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House of Eclipses #1
House of Eclipses
Capture his heart. Steal his crown. Free my kingdom.
Noor is the unwanted, unloved third born of the Aten, chosen vessel of the sun goddess, Sol. While she has no chance at inheriting her father’s title, what she truly longs for is peace from his unrelenting hatred. Hope builds that she may finally be able to claim that reprieve when a missive arrives from the House of the Moon.
The new Lumin, chosen of the moon god, Lumos, seeks to broker peace with the Kingdom of Helios for the first time in ages. He envisions open trade routes and an end to archaic rivalries. His dedication to this cause extends to visions of a union between the two families by marrying one of Aten’s daughters, if one of the matches is a fit.
Driven by his own twisted agenda, Noor’s father is willing to sacrifice his daughters as pawns to steal the crown for him to further his despotic reign, pitting sister against sister in a brutal battle for power. But Noor must come out the victor, either by capturing the Lumin’s heart or stealing his crown. For whomever wears the crown of moonlight, holds the power of the moon itself. With such strength at her command, she could finally defeat her tyrannical father.
Yet this endeavor cannot be accomplished without great sacrifice. As Noor learns more about Lumin Caelum, guilt over her betrayal consumes her, burning hot as the sun itself. If only he wasn’t kind, and selfless, and exactly what she wanted. If only she had greater dominion over her heart…
Can Noor carry out her plan and end her father’s vile reign? Or will unlikely alliances allow a new day to dawn?
Praise for House of
"A gorgeous journey you'll want to take again and again." - New York Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins
“Stunning world-building, a fierce heroine, gorgeous writing, and a storyline unlike anything you've ever read. House of Eclipses will pull you in until the very last page.” – Celia McMahon, author of The Unspoken Series
“ House of Eclipses is full of compelling characters, beautiful worlds full of whimsy and wonder, an edge-of-your-seat storyline, a love story for the ages, and an ending that packs an incredible punch.” – Ethan Gregory, One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads
Noor is the unwanted, unloved third born of the Aten, chosen vessel of the sun goddess, Sol. While she has no chance at inheriting her father’s title, what she truly longs for is peace from his unrelenting hatred. Hope builds that she may finally be able to claim that reprieve when a missive arrives from the House of the Moon.
The new Lumin, chosen of the moon god, Lumos, seeks to broker peace with the Kingdom of Helios for the first time in ages. He envisions open trade routes and an end to archaic rivalries. His dedication to this cause extends to visions of a union between the two families by marrying one of Aten’s daughters, if one of the matches is a fit.
Driven by his own twisted agenda, Noor’s father is willing to sacrifice his daughters as pawns to steal the crown for him to further his despotic reign, pitting sister against sister in a brutal battle for power. But Noor must come out the victor, either by capturing the Lumin’s heart or stealing his crown. For whomever wears the crown of moonlight, holds the power of the moon itself. With such strength at her command, she could finally defeat her tyrannical father.
Yet this endeavor cannot be accomplished without great sacrifice. As Noor learns more about Lumin Caelum, guilt over her betrayal consumes her, burning hot as the sun itself. If only he wasn’t kind, and selfless, and exactly what she wanted. If only she had greater dominion over her heart…
Can Noor carry out her plan and end her father’s vile reign? Or will unlikely alliances allow a new day to dawn?
Praise for House of
"A gorgeous journey you'll want to take again and again." - New York Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins
“Stunning world-building, a fierce heroine, gorgeous writing, and a storyline unlike anything you've ever read. House of Eclipses will pull you in until the very last page.” – Celia McMahon, author of The Unspoken Series
“ House of Eclipses is full of compelling characters, beautiful worlds full of whimsy and wonder, an edge-of-your-seat storyline, a love story for the ages, and an ending that packs an incredible punch.” – Ethan Gregory, One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads
378 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2021
271 people are currently reading
6163 people want to read
About the author
Casey L. Bond
61 books1,677 followersRONE Award-winning author Casey Bond lives on a rural farm in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She writes phoenixes – gloriously flawed and morally gray characters that fiercely rise from the ashes of their circumstances.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
Worldbuilding is one of her favorite pastimes. She thinks thunderstorms are better than coffee and that watching a meteor shower is the closest thing to magic you might ever see. She’s a firm believer that every amazing book needs a world you want to wrap yourself in, a character you want to win, and a love you would fight for.
Casey is the author of When Wishes Bleed, Gravebriar, House of Eclipses, and Where Oceans Burn.
@authorcaseybond on social media sites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
July 20, 2022
After seeing it everywhere on instagram for a while, it ended up on my list and this month I decided it's time to pick it up.
I started this book with high expectations and with every new chapter they slowly crashed to the floor.
⇢DNF 42%
It happened. First DNF of the month and likely not the last.
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Young Adult Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Drama
∘ Gods
∘ Magic
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Arranged Marriage
∘ Insta-Love
⤏ Thoughts
∘ Plot was a weird mix: an arranged marriage, a "choose your bachelorette" trope and cinderella vibes. Hardly any plot development. Not a fan of how this went down.
∘ Worldbuilding — was actually good and I liked the setting.
∘ Romance — love at first sight, rushed, no tension, no chemistry, lost potential.
∘ Characters — #IHateEveryone, except Beron.
At first, I liked Noor and she had potential for being a great character, but she quickly lost my admiration. I wasn't a fan of her sister, Citali, she had her own agenda, but was always unfair and rude to Noor. To be honest, I don't think I could read the next book knowing she's the protagonist.
Caelum was pretty mature but too trustful and open with a stranger, too soft for my liking.
Beron, Caelum's brother, was the only character I liked, even if he wasn't that present.
⤏ Conclusion
I enjoyed the first few chapters and I think this book had such a great potential... In my opinion, the romance ruined it.
I started this book with high expectations and with every new chapter they slowly crashed to the floor.
