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Amaranthine Saga #4
Mikoto and the Reaver Village
This summer is his last chance to win his first love.
Wardenclave has always been a place of secrets and sway. For most of the year, the remote mountain village is closed off from the rest of the world, but each spring, they issue invitations to the most promising young reavers all over the world. Summer skill camps provide opportunities for the elite to train with the best. And by longstanding tradition, for teens of the In-between to evaluate the compatibility of their peers. Glint Starmark’s reputation as a matchmaker has been holding true for millennia.
At seventeen, Mikoto Reaver is the youngest headman in Wardenclave’s history. He’s had very little time to adjust to his new role before their close-knit community opens its doors to children of pedigree, the specialists who will mentor them, an allotment of battlers, and a celebrity or two. Glint means well, but Mikoto won’t commit until he can speak to the only girl he’s ever loved. There’s just something about her.
Wardenclave has always been a place of secrets and sway. For most of the year, the remote mountain village is closed off from the rest of the world, but each spring, they issue invitations to the most promising young reavers all over the world. Summer skill camps provide opportunities for the elite to train with the best. And by longstanding tradition, for teens of the In-between to evaluate the compatibility of their peers. Glint Starmark’s reputation as a matchmaker has been holding true for millennia.
At seventeen, Mikoto Reaver is the youngest headman in Wardenclave’s history. He’s had very little time to adjust to his new role before their close-knit community opens its doors to children of pedigree, the specialists who will mentor them, an allotment of battlers, and a celebrity or two. Glint means well, but Mikoto won’t commit until he can speak to the only girl he’s ever loved. There’s just something about her.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2020
54 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Forthright .
38 books554 followersa teller of tales with a fondness for unlikely friendships, wary alliances, unexpected upshots, hard-won trust, diverse cultures, found family, local legends, and folksome things. Author of the Immortal Holmes series, paranormal mysteries with a steampunk aesthetic set in an alternate history & the romantically-inclined Amaranthine Saga, with all of its attendant short stories & serials.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 21, 2021
The first few chapters of this book had me so excited. There seemed to be real conflict - internal conflict, external conflict, interpersonal conflict between characters(!) - and the setting, a place we've seen glimpses of and heard about so often before, was intriguing. Being re-introduced to so many familiar faces was fun, and seeing the way their lives had altered off-page gave the story a sense of progress right off the bat. The inclusion of characters like Tenma, and the renewed focus on the rogue, given the battlers' training regime, hinted that long delayed storylines might get some resolution, or at least progress.
Unfortunately, all that excitement fizzled before the book was half over. Some of the conflicts promised by the opening chapters were resolved quickly and quietly or entirely off-page, others were brushed aside or forgotten entirely. (Not five chapters in, we are promised that Tenma will get more information about his unique tending abilities and meet someone else who shares them. This never happens within the scope of the book.) Things happen, to be sure, but the story does not really progress. Themes of trust and secrets, usually a strength of the series, get completely muddled here, with who gets trusted or included with what making no rhyme or reason except sometimes a half-hearted "well, you already know all these other secrets, so..."
Notably, there is no romance plot to give the story any kind of anchor or structure. The series hasn't had a homerun couple since Argent and Tsumiko, but at least Kimiko and Quen's courtship gave shape to Accidental Proposal, and even the tensionless mess of Two Janitors has some of the structure, if not the substance, of romance to fall back on, whether in Ash/Tami or Kip/Joe. In Reaver Village, however, though the premise promises a love story, the "heroine" doesn't actually interact with Mikoto on page until the book is almost over, and halfway through, the book gets so tired of its own tedious riddle hunt that's supposed to stand in for romance that it drops the subplot for chapters on end with the flimsiest of in-story excuses, and goes haring off on several other subplots, most of which fail to resolve satisfyingly.
Add to all that some new additions to the lore that are strange and eye-rolling by turns, plus a startlingly dark deep dive into Reaver culture that's presented in this eerily neutral light, and Mikoto is easily the weakest stand-alone entry in the series, and possibly where I decide the well is no longer worth dipping into.
In many ways, the failure of this book is a result of the "besetting sins" of the series, flaws all the more frustrating to the readers because their presence in the first installment were negligible or so minuscule as to be undetectable. Like bacteria in food left too long on the counter, however, what was once all but invisible has multiplied and magnified until what was once delicious is now rotten and sickening.
I have a LOT to say on this topic, but I've tried to narrow my focus to four main areas of continued frustration - conflict/plot, worldbuilding, relationships, and handling of female characters. Some of these issues do overlap to an extent, but as much as possible I will treat them separately as I examine the widespread and widening problems with each. Broadly discussed potential spoilers for previous books in the series below.
1) Conflict
There really isn't any, and that's the problem. Stories are only as good as the conflict that drives them. Not every conflict has to be be huge in scale, but it has to matter to the characters.
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox had loads of conflict - Argent's enslavement and resulting ingrained bitterness and resentment, the danger to Tsumiko and attacks on her life, the need for secrecy, Tsumiko's loneliness and fears for the future, plus a murdering, rapist dragon on the loose. Kimiko and the Accident Proposal teases at that dragon still being a threat, but aside from a single chase scene (which is actually a different, teased at threat), all the action takes place off screen, and the interpersonal conflict is softened from TatEF. Tamiko and the Two Janitors takes it further, providing set-ups for conflict (If we accept Amarathine into our schools, there might be backlash! Protests! Bomb threats! If the Amarathine come out, there might be prejudice! retaliation! People might not trust them after being lied to. An immoral character might have to deal with the death of a mortal loved one) only to nope out of each one, waving a magical happy ending wand over each one. Mikoto and the Reaver Village follows its lead, unwilling to let any of its characters be unlikable or even unkind, unwilling to accept any problems into its boring slice of paradise.
Some of this comes as a direct result of...
2) Worldbuilding
The author seems entirely unwilling to let either the Amarathine cultures or the Reavers as a whole be viewed in a negative light. A few bad actors seem to be responsible for all the problems she'll admit to, while everything else is either painted rosily or in a studiedly neutral way. All of this while Amaranthine culture and the lore of the world grows stranger and Reaver ways become transparently dystopian. Not only do we already know this is a world where children are sent away from home before the age of four and are frequently contracted - often as minors - into situations where they are isolated from contact with the outside world for the rest of the lives, and no one has a problem with that, but this book presents a nineteen year old being pressured into acting a a male prostitute for the purposes of reproduction as a minor emotional trauma instead of malignant evil. Further, it normalizes an eleven year old being objectified and pressured into marriage and attempts to gaslight the reader into thinking this isn't sexual or troubling.
