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Ilahara #1
The Last Myrassar
Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother’s coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys show your power, hide your heart.But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya’s return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya’s return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2021
25 people are currently reading
3463 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Karys
3 books114 followersC.M. Karys is the author name of two Italian sisters, Maria Elena and Chiara. Our love of reading and writing started in reading classes with our American teachers in Elementary school. As young girls our love of fantasy was fueled by obsessive Disney marathons and Harry Potter. Now we’ve added Game of Thrones to that list. When we are not hunched over a notebook jotting down ideas for our stories or hiding away in our writing cave surrounded by faeries and dragons, we can be found on Instagram, discussing books with our online community. We currently live in Naples with our family and our dog queen, Kiche.
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January 28, 2021I've been following Maria and Chiara's writing journey for almost two years now and THIS IS IT! 2021 is the year Ilahara is finally coming into the world!!!
This book literally has all of my favorite things...
ELEMENTAL MAGIC
LOST PRINCESSES
ANCIENT RIVALRIES
DRAGONSSSS
not to mention... ASSASSINS and FAE!!!!
I am SO excited to read this book! November can't come soon enough!!!
p.s. I now have MAD respect for people who make reviews like this all the time because I learned how to put gifs in my reviews just so that I could make this, and WHEN I TELL you it takes TIME.😂😤 Totally worth it though hahaha
This book literally has all of my favorite things...
ELEMENTAL MAGIC
LOST PRINCESSES
ANCIENT RIVALRIES
DRAGONSSSS
not to mention... ASSASSINS and FAE!!!!
I am SO excited to read this book! November can't come soon enough!!!
p.s. I now have MAD respect for people who make reviews like this all the time because I learned how to put gifs in my reviews just so that I could make this, and WHEN I TELL you it takes TIME.😂😤 Totally worth it though hahaha
December 23, 2021
I keep complaining about how hard writing reviews sometimes can be, but it has never been this hard. Not because I don‘t know what to say, but because of how much I need to say about this book. First off, I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of this sister duo who brought the magic they dreamt of alive. I had the incredible honor to follow Chiara and Maria - the C and M of the Karys duo - along their journey from the very idea they had to this final version. This book has ever since become a special place in my heart. And while the authors are some of my dearest friends, my review is not being influenced by their endless love, their constant support, and the beautiful friendship I get to experience with them on a daily basis. Trust me when I tell you, this book is one you have to add to your TBR. Best if it happens now.
Ilahara: The Last Myrassar is a story about a princess believed to be dead, growing up on a different continent where she had to try everything to blend in, and find a new pursuit of life to be able to forget the horrors that ended her bloodline and the reign of her parents, as well as to move on and seek the happiness she deserves. But whatever life she chose to live (and a badass one she chose), she has to face her past after a prophecy leads enemies and potential allies to the human continent, seeking the last Dragon-Blessed to either end her life or bring her back to the throne she belongs.
From the very beginning of the book, you get pulled into a world of assassins hiding in the shadows, intrigues at court, faes with elemental powers, sirens that await your death, and dragons. Especially dragons! I always appreciate great worldbuilding that offers you more than just one place, one court or one side of the story, and the authors did a phenomenal job in creating a world where you could see how the bits and pieces come together to a bigger picture. I loved how the journey took us through a variety of places in this book alone, and the writing style made it so easy to feel like you‘re actually there, discovering the lands of Ilahara and Havanya and the sea in between.
But a good story needs more than just an epic worldbuilding, and C. M. Karys delivered what I need the most: characters that will capture my heart. With a big cast of several characters who are all coming from different places and find themselves on different paths along their journey, we get to experience the world through multiple POVs as friends and foes are determined to get what they need in order to succeed. I felt for each of them. The various friendships between them was always so wholesome, and my need to protect them all only grew as I kept reading the book.
And what could make this book with amazing characters and incredible worldbuilding even better? Yes, romance. And the ones here are *chef‘s kiss*. You enjoy watching some yearning? Seeing someone fall for someone they shouldn‘t? A slow burn enemies to lovers trope that will keep you on the edge of the seat because tensioooon? You‘ve got it all. Knowing the authors and their personal taste in books, I knew I had to expect some romance that is ready to get my heartbeat up, but they excelled in this department. Even if I want to slap them because the slow burn is killing me. But we know all the good love stories do that to me.
Overall, all I‘m left to say is that this has been a favorite of mine for years now, and with each reread and each new draft, I loved it more and more, not knowing that this was possible. I can only highly recommend you to pick up this New Adult High Fantasy story if you‘re into enemies to lovers, elemental magic, faes, intriguing courts, badass characters with wholesome friendships, and dragons.
I‘m so ready for the whole world to be able to finally read this wonderful story. And to my dear friends who made it: I‘m so fucking proud of you. MY QUEENS! I love you!!!!
Now everyone go and pick up the book, and then get your pitchforks ready - BECAUSE WE NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!!!!!!
Ilahara: The Last Myrassar is a story about a princess believed to be dead, growing up on a different continent where she had to try everything to blend in, and find a new pursuit of life to be able to forget the horrors that ended her bloodline and the reign of her parents, as well as to move on and seek the happiness she deserves. But whatever life she chose to live (and a badass one she chose), she has to face her past after a prophecy leads enemies and potential allies to the human continent, seeking the last Dragon-Blessed to either end her life or bring her back to the throne she belongs.
From the very beginning of the book, you get pulled into a world of assassins hiding in the shadows, intrigues at court, faes with elemental powers, sirens that await your death, and dragons. Especially dragons! I always appreciate great worldbuilding that offers you more than just one place, one court or one side of the story, and the authors did a phenomenal job in creating a world where you could see how the bits and pieces come together to a bigger picture. I loved how the journey took us through a variety of places in this book alone, and the writing style made it so easy to feel like you‘re actually there, discovering the lands of Ilahara and Havanya and the sea in between.
But a good story needs more than just an epic worldbuilding, and C. M. Karys delivered what I need the most: characters that will capture my heart. With a big cast of several characters who are all coming from different places and find themselves on different paths along their journey, we get to experience the world through multiple POVs as friends and foes are determined to get what they need in order to succeed. I felt for each of them. The various friendships between them was always so wholesome, and my need to protect them all only grew as I kept reading the book.
And what could make this book with amazing characters and incredible worldbuilding even better? Yes, romance. And the ones here are *chef‘s kiss*. You enjoy watching some yearning? Seeing someone fall for someone they shouldn‘t? A slow burn enemies to lovers trope that will keep you on the edge of the seat because tensioooon? You‘ve got it all. Knowing the authors and their personal taste in books, I knew I had to expect some romance that is ready to get my heartbeat up, but they excelled in this department. Even if I want to slap them because the slow burn is killing me. But we know all the good love stories do that to me.
Overall, all I‘m left to say is that this has been a favorite of mine for years now, and with each reread and each new draft, I loved it more and more, not knowing that this was possible. I can only highly recommend you to pick up this New Adult High Fantasy story if you‘re into enemies to lovers, elemental magic, faes, intriguing courts, badass characters with wholesome friendships, and dragons.
I‘m so ready for the whole world to be able to finally read this wonderful story. And to my dear friends who made it: I‘m so fucking proud of you. MY QUEENS! I love you!!!!