⇢DNF 42%
It happened. First DNF of the month and likely not the last.
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Young Adult Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Drama
∘ Gods
∘ Magic
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Arranged Marriage
∘ Insta-Love
⤏ Thoughts
∘ Plot was a weird mix: an arranged marriage, a "choose your bachelorette" trope and cinderella vibes. Hardly any plot development. Not a fan of how this went down.
∘ Worldbuilding — was actually good and I liked the setting.
∘ Romance — love at first sight, rushed, no tension, no chemistry, lost potential.
∘ Characters — #IHateEveryone, except Beron.
At first, I liked Noor and she had potential for being a great character, but she quickly lost my admiration. I wasn't a fan of her sister, Citali, she had her own agenda, but was always unfair and rude to Noor. To be honest, I don't think I could read the next book knowing she's the protagonist.
Caelum was pretty mature but too trustful and open with a stranger, too soft for my liking.
Beron, Caelum's brother, was the only character I liked, even if he wasn't that present.
⤏ Conclusion
I enjoyed the first few chapters and I think this book had such a great potential... In my opinion, the romance ruined it.
September 12, 2021
Oh wow, me gustó mucho, la historia con toda la mitología egipcia, amé!✨ me gustó también que la lectura la sentí rápida y muy ligera, nada confusa, hubo partes precipitadas o rápidas pero de igual manera estuvo muy entretenido, ya quiero leer el segundo, se quedó muy buenoooooo!!
October 31, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Noor es la tercer hija nacida en Sol, ella nunca ha sido querida por su padre y no tiene una buena relación con sus hermanas, al ser la última hija no va a heredar el reino, y no es algo que ella busque, solo quiere librarse del abusó de su padre.
Esto empieza cuando Caelum el rey en Luna pide hacer un trato de paz y que va a elegir a una de las hijas de Sol para caserse, así que las hermanas deben competir para ser la elegidas, además su padre les dice que quien gane solo será para robarle el trono a Caelum pero mientras más Noor se acerca a Caelum va teniendo sentimientos reales y no sabe si podrá cumplir con la misión que le dio su padre.
Fue una linda lectura, la verdad pensé que tendría una trama más compleja pero no, tiene una trama simple, incluso la relación amorosa es un poco amor a primera vista, se enamoran muy rápido pero me gustó mucho el mundo que creo la autora y fue bastente entretenido, así que si lo recomiendo, la verdad es que siento que los demás van a ser mejor.
Noor es la tercer hija nacida en Sol, ella nunca ha sido querida por su padre y no tiene una buena relación con sus hermanas, al ser la última hija no va a heredar el reino, y no es algo que ella busque, solo quiere librarse del abusó de su padre.
Esto empieza cuando Caelum el rey en Luna pide hacer un trato de paz y que va a elegir a una de las hijas de Sol para caserse, así que las hermanas deben competir para ser la elegidas, además su padre les dice que quien gane solo será para robarle el trono a Caelum pero mientras más Noor se acerca a Caelum va teniendo sentimientos reales y no sabe si podrá cumplir con la misión que le dio su padre.
Fue una linda lectura, la verdad pensé que tendría una trama más compleja pero no, tiene una trama simple, incluso la relación amorosa es un poco amor a primera vista, se enamoran muy rápido pero me gustó mucho el mundo que creo la autora y fue bastente entretenido, así que si lo recomiendo, la verdad es que siento que los demás van a ser mejor.
April 7, 2022
BOND delivers another sweeping fantasy.
I listened to the audiobook and the performer’s voice was haunting.
I listened to the audiobook and the performer’s voice was haunting.
November 26, 2021
If i have to read the sentence "His brows kissed" one more time i think i will have a brain aneurysm.
This book was really just ok even though the beginning was so promising.
The main love interest was kinda boring, still Caelum and Noor had some cute scenes together
BUT Team Beron all the way lol
This book was really just ok even though the beginning was so promising.
The main love interest was kinda boring, still Caelum and Noor had some cute scenes together
BUT Team Beron all the way lol
April 8, 2024
Great story premise and an easy enough read.
With the ancient Egyptian inspired settings it was meant to be a hit in my books, although, it fell flat halfway through and struggled to keep up with the plot. The characters couldn't keep being solid and true to their development so that's a pity.
Didn't enjoy the peak of the book's end cause it was revealed in a very lukewarm manner, disappointing really.
3.75 stars
With the ancient Egyptian inspired settings it was meant to be a hit in my books, although, it fell flat halfway through and struggled to keep up with the plot. The characters couldn't keep being solid and true to their development so that's a pity.
Didn't enjoy the peak of the book's end cause it was revealed in a very lukewarm manner, disappointing really.
3.75 stars
November 30, 2022
Not for me.
Too much insta attraction that turned love way too fast. I just didn't enjoy the pacing or the direction of this book. It all wrapped up too cleanly and the conflict was anticlimactic. Was not a fan of some of the plot choice and definitely wasn't a fan of some of the side characters.
Too much insta attraction that turned love way too fast. I just didn't enjoy the pacing or the direction of this book. It all wrapped up too cleanly and the conflict was anticlimactic. Was not a fan of some of the plot choice and definitely wasn't a fan of some of the side characters.
January 7, 2022
«Nací heredera del Sol, el sol y el fuego.
Nací llama.
Nací para arder.
No nací para estar a la sombra de nadie, sino para proyectarlas.»
Tremendo, tedioso más de la mitad del libro porque nada tenía sentido ni sabía que esperar pero la otra mitad remontó, esperando el segundo libro porque ESE FINAL, I'm done.
Nací llama.
Nací para arder.
No nací para estar a la sombra de nadie, sino para proyectarlas.»
Tremendo, tedioso más de la mitad del libro porque nada tenía sentido ni sabía que esperar pero la otra mitad remontó, esperando el segundo libro porque ESE FINAL, I'm done.