What benefit exactly, do Reavers get out of their "arrangements" with the Amarathine, anyway, that makes any of them think this is worth it? How could they possibly think, for example, their daughter will be happier being bred to three different men to fill up her child quota and spending her whole life being a cosset for a cat clan, than being a part of the real world and being a librarian or something? None of the Reaver seem to live excessively comfortable lives, nor particularly long ones, despite the Amarathine having the ability to make them immortal, but choosing to withhold it.
The disturbing practices of breeding Reavers like cattle for their powerful souls and the "nontraditional" practices of several Amarathine clans - dragons build harems of four wives, cat matriarchs cultivate (or discard) sexual relationships with multiple consorts, mares pick new sexual partners from the herd of colts and stallions each breeding season, and Amarathine mix with animals and part animals when the fancy takes them - are presented with a non-judgmental air of "this is their way." While main characters are rarely explicitly linked outside of heterosexual monogamy, neither do they voice that it might be wrong for cats to take so many consorts or for Reavers to make temporary contracts to produce babies, let alone participate in a culture that perpetuates it.
Meanwhile....
3) Relationships
Potentially queer relationships are kept under strict wraps. Jacques and Kip are allowed to BE gay, but the object of their explicit affection must be strictly heterosexual and irrevocably bound to a female. It would be one thing if the author was uninterested in or uncomfortable with non-hetero relationships, but instead she constantly teases that certain duos have more than platonic bonds, but refuses to confirm or deny. She plays with innuendo and pushes the boundaries with physical affection - males hug, cuddle in bed, strip down to boxers, even kiss on the lips - all while insisting it shouldn't be read as sexual. It's queerbaiting to a truly upsetting and baffling degree. If gay relationships are accepted in Amarathine culture, why is their portrayal considered too much for a series willing to delve into child marriages, open relationships, and "courts" of consorts? If the author doesn't want to include homosexuality, then why does she incessantly hint and tease and insinuate. And why are nearly all the relationships in this series between males?
4) Female characters
In retrospect, even TatEF was lopsided with its gender representation, but its pared down cast and female lead disguised the issue. Ever since then, the gap has been widening. KatAP has a strong female lead and a major female supporting character (Isla Ward), but almost all the other leading and supporting roles are male, with her mother and sisters and a few other characters playing bit parts. TatTJ again has a female (nominal) protagonist, but she takes a backseat to most of the story, while Melissa Armstrong is an outwardly feminist role, but her subplot has next to no story importance, and all other females are minor characters besides True, who while sentient cannot speak. MatRV simply makes the trend more visible by not having the title character be female and by making Mikoto's love interest a mere cipher who has less than thirty words to say in the entire book. That leaves Lilya Ward as the sole female POV character in a book that has over six different POVs and even more major (male) supporting characters. Sure, Radiance Starmark gets some actually fleshing out in this one (a nice change from Marked by Stars), and like True before her, Snow is a silent female presence. But incidental encounters with a few female guard dogs, plus Triska and Lupe's barely-there inclusion do nothing to hide how little Forthright seems to be in writing for female characters. Many of the male characters in the story were previously introduced, true. But the author is the one who chose to bring in a cast of recycled male characters and who imagined every new, important character as male. Why couldn't Fend be a she-cat? Or Salali or Yulin female? For that matter, why is Mikoto's childhood love, Lupe, deemed completely inconsequential to the story once it's clear she won't be his babymama? They're supposed to have a friendship that goes back a decade. Why is his mother all but written out of the story and his sisters completely so? Why does Forthright spill tons of ink over flickers of affection between boys, but only has room for a handful of females and none at all for bonds between them?
I don't have the answers to these questions, but the ones that present themselves seem exploitative and gross. For a while now, this series has been my comfort food, but it's no long something I feel comfortable consuming.
Unfortunately, all that excitement fizzled before the book was half over. Some of the conflicts promised by the opening chapters were resolved quickly and quietly or entirely off-page, others were brushed aside or forgotten entirely. (Not five chapters in, we are promised that Tenma will get more information about his unique tending abilities and meet someone else who shares them. This never happens within the scope of the book.) Things happen, to be sure, but the story does not really progress. Themes of trust and secrets, usually a strength of the series, get completely muddled here, with who gets trusted or included with what making no rhyme or reason except sometimes a half-hearted "well, you already know all these other secrets, so..."
Notably, there is no romance plot to give the story any kind of anchor or structure. The series hasn't had a homerun couple since Argent and Tsumiko, but at least Kimiko and Quen's courtship gave shape to Accidental Proposal, and even the tensionless mess of Two Janitors has some of the structure, if not the substance, of romance to fall back on, whether in Ash/Tami or Kip/Joe. In Reaver Village, however, though the premise promises a love story, the "heroine" doesn't actually interact with Mikoto on page until the book is almost over, and halfway through, the book gets so tired of its own tedious riddle hunt that's supposed to stand in for romance that it drops the subplot for chapters on end with the flimsiest of in-story excuses, and goes haring off on several other subplots, most of which fail to resolve satisfyingly.
Add to all that some new additions to the lore that are strange and eye-rolling by turns, plus a startlingly dark deep dive into Reaver culture that's presented in this eerily neutral light, and Mikoto is easily the weakest stand-alone entry in the series, and possibly where I decide the well is no longer worth dipping into.
In many ways, the failure of this book is a result of the "besetting sins" of the series, flaws all the more frustrating to the readers because their presence in the first installment were negligible or so minuscule as to be undetectable. Like bacteria in food left too long on the counter, however, what was once all but invisible has multiplied and magnified until what was once delicious is now rotten and sickening.
I have a LOT to say on this topic, but I've tried to narrow my focus to four main areas of continued frustration - conflict/plot, worldbuilding, relationships, and handling of female characters. Some of these issues do overlap to an extent, but as much as possible I will treat them separately as I examine the widespread and widening problems with each. Broadly discussed potential spoilers for previous books in the series below.
1) Conflict
There really isn't any, and that's the problem. Stories are only as good as the conflict that drives them. Not every conflict has to be be huge in scale, but it has to matter to the characters.
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox had loads of conflict - Argent's enslavement and resulting ingrained bitterness and resentment, the danger to Tsumiko and attacks on her life, the need for secrecy, Tsumiko's loneliness and fears for the future, plus a murdering, rapist dragon on the loose. Kimiko and the Accident Proposal teases at that dragon still being a threat, but aside from a single chase scene (which is actually a different, teased at threat), all the action takes place off screen, and the interpersonal conflict is softened from TatEF. Tamiko and the Two Janitors takes it further, providing set-ups for conflict (If we accept Amarathine into our schools, there might be backlash! Protests! Bomb threats! If the Amarathine come out, there might be prejudice! retaliation! People might not trust them after being lied to. An immoral character might have to deal with the death of a mortal loved one) only to nope out of each one, waving a magical happy ending wand over each one. Mikoto and the Reaver Village follows its lead, unwilling to let any of its characters be unlikable or even unkind, unwilling to accept any problems into its boring slice of paradise.
