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The Truths Within #1
The Empress of Scarred Secrets
Long ago, war ravaged the lands of Estrana, until an agreement was set. A tentative peace is now on the verge of collapse from centuries-old prejudices. Verena never sought to conquer, nor rule, but betrayal forced her hand. To protect the forsaken, she must attend the quarter century meeting. And assume her place at the demon High Lord's table, just as her parents before.
The blood in Verena's veins determined her path, but other's secrets will decide her fate. A lineage she has always denounced now weighs heavy upon her shoulders. The power of an Empress was never a weapon she wanted to wield, but for her people, she will take what is hers, by battle and blood. High Lady she was born, but an Empress she was destined to become.
The blood in Verena's veins determined her path, but other's secrets will decide her fate. A lineage she has always denounced now weighs heavy upon her shoulders. The power of an Empress was never a weapon she wanted to wield, but for her people, she will take what is hers, by battle and blood. High Lady she was born, but an Empress she was destined to become.
532 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 4, 2022
BETA READER REVIEW
5/5 Star Rating
3.5/5 Spice rating on AN ADULT rating system lol. It was yummy.
TW: Mentions of self arm.
This book was exactly what I needed. I haven't read a GOOD adult fantasy in such a long time.
However, this lovely beast delivered and hit the spot exactly where I needed it to. I mean honestly, the moment I saw "Demon shifter, half demons" I instantly thought BET and SOLD. :) *GIMMIE*
The author created such a vast world, and provided us with lush details that honestly painted a picture for me perfectly. Not only did I love the world building in it ( because yes, I am a reader who appreciates and respects world building lol) I adored the ever loving FUCK out her characters.
We can start off with her fierce female lead Verena, talk about having the world on your shoulders lol. I have a lot of respect and empathy for Verena. It was refreshing to read about someone who was actually mature and selfless. She cares about her people with her whole heart even if she didn't technically choose the position she is in. She also has some flaws, but that's what makes her fleshed out and real, I mean who wants to read about perfect characters? Other than that, my heart broke for her a numerous amount of times. Learning about her past, and watching her face the obstacles that present themselves in this book. I have a feeling with everything we've read so far, that book two is going to show us a very interesting and different side of Verena and I can't wait:)
I loved all the side characters<3 I loved the crazy duo Sev and Marik (the most) their relationship with Verena was hilarious and precious all at once Wren definitely stuck out to me and I'm very intrigued to see if we get more of her in the next book. I was also happy to see some LGBTQ representation! One thing I noticed while looking at some other reviews were some readers upset with seeing Bi female characters with men. I'd like to note just because someone is Bi does NOT mean they have to be in a relationship with the same sex. You can be a Bi Woman or Man and even have a preference towards the opposite sex. This does NOT take away from how someone identifies themselves. ** Sorry needed to clear this up because it bothered me seeing people pushing against this*
I was going to mention Hadeon above, but my *moon daddy* is deserving of his own little section. When we first meet him he definitely has ass hole nose up in the air vibes lol. However, there is a certain moment where his attitude changes and he just becomes so incredibly delicious. I will admit that my ebook is highlighted with almost everything that comes out of that swoon worthy mans mouth. The spicy scenes.... *CHEFS KISS* I need more. Yes, I am a Hadeon simp and he is mine and I'm already sharing him with someone. You can't have him hahahaha.
The cliff hanger absolutely wrecked my life- once you get there trust..me you'll understand. Your heart is just gonna crumble for them.3
Okay I think I've rambled on long enough here. My point of this review? To HIGHLY recommend you this book because I sincerely had a wild time reading it. I am immensley excited for book two because the vast amount of theories running through my brain is too much. I NEED ANSWERS-- like yesterday:)<3
5/5 Star Rating
3.5/5 Spice rating on AN ADULT rating system lol. It was yummy.
TW: Mentions of self arm.
This book was exactly what I needed. I haven't read a GOOD adult fantasy in such a long time.
However, this lovely beast delivered and hit the spot exactly where I needed it to. I mean honestly, the moment I saw "Demon shifter, half demons" I instantly thought BET and SOLD. :) *GIMMIE*
The author created such a vast world, and provided us with lush details that honestly painted a picture for me perfectly. Not only did I love the world building in it ( because yes, I am a reader who appreciates and respects world building lol) I adored the ever loving FUCK out her characters.