August 11, 2021
I always love the worlds that Casey creates because they seem so familiar, but different. It allows me to easily understand the world and fully visualize/immerse myself in the story. Noor and Caelum are swoon worthy and I love the quiet moments they have together as well as the public ones. I love Beron and Citali as well, even though Citali is a bitch 99.9% of the time. I really enjoyed everything about this book and couldn’t bring myself to put it down. I’m glad it ended the way it did, I just wish the final chapters would have been slightly longer. With that being said, that cliffhanger has me dying for book 2!
May 9, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version of this publication and loved it! The voice for the main character, Noor, was perfect. It was a quality audiobook production.
I loved the story premise, plot line, and characters, as well as the world building. Please excuse any misspelling as listening doesn't give you the benefit knowing how words are spelled in the book.
The Auten, or king of the kingdom, takes his 2nd and 3rd daughters to steal the crown of his enemy under the pretense that one of the daughters, one of his enemy's choosing, will marry the enemy king. Noor is the 3rd daughter. On the trip she discovers secrets held by her father.
I don't want to give away too much but I loved the main character Noor, and that the book is written from her perspective. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series, House of Wolves.
I loved the story premise, plot line, and characters, as well as the world building. Please excuse any misspelling as listening doesn't give you the benefit knowing how words are spelled in the book.
The Auten, or king of the kingdom, takes his 2nd and 3rd daughters to steal the crown of his enemy under the pretense that one of the daughters, one of his enemy's choosing, will marry the enemy king. Noor is the 3rd daughter. On the trip she discovers secrets held by her father.
I don't want to give away too much but I loved the main character Noor, and that the book is written from her perspective. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series, House of Wolves.
Read
February 22, 2023DNF’ed at 40%
I smelled the insta-love romance the minute Noor and Caellum had breakfast together the morning after they first meet. This had all the potential for a slow-burn romance coupled with the arranged marriage trope. Unfortunately, insta-love isn’t my cup of tea.
I smelled the insta-love romance the minute Noor and Caellum had breakfast together the morning after they first meet. This had all the potential for a slow-burn romance coupled with the arranged marriage trope. Unfortunately, insta-love isn’t my cup of tea.
February 2, 2022
"I'm terrified ashes is all I'll become, when I feel destined to be the flame."
The House of Sol is suffering under the despotic rule of the current Aten, the chosen ruler of Sol, the sun god. When the House of Lumos reaches out after centuries of no contact to propose a truce and a new path, the Aten is determined to use his three daughters to steal all the power from the House of Lumos. The Aten sends his two youngest daughters with a mission of stealing the crown from the House of Lumos while he negotiates a peace treaty. The youngest, unwanted, unloved Atena, Noor, is on her own mission: get the crown and end her father's tyrannical rule. But when the new Lumin, chosen ruler of the moon god, turns out to be kind, selfless, and the exact kind of ruler that the House's deserve, Noor finds herself conflicted. Can Noor find a way to forge a new path forward for the two houses?
House of Eclipses was a really fascinated fantasy read! The concept with the focus on the sun god and the moon god was incredible as was the juxtaposition of the two! Even though the concept of the sun and moon as the two main powers is relatively common, this was an incredibly original story. The execution of this concept in House of Eclipses was incredibly creative and intricate. I loved the world-building and learning more about the Houses and their histories. I especially loved the concept of the House of Dusk, this in particular was incredibly creative and beautiful.
Noor was an incredible heroine. Her story was so fascinating and devastating and beautiful all at the same time. I thought her character development was really really beautiful. Caelum was also a wonderful character, he had so much depth and it was incredible to see the comparison between him as the Lumin and the Aten. I found the love story between Noor and Caelum to be really beautiful and thought their love was strong and steady rather than a lot of the heavy, emotional relationships that appear in fantasy books. I love this strong, steady love really suited them and the story.
Unfortunately, I found the story to get really slow around the 70%-80% mark and it felt really stagnant. Then the climax happened around the 90%-95% mark and it felt SO FAST for all of the slow burn leading up to it and that disappointed me. I wanted so much more out of the climax and it felt really quick and resolved itself so fast.
This was a beautiful, creative, and intricate story. I LOVED the artwork of Noor and Caelum at the end. It was so beautiful and such a wonderful addition.
"Life is meant to be lived; waiting only eats away at the time you've got left."
The House of Sol is suffering under the despotic rule of the current Aten, the chosen ruler of Sol, the sun god. When the House of Lumos reaches out after centuries of no contact to propose a truce and a new path, the Aten is determined to use his three daughters to steal all the power from the House of Lumos. The Aten sends his two youngest daughters with a mission of stealing the crown from the House of Lumos while he negotiates a peace treaty. The youngest, unwanted, unloved Atena, Noor, is on her own mission: get the crown and end her father's tyrannical rule. But when the new Lumin, chosen ruler of the moon god, turns out to be kind, selfless, and the exact kind of ruler that the House's deserve, Noor finds herself conflicted. Can Noor find a way to forge a new path forward for the two houses?
House of Eclipses was a really fascinated fantasy read! The concept with the focus on the sun god and the moon god was incredible as was the juxtaposition of the two! Even though the concept of the sun and moon as the two main powers is relatively common, this was an incredibly original story. The execution of this concept in House of Eclipses was incredibly creative and intricate. I loved the world-building and learning more about the Houses and their histories. I especially loved the concept of the House of Dusk, this in particular was incredibly creative and beautiful.
Noor was an incredible heroine. Her story was so fascinating and devastating and beautiful all at the same time. I thought her character development was really really beautiful. Caelum was also a wonderful character, he had so much depth and it was incredible to see the comparison between him as the Lumin and the Aten. I found the love story between Noor and Caelum to be really beautiful and thought their love was strong and steady rather than a lot of the heavy, emotional relationships that appear in fantasy books. I love this strong, steady love really suited them and the story.