Some of this comes as a direct result of...
2) Worldbuilding
The author seems entirely unwilling to let either the Amarathine cultures or the Reavers as a whole be viewed in a negative light. A few bad actors seem to be responsible for all the problems she'll admit to, while everything else is either painted rosily or in a studiedly neutral way. All of this while Amaranthine culture and the lore of the world grows stranger and Reaver ways become transparently dystopian. Not only do we already know this is a world where children are sent away from home before the age of four and are frequently contracted - often as minors - into situations where they are isolated from contact with the outside world for the rest of the lives, and no one has a problem with that, but this book presents a nineteen year old being pressured into acting a a male prostitute for the purposes of reproduction as a minor emotional trauma instead of malignant evil. Further, it normalizes an eleven year old being objectified and pressured into marriage and attempts to gaslight the reader into thinking this isn't sexual or troubling.
What benefit exactly, do Reavers get out of their "arrangements" with the Amarathine, anyway, that makes any of them think this is worth it? How could they possibly think, for example, their daughter will be happier being bred to three different men to fill up her child quota and spending her whole life being a cosset for a cat clan, than being a part of the real world and being a librarian or something? None of the Reaver seem to live excessively comfortable lives, nor particularly long ones, despite the Amarathine having the ability to make them immortal, but choosing to withhold it.
The disturbing practices of breeding Reavers like cattle for their powerful souls and the "nontraditional" practices of several Amarathine clans - dragons build harems of four wives, cat matriarchs cultivate (or discard) sexual relationships with multiple consorts, mares pick new sexual partners from the herd of colts and stallions each breeding season, and Amarathine mix with animals and part animals when the fancy takes them - are presented with a non-judgmental air of "this is their way." While main characters are rarely explicitly linked outside of heterosexual monogamy, neither do they voice that it might be wrong for cats to take so many consorts or for Reavers to make temporary contracts to produce babies, let alone participate in a culture that perpetuates it.
Meanwhile....
3) Relationships
Potentially queer relationships are kept under strict wraps. Jacques and Kip are allowed to BE gay, but the object of their explicit affection must be strictly heterosexual and irrevocably bound to a female. It would be one thing if the author was uninterested in or uncomfortable with non-hetero relationships, but instead she constantly teases that certain duos have more than platonic bonds, but refuses to confirm or deny. She plays with innuendo and pushes the boundaries with physical affection - males hug, cuddle in bed, strip down to boxers, even kiss on the lips - all while insisting it shouldn't be read as sexual. It's queerbaiting to a truly upsetting and baffling degree. If gay relationships are accepted in Amarathine culture, why is their portrayal considered too much for a series willing to delve into child marriages, open relationships, and "courts" of consorts? If the author doesn't want to include homosexuality, then why does she incessantly hint and tease and insinuate. And why are nearly all the relationships in this series between males?
4) Female characters
In retrospect, even TatEF was lopsided with its gender representation, but its pared down cast and female lead disguised the issue. Ever since then, the gap has been widening. KatAP has a strong female lead and a major female supporting character (Isla Ward), but almost all the other leading and supporting roles are male, with her mother and sisters and a few other characters playing bit parts. TatTJ again has a female (nominal) protagonist, but she takes a backseat to most of the story, while Melissa Armstrong is an outwardly feminist role, but her subplot has next to no story importance, and all other females are minor characters besides True, who while sentient cannot speak. MatRV simply makes the trend more visible by not having the title character be female and by making Mikoto's love interest a mere cipher who has less than thirty words to say in the entire book. That leaves Lilya Ward as the sole female POV character in a book that has over six different POVs and even more major (male) supporting characters. Sure, Radiance Starmark gets some actually fleshing out in this one (a nice change from Marked by Stars), and like True before her, Snow is a silent female presence. But incidental encounters with a few female guard dogs, plus Triska and Lupe's barely-there inclusion do nothing to hide how little Forthright seems to be in writing for female characters. Many of the male characters in the story were previously introduced, true. But the author is the one who chose to bring in a cast of recycled male characters and who imagined every new, important character as male. Why couldn't Fend be a she-cat? Or Salali or Yulin female? For that matter, why is Mikoto's childhood love, Lupe, deemed completely inconsequential to the story once it's clear she won't be his babymama? They're supposed to have a friendship that goes back a decade. Why is his mother all but written out of the story and his sisters completely so? Why does Forthright spill tons of ink over flickers of affection between boys, but only has room for a handful of females and none at all for bonds between them?
I don't have the answers to these questions, but the ones that present themselves seem exploitative and gross. For a while now, this series has been my comfort food, but it's no long something I feel comfortable consuming.
September 25, 2020
Okay, so this gets 3 stars because there are so many world building things and characters I love. It would otherwise get a 2, due to other world building things I absolutely hate and the fact that there really wasn’t much of a mainline plot in this book and it read more like a bunch of short stories or vignettes strung together. This series reads like a different romance per book fantasy series, but this book really had no real romance storyline for the title character, who also did not feel like the actual focus of the book. It’s such an in between (lol) book and it just doesn’t work for me. I forget how many more books are planned for this world, but the short story series has also not tickled my fancy for the last two entries. It makes me a bit sad because I absolutely loved the first two books.
Edit: changing to 2 stars. The longer it has been since I finished the book, the more angry and disappointed I am. I absolutely hate the breeding for magical power trope and it is used in this series to a degree I have rarely seen before, and is getting worse. The characters and the world building bits I do like aren’t worth that other star, especially since the main character is so bland and his love interest isn’t even cardboard cut out quality, and the ending of the book did not leave me feeling satisfied with how various plot lines were resolved.
Edit: changing to 2 stars. The longer it has been since I finished the book, the more angry and disappointed I am. I absolutely hate the breeding for magical power trope and it is used in this series to a degree I have rarely seen before, and is getting worse. The characters and the world building bits I do like aren’t worth that other star, especially since the main character is so bland and his love interest isn’t even cardboard cut out quality, and the ending of the book did not leave me feeling satisfied with how various plot lines were resolved.
November 6, 2023
1 star
And thus I am reminded why I chose to drop the series.
There is A LOT of new information here. It is not presented organically and feels overbearing, so I skipped parts for the sake of sanity.
There is no plot to speak of. No high stakes of any kind really.
How is it that with so much going on nothing actually happens?
And thus I am reminded why I chose to drop the series.
There is A LOT of new information here. It is not presented organically and feels overbearing, so I skipped parts for the sake of sanity.
There is no plot to speak of. No high stakes of any kind really.
How is it that with so much going on nothing actually happens?
