to mention, the use of short chapters, and a large cast meant that the plot moves quickly. Plus many characters were likeable with hidden depth. Also the book was constantly subverting my expectations and went to places fantasy books do not often go to. The prose of the book is descriptive and varied whilst avoiding being overly purple / pretentious.
I have enjoyed this book immensely and encourage others to read it, especially as an intro to the political fantasy genre.
I'll start with the negatives that i didn't like. I felt that it was hard to get initially invested in the book due to the large cast of characters and the short chapter length, it felt like i was standing at a roadside with all these characters whizzing by me. This meant it was hard to get a feel for each of the characters, i feel like it would be easier to get into the book if some of the chapters were condensed into several longer chapters so the reader is not overwhelmed. Secondly i felt as though the premise was a bit cliche and can understand if some initially write the book off as a Game of Thrones rip off.
However the book has a lot of positives to mention, the use of short chapters, and a large cast meant that the plot moves quickly. Plus many characters were likeable with hidden depth. Also the book was constantly subverting my expectations and went to places fantasy books do not often go to. The prose of the book is descriptive and varied whilst avoiding being overly purple / pretentious.
I have enjoyed this book immensely and encourage others to read it, especially as an intro to the political fantasy genre.
October 26, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from Paper Owl Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This is story about Serendipity Valdar, unseen and unheard and she feels safe this way. Serendipity has visions of the future, Serendipity can manipulate minds. Serendipity is not who she thinks she is.
I struggled with this book at first. There were too many POV's, the writing was confusing. I sometimes found I had to go back and reread a page because I felt like I missed something. I wasn't sure if I liked it. Then something shifted. I still found myself confused, but I became so invested in the characters. This is not just a story about Serendipity, there is a war between two families and Serendipity is a pawn. When this book ended the way it did, I was flabbergasted. How dare the author do this to me! How dare she end it on such a cliffhanger. I NEED to know what Evard means by "Not again."
So maybe it was confusing, maybe there are too many characters, but this story gets under your skin!!
This is story about Serendipity Valdar, unseen and unheard and she feels safe this way. Serendipity has visions of the future, Serendipity can manipulate minds. Serendipity is not who she thinks she is.
I struggled with this book at first. There were too many POV's, the writing was confusing. I sometimes found I had to go back and reread a page because I felt like I missed something. I wasn't sure if I liked it. Then something shifted. I still found myself confused, but I became so invested in the characters. This is not just a story about Serendipity, there is a war between two families and Serendipity is a pawn. When this book ended the way it did, I was flabbergasted. How dare the author do this to me! How dare she end it on such a cliffhanger. I NEED to know what Evard means by "Not again."
So maybe it was confusing, maybe there are too many characters, but this story gets under your skin!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
A brilliant debut novel and a great start to a new series I can't wait to see how everything going to pan out.
With a smart and resourceful main character, a roster of well-defined support characters who all have their own voice and leaves for a wild and interesting read.
With Iradas, as a well-defined backdrop for the action to take place, it is a fun an immersive read I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of dark fantasy.
Are a lot of pov switches which may but some people of but I suggest sticking with it. I personally love it but I know it's not to everyone taste.
I'd also like to point out for those like me who are dyslexic reading certain fonts can be hard to read but the one chosen here is actually rather helpful and I feel like that is something worth mentioning as well, as it did help me understand faster.
If assessments weren't do it be would be read and I would be craving for more.
With a smart and resourceful main character, a roster of well-defined support characters who all have their own voice and leaves for a wild and interesting read.
With Iradas, as a well-defined backdrop for the action to take place, it is a fun an immersive read I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of dark fantasy.
Are a lot of pov switches which may but some people of but I suggest sticking with it. I personally love it but I know it's not to everyone taste.
I'd also like to point out for those like me who are dyslexic reading certain fonts can be hard to read but the one chosen here is actually rather helpful and I feel like that is something worth mentioning as well, as it did help me understand faster.
If assessments weren't do it be would be read and I would be craving for more.
January 6, 2019
The Dark Maiden, Adrianna J. Tetnowski’s debut novel, is an enticing fantasy surrounding the tension within the Allied Kingdoms. In the feud between the Redbanes and the Valentis, the young and invisible girl Serendipity becomes the bartering chip that tips the conflict to its climax. Suspected to be a hidden Princess from the Redbane family, she possesses a rare ability everyone wants to control. The question is: how far are people willing to go?
The story is a definite page-turner, filled with lots of gripping characters, and a whole new world readers have yet to venture. However, I feel like the editing requires some extra improvement for future work; there are some minor punctuation and grammatical errors. Despite this, The Dark Maiden is a very promising first novel in the series and I look forward to reading the next.
The story is a definite page-turner, filled with lots of gripping characters, and a whole new world readers have yet to venture. However, I feel like the editing requires some extra improvement for future work; there are some minor punctuation and grammatical errors. Despite this, The Dark Maiden is a very promising first novel in the series and I look forward to reading the next.