Unfortunately, I found the story to get really slow around the 70%-80% mark and it felt really stagnant. Then the climax happened around the 90%-95% mark and it felt SO FAST for all of the slow burn leading up to it and that disappointed me. I wanted so much more out of the climax and it felt really quick and resolved itself so fast.
This was a beautiful, creative, and intricate story. I LOVED the artwork of Noor and Caelum at the end. It was so beautiful and such a wonderful addition.
"Life is meant to be lived; waiting only eats away at the time you've got left."
December 1, 2022
Some of the following may be considered spoilery. Proceed with caution if you care. You’ve been warned.
Okay, I felt like this story started out promising. I was intrigued by the world-building, the murderous/abusive Aten (king), and the premise of Noor and her sister being threatened to bring back the moonlight crown from the Lumin (king of another country basically). Sounds like a good set up, right? Like I could see Noor slowly falling for the Lumin as she searched for the crown and maybe betraying him.
Well…that is not what happened.
Some insta love went on which is not my favorite trope. I did enjoy Noor and Caelum’s characters, but they were together and comfortable too fast. No tension or angst.
Literally everything in this story goes correctly for the main characters. It’s all just smooth sailing. Noor and Caelum are honest with each other from the get-go. Any plans they have work perfectly. EVEN THE ENDING IS SO PERFECT. No conflict or struggle.
Also, there is kind of a story within the story about the sun goddess (Sol) and moon god (Lumos) and why they were separated and then at the end it’s like, oh we talked to the sculptor and everything is good. What?!
I’m actually disappointed in the lack of energy put into this story because I think it really could have been good. But honestly the more I think about this book, the more I dislike it and my current rating is probably being generous and may go down in the future if I ever think about this book more.
And this is officially the longest review I’ve ever written for a book I didn’t even like, so I’ll stop rambling now. Don’t recommend.
Okay, I felt like this story started out promising. I was intrigued by the world-building, the murderous/abusive Aten (king), and the premise of Noor and her sister being threatened to bring back the moonlight crown from the Lumin (king of another country basically). Sounds like a good set up, right? Like I could see Noor slowly falling for the Lumin as she searched for the crown and maybe betraying him.
Well…that is not what happened.
Some insta love went on which is not my favorite trope. I did enjoy Noor and Caelum’s characters, but they were together and comfortable too fast. No tension or angst.
Literally everything in this story goes correctly for the main characters. It’s all just smooth sailing. Noor and Caelum are honest with each other from the get-go. Any plans they have work perfectly. EVEN THE ENDING IS SO PERFECT. No conflict or struggle.
Also, there is kind of a story within the story about the sun goddess (Sol) and moon god (Lumos) and why they were separated and then at the end it’s like, oh we talked to the sculptor and everything is good. What?!
I’m actually disappointed in the lack of energy put into this story because I think it really could have been good. But honestly the more I think about this book, the more I dislike it and my current rating is probably being generous and may go down in the future if I ever think about this book more.
And this is officially the longest review I’ve ever written for a book I didn’t even like, so I’ll stop rambling now. Don’t recommend.
May 29, 2022
1.5/5 Stars
July 14, 2021
I got this book as an arc which never happens to me. I'm so glad it did. This book is just wow out of this world. I can see it rising in popularity and I hope it reaches many reader. Casey just keeps getting better with each new story She writes and im so glad I'm here for the journey. Qn actual review of this book will be posted after release day. Don't want to spoil it for anyone. Definitely a book that should be read and not shelved.
June 12, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5.0
“House of Eclipses'' is a wonderfully written tale!
Read full review in the 2022 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
“House of Eclipses'' is a wonderfully written tale!
Read full review in the 2022 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
July 18, 2022
Another Kindle Unlimited read. Two stars isn’t awful, two stars on goodreads is “it’s okay.” And it is. It started off strong, rooting for the underdog and the setting was cool. But what I didn’t love was the insta love. Not a fan of that trope. There was a good outline and start to the characters but I wanted more depth and more time for feelings to develop- not just hours. To be fair- I LOVE a slow burn romance and the tension so, just not my jam.
November 29, 2022
This was a book club pick so I pushed through.
I liked the idea of the world and plot.
The beginning was intriguing.
There were a few moments I thought were well done. (The last 5 chapters)
THOUGHTS:
-The romance is weak, and I felt nothing.
-The dialogue and writing in general felt flowery and trying too hard to impress.
-Chapter 20 should have been chapter 1.
-An absurd number of descriptions about brows. (Yes, it's weird)
-"My inner phoenix purred." .... gross.
-I STILL don't understand the world and magic system.
-The writing desperately needs an editor.
Spoiler, I won’t be reading book 2.
Characters/Depth/Growth – 4
Atmosphere/World - 2
Writing Style - 1
Plot – 4
Intrigue - 3
Love/Relationships - 2
Enjoyment/Memorable - 1
Total: 17
Divided by 7 = 2.4 (2 stars)
1.1-2.2 *
2.3-4.5 **
4.6-6.9 ***
7.0-8.9 ****
9.0-10 *****
I liked the idea of the world and plot.
The beginning was intriguing.
There were a few moments I thought were well done. (The last 5 chapters)
THOUGHTS:
-The romance is weak, and I felt nothing.
-The dialogue and writing in general felt flowery and trying too hard to impress.
-Chapter 20 should have been chapter 1.
-An absurd number of descriptions about brows. (Yes, it's weird)
-"My inner phoenix purred." .... gross.
-I STILL don't understand the world and magic system.
-The writing desperately needs an editor.
Spoiler, I won’t be reading book 2.