September 23, 2020
Time spent in good company
I’ve always thought the second book in this series - Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal - had too many things going on for the length of the book.
Here too, there are a lot of things going on. Characters we’ve known growing by almost a decade, new introductions, old losses. But this time, I feel like enough time was spent to make us feel comfortable with these friends, new and old.
That said, there's a downside. This is 100% a slice-of-life story - that is the story focused on the little things happening over the course of a few weeks inside of Wardenclave. There *is not* a strong love story to help push the story forward. These two things, combined with the "a lot of things going on", create a bit of a slog to get through.
Also, there's a lot of acknowledging how much young children (11, in this case) have to think about when growing up as a Reaver. And a lot of those things are... not very pleasant, even for an adult to contemplate. Picture our culture of raising and breeding racehorses applied to people and explaining that to a pre-teen.
I’ve always thought the second book in this series - Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal - had too many things going on for the length of the book.
Here too, there are a lot of things going on. Characters we’ve known growing by almost a decade, new introductions, old losses. But this time, I feel like enough time was spent to make us feel comfortable with these friends, new and old.
That said, there's a downside. This is 100% a slice-of-life story - that is the story focused on the little things happening over the course of a few weeks inside of Wardenclave. There *is not* a strong love story to help push the story forward. These two things, combined with the "a lot of things going on", create a bit of a slog to get through.
Also, there's a lot of acknowledging how much young children (11, in this case) have to think about when growing up as a Reaver. And a lot of those things are... not very pleasant, even for an adult to contemplate. Picture our culture of raising and breeding racehorses applied to people and explaining that to a pre-teen.
February 3, 2022
I'm wavering between giving this a 1 or 2 star rating, which is pretty abysmal considering how much I enjoyed the first book. I mean, the first book was obviously Black Butler fanfiction reskinned, but her subsequent books and the characters introduced in them have been much less interesting and often quite tedious. And while she likes to make 'romance' stories, they're hardly romantic. They're more like business transactions that somehow magically are always happy even though there's never any actual romance to speak of, except for the one time it wasn't a straight potential pairing- then there couldn't be love at first sight, because obviously that only works for straight couples. Otherwise it's boy meets girl, they want to make babies, I guess that's good so get married~~~. Ugh.
I haven't liked that the series seemed to just love to queerbait, but that's gotten more glaring and has gotten to the point of being offensive.
I pretty much hate one of the 'romances' in this book, which is the opposite of romantic and it is wildly problematic, but she actually has an 11 year old girl choosing her husband. An 11 year old girl. To a 26 year old man. Let that sink in. I'll give more detail under the spoiler tag, but omg wth?? And while it is wildly problematic, it's not /portrayed as problematic/. Fiction can explore a lot of things including problematic ones, but the author doesn't seem at all interested in dealing with any of her problematic themes even in the most superficial ways. It's less an exploration and more like gaslighting.
I'll think continue to read these, I think, but I don't even know that I want to anymore, it's just so tedious and problematic and full of the author's internalized homophobia.
I haven't liked that the series seemed to just love to queerbait, but that's gotten more glaring and has gotten to the point of being offensive.
I pretty much hate one of the 'romances' in this book, which is the opposite of romantic and it is wildly problematic, but she actually has an 11 year old girl choosing her husband. An 11 year old girl. To a 26 year old man. Let that sink in. I'll give more detail under the spoiler tag, but omg wth?? And while it is wildly problematic, it's not /portrayed as problematic/. Fiction can explore a lot of things including problematic ones, but the author doesn't seem at all interested in dealing with any of her problematic themes even in the most superficial ways. It's less an exploration and more like gaslighting.
I'll think continue to read these, I think, but I don't even know that I want to anymore, it's just so tedious and problematic and full of the author's internalized homophobia.
June 29, 2020
Looking forward to this next installment of the Amarathine saga.
September 26, 2020
What a happy making series. And this one is my favorite after the first one. It connected everything really nicely. I just love all of these characters so much.
January 18, 2024
The story for this book felt a lot more chaotic than the other books in the series, to its detriment. Don’t get me wrong, there were multiple plots happening within the other books but they seemed to mesh a lot better than this one. And I am not sure why this was named for Mikoto when it felt like he played a rather small part in this book.
Oh well, can’t win em all.
Oh well, can’t win em all.
December 23, 2020
I enjoyed the first two novels in the Amaranthine Saga, only tolerated the third, but this fourth installment in the series is extremely problematic. I thought this series was a romantic YA fantasy set in a world with magic and a shapeshifting race of creatures. The story is really more a middle grade mindset with passing references to adult themes. I agree with every review that says there’s too much “story” in these later novels. The author is essentially combining elements from her various “Inuyasha fan fiction“ into each book, making the pacing of each novel uneven and frustrating. The romantic relationships feel artificial and forced. The oblique storytelling, with heavy use of Queerbaiting, is honestly bordering on offensive in this book. This story contains the return of many minor characters from the first two novels after a span of 10-12 years. In Book 2 (Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal), the minor character of Tenma, a lonely and anxious teenage boy, was introduced. He was a classmate of the main characters and in Book 2, he formed an affectionate friendship with another young male Amaranthine “crosser” (half-human) character. The two (supposedly) become stronger or braver due to their friendship, which hinted at a deeper attachment. We meet Tenma again in this book (#4), where he is in his mid-to-late twenties and hasn’t really done much in his life, but goes wherever he’s told. By the end of the book, he enters into a future marriage arrangement with an eleven year-old girl. (Ick.)
My main gripe with this series is there’s a suggestion that queer people have a vital place in these stories, but in reality do not. Any exploration of who these characters are (whether gay or straight) and what they want is sidelined and marginalized. There are strong hints that there may be more than just “tending” or affectionate camaraderie happening off-the-page, but this feels contrived and superficial. The reader deserves a more nuanced and truthful portrayal of romantic love and sexual attraction (regardless of orientation) than what is presented in this series of novels.
My main gripe with this series is there’s a suggestion that queer people have a vital place in these stories, but in reality do not. Any exploration of who these characters are (whether gay or straight) and what they want is sidelined and marginalized. There are strong hints that there may be more than just “tending” or affectionate camaraderie happening off-the-page, but this feels contrived and superficial. The reader deserves a more nuanced and truthful portrayal of romantic love and sexual attraction (regardless of orientation) than what is presented in this series of novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2021
I didn’t even finished this book. Or the one before it. In fact, the only one that made any sort of sense and had any sort of plot was Tsumiko and Argent’s story. There’s a bare hint of trying to hunt down the Taoist dragon from the first book but beyond that it’s just a damn mess. The editors and agents need to have a long talk about writing skills. Hell forthright could buy Udemy classes for fiction writing for that matter.