We can start off with her fierce female lead Verena, talk about having the world on your shoulders lol. I have a lot of respect and empathy for Verena. It was refreshing to read about someone who was actually mature and selfless. She cares about her people with her whole heart even if she didn't technically choose the position she is in. She also has some flaws, but that's what makes her fleshed out and real, I mean who wants to read about perfect characters? Other than that, my heart broke for her a numerous amount of times. Learning about her past, and watching her face the obstacles that present themselves in this book. I have a feeling with everything we've read so far, that book two is going to show us a very interesting and different side of Verena and I can't wait:)
I loved all the side characters<3 I loved the crazy duo Sev and Marik (the most) their relationship with Verena was hilarious and precious all at once Wren definitely stuck out to me and I'm very intrigued to see if we get more of her in the next book. I was also happy to see some LGBTQ representation! One thing I noticed while looking at some other reviews were some readers upset with seeing Bi female characters with men. I'd like to note just because someone is Bi does NOT mean they have to be in a relationship with the same sex. You can be a Bi Woman or Man and even have a preference towards the opposite sex. This does NOT take away from how someone identifies themselves. ** Sorry needed to clear this up because it bothered me seeing people pushing against this*
I was going to mention Hadeon above, but my *moon daddy* is deserving of his own little section. When we first meet him he definitely has ass hole nose up in the air vibes lol. However, there is a certain moment where his attitude changes and he just becomes so incredibly delicious. I will admit that my ebook is highlighted with almost everything that comes out of that swoon worthy mans mouth. The spicy scenes.... *CHEFS KISS* I need more. Yes, I am a Hadeon simp and he is mine and I'm already sharing him with someone. You can't have him hahahaha.
The cliff hanger absolutely wrecked my life- once you get there trust..me you'll understand. Your heart is just gonna crumble for them.3
Okay I think I've rambled on long enough here. My point of this review? To HIGHLY recommend you this book because I sincerely had a wild time reading it. I am immensley excited for book two because the vast amount of theories running through my brain is too much. I NEED ANSWERS-- like yesterday:)<3
July 19, 2022
5 stars★★★★★
☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers* .
✿ Representation: Queer rep (literally nearly everyone is queer), POC rep.
Is this a perfect book? No. I rated this 5 stars for the vibes.
Nothing less, nothing more.
This book is basically Dead Moons Rising without inflicting trauma on the reader. It had great world-building, enemies-to-lovers (ish) and a spicy attempted coup. Whats not to love?
The dialogue is a little clunky and can be jarring but the action and spice more than make up for it.
On that note, some thoughts:
- I cannot find it in me to forgive Marik. I don't think I can ever forgive him. He said all those things with his chest!! Unforgivable. Never trust a man and here is proof.
- If Sev chooses Marik over her, I won't be able to forgive him either.
- The ending was way to confusing. My brain cells couldn't connect the dots on that one but I trust the author will iron out the kinks and answer questions in the next book
RTC? idk.
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December 22, 2021
Spoiler-Free Review:
I am absolutely reeling! I started this book Sunday night and finished this morning. I couldn’t stop reading, and hated that I had to stop to like be a responsible adult. This is one of the best high fantasies that I’ve read and I’m going to be hungover from this book for a long time. The writing was phenomenal. The time setting was perfect and I never got pulled out of the story/world while reading. The book was so well-paced and the world building was weaved within the story beautifully. The imagery was colorful and descriptive! I could easily visualize the places and characters throughout the book. The female MC, Verena, was so incredibly relatable. She felt real and imperfect, and I loved everything about her. This is a very sex positive book as there are no defined sexualities which is really refreshing to read. Verena has two guardians that are some of my favorite characters in the book. They are so supportive of her and their relationship was fun to read. There were so many lines I highlighted that made me literally laugh out loud offering some comedic relief. There is a delicious male character that I find myself unable to get enough of, so incredibly tender! The sexual tension is perfection and the payoff… amazing. The spice was so well written, some of the best I’ve read in fantasy. The last chapter had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath and a plot twist I didn’t see coming! I laughed, I cried, I raged… I felt all the things! I am starving for book 2 in this series and I can’t wait to read it! Check out The Empress of Scarred Secrets when it comes out 2/1/22!