Characters/Depth/Growth – 4
Atmosphere/World - 2
Writing Style - 1
Plot – 4
Intrigue - 3
Love/Relationships - 2
Enjoyment/Memorable - 1
Total: 17
Divided by 7 = 2.4 (2 stars)
1.1-2.2 *
2.3-4.5 **
4.6-6.9 ***
7.0-8.9 ****
9.0-10 *****
November 27, 2023
NOT FOR ME.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I would have DNF this book pretty quickly if it wasn’t a book club read that I knew I had to get through.
The romance was lackluster and dry. It was very insta-lovey and not in a way I could get behind. It all felt too easy and there was no true conflict or anything between them. I’m not saying I need a third act breakup but I do want to see some tension and working to be with one another.
I also hated Noor’s sister. She was whiny, pointless and over the top. Moving on.
The plot was boring. I spent a lot of time skimming over things and hoping to see some true action and FANTASY elements. Instead I had the love interest throwing Noor a surprise birthday party that did not fit the tone of the novel.
This was my second, and last book by this author.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low-medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I would have DNF this book pretty quickly if it wasn’t a book club read that I knew I had to get through.
The romance was lackluster and dry. It was very insta-lovey and not in a way I could get behind. It all felt too easy and there was no true conflict or anything between them. I’m not saying I need a third act breakup but I do want to see some tension and working to be with one another.
I also hated Noor’s sister. She was whiny, pointless and over the top. Moving on.
The plot was boring. I spent a lot of time skimming over things and hoping to see some true action and FANTASY elements. Instead I had the love interest throwing Noor a surprise birthday party that did not fit the tone of the novel.
This was my second, and last book by this author.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low-medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse
August 21, 2021
Casey Bond has done it once again. She has completely captivated her readers with an unimaginable story. The character and world building that went into House of Eclipses has you engrossed from beginning to end. Once I started, there was no turning back. Noor and Caelum will have you falling for them from the start. Their connection was one for the books and I really loved that Casey Bond brought more romance into this title, it really made you swoon. Then you have the drama that starts unfolding with Noor, her father and sisters from the start that just keeps you on your toes and wanting more from each turn of the page. You just can't get enough and I can not wait for the sequel.
October 22, 2021
4.8 ⭐
This book was amazing!
At the begining I was trying to figure it out if it was Mithology or it was that the gods in this story were real.
I though at the begining that the story was built in a Planet with no rotation, so that's why it is a part of this World in perpetual day and the other on perpetual night.
But I was worng 😅
When I was understanding the whole line of the story I started to read it so fast and intrigued me a lot
Yes, this is fantasy book with a lot of intrigues, and fantastic creatures
I hope to read the next one The House of Wolves soon!!
This book was amazing!
At the begining I was trying to figure it out if it was Mithology or it was that the gods in this story were real.
I though at the begining that the story was built in a Planet with no rotation, so that's why it is a part of this World in perpetual day and the other on perpetual night.
But I was worng 😅
When I was understanding the whole line of the story I started to read it so fast and intrigued me a lot
Yes, this is fantasy book with a lot of intrigues, and fantastic creatures
I hope to read the next one The House of Wolves soon!!
December 28, 2021
3.5 stars, as the first half of the book is 4 starts- suer fun and fast read, but unfortunately the second half plumps in quality and deserves only 3 starts.
The beginning of this book kinda reminded me of "The Bridge Kingdom" by Danielle L. Jensen (which is an AMAZING book! Go read it!) But as the book progressed it is going in different directions, for started- the horrible forced marriage trope is not actually being used here, which made ne happy.
There are gods in this, actuall responsive gods, that part was pretty cool, especially how the constant presence (or lack thereof) of those gods effects the 3 different locations.
The courting/ power plays between Noor and Caelum are cute and fun, and the weaving of his brother in to the mix is adding a delightful intrigue and tension.
(Though her sister part in this whole "choose your bachelorette" affair is sometimes weird, spotty and laced with slut shaming...)
The problems start when they leave to go to Lumina, where the main conflict of "which sister to choose" is resolved and the "beat the villain" conflict begins and is expected rushed and messy..
From now on I guess there are spoilers, as I do say what happens in the second half of the book..
So- spoilers:
.
.
.
So now it is clear that Caelum is, and always wanted Noor (and he promised he will explain how he knew he needed specifically her even before he wrote her father but we (and Noor) never get to hear this explanation..) and they need to get away as soon as possible after the closing ball, and here things are starting to get rush and too easy- everything is going according to plan, thought it is a weird plan (no one noticed that all the Luminian's belonging are being packed and boarded on their ship? Sol's priests being told of the plan last second, no one noticed the Aten and his guards being drugged..) When in Lumina (which the travel to is going super fast, even with Sol's miraculous help), Noor is making a rescue plan for the Luminian's hostages, that is also not clear, not in the way it was supposed to happened, and not in the way it failed..
There is a bit of fun with the brothers, some sexy time (which is so disappointedly short mentioned) with Caelum, and then
Poof, Noor is becoming the demi god she was supposed to be (and she can somehow open portals) and poof, they are winning against the big bad, the end.
Aaaaahh... What?
Also, there are some editing issues:
- Noor promises Caelum she has never lied to him, only an episode or two after she specifically inner monologuing that she is lying to him, not for the first time.
- Caelum mentioned that Sol is Noor's mother on their way to the picnic, where she reveals to him that Sol is her mother..
Etc.
But, it is clearly written that all Noor's dresses have pockets, so maybe I'll bump this review a point, just for that... 😉😉
The beginning of this book kinda reminded me of "The Bridge Kingdom" by Danielle L. Jensen (which is an AMAZING book! Go read it!) But as the book progressed it is going in different directions, for started- the horrible forced marriage trope is not actually being used here, which made ne happy.
There are gods in this, actuall responsive gods, that part was pretty cool, especially how the constant presence (or lack thereof) of those gods effects the 3 different locations.