February 3, 2021
There's something soothing and otherworldly about the author's writing style, which has kept me coming back even when the story was somewhat lacking. This story has too many lucky coincidences - everything is too easy, and the characters are too interconnected. Everyone seems to pop up, and it turns into fanservice. It was ok, but didn't move me the way others by the same author have.
December 27, 2021
I'm so in love with all things forthright.
September 27, 2020
Welcome back to the Amaranthine Saga, which as book upon book releases, the world expands (though seems to tighten as well) even as the cast's connection may require Glint's lineage charts to properly remember associations.
Firstly, I don't know if this is on purpose, or if its an unintentional design, but the books have a certain pattern. Mikoto, like KIMIKO AND THE ACCIDENTAL PROPOSAL before it, spends less time concerned over the romance as it is on building further on the world's foundations. Every book (or the novellas) do this, but in Tsumiko and Tamiko those seem more narrowly focused.
I know that sounds weird - Tsumiko is the first book and don't they usually lay foundations? And that's true it did, but it was also focused on the bond between Tsumiko and Argent. Everything else branches from that forming connection.
In Kimiko, while you'd think a book with "proposal" in the title would be romance focused, it was instead widely focused on introducing more about the kith-kin, how each clan treated their obligations, the emergence of Tenma, Inti's introduction, Akira & Suuzu's relationship and the hunt for the Rogue.
Then in Tamiko we jump to America to learn more about what's happening outside of Japan in regards to the Emergence and how Amaranthine are being integrated, but its told largely through the connection that Tamiko is forming with Joe. Again much of the story branches from there.
Now with Mikoto, this feels more like Kimiko (which for the record is my favorite bool). Yes the romance is there, but this book is focused on relationships in general. The effect that someone like Glint or Waaseyaa feel whenever someone they've known since they were born, pass away tome and again. How lonely it can be at times to do the right thing or how much it hurts to feel like a pawn.
This takes place roughly 11 years after Tsumiko - some characters we knew from earlier books reappear, not always changed for the better and not always with the answers you'd expect age (or the company they keep) would offer.
Lilya, like her sister Isla (Hisoka's apprentice from Kimiko and Michael's daughter), feels the pressure of their world, but has the benefit of parents who support them. Who want them sure of their path. For Lilya its a little different, as she is a Beacon and some of those choices are out of her hands, but she spends the summer learning what choices are hers and hers alone.
Kyrie, oh this adorable child, is having such a hard time. He learns a lot about himself (both good and bad), as well as the future is truly an unknown wonder.
Even Gingko, the oldest of Argent's brood, gets to enjoy Summer Camp and perhaps find he's more then he could have imagined.
But all of these, while connected to Mikoto due to the location, don't stem from the relationship Mikoto is building. He becomes part of them, but they are not because of him.
I waxed on a bit here, but my point is that I think at the end of this Saga, reading these together will weave a tapestry that's hard to really piece together as a whole when waiting months on months.
Firstly, I don't know if this is on purpose, or if its an unintentional design, but the books have a certain pattern. Mikoto, like KIMIKO AND THE ACCIDENTAL PROPOSAL before it, spends less time concerned over the romance as it is on building further on the world's foundations. Every book (or the novellas) do this, but in Tsumiko and Tamiko those seem more narrowly focused.
I know that sounds weird - Tsumiko is the first book and don't they usually lay foundations? And that's true it did, but it was also focused on the bond between Tsumiko and Argent. Everything else branches from that forming connection.
In Kimiko, while you'd think a book with "proposal" in the title would be romance focused, it was instead widely focused on introducing more about the kith-kin, how each clan treated their obligations, the emergence of Tenma, Inti's introduction, Akira & Suuzu's relationship and the hunt for the Rogue.
Then in Tamiko we jump to America to learn more about what's happening outside of Japan in regards to the Emergence and how Amaranthine are being integrated, but its told largely through the connection that Tamiko is forming with Joe. Again much of the story branches from there.
Now with Mikoto, this feels more like Kimiko (which for the record is my favorite bool). Yes the romance is there, but this book is focused on relationships in general. The effect that someone like Glint or Waaseyaa feel whenever someone they've known since they were born, pass away tome and again. How lonely it can be at times to do the right thing or how much it hurts to feel like a pawn.
This takes place roughly 11 years after Tsumiko - some characters we knew from earlier books reappear, not always changed for the better and not always with the answers you'd expect age (or the company they keep) would offer.
Lilya, like her sister Isla (Hisoka's apprentice from Kimiko and Michael's daughter), feels the pressure of their world, but has the benefit of parents who support them. Who want them sure of their path. For Lilya its a little different, as she is a Beacon and some of those choices are out of her hands, but she spends the summer learning what choices are hers and hers alone.
Kyrie, oh this adorable child, is having such a hard time. He learns a lot about himself (both good and bad), as well as the future is truly an unknown wonder.
Even Gingko, the oldest of Argent's brood, gets to enjoy Summer Camp and perhaps find he's more then he could have imagined.
But all of these, while connected to Mikoto due to the location, don't stem from the relationship Mikoto is building. He becomes part of them, but they are not because of him.
I waxed on a bit here, but my point is that I think at the end of this Saga, reading these together will weave a tapestry that's hard to really piece together as a whole when waiting months on months.
October 28, 2020
I loved this book. I read this super fast and then went back to read it super slowly.
I'm glad I re-read the other books in the series and finally read the Songs of the Amaranthine series before reading this one, it kept things fresh in my mind and helped me remember/know who is who because boy there's a lot of characters and POV's in this book.
To me besides the 1st book this felt like the most complete book in the series, like we completed Mikoto's story. Books 2 and 3 felt like they ended in the midlde. But I have to say that I wish we saw more of Mikoto and Tzefira's story, I wanted to see them together more, we only really got to see them together at the end.
BTW I was sad that we didn't see Akira and Suuzu in this book and I'm getting worried since it's said in this book they still haven't found a solution to their problem. I hope we'll see more of them in the next book and that they'll be together in the end like Tsumiko and Argent or I'll be pissed.
I also hope in the next books we will see more of Kip and Joe and Daroo-fen and Charles. I want to see how their relationships are progressing. And I have to say that I loved the last chapter/ending. Timur and Fend are soooo cute together, I want to see more of them in the future.
Loved seeing Tenma again, I curious to what was happening with him, especially since the ending of book 2 where we're left hanging about Lapis' proposal so I was glad to see him again and get to know what happened then. I was happy that he got what he wanted with his engagement and that he is going to be part of Stately House and that he had issues with getting engaged with an eleven years old. That part of reaver community is super creepy, kids getting engaged that early is not normal.
Loved seeing old characters again and meeting new ones. Can't wait for the next book.
I'm glad I re-read the other books in the series and finally read the Songs of the Amaranthine series before reading this one, it kept things fresh in my mind and helped me remember/know who is who because boy there's a lot of characters and POV's in this book.