Now everyone go and pick up the book, and then get your pitchforks ready - BECAUSE WE NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!!!!!!
October 31, 2021
4,5 stars
This was such a nice surprise, I was hooked from the first pages and find it so intresting .It gave me Game of Thrones vibes and I love this show so much.I fall in love with the world building .It has a little bit of everything, dragons,fae and magic.
We have multiple POVs and it was so nice because I felt more intimidate to the story.I can't believe this is their first book it's so well written. I need more!!
This was such a nice surprise, I was hooked from the first pages and find it so intresting .It gave me Game of Thrones vibes and I love this show so much.I fall in love with the world building .It has a little bit of everything, dragons,fae and magic.
We have multiple POVs and it was so nice because I felt more intimidate to the story.I can't believe this is their first book it's so well written. I need more!!
April 28, 2022
That embarassing moment when I realize my own book has been out for almost 6 months and I still hadn't given myself a rating, like all the authors do. *epic fail*
Well...I'm biased, but I'm extremely proud of this book, especially now as I'm almost done writing the sequel, knowing where the characters are in this one and where they're headed. Hope you enjoy this little tale as much as we enjoyed writing it!
Well...I'm biased, but I'm extremely proud of this book, especially now as I'm almost done writing the sequel, knowing where the characters are in this one and where they're headed. Hope you enjoy this little tale as much as we enjoyed writing it!
September 10, 2021
This is the hardest review I’ve ever written as it is my first time reading a book written by actual friends and I’m never very coherent anyways, but here it goes:
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING ♥️
Firstly I need to point out that this book is co-written by two sisters but the writing flows so effortlessly that you never know where one stopped and the other started writing! They are the real Do’strath 😉(*two people who have bound their souls together).
The characters are the ones who make this book so unbelievably good! Fierce Shara, complicated Derron, loyal Solana, wild Cassia, precious Kael and finally… MY PETTY B*TCH MYKAL, brooding yet sharp tongued Myk, he is my FAVOURITE!
This book is a real treat, a real adventure through magical lands with elemental fae wielders, manipulating merfolk, flesh eating sirens and of course… DRAGONS! The mightiest of them all!
The traitorous authors decided to have my heart ripped out in the last pages and did some characters really dirty, so I’m not speaking to them anymore until they fix THEIR MESS 🤨😂…. Jokes aside, the ending is a freaking awesome cliffhanger, worthy of a true New Adult Fantasy book!
Now gimme book 2 before my heart gives out 😩💔
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING ♥️
Firstly I need to point out that this book is co-written by two sisters but the writing flows so effortlessly that you never know where one stopped and the other started writing! They are the real Do’strath 😉(*two people who have bound their souls together).
The characters are the ones who make this book so unbelievably good! Fierce Shara, complicated Derron, loyal Solana, wild Cassia, precious Kael and finally… MY PETTY B*TCH MYKAL, brooding yet sharp tongued Myk, he is my FAVOURITE!
This book is a real treat, a real adventure through magical lands with elemental fae wielders, manipulating merfolk, flesh eating sirens and of course… DRAGONS! The mightiest of them all!
The traitorous authors decided to have my heart ripped out in the last pages and did some characters really dirty, so I’m not speaking to them anymore until they fix THEIR MESS 🤨😂…. Jokes aside, the ending is a freaking awesome cliffhanger, worthy of a true New Adult Fantasy book!
Now gimme book 2 before my heart gives out 😩💔
April 29, 2022
So my sister and I have noticed that a lot of authors like writing a small love letter to the book once it's out. Well, Ilahara has been out for almost six months, so I think it's about time I do this, too.
This is our first book baby that's gone out into the world. It's a blend of who we were at the time we first started it and who we are now. We've learned so much from this story that's helped us shape other projects and, most imporantly, the sequel, of which we're currently editing the first draft before sending it out to the publisher.
I'm so proud of this book. I'm happy and grateful for all the love it's been receiving, and I hope it'll reach many more hearts in the future. Thank you, everyone! And thank you, Ilahara.
This is our first book baby that's gone out into the world. It's a blend of who we were at the time we first started it and who we are now. We've learned so much from this story that's helped us shape other projects and, most imporantly, the sequel, of which we're currently editing the first draft before sending it out to the publisher.
I'm so proud of this book. I'm happy and grateful for all the love it's been receiving, and I hope it'll reach many more hearts in the future. Thank you, everyone! And thank you, Ilahara.
January 15, 2022
First of all HOW DARE YOU
second of all I NEED BOOK TWO OMG 😭
second of all I NEED BOOK TWO OMG 😭
November 7, 2021
This was likely the hardest review I ever had to write! I kept putting it off; mostly because I wanted to make sure I had enough time and a clear mind to write, so that I gave Ilahara all the love and praise it deserves. I have accompanied the writing and publishing journey of C.M. Karys for a while, and had high expectations for Ilahara. I am glad and proud to say that it surpassed beyond anything I imagined!
You can tell from the very beginning that Ilahara is strongly inspired by Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass, two of my favorite series. This is an NA fantasy series, also my favorite genre. The world building was so lush and complex, exactly what I hoped for a GOT inspired series. But what I loved the most about Ilahara was the characters and the connection between them. As you read you witness their friendship slowly blossom, the power of these characters together could change kingdoms.
This series has everything: LGBTQ+ rep, dragons, magic, a lost heir to the throne, a prince in need of redemption... The characters in Ilahara are neither dark or light, they are all shades of morally gray which makes them relatable, real and raw! You guys know I am a sucker for romance in books and I have a feeling that the slowburn romance in Ilahara is going to consume me entirely, the romance layers are being built brick by brick and when it reaches its apex there will be fireworks 😍
Thank you to C.M. Karys for providing me a copy for review, I cannot wait for the sequel!
You can tell from the very beginning that Ilahara is strongly inspired by Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass, two of my favorite series. This is an NA fantasy series, also my favorite genre. The world building was so lush and complex, exactly what I hoped for a GOT inspired series. But what I loved the most about Ilahara was the characters and the connection between them. As you read you witness their friendship slowly blossom, the power of these characters together could change kingdoms.
This series has everything: LGBTQ+ rep, dragons, magic, a lost heir to the throne, a prince in need of redemption... The characters in Ilahara are neither dark or light, they are all shades of morally gray which makes them relatable, real and raw! You guys know I am a sucker for romance in books and I have a feeling that the slowburn romance in Ilahara is going to consume me entirely, the romance layers are being built brick by brick and when it reaches its apex there will be fireworks 😍
Thank you to C.M. Karys for providing me a copy for review, I cannot wait for the sequel!
August 30, 2021
5 Stars for this glorious first book of C.M. KARYS !
I'm staring at my screen, looking at the question goodreads is asking me:
"What did you think?"
I think that I can't put into words how much I loved it. So here's a list!
ILAHARA includes so many of my favourite topics and tropes:
✔️Ominous Prophecies
✔️Runaway Princess
✔️Enemies-to-lovers
✔️Found Family
✔️Elemental magic system
✔️Multiple POVs
✔️Faes, Mermaids, Pirates and Assassins
✔️DRAGONS!