The courting/ power plays between Noor and Caelum are cute and fun, and the weaving of his brother in to the mix is adding a delightful intrigue and tension.
(Though her sister part in this whole "choose your bachelorette" affair is sometimes weird, spotty and laced with slut shaming...)
The problems start when they leave to go to Lumina, where the main conflict of "which sister to choose" is resolved and the "beat the villain" conflict begins and is expected rushed and messy..
From now on I guess there are spoilers, as I do say what happens in the second half of the book..
So- spoilers:
.
.
.
So now it is clear that Caelum is, and always wanted Noor (and he promised he will explain how he knew he needed specifically her even before he wrote her father but we (and Noor) never get to hear this explanation..) and they need to get away as soon as possible after the closing ball, and here things are starting to get rush and too easy- everything is going according to plan, thought it is a weird plan (no one noticed that all the Luminian's belonging are being packed and boarded on their ship? Sol's priests being told of the plan last second, no one noticed the Aten and his guards being drugged..) When in Lumina (which the travel to is going super fast, even with Sol's miraculous help), Noor is making a rescue plan for the Luminian's hostages, that is also not clear, not in the way it was supposed to happened, and not in the way it failed..
There is a bit of fun with the brothers, some sexy time (which is so disappointedly short mentioned) with Caelum, and then
Poof, Noor is becoming the demi god she was supposed to be (and she can somehow open portals) and poof, they are winning against the big bad, the end.
Aaaaahh... What?
Also, there are some editing issues:
- Noor promises Caelum she has never lied to him, only an episode or two after she specifically inner monologuing that she is lying to him, not for the first time.
- Caelum mentioned that Sol is Noor's mother on their way to the picnic, where she reveals to him that Sol is her mother..
Etc.
But, it is clearly written that all Noor's dresses have pockets, so maybe I'll bump this review a point, just for that... 😉😉
August 23, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of House of Eclipses. I can't say how much I liked this book, I'm sure this is going to become a bestseller!
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: 𝟗/𝟏𝟎.
I found the whole world building so brilliant: the contrapposition between Sol's land and Lumos's kingdom, the way Atens and Lumines are choosen, the way they deal with deaths.
The plot is also so intriguing, you can't literally move your eyes from the pages because you NEED to know what Noor will do, how she will fight her father, what's Citali's secret.
I just have to admit that I kinda expected the smut at some point, so I was a little bit disappointed about its absence.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎.
Can I say that I STAN Beron, sweet child o'mine? Well, I just said it. He definitely is my favourite.
I usually am a side-characters / villains lover, but I have to say that, in this case, I loved Noor so much! She is a brilliant main character, and when I thought that she was only sixteen I really couldn't believe it, she's such a badass!
Until the middle of the book I literally hated Citali, but at some point I started to understand her reasons so I ended up thinking about her as one of my favourite characters as well!
I found that Caelum lacked a little bit of personality? I don't know, I just wasn't so excited about him, even though I think his ship with Noor is very cute.
A little mention to all the minor characters, Vada and Saric above all. She is an amazing mother and the nicer mother-in-law ever, and about him... I will never recover from what happened.
I wish I could have learn more about the Aten. He is the villain, but all he did was actually threat everyone and telling lies over lies. I think he had the potential to be a great villain, but he was very weak at the end of the games.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎.
I don't have much to say about the writing style. I usually prefer the third-person but in this case I liked seeing Noor's point of view. The reading was fluent, without particularly noble terms or stuff.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝: 𝟕/𝟏𝟎
This is the most difficult part. I mean, I liked how it ended, but - maybe I wanted some more action? It was all so easy, TOO easy. The Aten literally killed the damned sun, he screwed her daughters lives, and he just - waited for her daughter to kill him? No fight back? No evil plans? No salt on my salad?
At least there was that last plot twist about Citali - and the first chapter of the second book - that hyped me again, so now I can't wait to read the sequel!
𝐌𝐲 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎 or ★★★★/𝟓.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: 𝟗/𝟏𝟎.
I found the whole world building so brilliant: the contrapposition between Sol's land and Lumos's kingdom, the way Atens and Lumines are choosen, the way they deal with deaths.
The plot is also so intriguing, you can't literally move your eyes from the pages because you NEED to know what Noor will do, how she will fight her father, what's Citali's secret.
I just have to admit that I kinda expected the smut at some point, so I was a little bit disappointed about its absence.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎.
Can I say that I STAN Beron, sweet child o'mine? Well, I just said it. He definitely is my favourite.
I usually am a side-characters / villains lover, but I have to say that, in this case, I loved Noor so much! She is a brilliant main character, and when I thought that she was only sixteen I really couldn't believe it, she's such a badass!
Until the middle of the book I literally hated Citali, but at some point I started to understand her reasons so I ended up thinking about her as one of my favourite characters as well!
I found that Caelum lacked a little bit of personality? I don't know, I just wasn't so excited about him, even though I think his ship with Noor is very cute.
A little mention to all the minor characters, Vada and Saric above all. She is an amazing mother and the nicer mother-in-law ever, and about him... I will never recover from what happened.
I wish I could have learn more about the Aten. He is the villain, but all he did was actually threat everyone and telling lies over lies. I think he had the potential to be a great villain, but he was very weak at the end of the games.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎.
I don't have much to say about the writing style. I usually prefer the third-person but in this case I liked seeing Noor's point of view. The reading was fluent, without particularly noble terms or stuff.
▶ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝: 𝟕/𝟏𝟎
This is the most difficult part. I mean, I liked how it ended, but - maybe I wanted some more action? It was all so easy, TOO easy. The Aten literally killed the damned sun, he screwed her daughters lives, and he just - waited for her daughter to kill him? No fight back? No evil plans? No salt on my salad?
At least there was that last plot twist about Citali - and the first chapter of the second book - that hyped me again, so now I can't wait to read the sequel!