To me besides the 1st book this felt like the most complete book in the series, like we completed Mikoto's story. Books 2 and 3 felt like they ended in the midlde. But I have to say that I wish we saw more of Mikoto and Tzefira's story, I wanted to see them together more, we only really got to see them together at the end.
BTW I was sad that we didn't see Akira and Suuzu in this book and I'm getting worried since it's said in this book they still haven't found a solution to their problem. I hope we'll see more of them in the next book and that they'll be together in the end like Tsumiko and Argent or I'll be pissed.
I also hope in the next books we will see more of Kip and Joe and Daroo-fen and Charles. I want to see how their relationships are progressing. And I have to say that I loved the last chapter/ending. Timur and Fend are soooo cute together, I want to see more of them in the future.
Loved seeing Tenma again, I curious to what was happening with him, especially since the ending of book 2 where we're left hanging about Lapis' proposal so I was glad to see him again and get to know what happened then. I was happy that he got what he wanted with his engagement and that he is going to be part of Stately House and that he had issues with getting engaged with an eleven years old. That part of reaver community is super creepy, kids getting engaged that early is not normal.
Loved seeing old characters again and meeting new ones. Can't wait for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2021
I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this series. The only draw back is that I sometimes get confused over who is who and who belongs to which clan. I suspect this is a fault of doing an audiobook instead of reading them as it is quite possible that there are family trees included in the front or back that I am missing.
November 16, 2022
Mikoto and the Reaver Village is book 4 of the Amaranthine Saga, one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series.
Mikoto's father was the Headman of Wardenclave, the heart of the Amaranthine world. His sudden death leaves huge shoes for Mikoto to fill. He is seventeen, not quite ready yet for such responsibilities. So, the adults around him form what amounts to a Regency. They will carry on in his place until Mikoto comes of age and takes on his new duties.
As the Headman heir, Mikoto wasn't really allowed to train as a battler with the other reavers in the annual summer camp conducted at Wardenclave. Summer camp is where young Reavers mix with young Amaranthine and hone their skills. And where future matches are made. In that sense, it is like college except these kids first attend at age 11. He is lucky that his father let him train with the others, anyway. These days are over now that Mikoto is Headman (even if he has not yet taken up those duties).
Mikoto nearly drowned in a tragic accident when he was a child. A woman called Lupe saved his life and he has been pining for her ever since. Lupe is older, of course, and comes to summer camp for one last summer. She had moved away for a contract marriage (even though Mikoto secretly hopes she will leave her husband for him. Not going to happen.) Even so, this is a love story. Just like in the previous books, Mikoto is old enough to pursue his love and wed.
I also really liked that this book has Kyrie & Lila's first year at summer camp. (Argent & Tsumiko's love story was book one in this series.) Argent's older half-human half-fox adult son Gingko is sent to watch out for Kyrie as well as human Michael Ward's son Timur's toddler. We had not seen half-human half-dragon Kyrie since book one, so I was very glad to see him again. This is the first time either Kyrie or Lila (Michael Ward's children are being raised as brothers & sisters to Argent & Tsumiko's children) have been allowed to leave home for an extended period of time. (Not exactly on their own because older brother Gingko is there too.)
Kyrie meets Sinder, his second dragon. This is important because no one at home is a dragon and Kyrie has questions. (Yes, dragon Lapis visits but just from time to time.) So, this is a coming-of-age time for both Kyrie and Mikoto.
Highly recommended for series fans, urban fantasy love story fans, for the fascinating world of the non-human Amaranthine, and for summer camp where kids from all over the Amaranthine world get to meet for the first time!
Mikoto's father was the Headman of Wardenclave, the heart of the Amaranthine world. His sudden death leaves huge shoes for Mikoto to fill. He is seventeen, not quite ready yet for such responsibilities. So, the adults around him form what amounts to a Regency. They will carry on in his place until Mikoto comes of age and takes on his new duties.
As the Headman heir, Mikoto wasn't really allowed to train as a battler with the other reavers in the annual summer camp conducted at Wardenclave. Summer camp is where young Reavers mix with young Amaranthine and hone their skills. And where future matches are made. In that sense, it is like college except these kids first attend at age 11. He is lucky that his father let him train with the others, anyway. These days are over now that Mikoto is Headman (even if he has not yet taken up those duties).
Mikoto nearly drowned in a tragic accident when he was a child. A woman called Lupe saved his life and he has been pining for her ever since. Lupe is older, of course, and comes to summer camp for one last summer. She had moved away for a contract marriage (even though Mikoto secretly hopes she will leave her husband for him. Not going to happen.) Even so, this is a love story. Just like in the previous books, Mikoto is old enough to pursue his love and wed.
I also really liked that this book has Kyrie & Lila's first year at summer camp. (Argent & Tsumiko's love story was book one in this series.) Argent's older half-human half-fox adult son Gingko is sent to watch out for Kyrie as well as human Michael Ward's son Timur's toddler. We had not seen half-human half-dragon Kyrie since book one, so I was very glad to see him again. This is the first time either Kyrie or Lila (Michael Ward's children are being raised as brothers & sisters to Argent & Tsumiko's children) have been allowed to leave home for an extended period of time. (Not exactly on their own because older brother Gingko is there too.)
Kyrie meets Sinder, his second dragon. This is important because no one at home is a dragon and Kyrie has questions. (Yes, dragon Lapis visits but just from time to time.) So, this is a coming-of-age time for both Kyrie and Mikoto.
Highly recommended for series fans, urban fantasy love story fans, for the fascinating world of the non-human Amaranthine, and for summer camp where kids from all over the Amaranthine world get to meet for the first time!
November 16, 2023
This is not particular to this book but instead the whole series so far:
The books never directly address the problem with the in-between’s reaver system. There are so many things wrong with the system, like taking children away from their families but I’m just going to focus on one aspect of the system or I’d be here ranting for days.
Here is a review by Megan from oct 12, 2021 which pretty much sums up the problems:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The contracts.
Children from as young as 12 constantly receiving contract offers and pressured by peers and family to have sex for 'procreation' based on their reaver ranking (yes, they rank people by number).
Then at a certain age, they are forced into a contract with another reaver to have a child (which apparently in this world, sex is the only way to do that) for the purpose of fulfilling their ‘duty’ to the in-between and elevating their status and ranking. I’m not sure what happens to people who don’t and will most likely have to review the books released because the author's writing is often very vague neither confirming nor denying.
There is usually no romance and after the contract is fulfilled, they leave and find another to have a 'contract' with. The objective with this system is never even explained. If that is what they choose, fine but the in-between doesn’t give these people a choice and it’s implied that anyone who doesn’t, is shamed for their choice.