18+ adult themes, language and sexual content
I am absolutely reeling! I started this book Sunday night and finished this morning. I couldn’t stop reading, and hated that I had to stop to like be a responsible adult. This is one of the best high fantasies that I’ve read and I’m going to be hungover from this book for a long time. The writing was phenomenal. The time setting was perfect and I never got pulled out of the story/world while reading. The book was so well-paced and the world building was weaved within the story beautifully. The imagery was colorful and descriptive! I could easily visualize the places and characters throughout the book. The female MC, Verena, was so incredibly relatable. She felt real and imperfect, and I loved everything about her. This is a very sex positive book as there are no defined sexualities which is really refreshing to read. Verena has two guardians that are some of my favorite characters in the book. They are so supportive of her and their relationship was fun to read. There were so many lines I highlighted that made me literally laugh out loud offering some comedic relief. There is a delicious male character that I find myself unable to get enough of, so incredibly tender! The sexual tension is perfection and the payoff… amazing. The spice was so well written, some of the best I’ve read in fantasy. The last chapter had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath and a plot twist I didn’t see coming! I laughed, I cried, I raged… I felt all the things! I am starving for book 2 in this series and I can’t wait to read it! Check out The Empress of Scarred Secrets when it comes out 2/1/22!
18+ adult themes, language and sexual content
January 3, 2022
I can't believe that this is a debut novel, I was absolutely blown away! A world where demon shifters, half-demons, and humans live in strained harmony at best, is put to the test as secrets shake the foundation of the newly appointed Empress of the human strongholds. Verena is one of my favorite FMCs that I have read in quite a while! Unlike other fantasy novels Verena is very mature and when it comes to the fate of those she rules, she makes only educated decisions and is never reckless which was SO REFRESHING! Now how she processes her emotions when she is overwhelmed or is experiencing more intimate emotions is an entirely different story but no one can be perfect right? 😂 I also absolutely adored every side character we were introduced to. I loved Vasuko's old mischievousness, Sev and Marik's protective instincts, and Hadeon's passionate loyalty. I would not have been able to predict that ending even if you had given me a thousand guesses and a hundred years... ok maybe I would have eventually figured it out but it would have taken me awhile before I genuinely considered that path. Bonus points cause this story also showcases all types of sexual orientations and POC which I always love to see! If you are looking for a new fantasy world to explore or a new baby author to support then look no further! I'm already theorizing ALL of the possibilities of what book 2 will hold! 😍
June 16, 2022
DNF at 25%
The writing, execution & pacing weren't doing it for me. Really saddened by it considering the book has interesting premise and is something that I usually like.
The writing, execution & pacing weren't doing it for me. Really saddened by it considering the book has interesting premise and is something that I usually like.
January 2, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I just finished this a few minutes ago and emotions are raw and my fuckin my was blown. I admit in the beginning there were a lot of names for me to remember, but then omg I got too attached to the characters, the places, and EVERYTHING. LOL.
I am so in love with the characters honestly. Verena was the type of girl I could relate to, but who I wish to be. I could relate to her because she wanted the best for everyone and wanted to put people she loves first. She is always a badass character who will not take shit from anyone and will kick your ass. I LOVE VEEEEEE! OMG! She is so cool. NGL. She won't take shit no matter who the hell you are! If you hurt anyone she loves, yikes. RIP you. She is clever, witty, and I love her dry humor. She is everything. I love her living her life.
Male Character -> I AM FREAKING OBSESSED. I love him. He is the broody, long-haired, won't tell you the hair color (but my fave hair color), and every time he chuckles darkly...MAAM! I AM DECEASED! He can hold me hostage anytime thank you very much.
I love the chemistry between both pairs. I came for the smut, but my heart, my sweet heart melted. I don't usually feel emotions for books and it's so amazing how well written these characters are. My heart literally aches for them. I am rooting for them SO HARD! This author deserves so much cred to be honest. It was like watching a movie reading this book tbh. I was too focused I didn't even realize my husband or friends were talking in the background. The ending just blew my mind. I just can't wait for book 2 because... Secret :)
I am so in love with the characters honestly. Verena was the type of girl I could relate to, but who I wish to be. I could relate to her because she wanted the best for everyone and wanted to put people she loves first. She is always a badass character who will not take shit from anyone and will kick your ass. I LOVE VEEEEEE! OMG! She is so cool. NGL. She won't take shit no matter who the hell you are! If you hurt anyone she loves, yikes. RIP you. She is clever, witty, and I love her dry humor. She is everything. I love her living her life.
Male Character -> I AM FREAKING OBSESSED. I love him. He is the broody, long-haired, won't tell you the hair color (but my fave hair color), and every time he chuckles darkly...MAAM! I AM DECEASED! He can hold me hostage anytime thank you very much.