This book is written so beautifully that I have entire passages marked, because I love to go back to them and feel all the feels again!
And boy, did I have feels. From heartbreak, to wanting to throw the book against a wall to hysterical laughter. It was all there and so all the characters have earned a special place in my heart.
Adding the fact that this book is a total page-turner, I just had to give it a high-rating.
The book is a great start into the story and I can't wait for book 2! It will probably all go down to shi* and will have my emotions driving in an exploding rollercoaster, but I will love it all the more for it <3
I'm staring at my screen, looking at the question goodreads is asking me:
"What did you think?"
I think that I can't put into words how much I loved it. So here's a list!
ILAHARA includes so many of my favourite topics and tropes:
✔️Ominous Prophecies
✔️Runaway Princess
✔️Enemies-to-lovers
✔️Found Family
✔️Elemental magic system
✔️Multiple POVs
✔️Faes, Mermaids, Pirates and Assassins
✔️DRAGONS!
This book is written so beautifully that I have entire passages marked, because I love to go back to them and feel all the feels again!
And boy, did I have feels. From heartbreak, to wanting to throw the book against a wall to hysterical laughter. It was all there and so all the characters have earned a special place in my heart.
Adding the fact that this book is a total page-turner, I just had to give it a high-rating.
The book is a great start into the story and I can't wait for book 2! It will probably all go down to shi* and will have my emotions driving in an exploding rollercoaster, but I will love it all the more for it <3
d-n-f
November 2, 2023DNF @ 75%
Damn. I am just not having the best luck with books right now… I could be a bit slumpy, but this book also just didn’t hook me. I did love the gay couple (so adorable) but I didn’t really care about any of the others, which was disappointing. Might try again one day!!
Damn. I am just not having the best luck with books right now… I could be a bit slumpy, but this book also just didn’t hook me. I did love the gay couple (so adorable) but I didn’t really care about any of the others, which was disappointing. Might try again one day!!
September 10, 2021
Not sure why am I nervous to write this review. But here goes…
First of all, let me just say how proud I am of my friends for blessing us with this new world and characters. C.M. Karys are 2 sisters and the best people on #bookstagram that I have the privilege to get to know and befriend.
Ilahara is a brand new world that has everything you could ever want in a fantasy book.
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Lost Princess
🔥Sirens & Merfolk
🔥Dragons
🔥Assasins
I was in love with the writing since the first page. The authors had a way to make every sentence sound beautiful without overdoing it. The world that they crafted rival the ones you currently see on films and TV shows. Although, if you’re not used to epic fantasy worlds, the names and places might be a bit confusing. That’s why I’m so grateful for the PRONUNCIATION GUIDE and GLOSSARY at the back of the book. Make sure you check that out!
A few critiques that I have:
-If you plan on ripping my heart out at the end, can you at least warn me? That cliffhanger was not nice 😂
-I need more time with each of the main characters. I feel like we got to know them all but not very well. I need more time with them even if that makes the book 1000 pages, I’m fine with it. 😂 Oh and more angst would be great too!
Considering this is a debut novel for the authors, it’s really solid. They have accomplished so much and I’m so proud!
My final rating is 4.75⭐️
First of all, let me just say how proud I am of my friends for blessing us with this new world and characters. C.M. Karys are 2 sisters and the best people on #bookstagram that I have the privilege to get to know and befriend.
Ilahara is a brand new world that has everything you could ever want in a fantasy book.
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Lost Princess
🔥Sirens & Merfolk
🔥Dragons
🔥Assasins
I was in love with the writing since the first page. The authors had a way to make every sentence sound beautiful without overdoing it. The world that they crafted rival the ones you currently see on films and TV shows. Although, if you’re not used to epic fantasy worlds, the names and places might be a bit confusing. That’s why I’m so grateful for the PRONUNCIATION GUIDE and GLOSSARY at the back of the book. Make sure you check that out!
A few critiques that I have:
-If you plan on ripping my heart out at the end, can you at least warn me? That cliffhanger was not nice 😂
-I need more time with each of the main characters. I feel like we got to know them all but not very well. I need more time with them even if that makes the book 1000 pages, I’m fine with it. 😂 Oh and more angst would be great too!
Considering this is a debut novel for the authors, it’s really solid. They have accomplished so much and I’m so proud!
My final rating is 4.75⭐️
September 14, 2021
Oh god, oh god, oh god. How do I even begin to put into words all the things I am feeling right now. Immense pride and awe are sizzling through my veins at what my two friends have accomplished. I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this amazing story a couple of years ago and to be able to read the finished work now and see how much it has improved fills my heart with pure joy.
Ilahara: The Last Myrassar is a whirlwind of a story. One moment you're steady on the ground, the next you're swooped up by dragons, reaching for the stars.
Through beautiful, lyrical writing that, at times, will take your breath away, they created a dazzling world of fae, dragons, merfolk, and humans. Magic twinkles in every corner; hides between the spaces of every word. It's so palpable it feels like you could reach inside the page and fall right into the world like Alice who fell down the rabbit hole. The world-building has been carefully planned and it is noticeable in all the details, making it seem all the more real.
A widely diverse cast of characters has been created and spread out onto the board for you to completely fall in love with. There's the broody but handsome prince, the badass, sassy assassin/lost princess, the petty, overdramatic (and my personal fave) fae lord (I can already imagine Mykal parading like a peacock at being called a lord. He's a whole mood and I love him with all my heart), and his steady flame of a companion who's loyal beyond all words. There's a spoilt princess whom, I feel, will grow to do great things in the sequels, a sister assassin with the blessing of darkness at her beck and call, a blind pirate who doesn't need his sight to lead his ship, a deaf but wicked guard trained in combat and torture, and a disabled lord who resides in a wheelchair without it taking away from his authority.
From the very beginning, I was impressed with this diverse cast that includes disabled, POC, and queer characters. To top it off, tangle all these characters in a twisted web of intriguing court politics of pawns and backstabbery and mercilessness and you'll get stuck forever.
We all love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, but the one in Ilahara is simply *Chef's kiss* Delicious. Long-lost childhood friends now turned into irrevocable enemies. Yet, they can't seem to kill each other. And it kills them instead. The hatred they feel for one another is palpable in every word, yet there's an underlying sense of grieve for the innocent childhood friendship they lost. These memories play with their mind and tear them apart to the point where they don't know what to do and how to move forward. It's so delightfully interesting to read about their inner struggles that bring about a whole new level to their already in-depth character. See below for a prime example that made my toes curl (Skip to avoid spoilers).
“Did you always hate us? When you played with Elon…when you
gave me flowers. Was any of it real?”
Derron avoided her question long enough that she thought he
wouldn’t answer. “It was real for me.”
Just FEELS okay!! FEELS!! UGH!
As much as I love this angsty, slow-burn main enemies-to-lovers romance, I just as equally love the queer side romance which is just sO SOFT! Both of them are actual puppies that need to be protected at all costs. But damn if it doesn't get heated at times *wink wink*.
Fair warning, if you start this book be prepared for the cliffhanger because HOLY FVCK! I can't believe I have to keep quiet because the whole house is sleeping when all I want to do is scream at the top of my lungs because THAT ENDING!!!!!