It’s all talked about so lightly and dismissed as any sort of serious problem. Characters even encourage a 11 year old to get into a sex contract… and she does…with a 26 year old man… (….)no words. I was literally struck speechless 🤢😵.
Is this problem ever going to be directly confronted and solved?
It makes parts of the book really hard to read and you just end up feeling disgusted, uneasy, angry and frustrated.
The plots romances + extra:
The books never directly address the problem with the in-between’s reaver system. There are so many things wrong with the system, like taking children away from their families but I’m just going to focus on one aspect of the system or I’d be here ranting for days.
Here is a review by Megan from oct 12, 2021 which pretty much sums up the problems:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The contracts.
Children from as young as 12 constantly receiving contract offers and pressured by peers and family to have sex for 'procreation' based on their reaver ranking (yes, they rank people by number).
Then at a certain age, they are forced into a contract with another reaver to have a child (which apparently in this world, sex is the only way to do that) for the purpose of fulfilling their ‘duty’ to the in-between and elevating their status and ranking. I’m not sure what happens to people who don’t and will most likely have to review the books released because the author's writing is often very vague neither confirming nor denying.
There is usually no romance and after the contract is fulfilled, they leave and find another to have a 'contract' with. The objective with this system is never even explained. If that is what they choose, fine but the in-between doesn’t give these people a choice and it’s implied that anyone who doesn’t, is shamed for their choice.
It’s all talked about so lightly and dismissed as any sort of serious problem. Characters even encourage a 11 year old to get into a sex contract… and she does…with a 26 year old man… (….)no words. I was literally struck speechless 🤢😵.
Is this problem ever going to be directly confronted and solved?
It makes parts of the book really hard to read and you just end up feeling disgusted, uneasy, angry and frustrated.
The plots romances + extra:
October 5, 2020
Another beautiful story told in a beautiful manner of a beautiful world.
I decided to re-read the 3 books before it and boy- I am glad I did! It really contributes to the richness of the story and I had no idea that this books would have soooo many POV's. If I hadn't started at the start, there would not be as much clarity or depth of emotion.
I think that is why I struggled with the last book about Tami and Ash, I read it cold with no warm-up to this amazing world. So- do yourself a favor and make the time for re-reads beforehand.
This story had a lot of info and backstory that I hope is building towards stopping the rogue soon. Its tragic to have the kidnappings happening still- 12 years later. The story of Mikoto was interesting in that this "Miko" was male and his lady love was a new "type" introduced. Once again, the love and intimacy is gently and sweetly held in these stories. I have to say- I want a Zisa!
I really recommend these stories, they are so out of the ordinary and so loving. I cry unexpectedly and I love the humorous touches, so moving- and this is from a person that does not do weepy stories AT ALL. My life has enough drama that I do not pursue heart rending stories. No- these are heart building :)
I decided to re-read the 3 books before it and boy- I am glad I did! It really contributes to the richness of the story and I had no idea that this books would have soooo many POV's. If I hadn't started at the start, there would not be as much clarity or depth of emotion.
I think that is why I struggled with the last book about Tami and Ash, I read it cold with no warm-up to this amazing world. So- do yourself a favor and make the time for re-reads beforehand.
This story had a lot of info and backstory that I hope is building towards stopping the rogue soon. Its tragic to have the kidnappings happening still- 12 years later. The story of Mikoto was interesting in that this "Miko" was male and his lady love was a new "type" introduced. Once again, the love and intimacy is gently and sweetly held in these stories. I have to say- I want a Zisa!
I really recommend these stories, they are so out of the ordinary and so loving. I cry unexpectedly and I love the humorous touches, so moving- and this is from a person that does not do weepy stories AT ALL. My life has enough drama that I do not pursue heart rending stories. No- these are heart building :)
September 27, 2020
Not a stand alone
You need to read the first three books in the series, and I highly recommend reading reading Marked by Stars as well, as there are many returning characters.
The title comes the Reaver Village where 17 year old Mikoto is the new headman, however there many other interwoven story lines in this book. My favorite is the story of 11 year old Kyrie and his adopted sister Layla, who are on their first long trip away from home and confronting how their lives about to diverge due to the aging process of their different species. Crosser Kyrie is about to slow down his aging, while reaver Layla will shortly undergo puberty. While the two best friends explore what gifts and challenges they inherit, many other visitors and residents in the village face their own challenges of family, friendship, and responsibility.
I love seeing the many returning characters and further exploration into Amaranthine and reaver culture and lore. Forthright's world is unexpected, surprising, and unique.
You need to read the first three books in the series, and I highly recommend reading reading Marked by Stars as well, as there are many returning characters.
The title comes the Reaver Village where 17 year old Mikoto is the new headman, however there many other interwoven story lines in this book. My favorite is the story of 11 year old Kyrie and his adopted sister Layla, who are on their first long trip away from home and confronting how their lives about to diverge due to the aging process of their different species. Crosser Kyrie is about to slow down his aging, while reaver Layla will shortly undergo puberty. While the two best friends explore what gifts and challenges they inherit, many other visitors and residents in the village face their own challenges of family, friendship, and responsibility.
I love seeing the many returning characters and further exploration into Amaranthine and reaver culture and lore. Forthright's world is unexpected, surprising, and unique.
September 23, 2020
Forthright sure knows how to keep a girl up at night with her eyes locked on the page! I couldn't put it down and for good reason. Although I wasn't thrilled by the seeming forced BL in the last book, I really appreciated how almost all the romances and relationships panned out in this book. Although now I need to go back and reread the whole series, short stories included because there were so many return characters I wasn't 100% sure which I'd met before and where they came in! I do want to see more of the Michaelson family and see them all get a more complete family life, as friendships only go so far! But I love all the little kids and the twist with Mikoto and his love was brilliantly done!
September 27, 2020
The Amaranthine are a recently-revealed-to-humanity culture of magic-using shape changers. They are allied with magic-using humans known as Reavers. The perhaps-defining characteristic of this culture is not the magic and not the shape changing, but that most of them are nicer people than we are.
MatRV (It is Forthright's semi-joke that all the books in the main series have a protagonist named 'Miko') comes closer than the other books in the series to be fan fiction. Many of the characters are familiar secondary characters from earlier books, and most of the story interest comes from youngsters dealing with approaching love and/or marriage. This book will not work for readers who have not read earlier books in the series. For those who have, it will be fun.
MatRV (It is Forthright's semi-joke that all the books in the main series have a protagonist named 'Miko') comes closer than the other books in the series to be fan fiction. Many of the characters are familiar secondary characters from earlier books, and most of the story interest comes from youngsters dealing with approaching love and/or marriage. This book will not work for readers who have not read earlier books in the series. For those who have, it will be fun.