I love the chemistry between both pairs. I came for the smut, but my heart, my sweet heart melted. I don't usually feel emotions for books and it's so amazing how well written these characters are. My heart literally aches for them. I am rooting for them SO HARD! This author deserves so much cred to be honest. It was like watching a movie reading this book tbh. I was too focused I didn't even realize my husband or friends were talking in the background. The ending just blew my mind. I just can't wait for book 2 because... Secret :)
December 22, 2021
I had the ABSOLUTE honor of ARC reading The Empress of Scarred Secrets! Let me begging by saying this novel captured me immediately, the characters & setting are so well written. The female MC is complex, a bit rough around the edges & quick to fight back against injustice! The Male MC is moody & brooding with all the good stuff wrapped up in him!
Verena is a female MC I related to very quickly and I love seeing more and more female characters who are strong, capable, sex positive & complex!
This was an easy 5 star for me. I hope you all check it out when it releases FEBRUARY 1st!
Verena is a female MC I related to very quickly and I love seeing more and more female characters who are strong, capable, sex positive & complex!
This was an easy 5 star for me. I hope you all check it out when it releases FEBRUARY 1st!
December 25, 2021
First of all, I am very ecstatic to have received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. Secondly, I can’t believe this is from a debut author as the writing and world building was phenomenal and came across as a well established writer. I can’t even explain how well thought out this world comes across, with demons, half-demons and a variety of different other races that made this story so unique. I have to say, the politics throughout this story kept me so enraptured as there was so much going on in this aspect of things and it was written so well and was such an engrossing read.
As for the characters, they were so strong and I developed attachments to a number of them much quicker than I might have expected. From the female MC who the story follows, Verena, who is so strong and is dealing with a rise to power she never wanted or expected but must learn to embrace. She was such a relatable character and so strong, showing precisely why she has been granted the position of High Lady, and Empress to be. I loved following her journey as she overcame past trauma and tried to overcome her fears to allow herself to embrace new relationships that she never thought she would be capable of allowing herself.
Then there is the male MC who I was not expecting to fall for so immediately. But he is such a deep character who ends up showing just how much he has to give which is not what I expected from the first impression he gives. But he quickly reveals a much deeper character and I was smitten right from the start.
Finally, I absolutely adored Verena’s guardians, Sevryn and Marik who presented so many laughs and such complete and overwhelming love for Verena that it was heartwarming.
All together, I felt this first book set the world up so well while presenting an engaging storyline to boot, and I cannot wait to see what is to come next in this series because it has sucked me entirely. I don’t know how I’ll wait for the next entry in the series after that ending either. I just want more to see what happens. I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy.
As for the characters, they were so strong and I developed attachments to a number of them much quicker than I might have expected. From the female MC who the story follows, Verena, who is so strong and is dealing with a rise to power she never wanted or expected but must learn to embrace. She was such a relatable character and so strong, showing precisely why she has been granted the position of High Lady, and Empress to be. I loved following her journey as she overcame past trauma and tried to overcome her fears to allow herself to embrace new relationships that she never thought she would be capable of allowing herself.
Then there is the male MC who I was not expecting to fall for so immediately. But he is such a deep character who ends up showing just how much he has to give which is not what I expected from the first impression he gives. But he quickly reveals a much deeper character and I was smitten right from the start.
Finally, I absolutely adored Verena’s guardians, Sevryn and Marik who presented so many laughs and such complete and overwhelming love for Verena that it was heartwarming.
All together, I felt this first book set the world up so well while presenting an engaging storyline to boot, and I cannot wait to see what is to come next in this series because it has sucked me entirely. I don’t know how I’ll wait for the next entry in the series after that ending either. I just want more to see what happens. I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy.
January 6, 2022
*EDIT -
The author has advised that the version I read was not the final and edits have been made to the comments below in regard to “the dark side”.
ARC REVIEW - Mild Spoilers in this review
Let me start by saying I only read 27% of this book and then skimmed another 10% before tapping out. My review is my opinion based on the 27% ONLY!
There were a few things I liked about this story! The world the author has built is very intriguing, it’s full of half demons, wyverns and humans alike. There are battles and prophecies all wrapped up into a very intense character back story! Kudos to the authors brain because what I read would have taken A LOT of brain juice!!! 👏
~ From the get go the world building is slow but detailed, I felt like I was waiting for the turn of the story that didn’t seem on its way yet. The dialogue is very formal and not super conversational when it needed to be which made it hard for me to follow. There were also a lot of “why” moments especially during an early sex scene between two female characters where they’ve said “I think it’s your turn to be the lady now”.
~ * see edited note above: The author highlights in her description of the book that is “sexuality representation” we see this in the first 27% as the MC states that she is bisexual, her best friend is a lesbian, her guardians are mated males and another character is presumed gay as well! This is perfectly fine!