If you're still not convinced whether to read this book (ngl there's something wrong with you) then let me give you a list of everything you can expect to find in this epic story.
- Torturous slow-burn enemies-to-lovers
- Soft gay babies
- Merfolk, sirens, fae, dragons, pirates, humans, assassins
- Court intrigue and political battles
- Sisterhood and deeply-rooted friendships
- Crazy plot twists
- Cliffhangers (be prepared)
- Diverse cast of characters (POC, queer, disabled)
- Bloody battles and death
- Elemental magic
- A lost princess and a broody prince
- Multiple POV's
- Beautiful writing
Ilahara: The Last Myrassar is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Game of Thrones, and The City of Brass and comes out November 1st! Get your preorders in people! This is one you do not want to miss!
November 22, 2021
Gay Fae 😍😍😍
Oh, and everything else…everything else was good too.
Ilahara was not what I expected? It was quick and exhilarating and magical. I very much enjoyed it!!
The plot was very easy to follow: a Princess returning home after being chased down by enemy Fae and some less-threatening Fae to reclaim what’s hers. Easy. I feel like it’s building up to be something a lot more complex and I hope for that to be true. I will say this is very much a set-up book, though not to its detriment. This was a clean introduction that leaves much to be desired as it should.
The romance(s) were great. We really only get one significant romance throughout the entire book between two Fae whom I loooooove. It was handed very well and I’m glad the rest of the romance is taking its time. No insta-love here. Can’t wait to see how those other relationships unfold in the sequel!
One of the only things that bothered me was the time span of this book. This whole thing unfolds over the span of two weeks, and by the end Shara is claiming that Mykal and Kael are friends she must protect at all cost, and ‘she isn’t the same person she was when it all started’. For me, this isn’t entirely believable considering how offended she was by their presence at the start. Sure, they can be acquainted in two weeks but she wouldn’t be ready to die for them that soon, IMO. I would have liked it more if everyone had more time together for me to believe how close they were and for me to agree that Shara had been ‘changed’.
But In a nutshell, this is good and I definitely recommend it!
Oh, and everything else…everything else was good too.
Ilahara was not what I expected? It was quick and exhilarating and magical. I very much enjoyed it!!
The plot was very easy to follow: a Princess returning home after being chased down by enemy Fae and some less-threatening Fae to reclaim what’s hers. Easy. I feel like it’s building up to be something a lot more complex and I hope for that to be true. I will say this is very much a set-up book, though not to its detriment. This was a clean introduction that leaves much to be desired as it should.
The romance(s) were great. We really only get one significant romance throughout the entire book between two Fae whom I loooooove. It was handed very well and I’m glad the rest of the romance is taking its time. No insta-love here. Can’t wait to see how those other relationships unfold in the sequel!
One of the only things that bothered me was the time span of this book. This whole thing unfolds over the span of two weeks, and by the end Shara is claiming that Mykal and Kael are friends she must protect at all cost, and ‘she isn’t the same person she was when it all started’. For me, this isn’t entirely believable considering how offended she was by their presence at the start. Sure, they can be acquainted in two weeks but she wouldn’t be ready to die for them that soon, IMO. I would have liked it more if everyone had more time together for me to believe how close they were and for me to agree that Shara had been ‘changed’.
But In a nutshell, this is good and I definitely recommend it!
September 14, 2021
Firstly, I need to warn you that this review is going to be just me pouring emotions on paper.
Let's be a rebel and start at the end. When I was reading the last chapter, there were 2 sentences that felt like the end of the first book. Anyway, my Kindle e-reader claimed that I have 10 minutes left, so I was like "naaah, there’s gonna be more, I still have some time left". Well, I "turned" the page, and it wasn't that case. So I suddenly finished the book while I was sitting in my bath tub. And here I was. In my bath tub, washing my hair and trying not to cry because the story ended for now. That speaks for itself. I fell in love, and now I have to wait to know what happens next. Excruciating! Gimme book two! 😭💔
It's got it all!
🔥 a badass assassin MC 🙌
🔥 a hot AF Fae guy with swords and intriguing powers 🤤
🔥 a b**chy princess
🔥 cinnamon roll characters
🔥 pirates
🔥 a voyage ⛵
🔥 nasty siren b**ches 🧜♀️
🔥 DRAGONS! 🐲
🔥 fire and ice magic 🔥❄
🔥 a cast of diverse characters with found family in the making
🔥 a slow burn enemies to lovers romance
🔥 twist and turns, even betrayal
The world building is awesome 👍. The world that Chiara and Maria created can be easily on the same level as all the fan beloved and complicated worlds seen in fantasy books, TV shows etc. We are talking GOT, ACOTAR, FBAA, TOG, and stuff here 🙌. And a huge plus point is that I haven't been confused for... not a single minute. I've smoothly sailed into it without any obstacles or without the story feeling info dumpy. BTW, you cannot tell it was written by two people. I was not able to say where one of them ended writing and the other started. It all flows very smoothly. Maria and Chiara are obviously a great team.
I have been rooting for Asharaya 'Shara' Myrassar from the start. Oh, she went through so much, and I loved the fact that she wants her peaceful, as peaceful as life of a vrah (an assasin) can be, life and not to go back and take revenge on everybody. A lot of heroines are the other way, so this was a breath of fresh air.
Derron, my love. I have to admit... sometimes, Henry Cavill glimpsed through the cracks of my imagination. I couldn't help it! 🤭I mean.... THE BATH SCENE! So much fun. I love his interactions with Shara and I cannot wait to see where the story takes their relationship.
Cassia, oh, Cassia. My feelings for her are a bit complicated. Anyway, as I got to know her more, I started to understand her. She does not have it easy. You know... . I wish she gets a happy ending.
Kael & Myk 💗. I have a soft spot for the Do’straths! Oh, boys. Confess your feelings and be happy. "Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice" (Robert Frost).
The only down point is that I WISH IT WAS LONGER. I would like to spend more time with the characters and get to know them more. I would also love to spend more time in this incredible world full of Fae, dragons, assassins, royalty, schemes, dangerous creatures and much more.
Through blood and fire, darlings. Through blood and fire! 🩸🔥
PLAYLIST
Let's be a rebel and start at the end. When I was reading the last chapter, there were 2 sentences that felt like the end of the first book. Anyway, my Kindle e-reader claimed that I have 10 minutes left, so I was like "naaah, there’s gonna be more, I still have some time left". Well, I "turned" the page, and it wasn't that case. So I suddenly finished the book while I was sitting in my bath tub. And here I was. In my bath tub, washing my hair and trying not to cry because the story ended for now. That speaks for itself. I fell in love, and now I have to wait to know what happens next. Excruciating! Gimme book two! 😭💔
It's got it all!