𝐌𝐲 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝟖/𝟏𝟎 or ★★★★/𝟓.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2021
Every so often, a reader comes across an author whose stories fill their happy shelves and their bookish hearts. It isn’t quite so often, however, that a reader finds an author who does so consistently. Each and every release.
Enter Casey Bond.
Hot off the tails of her recent string of bestsellers, Bond has a new secret weapon. Watch out, this one is RED-HOT.
Noor, the youngest Atena (princess) of the land of struggles under her cruel father’s rule. As the people of Helios suffer, the Aten and his daughters live without want. Cursed with the loss of her mother at a young age and the wrath of her father, Noor prays for freedom to be bestowed upon the goddess Sol’s desert-kingdom.
Freedom from her father and her equally cruel sisters.
When an opportunity arises to conquer the long-rivaled neighboring kingdom of ice and darkness, Lumos, the Aten jumps at the chance to offer his daughters up to the land’s highest eligible bachelor: the young new mysterious Lumin, Caelum.
Caelum, however, has an agenda of his own. Protection of his own land at all costs, while bringing the kingdoms together as one at long last.
The last thing the Lumina expected was to fall in love with the Aten’s youngest daughter.
Can Noor put aside her hatred for her father to save her kingdom? Or will love get in the way of freedom? Fighting family, friends, the elements, and the Gods themselves, Noor is in for the fight of her life.
For the fight of their worlds.
Fantasy, romance, and some amazing mythos to-boot, readers across all genres will find something to love about this incredible first outing in the House of Eclipses series.
House of Eclipses is full of everything that makes a Bond novel great: compelling characters, beautiful worlds full of whimsy and wonder, an edge-of-your-seat storyline, a love story for the ages, and an ending that packs an incredible punch.
This fire-and-ice fantasy will leave you on the edge of your seat and begging for just one more page. You absolutely won’t be able to put this one down. It’s a hit from the word ‘go’. Save a spot on your shelves, House of Eclipses is the read of the season! Don’t miss your chance to dive into the beautifully crafted worlds of Helios and Lumina in this compelling new series as Bond reinvents the modern classic.
Could this be the beginning of Bond’s best series yet? For this reader, the sunbeams point directly to YES!
A five-star read through-and-through. Pre-order your copy today!
Enter Casey Bond.
Hot off the tails of her recent string of bestsellers, Bond has a new secret weapon. Watch out, this one is RED-HOT.
Noor, the youngest Atena (princess) of the land of struggles under her cruel father’s rule. As the people of Helios suffer, the Aten and his daughters live without want. Cursed with the loss of her mother at a young age and the wrath of her father, Noor prays for freedom to be bestowed upon the goddess Sol’s desert-kingdom.
Freedom from her father and her equally cruel sisters.
When an opportunity arises to conquer the long-rivaled neighboring kingdom of ice and darkness, Lumos, the Aten jumps at the chance to offer his daughters up to the land’s highest eligible bachelor: the young new mysterious Lumin, Caelum.
Caelum, however, has an agenda of his own. Protection of his own land at all costs, while bringing the kingdoms together as one at long last.
The last thing the Lumina expected was to fall in love with the Aten’s youngest daughter.
Can Noor put aside her hatred for her father to save her kingdom? Or will love get in the way of freedom? Fighting family, friends, the elements, and the Gods themselves, Noor is in for the fight of her life.
For the fight of their worlds.
Fantasy, romance, and some amazing mythos to-boot, readers across all genres will find something to love about this incredible first outing in the House of Eclipses series.
House of Eclipses is full of everything that makes a Bond novel great: compelling characters, beautiful worlds full of whimsy and wonder, an edge-of-your-seat storyline, a love story for the ages, and an ending that packs an incredible punch.
This fire-and-ice fantasy will leave you on the edge of your seat and begging for just one more page. You absolutely won’t be able to put this one down. It’s a hit from the word ‘go’. Save a spot on your shelves, House of Eclipses is the read of the season! Don’t miss your chance to dive into the beautifully crafted worlds of Helios and Lumina in this compelling new series as Bond reinvents the modern classic.
Could this be the beginning of Bond’s best series yet? For this reader, the sunbeams point directly to YES!
A five-star read through-and-through. Pre-order your copy today!
November 21, 2022
3.5 (round up to 4 🌟)
This book got me invested from the beginning. It has a refreshing new concept with sun and moon gods and some Egypt mythology. It's my first time reading anything like it. The world-building was amazing and easy to understand.
I also have to mention stunning covers this duology has.
I read fast through the first half of the book, then it got a bit dragged out and not as captivating as the beginning. The ending felt rushed and kind of anticlimactic. I expected more drama, action, and confrontation but everything resolved rather quickly.
Although I like arranged marriage, instant love is not my favorite trope. It felt rushed, and I was not invested in their love story. It will sound weird but I either need more romance and drama or less of it to make a perfect fit with the rest of the story. They had promising 'meet cute' moment and a few more cute scenes throughout the book. They are a very nice couple.
CHARACTERS
Noor is your typical abused yet strong "the chosen one" heroine. And I'm here for it every single time. She's good and kind, fighting against the unfairness and evil her father created.
Caelum was portrayed as a kind and good leader, but a little too soft and agreeable in my opinion.
He was more help and support to Noor than a leader and mind of his own.
Citali and Noor both treated each other awfully. Citali was especially evil to Noor. I'm somehow missing more reasons/examples as to why. Wonder what's hiding in Citali's mind and heart.
Baron and Citali seemed like a more complex characters than our main couple, wish there were more of them in the book as well as Kiran.
Book ended with a cliffhanger, and it's a good thing book 2 is out already since I'll be diving right in.
💬 Life is meant to be lived, waiting only eats away at the time you've got left.