January 6, 2019
I love, love, love this book! I'm only part way through it at the moment but I already can't put it down. The book is written from several perspectives, making it quite an interesting read: it allows you to asses the situation in a way that most novels don't. It lets the reader make a decision about what's going on for themselves because they don't have just one droning protagonist talking about how they feel about the situation and their plights.
The characters so far are also pretty different from one another, which I find particularly entertaining as it's not often that you get so much context about a world's state, it's inhabitants politics and the main story-line in such few chapters!
I can't wait to get my coursework deadlines over with so I can sink my teeth back into this!
The characters so far are also pretty different from one another, which I find particularly entertaining as it's not often that you get so much context about a world's state, it's inhabitants politics and the main story-line in such few chapters!
I can't wait to get my coursework deadlines over with so I can sink my teeth back into this!
January 7, 2019
This book is fabulous! Recently my interest in reading for pleasure has dwindled and although tales of Kings and Emperors are usually not my cup of tea I decided that I'd give this a go, and I'm so glad I did! Although I haven't read all of it yet this book tells an intricate tale of intertwined lives from the viewpoint of several important characters in relatively short chapters which i absolutely adore, as I never have to worry about forgetting where I am in terms of the plot. Reading this has inspired me to begin reading again and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer!
January 7, 2019
The Dark Maiden is an immersive novel, able to entrance the reader from the very first page.
The conflict within the Allied Kingdoms only feeds off the tension.
This story is definitely one I would not put down. The book flows perfectly, the characters' are incredible. The fantasy, the romance grips you, pulling you further into its clutches. For someone who loves the fantasy and supernatural genres, I would definitely recommend this novel.
There were, however, a few minor grammatical mistakes which can be easily rectified after a bit of editing. All-in-all, a fine piece of work indeed!
The conflict within the Allied Kingdoms only feeds off the tension.
This story is definitely one I would not put down. The book flows perfectly, the characters' are incredible. The fantasy, the romance grips you, pulling you further into its clutches. For someone who loves the fantasy and supernatural genres, I would definitely recommend this novel.
There were, however, a few minor grammatical mistakes which can be easily rectified after a bit of editing. All-in-all, a fine piece of work indeed!
January 6, 2019
I hadn`t read a book about kingdoms and rival royal families in a while and this book definitely hit the spot! The story was very fast paced and I was turning the pages so quickly my finger tips started to hurt lol...Truly, this was a very fun read, I enjoyed the characters and didn't mind the multiple perspectives even though it`s typically something I don`t enjoy in books. This is the first book in a series and I`m really looking forward to the sequel.
**book sent to me for review by the publisher. All opinions are genuine and my own
**book sent to me for review by the publisher. All opinions are genuine and my own
January 10, 2019
I cannot wait to discover what is to come in this series.
I was hooked from the first page, with two amazingly strong female lead characters, fighting a war they are forced to be a part of. I have become so fond of Serendipity and Adelaide. What a powerful and intriguing new world Tetnowski has created, with so many possibilities for future novels to come. This novel is exciting, emotive, and electric.
If you are a fan of the classics, such as Tolkein, you will enjoy reading this battle of kingdoms and stories of royal blood.
This is just the beginning for Iradas!
I was hooked from the first page, with two amazingly strong female lead characters, fighting a war they are forced to be a part of. I have become so fond of Serendipity and Adelaide. What a powerful and intriguing new world Tetnowski has created, with so many possibilities for future novels to come. This novel is exciting, emotive, and electric.
If you are a fan of the classics, such as Tolkein, you will enjoy reading this battle of kingdoms and stories of royal blood.
This is just the beginning for Iradas!
January 6, 2019
Brilliant novel! Really good read, unexpected twists were well written. Each chapter is from diffrent character viewpoints which is interesting. I personally would prefer two or three viewpoints compared to the amount included in the novel. This being said they work well together. The book flows great. As a dyslexia i found the font easy to read and the pages were comfy on my eyes. The font is a decent size. I cant wait to see where the next two books take this :)
January 7, 2019
The Dark Maiden is a lovely written debut which I thoroughly enjoyed! When first going into the story I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters but as the story progressed and you get to know the characters it wasn't a problem. The story moves quick with such short chapters so there is never a dull moment when flicking from character to character.
I cannot wait to carry on with this series!
I cannot wait to carry on with this series!
April 29, 2019
Phenomenal debut! Can't wait for the next books!!!
August 27, 2024
This is a fantastic start to a new fantasy series and I definitely get vibes like Sarah J Maas. This is a multi-perspective novel which enhances the experience and story line that the author has created which is amazing. The characters are dynamic and the way that they have been written means that they are able to adapt to the plot as this develops. I enjoyed the world which has been created and I could imagine this world vividly and the characters enhances this. I can not wait to read the further novels in the series.
November 30, 2025
I want books that are exciting throughout the whole thing, not just when they’re about to end. This put me to sleep more than it kept me engaged.
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