🔥 a badass assassin MC 🙌
🔥 a hot AF Fae guy with swords and intriguing powers 🤤
🔥 a b**chy princess
🔥 cinnamon roll characters
🔥 pirates
🔥 a voyage ⛵
🔥 nasty siren b**ches 🧜♀️
🔥 DRAGONS! 🐲
🔥 fire and ice magic 🔥❄
🔥 a cast of diverse characters with found family in the making
🔥 a slow burn enemies to lovers romance
🔥 twist and turns, even betrayal
The world building is awesome 👍. The world that Chiara and Maria created can be easily on the same level as all the fan beloved and complicated worlds seen in fantasy books, TV shows etc. We are talking GOT, ACOTAR, FBAA, TOG, and stuff here 🙌. And a huge plus point is that I haven't been confused for... not a single minute. I've smoothly sailed into it without any obstacles or without the story feeling info dumpy. BTW, you cannot tell it was written by two people. I was not able to say where one of them ended writing and the other started. It all flows very smoothly. Maria and Chiara are obviously a great team.
I have been rooting for Asharaya 'Shara' Myrassar from the start. Oh, she went through so much, and I loved the fact that she wants her peaceful, as peaceful as life of a vrah (an assasin) can be, life and not to go back and take revenge on everybody. A lot of heroines are the other way, so this was a breath of fresh air.
Derron, my love. I have to admit... sometimes, Henry Cavill glimpsed through the cracks of my imagination. I couldn't help it! 🤭I mean.... THE BATH SCENE! So much fun. I love his interactions with Shara and I cannot wait to see where the story takes their relationship.
Cassia, oh, Cassia. My feelings for her are a bit complicated. Anyway, as I got to know her more, I started to understand her. She does not have it easy. You know... . I wish she gets a happy ending.
Kael & Myk 💗. I have a soft spot for the Do’straths! Oh, boys. Confess your feelings and be happy. "Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice" (Robert Frost).
The only down point is that I WISH IT WAS LONGER. I would like to spend more time with the characters and get to know them more. I would also love to spend more time in this incredible world full of Fae, dragons, assassins, royalty, schemes, dangerous creatures and much more.
Through blood and fire, darlings. Through blood and fire! 🩸🔥
PLAYLIST
November 1, 2021
Hardest review I will ever write. My dearest friends, I know I say this all the time but I am so proud of you both! I saw how hard you worked on this baby and it finally happened. I just want to say thank you for including me in your journey and giving me the privilege of being part of Ilahara Trajectory. Definitely two talented sisters, that know how to world build and rip my soul in pieces. Love you girls!
Ok here goes.. to sum it up.. GIVE ME ALL THE MORALLY GREY...
The book starts off giving us details on the different realms and the origins of the characters. We see introductions of such as the chapters go by. For me different POVs sometimes tend to confuse me but I will say the authors had a great way of sewing the path and helped us follow it all without missing any detail. The royalty and everything about the world building was beautiful. The verbiage used in some descriptions definitely added magic to the book.
I loved the mix of everything, we got Assassins, fae, and other supernatural creatures! Ugh Cassia, yes.. so strong and witty. I loved the development of this character. The authors give us a characters carrying defiance, some traitors, and of course the test of loyalty. The interaction between them all, the action scenes, and the build up of the plot *chef's kiss*.
Did I love the romance? umm you know I did cause just like the authors I am a sucker for these types of scenarios and inclusion in a book. I was in awe as the pages passed by, definitely a page turner. Did I love my that my heart was stomped on and kicked off a cliff, of course I did LOL. AHH I am so excited it's now out in the world for you all to experience!
This book is perfect for lovers of slow burn romance and action! I cannot wait for book 2!
Ok here goes.. to sum it up.. GIVE ME ALL THE MORALLY GREY...
The book starts off giving us details on the different realms and the origins of the characters. We see introductions of such as the chapters go by. For me different POVs sometimes tend to confuse me but I will say the authors had a great way of sewing the path and helped us follow it all without missing any detail. The royalty and everything about the world building was beautiful. The verbiage used in some descriptions definitely added magic to the book.
I loved the mix of everything, we got Assassins, fae, and other supernatural creatures! Ugh Cassia, yes.. so strong and witty. I loved the development of this character. The authors give us a characters carrying defiance, some traitors, and of course the test of loyalty. The interaction between them all, the action scenes, and the build up of the plot *chef's kiss*.
Did I love the romance? umm you know I did cause just like the authors I am a sucker for these types of scenarios and inclusion in a book. I was in awe as the pages passed by, definitely a page turner. Did I love my that my heart was stomped on and kicked off a cliff, of course I did LOL. AHH I am so excited it's now out in the world for you all to experience!
This book is perfect for lovers of slow burn romance and action! I cannot wait for book 2!
September 10, 2021
First off, I feel so honored that I was able to read this book early. The authors are incredible people and boy do they know how to write a fun story. This book has everything you want in an epic fantasy: sweeping adventure, high stakes action, unique magic, dangerous creatures, a cast of diverse characters, sprinkled with humor and a dash of impossible romance. My favorite thing about this book was the well-developed characters and the way they all came together. Oh, and the action. So much fun. And the torturous enemies-to-lovers romance, gah!! Seriously, I’m dying to read book two and certain things better happen or I’m going to riot!!!
January 2, 2022
This story is an intricately woven tale of power plays and political intrigue, with careful attention to world building. It has a large cast of magic wielding characters that include everything from humans to fae, pirates to mermaids, and even dragons. If you love stories rich in detail, yet not lacking in action, this will be perfect for you.
January 25, 2022
"Through blood and fire, remember?"
Oh finally! I've finished reading this book, which is my fourth book of the year. Oh God, this book definitely hooked me up to not stop reading it. I also blame this book for making me not focused on my classes, sheesh (yeah, I peek reading Ilahara when my teachers' teaching in front of the class huhu)!
The story is about Princess Asharaya Myrassar who lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire. Her family, her dragon's slaughtered by the usurper fae queen named Aerella Argarys and this led her to seeking refuge at Havanya, a place where human lived. There, she becomes an assassin with the power of darkness named Shara.
When the usurper queen learned Asharaya is still alive, she sent her son, Prince Derron Argarys to find the princess and killed her so she can keep being the queen of Ilahara.
I really love the way the authors created the world-building. Not gonna lie, it's so mesmerizing and really magical. I keep saying "Wow" everytime I read this book. It's a fast-paced story with an outstanding storyline which really make me adore this book so much.
My favourite character in this book? Definitely my new boyfriend, Mykal Todrak. His characteristic really caught my heart. He's really a witty and straight-forward man so how can I didn't fall in love with him, right?
Congratulations to @cmkarys for making me fall in love with your guys' debut book! I'm waiting here patiently (not really because I want to know what happens next!) of the sequel!
Do you like Game of Thrones or A Court of Thorns and Roses? If yes, I highly recommend this book for you! I guarantee it definitely worth your money and time!
Rate: A solid 5🌟
—Feyssa.
Oh finally! I've finished reading this book, which is my fourth book of the year. Oh God, this book definitely hooked me up to not stop reading it. I also blame this book for making me not focused on my classes, sheesh (yeah, I peek reading Ilahara when my teachers' teaching in front of the class huhu)!
The story is about Princess Asharaya Myrassar who lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire. Her family, her dragon's slaughtered by the usurper fae queen named Aerella Argarys and this led her to seeking refuge at Havanya, a place where human lived. There, she becomes an assassin with the power of darkness named Shara.
When the usurper queen learned Asharaya is still alive, she sent her son, Prince Derron Argarys to find the princess and killed her so she can keep being the queen of Ilahara.