This book got me invested from the beginning. It has a refreshing new concept with sun and moon gods and some Egypt mythology. It's my first time reading anything like it. The world-building was amazing and easy to understand.
I also have to mention stunning covers this duology has.
I read fast through the first half of the book, then it got a bit dragged out and not as captivating as the beginning. The ending felt rushed and kind of anticlimactic. I expected more drama, action, and confrontation but everything resolved rather quickly.
Although I like arranged marriage, instant love is not my favorite trope. It felt rushed, and I was not invested in their love story. It will sound weird but I either need more romance and drama or less of it to make a perfect fit with the rest of the story. They had promising 'meet cute' moment and a few more cute scenes throughout the book. They are a very nice couple.
CHARACTERS
Noor is your typical abused yet strong "the chosen one" heroine. And I'm here for it every single time. She's good and kind, fighting against the unfairness and evil her father created.
Caelum was portrayed as a kind and good leader, but a little too soft and agreeable in my opinion.
He was more help and support to Noor than a leader and mind of his own.
Citali and Noor both treated each other awfully. Citali was especially evil to Noor. I'm somehow missing more reasons/examples as to why. Wonder what's hiding in Citali's mind and heart.
Baron and Citali seemed like a more complex characters than our main couple, wish there were more of them in the book as well as Kiran.
Book ended with a cliffhanger, and it's a good thing book 2 is out already since I'll be diving right in.
💬 Life is meant to be lived, waiting only eats away at the time you've got left.
September 22, 2021
"I'm terrified ashes is all ill become, when I feel destined to be the flame."
House of Eclipses transports you effortlessly to a world that will completely consume you, a beautiful world that you can't help but get lost in!
The minute I started to read I knew I was going to love this book, Casey has a wonderful way of setting the scene and playing out the story and I was hooked from the start!
Noors story takes you on a journey of lies and deciet , life and death and most importantly love and hope
"I've seen waterfalls and the great vast sea, rolling hills and snow capped mountains, and millions of stars in the inky sky. But you, Noor, are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
Awww swoon 😍
by the time you've weaved through and road the twists and revelations you've encounted your left with a satisfied smile on your face ❤
That is ......until you read the end and are left excited for the next!!!
I cant shout enough how much I loved this book and I'm so excited for the rest of what's to come!!
100% recommended 5* read 💜
House of Eclipses transports you effortlessly to a world that will completely consume you, a beautiful world that you can't help but get lost in!
The minute I started to read I knew I was going to love this book, Casey has a wonderful way of setting the scene and playing out the story and I was hooked from the start!
Noors story takes you on a journey of lies and deciet , life and death and most importantly love and hope
"I've seen waterfalls and the great vast sea, rolling hills and snow capped mountains, and millions of stars in the inky sky. But you, Noor, are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
Awww swoon 😍
by the time you've weaved through and road the twists and revelations you've encounted your left with a satisfied smile on your face ❤
That is ......until you read the end and are left excited for the next!!!
I cant shout enough how much I loved this book and I'm so excited for the rest of what's to come!!
100% recommended 5* read 💜
July 27, 2021
I’d like to start by saying that I am so incredibly lucky and thankful to have gotten an arc for House of Eclipses! This book was…just, wow. To say I’m obsessed would be an understatement. This is one of my new favorites, without a doubt! Casey Bond has a beautiful way with words; the characters and the world building were done so wonderfully, and this is such an interesting and original story that this review can’t possibly do it justice. All I can say is: If you don’t take any of my other recommendations seriously, let this be the only one. Do yourself a favor and go buy this book immediately, you will not be disappointed!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
August 11, 2021
Thank you Casey for the ARC. I really loved your writing and the story seemed so so real. Such intricate details helps build its world beautifully and I could relate well to the story. It helps to get to know the facts and background of things happening. I’m all for the epic twist when it’s revealed about Noor and also that the Crown which Aten is seeking, will never be discovered.🤣🤣 It’s an enjoyable read and I was literally hooked to the book. Noor is the character with strong perception and will, i really adore her. Caelum is the character everyone wishes to be with. It is such an awesome story and with a wow factor.
For the detailing of the book you can check blurb.
And damm that snippet from the next book ‘House of Wolven’ left me wanting more.
For the detailing of the book you can check blurb.
And damm that snippet from the next book ‘House of Wolven’ left me wanting more.
April 29, 2022
Note: This Review contains NO spoilers
A beautiful and captivating story filled with mythical intrigue and drama. And, the romance is swoon-worthy. As a first time reader of Casey L. Bond's books, I was completely immersed into this complex world of Noor and Caelum and their journey. With compelling characters and alluring world building, House of Eclipses kept my full attention from beginning to end.
As for voice performance, Amanda Billings delivered an exceptionally poignant narration. Her performance created the mystical and dramatic atmosphere of the story which whisked me away into Casey's fascinating world of the House of Eclipses .
After listening to this, I must dive into the next and final book in this duology, House of Wolves . I would say, in my opinion, that fans of fantasy and mythology would enjoy this.
Reviewer: Jasmine (audiobook review)
Disclaimer: We received a free copy for an honest review. All is my own opinion
A beautiful and captivating story filled with mythical intrigue and drama. And, the romance is swoon-worthy. As a first time reader of Casey L. Bond's books, I was completely immersed into this complex world of Noor and Caelum and their journey. With compelling characters and alluring world building, House of Eclipses kept my full attention from beginning to end.
As for voice performance, Amanda Billings delivered an exceptionally poignant narration. Her performance created the mystical and dramatic atmosphere of the story which whisked me away into Casey's fascinating world of the House of Eclipses .
After listening to this, I must dive into the next and final book in this duology, House of Wolves . I would say, in my opinion, that fans of fantasy and mythology would enjoy this.
Reviewer: Jasmine (audiobook review)
Disclaimer: We received a free copy for an honest review. All is my own opinion
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