I am 100% for inclusivity in books, HOWEVER there are three references to the main characters preference for women as her “going back to the dark side”. Unfortunately this makes it feel a bit toxic in its representation. It just unfortunately felt like this wasn’t executed properly.
To wrap up: I definitely think you should give this book a chance if you’re interested in hi-fantasy! I hope you enjoy it and I am completely open to hearing your own POV with the book! Let me know if I should be going back for a reread.
This book is set for release on 1 Feb 2022!
The author has advised that the version I read was not the final and edits have been made to the comments below in regard to “the dark side”.
ARC REVIEW - Mild Spoilers in this review
Let me start by saying I only read 27% of this book and then skimmed another 10% before tapping out. My review is my opinion based on the 27% ONLY!
There were a few things I liked about this story! The world the author has built is very intriguing, it’s full of half demons, wyverns and humans alike. There are battles and prophecies all wrapped up into a very intense character back story! Kudos to the authors brain because what I read would have taken A LOT of brain juice!!! 👏
~ From the get go the world building is slow but detailed, I felt like I was waiting for the turn of the story that didn’t seem on its way yet. The dialogue is very formal and not super conversational when it needed to be which made it hard for me to follow. There were also a lot of “why” moments especially during an early sex scene between two female characters where they’ve said “I think it’s your turn to be the lady now”.
~ * see edited note above: The author highlights in her description of the book that is “sexuality representation” we see this in the first 27% as the MC states that she is bisexual, her best friend is a lesbian, her guardians are mated males and another character is presumed gay as well! This is perfectly fine!
I am 100% for inclusivity in books, HOWEVER there are three references to the main characters preference for women as her “going back to the dark side”. Unfortunately this makes it feel a bit toxic in its representation. It just unfortunately felt like this wasn’t executed properly.
To wrap up: I definitely think you should give this book a chance if you’re interested in hi-fantasy! I hope you enjoy it and I am completely open to hearing your own POV with the book! Let me know if I should be going back for a reread.
This book is set for release on 1 Feb 2022!
August 4, 2022
What did I miss?
I am so confused by the great reviews on this book. I expected to be so enthralled with it that I could not put it down. Instead, I’ve been trying to read it for two days and I just can’t finish it. While the theme of the book seems exciting, the words are a jumbled mess of confusion. Maybe I missed the prequel because, from what I’ve read, the author gives information like the reader should already know/understand the characters. It’s a bizarre and chaotic read that I really really wanted to like it…but I don’t.
I am so confused by the great reviews on this book. I expected to be so enthralled with it that I could not put it down. Instead, I’ve been trying to read it for two days and I just can’t finish it. While the theme of the book seems exciting, the words are a jumbled mess of confusion. Maybe I missed the prequel because, from what I’ve read, the author gives information like the reader should already know/understand the characters. It’s a bizarre and chaotic read that I really really wanted to like it…but I don’t.
January 6, 2022
*I was provided an arc in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m sitting here having recently finished this book and my mind is blown. For starters, I can’t believe that this was a debut novel, it was so damn good! Everything from the world building, to the plot, to the characters was amazing and sucked me in from the very beginning. Any book that starts with the line “I never wanted to be an executioner.” is going to have my attention from the get go.
I love, love, love these characters so damn much! Verena is such a badass female character. She’s compassionate, smart, thoughtful, courageous, and sticks to her convictions. And she is all of this despite tragedies in her past. I truly admire how she fights for what she believes in, for those who can’t fight for themselves, and for everyone (human, demon, and half demon) to be treated equally. Also, while she she never wanted power and is a reluctant leader, she makes a damn good one, and always puts her people first. She makes sure that she talks and listens to them and in turn they truly admire and love her. Don’t get me wrong, she has her faults, she’s afraid of getting close to anyone and she doesn’t process her emotions in the best way possible. But, nobody is perfect, so all this does is make her more relatable. Vee’s chemistry with the male MC, who I’m not doing to name for REASONS, is off the charts! Like, panty melting, needing a fan and water bottle to cool myself off HOOOOT! And the male MC himself is absolutely scrumptious. Seriously, I would like one of my own, so if someone can tell me where to find one of him, please let me know. The side characters are fabulous as well, from her guardians Marik and Sev, to her friends Wren and Niko, to the High Lords Vasuko and Hadeon, they all have distinct and interesting personalities that I cannot wait to see more of in future books.