I really love the way the authors created the world-building. Not gonna lie, it's so mesmerizing and really magical. I keep saying "Wow" everytime I read this book. It's a fast-paced story with an outstanding storyline which really make me adore this book so much.
My favourite character in this book? Definitely my new boyfriend, Mykal Todrak. His characteristic really caught my heart. He's really a witty and straight-forward man so how can I didn't fall in love with him, right?
Congratulations to @cmkarys for making me fall in love with your guys' debut book! I'm waiting here patiently (not really because I want to know what happens next!) of the sequel!
Do you like Game of Thrones or A Court of Thorns and Roses? If yes, I highly recommend this book for you! I guarantee it definitely worth your money and time!
Rate: A solid 5🌟
—Feyssa.
November 1, 2021
Wow! You know that feeling where you go into a book very hesitant, because you don't know if that's going to be your kind of thing and it ends up blowing your mind? Well, this is what happened to me with this book! I was wary, but oh boy did it deliver?
Let me tell you that if you are a fan of Game of Thrones, then you definitely need to pick this up , because it gives you these kind of vibes. The world building, the lost princess trope, the assassins, the dragons, the sirens and all the magic!! It's such a beautiful epic fantasy journey, that there's no way you won't enjoy it!! There's suspense, there's angst, there's action and everyone is just so badass!!
I loved the characters and the relationships between them. The chemistry between our main protagonists, but also amongst the secondary characters! And let me tell you... THE ROMANCE YOU GUYS!! Forced proximity?? Friends to enemies to lovers?? Knife to the throat?? I'M DYING!!! I mean, it's the first book in a series , but oh boy how much I'll be looking forward to the next book!!
Anyway, if you like everything I've already mentioned, pick it up!! It's a fantastic book!! Highly reccomend it!!
PS: That scene near the end? It really felt like someone being on the bridge of an orgasm and then everything suddenly stops and IT KILLED ME. WHY SO CRUEL?? UGHHHH FINE I'LL WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!!
Let me tell you that if you are a fan of Game of Thrones, then you definitely need to pick this up , because it gives you these kind of vibes. The world building, the lost princess trope, the assassins, the dragons, the sirens and all the magic!! It's such a beautiful epic fantasy journey, that there's no way you won't enjoy it!! There's suspense, there's angst, there's action and everyone is just so badass!!
I loved the characters and the relationships between them. The chemistry between our main protagonists, but also amongst the secondary characters! And let me tell you... THE ROMANCE YOU GUYS!! Forced proximity?? Friends to enemies to lovers?? Knife to the throat?? I'M DYING!!! I mean, it's the first book in a series , but oh boy how much I'll be looking forward to the next book!!
"The eyes of a dynasty thought lost forever. The eyes of a friend he couldn't forget. Life turned them into enemies, yet here they were, a prince and an assassin working together toward a common goal."
Anyway, if you like everything I've already mentioned, pick it up!! It's a fantastic book!! Highly reccomend it!!
PS: That scene near the end? It really felt like someone being on the bridge of an orgasm and then everything suddenly stops and IT KILLED ME. WHY SO CRUEL?? UGHHHH FINE I'LL WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!!
November 10, 2023
This is for all of the fantasy adventure fans out there. In this book, we have:
*Fae
*Magic
*Soul Bonds
*Court Politics
*Arranged Marriages
*Coups/Usurpers
*Murder
*Assassins
and of course...Dragons!!
This book reminded me a lot of parts of Throne of Glass. You have a princess whose entire family was murdered when she was only 8, and she was also believed to be dead, until a crone prophesized that she was alive and would return for her revenge. I really enjoyed this book, as I'm a huge fantasy fan, and I cannot wait until book 2 is released next year.
*Fae
*Magic
*Soul Bonds
*Court Politics
*Arranged Marriages
*Coups/Usurpers
*Murder
*Assassins
and of course...Dragons!!
This book reminded me a lot of parts of Throne of Glass. You have a princess whose entire family was murdered when she was only 8, and she was also believed to be dead, until a crone prophesized that she was alive and would return for her revenge. I really enjoyed this book, as I'm a huge fantasy fan, and I cannot wait until book 2 is released next year.
September 5, 2021
I loved this story!
I was so excited to read this book and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I loved the characters and how they are so intertwined together, how the friendships and relationships were slowly building…I cannot wait to read more about this found family I am sure is in the making.
The magical world was so immersive, it gave me both Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass vibes but yet it was unique in its own way. It has everything I love and more…Enemies to Lovers, Fae, Dragons and mermaids, elemental magic and so much more! It was such a page turner, I loved every second of it.
I just need more and after the ending I need it now pretty please?
I was so excited to read this book and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I loved the characters and how they are so intertwined together, how the friendships and relationships were slowly building…I cannot wait to read more about this found family I am sure is in the making.
The magical world was so immersive, it gave me both Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass vibes but yet it was unique in its own way. It has everything I love and more…Enemies to Lovers, Fae, Dragons and mermaids, elemental magic and so much more! It was such a page turner, I loved every second of it.
I just need more and after the ending I need it now pretty please?
January 14, 2022
Ahhhh!! First of, I'm just so proud of the two amazing authors. They not only followed their dreams to publish a book, they wrote an amazing story full of adventure, deception, love, and loss. Like, I'm at a loss for words right now!
Fans of epic fantasy reads will devour this book and love the journey they are taken on. Ilahara is the story of Asharaya, who lost everything - including her family - the day the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, took everything from her. She is the only one left of her family, but knows that she has to keep her identity safe.
Then there is my bae, Derron Argarys, son of queen Aerella. Although he should be happy about his new status as prince, he can't help but feel conflicted over the death that brought them to this place.
Unable to hide her identity for long, soon everyone is after the former princess, Asharaya. The true, epic journey begins.
If you are a fan of political discord, high fae, fantastical creatures, and friends turned enemies, do yourself a favor and pick this book up! I'm dying for book 2 already.
Fans of epic fantasy reads will devour this book and love the journey they are taken on. Ilahara is the story of Asharaya, who lost everything - including her family - the day the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, took everything from her. She is the only one left of her family, but knows that she has to keep her identity safe.
Then there is my bae, Derron Argarys, son of queen Aerella. Although he should be happy about his new status as prince, he can't help but feel conflicted over the death that brought them to this place.
Unable to hide her identity for long, soon everyone is after the former princess, Asharaya. The true, epic journey begins.
If you are a fan of political discord, high fae, fantastical creatures, and friends turned enemies, do yourself a favor and pick this book up! I'm dying for book 2 already.
December 18, 2021
Disclaimer: I bought this ebook to support my friends! Promote/help your author friends! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: C.M. Karys
Book Series: Ilahara Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: There is a brief m/m romance mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, high fantasy, fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Parent death, Animal hurt, Animal death, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: There was a lot of gore and violence in the book. Sexual content is also present in the book and I feel like there was a passage that mentioned that young children worked at either a bar/tavern or a prostitution house but I’m not entirely sure on that and I can’t find it in the book again, so just be weary. There is a kidnapping and parental death mentioned. There is a story shown in the book where a dragon gets shot down and dies. Grief is discussed and alcohol is briefly mentioned. There is also some romance in this book.