July 27, 2025
I adore this series of books! Mikoto and the Reaver Village is a wonderful addition to the saga.
Mikoto is a young adult having to step into his adult role too early. Luckily for him, he has good mentors. He also has a long-held love for someone that shows up at this time in his life. His journey to recognizing that love is intertwined with visitors on their own journeys to life lessons and love.
I don't think you need to have read the previous books to appreciate this one but I would recommend having read them first. Little and big details are much more meaningful if you have read all the previous books in the saga and the tales.
Mikoto is a young adult having to step into his adult role too early. Luckily for him, he has good mentors. He also has a long-held love for someone that shows up at this time in his life. His journey to recognizing that love is intertwined with visitors on their own journeys to life lessons and love.
I don't think you need to have read the previous books to appreciate this one but I would recommend having read them first. Little and big details are much more meaningful if you have read all the previous books in the saga and the tales.
September 25, 2020
Mikoto Reaver became the headman in Wardenclave at 17 instead of 40 because of the death of his father. His adjustment time is cut short because it is time for the annual summer camp training of other Reavers. And add to his concerns, he's hoping to reconnect with his first and only love.
Why I started this book: I am always eager for new books by Forthright.
Why I finished it: Weaving threads from other stories, we get to revisit old friends and explore new locations. Super wiggy about two characters choices... nothing happened, I just want tons of adult supervision.
Why I started this book: I am always eager for new books by Forthright.
Why I finished it: Weaving threads from other stories, we get to revisit old friends and explore new locations. Super wiggy about two characters choices... nothing happened, I just want tons of adult supervision.
September 22, 2024
Really enjoyed reading this book again, this is the start of the events in the books coming one after another, and I can't wait to read more!
*Second Read October 29th, 2021*
This was such a great book, though it was strange to have this bigger time jump! And having just read Fumiko, well, Sinder is in that book as well, and I'd forgotten his story in this book!
*First Read October 1st, 2020*
Such a great book, there was such much going on, it was just such an entertaining read, and I just love this world and these characters!
*Second Read October 29th, 2021*
This was such a great book, though it was strange to have this bigger time jump! And having just read Fumiko, well, Sinder is in that book as well, and I'd forgotten his story in this book!
*First Read October 1st, 2020*
Such a great book, there was such much going on, it was just such an entertaining read, and I just love this world and these characters!
May 7, 2023
So far this book is my least favorite. Storyline quite confusing and too many characters with no real main storyline that I could follow. I was also not super comfortable with choices 2 of the characters made. Choppy overall.
January 4, 2024
As with the other books in the series, this can stand alone but is better with the context from the previous books.
Mikoto is written to be a coming-of-age character and also a sweet romance character; his earnestness and desire to be good to the people around him makes him shine. I really love the twist about his romantic interest, and how that romance develops. I think it's beautiful and also helps add to the mythology and worldbuilding that is otherwise developing. The other characters are delightful and I really like reading them going on their adventures and learning more about themselves and others. Especially seeing Kyrie and Lilya learn to grow into their own individuals and make their own decisions about what they want to do in their life was also lovely.
It was a busy book, but I think that the storylines were given appropriate time and space for the overall story to carry on.
Mikoto is written to be a coming-of-age character and also a sweet romance character; his earnestness and desire to be good to the people around him makes him shine. I really love the twist about his romantic interest, and how that romance develops. I think it's beautiful and also helps add to the mythology and worldbuilding that is otherwise developing. The other characters are delightful and I really like reading them going on their adventures and learning more about themselves and others. Especially seeing Kyrie and Lilya learn to grow into their own individuals and make their own decisions about what they want to do in their life was also lovely.
It was a busy book, but I think that the storylines were given appropriate time and space for the overall story to carry on.
May 17, 2025
This felt like the leftover parts of a draft once you cut out all the plot.
No plot. No vibes. No common sense.
(Also, an 11 year old girl gets engaged to a 26 year old boy after it was first suggested she be engaged to two men she calls uncle and another she considers an older brother.)
(Also, the compulsive heterosexuality and queer erasure go crazy in this one.)
(Also, you can't close every chapter as if you've revealed something huge when none of it means anything to do the reader.)
(Also, remember when someone else with Tenma's abilities was meant to show up? No? Me neither.)
(Also, remember when it seemed like there was going to be some big danger in wanderclave and everyone was some sort of a spy for someone for some reason? No? Me neither.)
No plot. No vibes. No common sense.
(Also, an 11 year old girl gets engaged to a 26 year old boy after it was first suggested she be engaged to two men she calls uncle and another she considers an older brother.)
(Also, the compulsive heterosexuality and queer erasure go crazy in this one.)
(Also, you can't close every chapter as if you've revealed something huge when none of it means anything to do the reader.)
(Also, remember when someone else with Tenma's abilities was meant to show up? No? Me neither.)
(Also, remember when it seemed like there was going to be some big danger in wanderclave and everyone was some sort of a spy for someone for some reason? No? Me neither.)
September 5, 2021
Very interesting and informative read. I feel like this book is less of a romance like the previous books and more of a deepening of various plots, character development, and world lore. Lots of new info about reavers, crossers, and imps. And dragons (Rifflet is adorable!). Very fascinating.
This book also gave rise to a number of new theories. I can't help but think that the rogue, the mysteries around the Hajime family, and maybe even the Hightip sisters are somehow connected. Looking forward to more!
This book also gave rise to a number of new theories. I can't help but think that the rogue, the mysteries around the Hajime family, and maybe even the Hightip sisters are somehow connected. Looking forward to more!
May 22, 2021
Like stepping into a dream....
I read so many books that I normally have to go back and re-read the previous books in a series before starting the next book but that's certainly not the case with this series. Each one is a gem all on it's own. If I don't remember a character too clearly from before when they wander into this book, I don't sweat it because getting to know them again is a pleasure. Well written, great characters and a fantastic setting. I love these books.
I read so many books that I normally have to go back and re-read the previous books in a series before starting the next book but that's certainly not the case with this series. Each one is a gem all on it's own. If I don't remember a character too clearly from before when they wander into this book, I don't sweat it because getting to know them again is a pleasure. Well written, great characters and a fantastic setting. I love these books.
March 20, 2022
Well, big difference here. Much more chaos and sizeable cast of characters (both old and new). Warning, we did another time skip, so familiar characters are a few years older with significant events only mentioned in passing. Also, the romance is waaay behind, despite the plot summary...
However, plenty of camaraderie, snuggling, tears, legends, clannish fun, diverse creatures and peoples, gentle politicking, and world-building! I loved it all, though got confused by the chaos a few times.
However, plenty of camaraderie, snuggling, tears, legends, clannish fun, diverse creatures and peoples, gentle politicking, and world-building! I loved it all, though got confused by the chaos a few times.
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