I’m usually pretty good at guessing plot twists but there was one bit of information that looking back on, it seems obvious, but when I found out I was shocked. Shocked I tell you! And that ending!! I cannot even begin to describe what that ending did to me, short of saying that it completely blew mind and I never saw it coming. In fact, I sat there for a good 10 or 15 minutes just staring into space once I finished. Honestly I’m still shocked about it.
If you’re looking for a new fantasy world to get lost in, not to mention an amazing new author to support, then this is a book that you NEED to check out!
I’m sitting here having recently finished this book and my mind is blown. For starters, I can’t believe that this was a debut novel, it was so damn good! Everything from the world building, to the plot, to the characters was amazing and sucked me in from the very beginning. Any book that starts with the line “I never wanted to be an executioner.” is going to have my attention from the get go.
I love, love, love these characters so damn much! Verena is such a badass female character. She’s compassionate, smart, thoughtful, courageous, and sticks to her convictions. And she is all of this despite tragedies in her past. I truly admire how she fights for what she believes in, for those who can’t fight for themselves, and for everyone (human, demon, and half demon) to be treated equally. Also, while she she never wanted power and is a reluctant leader, she makes a damn good one, and always puts her people first. She makes sure that she talks and listens to them and in turn they truly admire and love her. Don’t get me wrong, she has her faults, she’s afraid of getting close to anyone and she doesn’t process her emotions in the best way possible. But, nobody is perfect, so all this does is make her more relatable. Vee’s chemistry with the male MC, who I’m not doing to name for REASONS, is off the charts! Like, panty melting, needing a fan and water bottle to cool myself off HOOOOT! And the male MC himself is absolutely scrumptious. Seriously, I would like one of my own, so if someone can tell me where to find one of him, please let me know. The side characters are fabulous as well, from her guardians Marik and Sev, to her friends Wren and Niko, to the High Lords Vasuko and Hadeon, they all have distinct and interesting personalities that I cannot wait to see more of in future books.
I’m usually pretty good at guessing plot twists but there was one bit of information that looking back on, it seems obvious, but when I found out I was shocked. Shocked I tell you! And that ending!! I cannot even begin to describe what that ending did to me, short of saying that it completely blew mind and I never saw it coming. In fact, I sat there for a good 10 or 15 minutes just staring into space once I finished. Honestly I’m still shocked about it.
If you’re looking for a new fantasy world to get lost in, not to mention an amazing new author to support, then this is a book that you NEED to check out!
October 5, 2022
DEMON-SHIFTERS + HALF DEMONS?!
BONDED/MATES?!?!
Say no more.
There was chemistry, immediate sexual tension, and we were also given the gift of S P I C E too?!?! 👀
The writing, the plot, the world building, just everything about this book was perfection! This is one of the best high fantasies I’ve ever read and I didn’t want to put the book down. When I did, it’s all I could think about. Now I’m reeling thinking about the fact that I have to wait for book 2!
This had everything I could’ve ever wanted and more! The fricken plot twist at the end!? It was so unique and unexpected I am still speechless over it. 😶
BONDED/MATES?!?!
Say no more.
There was chemistry, immediate sexual tension, and we were also given the gift of S P I C E too?!?! 👀
The writing, the plot, the world building, just everything about this book was perfection! This is one of the best high fantasies I’ve ever read and I didn’t want to put the book down. When I did, it’s all I could think about. Now I’m reeling thinking about the fact that I have to wait for book 2!
This had everything I could’ve ever wanted and more! The fricken plot twist at the end!? It was so unique and unexpected I am still speechless over it. 😶
February 5, 2022
I had the honor of receiving an ARC of TEOSS in exchange for an honest review!
It has taken me several days to write a review that I deem worthy enough to express how much I enjoyed this book. We’ve got demons, half-demons, wyverns, and many more all wrapped up in a captivating and beautifully written high fantasy world. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel. The world building, writing, imagery, spice, EVERYTHING, was incredible from cover to cover.
The characters in this book are engaging and so easy to fall in love with. The author clearly depicts a picture with many diverse characters with varying and sexual orientations. They are written both thoughtfully, and empathetically. The book’s MC, Verena, is a force to be reckoned with. She is an absolute curvy, witty badass! She handles herself gracefully throughout and bows to no one when it comes to her position of power.
“Young I may be, but a fool I am not. I am not naive to the issues nor the responsibility that comes with my title. Being young allows me to not be jaded by the passage of time. Things inevitably need to change as the people within the walls do. And that you can’t dispute.”