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new identity: Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It read a lot like The Shannara Chronicles and I loved the high fantasy feel of it. I also loved the trope (Lost Princess) used and I liked that the book talked openly about menstrual cycles. The book is also heavy in political intrigue, which I like. I liked the world building and the plot kept me going.
However, the book was really confusing. The book didn’t clearly define who’s POV was whose when you start the chapter and it was awkward to go into the book with multiple POVs and not know what’s going on. I also felt like the multiple POVs didn’t allow for the characters to develop well and there was little back-story on each main character, which made the book more confusing. The book was also slow paced. Finally, as I was writing this review, I copied the synopsis and realized that it helps fill in some of the gaps in the book, which is a bummer for me. I don’t read synopses before reading the book and I feel like if important details are in the synopsis but not in the book, it just sets the book up to be a letdown.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: C.M. Karys
Book Series: Ilahara Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: There is a brief m/m romance mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, high fantasy, fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Parent death, Animal hurt, Animal death, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: There was a lot of gore and violence in the book. Sexual content is also present in the book and I feel like there was a passage that mentioned that young children worked at either a bar/tavern or a prostitution house but I’m not entirely sure on that and I can’t find it in the book again, so just be weary. There is a kidnapping and parental death mentioned. There is a story shown in the book where a dragon gets shot down and dies. Grief is discussed and alcohol is briefly mentioned. There is also some romance in this book.
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new identity: Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It read a lot like The Shannara Chronicles and I loved the high fantasy feel of it. I also loved the trope (Lost Princess) used and I liked that the book talked openly about menstrual cycles. The book is also heavy in political intrigue, which I like. I liked the world building and the plot kept me going.
However, the book was really confusing. The book didn’t clearly define who’s POV was whose when you start the chapter and it was awkward to go into the book with multiple POVs and not know what’s going on. I also felt like the multiple POVs didn’t allow for the characters to develop well and there was little back-story on each main character, which made the book more confusing. The book was also slow paced. Finally, as I was writing this review, I copied the synopsis and realized that it helps fill in some of the gaps in the book, which is a bummer for me. I don’t read synopses before reading the book and I feel like if important details are in the synopsis but not in the book, it just sets the book up to be a letdown.
Verdict: It was ok.
January 7, 2022
OMG😍 AMÉ, a la lista de mis libros favs definitivamente, es que éste enemiesTL? O más bien, childhood friends to enemies to lovers? Es brutal, amo a Shara, que reinaaaaa, y Derron? Omg, y no solo los protagonistas, si no, los personajes secundarios 😭❤️ lo que amo a myk y kael? MIS PROTEGIDOS😭💖 que no les pase nada o me da algo, ya dije que soy fan de que haya dragones? AMOOOOOO, ME URGE EL SEGUNDO 😫
November 2, 2021
EPIC.
This book was so amazing!! The plot was amazing, the slow burn, the characters had so much depth.
There were happy moments, heartfelt moments, sad moments, funny moments, heart ache moments - ALL THE MOMENTS.
Please read this book, take this review as a sign because I absolutely loved it with every fibre of my being. 💗
This book was so amazing!! The plot was amazing, the slow burn, the characters had so much depth.
There were happy moments, heartfelt moments, sad moments, funny moments, heart ache moments - ALL THE MOMENTS.
Please read this book, take this review as a sign because I absolutely loved it with every fibre of my being. 💗
November 13, 2021
Title: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: @cmkarys
Pages: 380
Published: November 2021
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Sometimes it feels like a book is written specifically so I can love it. Ilahara feels like that for me.
I’ve read and loved the beta version, but the final version is more complex and elegant. Maria and Chiara were capable to write an original, solid fantasy story with relatively little pages. The plot is fast paced, high stakes, and kept me curious. If you know the authors, you’ll notice the inspiration from their favourite stories. However, Ilahara is completely its own story. And don’t be fooled, they might be sweet, but they are definitely capable of making us cry.
My favourite aspect of the book is the characters. I loved them instantly. They are well-developed full of motives, dreams, and flaws. Their connections and relationships feel realistic. There is a lot of chemistry between the characters, both romantically as friendly. I also praise Chiara and Maria for the inclusion of not only characters with different skin colours and sexualities but also characters with disabilities.
Knowing the authors, their love for fantasy is tangible through their writing. The two sisters write as one and their writing flows well. Their writing contains a lot of personality, humour and is full of beautiful quotes. They made me laugh several times. The story was told from different PoV and they were all fascinating.
Chiara and Maria created a complete world with different religions, politics, and magic systems, oh and dragons. The world feels detailed and extensive. I loved how we could see a big part of it in the book. I loved that magic was not necessarily easy and had consequences. The world itself felt well-written, structured, and logical.
In conclusion, Ilahara is one of my new favourite books. I loved everything about it, and I cannot wait for the sequel.
Rating breakdown: plot (5/5), characters (5/5), writing (5/5), worldbuilding (5/5), overall enjoyment (5/5)
Trigger warnings: Graphic violence, death/murder, los of a lost one.
Author: @cmkarys
Pages: 380
Published: November 2021
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Sometimes it feels like a book is written specifically so I can love it. Ilahara feels like that for me.
I’ve read and loved the beta version, but the final version is more complex and elegant. Maria and Chiara were capable to write an original, solid fantasy story with relatively little pages. The plot is fast paced, high stakes, and kept me curious. If you know the authors, you’ll notice the inspiration from their favourite stories. However, Ilahara is completely its own story. And don’t be fooled, they might be sweet, but they are definitely capable of making us cry.
My favourite aspect of the book is the characters. I loved them instantly. They are well-developed full of motives, dreams, and flaws. Their connections and relationships feel realistic. There is a lot of chemistry between the characters, both romantically as friendly. I also praise Chiara and Maria for the inclusion of not only characters with different skin colours and sexualities but also characters with disabilities.
Knowing the authors, their love for fantasy is tangible through their writing. The two sisters write as one and their writing flows well. Their writing contains a lot of personality, humour and is full of beautiful quotes. They made me laugh several times. The story was told from different PoV and they were all fascinating.
Chiara and Maria created a complete world with different religions, politics, and magic systems, oh and dragons. The world feels detailed and extensive. I loved how we could see a big part of it in the book. I loved that magic was not necessarily easy and had consequences. The world itself felt well-written, structured, and logical.
In conclusion, Ilahara is one of my new favourite books. I loved everything about it, and I cannot wait for the sequel.
Rating breakdown: plot (5/5), characters (5/5), writing (5/5), worldbuilding (5/5), overall enjoyment (5/5)
Trigger warnings: Graphic violence, death/murder, los of a lost one.
March 31, 2025
Thank you to Chiara and Maria aka C.M.Karys for providing me with an eARC for this book!
Wow wow wow, this book!!! It had me feeling all the feels but especially: excitement, happiness, sadness and not to forget, the longing for the next book asap!
Okay, let’s start with the writing style because it was fantastic. I loved the descriptive style as well as the extraordinary yet beautiful sounding fictional names / words and the higher vocabulary (for me as a non-native speaker of the English language) here and there they were using. The multiple POVs where nicely done too and were easy to differentiate between each other. One additional thing to mention is the pronunciation glossary at the end of the book was super helpful to have!