On the other hand, when it comes to her emotions and personal life, she deals with her struggles alone and quietly, refusing to allow those who love and care for her get close. Verena manages to handle everything that is thrown her way with the most mature comebacks, including a couple body shaming comments, past trauma, and other misogynistic remarks. Her character development was beautiful throughout. I also am an absolute simp for her two guardians and the bond between all three of them.
The male MC is dreamy, PATIENT, passionate, and puts Verena first in every aspect. The chemistry between them is everything! The banter, baiting, angst, and slow burn leads to the perfect payoff. The spice is sensual, mature, well thought out, and very well written. It left me starving for more. They are an incredible pair and I cannot wait to see where their story goes!
The end though…Andrea, girl, you hurt me. I didn’t see any of it coming! Did I cry? Bet your ass I did. If you are a lover of NA high fantasy, make this your next read. You will not be disappointed!
Needless to say, I am impatiently waiting for the next book and can’t wait to see where the author takes this storyline. Thank you x1000 for this incredible ARC!
It has taken me several days to write a review that I deem worthy enough to express how much I enjoyed this book. We’ve got demons, half-demons, wyverns, and many more all wrapped up in a captivating and beautifully written high fantasy world. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel. The world building, writing, imagery, spice, EVERYTHING, was incredible from cover to cover.
The characters in this book are engaging and so easy to fall in love with. The author clearly depicts a picture with many diverse characters with varying and sexual orientations. They are written both thoughtfully, and empathetically. The book’s MC, Verena, is a force to be reckoned with. She is an absolute curvy, witty badass! She handles herself gracefully throughout and bows to no one when it comes to her position of power.
“Young I may be, but a fool I am not. I am not naive to the issues nor the responsibility that comes with my title. Being young allows me to not be jaded by the passage of time. Things inevitably need to change as the people within the walls do. And that you can’t dispute.”
On the other hand, when it comes to her emotions and personal life, she deals with her struggles alone and quietly, refusing to allow those who love and care for her get close. Verena manages to handle everything that is thrown her way with the most mature comebacks, including a couple body shaming comments, past trauma, and other misogynistic remarks. Her character development was beautiful throughout. I also am an absolute simp for her two guardians and the bond between all three of them.
The male MC is dreamy, PATIENT, passionate, and puts Verena first in every aspect. The chemistry between them is everything! The banter, baiting, angst, and slow burn leads to the perfect payoff. The spice is sensual, mature, well thought out, and very well written. It left me starving for more. They are an incredible pair and I cannot wait to see where their story goes!
The end though…Andrea, girl, you hurt me. I didn’t see any of it coming! Did I cry? Bet your ass I did. If you are a lover of NA high fantasy, make this your next read. You will not be disappointed!
Needless to say, I am impatiently waiting for the next book and can’t wait to see where the author takes this storyline. Thank you x1000 for this incredible ARC!
February 20, 2022
[I received a complimentary copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.]
Once again, as always when a book leaves me speechless, I don't know how to start this review.
The worldbuilding is pampered to the smallest detail, the characters are so real that they even seem to come out of the book, the magic system is as intricate as the power relations between kingdoms... but the truth is that what fascinated me the most about this book was the prominence given to issues that could well apply to today's society.
In this book I have found mentions to importante topics such as mental health, adoption, the constant struggle against misogyny in a position of power, self-determination in the face of destiny, the non-blood family, overcoming grief, self-love, diversity of bodies and sexualities... and I could go on endlessly.
And if that were not enough, everything is so well spun and wrapped that you almost do not realize all the social criticism that is in the background, because in addition to this we also find a lot of salacious, hidden secrets, unsolved mysteries of the past, brilliant dialogues, demons of incalculable beauty, scenes with a lot of smut... Well, I think you get the idea.
I have to confess that the ending broke my heart. I cried, and that's not something that usually happens.
For this book, there is no recommendation filter: I recommend it to anyone willing to make a little room in their heart for these characters. Seriously, you are highly unlikely to be disappointed.
[Note: If you plan to read it, be very aware of the trigger warnings for self-harm and depression.]
Once again, as always when a book leaves me speechless, I don't know how to start this review.
The worldbuilding is pampered to the smallest detail, the characters are so real that they even seem to come out of the book, the magic system is as intricate as the power relations between kingdoms... but the truth is that what fascinated me the most about this book was the prominence given to issues that could well apply to today's society.
In this book I have found mentions to importante topics such as mental health, adoption, the constant struggle against misogyny in a position of power, self-determination in the face of destiny, the non-blood family, overcoming grief, self-love, diversity of bodies and sexualities... and I could go on endlessly.