Next are my thoughts on the story, which intrigued me the most based off of the synopsis and had me glued to the pages. I mean, lost princess, assassins, pirates, dragons, fae and elemental magic WHERE CAN I SIGN UP???!! It was quite a roller coaster of emotions, as I already said at the beginning, and I loved every second of it! It truly kept me interested on every page, there weren’t any boring plot fillers to me as far as I can remember.
Lastly, let’s talk about the (main) characters because I ADORED them!! Shara, the lost princess who’s quite badass but is also soft at times; the last Myrassar. Solana her best friend and found family; i really admired the deep sisterhood they shared. Kael and Mykal, the brave Do’strath who will face all obstacles together and would die for each other. Both also have awesome elemental magic. And then there’s Derron, the nasty prince who’s tasked to kill Shara but what will he do when they are crossing paths?
As a reader for whom this was her first New Adult fantasy book, I could definitely tell it‘s more mature as a whole than a YA book and I really enjoyed that! Obviously I give it 5 / 5 stars!
To conclude, I recommend this book to anyone who loves high fantasy or the above mentioned elements such as dragons etc. !
Wow wow wow, this book!!! It had me feeling all the feels but especially: excitement, happiness, sadness and not to forget, the longing for the next book asap!
Okay, let’s start with the writing style because it was fantastic. I loved the descriptive style as well as the extraordinary yet beautiful sounding fictional names / words and the higher vocabulary (for me as a non-native speaker of the English language) here and there they were using. The multiple POVs where nicely done too and were easy to differentiate between each other. One additional thing to mention is the pronunciation glossary at the end of the book was super helpful to have!
Next are my thoughts on the story, which intrigued me the most based off of the synopsis and had me glued to the pages. I mean, lost princess, assassins, pirates, dragons, fae and elemental magic WHERE CAN I SIGN UP???!! It was quite a roller coaster of emotions, as I already said at the beginning, and I loved every second of it! It truly kept me interested on every page, there weren’t any boring plot fillers to me as far as I can remember.
Lastly, let’s talk about the (main) characters because I ADORED them!! Shara, the lost princess who’s quite badass but is also soft at times; the last Myrassar. Solana her best friend and found family; i really admired the deep sisterhood they shared. Kael and Mykal, the brave Do’strath who will face all obstacles together and would die for each other. Both also have awesome elemental magic. And then there’s Derron, the nasty prince who’s tasked to kill Shara but what will he do when they are crossing paths?
As a reader for whom this was her first New Adult fantasy book, I could definitely tell it‘s more mature as a whole than a YA book and I really enjoyed that! Obviously I give it 5 / 5 stars!
To conclude, I recommend this book to anyone who loves high fantasy or the above mentioned elements such as dragons etc. !
September 30, 2021
What a debut!
We can all agree on the fact that C. M. Karys created a marvellous and enchanting world! Full of magical creatures (nope, not only fae, but I won't spoil that for you 😌) and a set of characters so different from one another but that kinda became a family (found family trope is my absolute fav trope and boy It was amazing in this book). I swooned over more than a couple, but only one really stole my heart 👀... The one word I could describe this book with Is ADDICTING. It's full of plot twist at every chapter and you Just can't stop reading! This Is perfect if you love adventures, magical creatures, beautifully written characters, plot twist, political intrigues and betrayal (I'm not forgetting nor forgiving that last betrayal tho 😩)
We can all agree on the fact that C. M. Karys created a marvellous and enchanting world! Full of magical creatures (nope, not only fae, but I won't spoil that for you 😌) and a set of characters so different from one another but that kinda became a family (found family trope is my absolute fav trope and boy It was amazing in this book). I swooned over more than a couple, but only one really stole my heart 👀... The one word I could describe this book with Is ADDICTING. It's full of plot twist at every chapter and you Just can't stop reading! This Is perfect if you love adventures, magical creatures, beautifully written characters, plot twist, political intrigues and betrayal (I'm not forgetting nor forgiving that last betrayal tho 😩)
November 1, 2021
4 stars!
I had the great opportunity to read this book early and I really enjoyed it.
It is definitely well written and you can tell that the author duo work together for a long time. Their writing style is perfect, if you don't know you will never think that it is a book writing by two person. The plot is really interesting. You get a lot of informations about the world building and where the story wants to go. The only problem for me it is that it was all a little too fast. You don’t really have the time to get involved in the story. There are lot of great scene, but every single time a big moment or revelation happens you don’t have time to have a reaction because the next scene is already in motion.
I think that the characters are another victim of the fast narration. I liked them, but at the end of the book I didn’t care for them. The center of the book is definitely the action and the plot, that are great, but characters become secondary to this. I would have preferred more scenes where you have a moment to know better the characters or have time to give more space to some scene that could have a major impact on the reader.
Ilahara is a well written book with a really interesting story. If this is what the writers do with their first book I can’t wait to see what they will do with the second.
I had the great opportunity to read this book early and I really enjoyed it.
It is definitely well written and you can tell that the author duo work together for a long time. Their writing style is perfect, if you don't know you will never think that it is a book writing by two person. The plot is really interesting. You get a lot of informations about the world building and where the story wants to go. The only problem for me it is that it was all a little too fast. You don’t really have the time to get involved in the story. There are lot of great scene, but every single time a big moment or revelation happens you don’t have time to have a reaction because the next scene is already in motion.
I think that the characters are another victim of the fast narration. I liked them, but at the end of the book I didn’t care for them. The center of the book is definitely the action and the plot, that are great, but characters become secondary to this. I would have preferred more scenes where you have a moment to know better the characters or have time to give more space to some scene that could have a major impact on the reader.
Ilahara is a well written book with a really interesting story. If this is what the writers do with their first book I can’t wait to see what they will do with the second.
June 17, 2024
I've been following the authors on Instagram for quite awhile and I was so excited when they announced they were writing a book together! When it became available for preorder I jumped right on it and couldn't wait to get it in my hands to read it :D
And I'm happy to say it was an excellent read! A good strong debut setting up what's a promising series, which I look forward to reading ^_^ The plot was so well laid out and kept a constant flow. There weren't any points that sagged or were just superfluous fluff. And the characters were fully formed and I just loved them! Well with the exception of Cassia >_> I don't really care for her at all lol. But all the rest I adore!
Also this story is like a combination of a lot of my other favorite series. It's got essences of Throne of Glass, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Fireborne with the dragons. I loved the similarities but also the differences.
It ends on a bit of cliffhanger, but not so drastic a one that you feel like you'll die of the wait until the sequel. But it's still enough to make you want it soon!
And I'm happy to say it was an excellent read! A good strong debut setting up what's a promising series, which I look forward to reading ^_^ The plot was so well laid out and kept a constant flow. There weren't any points that sagged or were just superfluous fluff. And the characters were fully formed and I just loved them! Well with the exception of Cassia >_> I don't really care for her at all lol. But all the rest I adore!
Also this story is like a combination of a lot of my other favorite series. It's got essences of Throne of Glass, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Fireborne with the dragons. I loved the similarities but also the differences.
It ends on a bit of cliffhanger, but not so drastic a one that you feel like you'll die of the wait until the sequel. But it's still enough to make you want it soon!
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