And if that were not enough, everything is so well spun and wrapped that you almost do not realize all the social criticism that is in the background, because in addition to this we also find a lot of salacious, hidden secrets, unsolved mysteries of the past, brilliant dialogues, demons of incalculable beauty, scenes with a lot of smut... Well, I think you get the idea.
I have to confess that the ending broke my heart. I cried, and that's not something that usually happens.
For this book, there is no recommendation filter: I recommend it to anyone willing to make a little room in their heart for these characters. Seriously, you are highly unlikely to be disappointed.
[Note: If you plan to read it, be very aware of the trigger warnings for self-harm and depression.]
February 1, 2022
The Empress of Change
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for The Empress of Scarred Secrets, and I can't wait for everyone to be able to read this book.
The world and character building that Andrea created was something I've only seen in a few other books. At the beginning of the book, Verena is pushed into a position of power that she didn't want or ask for. But her journey through the book proves that she's the woman for the job. She is trying to make a change in a world that has been set in its ways for centuries. She also tries to change the minds of the demon men who have had the same ideals and beliefs for far too long.
So much of Verena's life has been hidden from her, and the truths that unfold along the way not only change her but help build her as a character. She deals with loss and betrayal but comes out stronger for it. When her back is against the wall, she fights for herself and doesn't let anyone sway her decisions.
I absolutely adore Verena's friendship with Wren, and her bond with her guardians, Severyn and Marik. Though the relationship with her guardians is put to the test. Then there is Hadeon, our silver wolf. When I first met the character, I wanted to hate him, but then you start to fall for the handsome demon.
There are so many twists and turns throughout the story. So many revelations come to light that had my jaw on the floor. But the book as a whole was one of the best I've read in a long time. I can't wait to continue reading about Verena's journey in book 2!
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for The Empress of Scarred Secrets, and I can't wait for everyone to be able to read this book.
The world and character building that Andrea created was something I've only seen in a few other books. At the beginning of the book, Verena is pushed into a position of power that she didn't want or ask for. But her journey through the book proves that she's the woman for the job. She is trying to make a change in a world that has been set in its ways for centuries. She also tries to change the minds of the demon men who have had the same ideals and beliefs for far too long.
So much of Verena's life has been hidden from her, and the truths that unfold along the way not only change her but help build her as a character. She deals with loss and betrayal but comes out stronger for it. When her back is against the wall, she fights for herself and doesn't let anyone sway her decisions.
I absolutely adore Verena's friendship with Wren, and her bond with her guardians, Severyn and Marik. Though the relationship with her guardians is put to the test. Then there is Hadeon, our silver wolf. When I first met the character, I wanted to hate him, but then you start to fall for the handsome demon.
There are so many twists and turns throughout the story. So many revelations come to light that had my jaw on the floor. But the book as a whole was one of the best I've read in a long time. I can't wait to continue reading about Verena's journey in book 2!
February 6, 2022
For this being a debut novel, DAMN!
Everything in this was so well done from the world building, character introductions, twists and turns, the spiceeee. It was beautifully descriptive and had me sucked in from beginning to the end. The whole factor of demons, half-demons, Nataali was also very well explained and super interesting to learn more about throughout the book. There are a lot of characters in this book, and at first i was having a hard time keeping them straight, but the more i kept reading everything fell into place.
Verena is a very strong, female main character. The way she handled herself in different situations was awesome to read through. I feel like you usually have an female MC who reacts based on emotions but Verena is a very mature ruler for being so young and for being thrown into it. She is definitely my favorite character.
Lastly, that ENDING omg!!!! I honestly was so shocked at the end and i cannot wait for the next book. This was a beautifully well written epic fantasy.
Everything in this was so well done from the world building, character introductions, twists and turns, the spiceeee. It was beautifully descriptive and had me sucked in from beginning to the end. The whole factor of demons, half-demons, Nataali was also very well explained and super interesting to learn more about throughout the book. There are a lot of characters in this book, and at first i was having a hard time keeping them straight, but the more i kept reading everything fell into place.
Verena is a very strong, female main character. The way she handled herself in different situations was awesome to read through. I feel like you usually have an female MC who reacts based on emotions but Verena is a very mature ruler for being so young and for being thrown into it. She is definitely my favorite character.
Lastly, that ENDING omg!!!! I honestly was so shocked at the end and i cannot wait for the next book. This was a beautifully well written epic fantasy.
June 6, 2022
Okay this book felt like a joke was being played on me.. the first entire 40% of the book could have been an email……
In all seriousness, the authors writing style just was not my cup of tea or what I am used to or prefer. The premise was interesting and it had potential but just fell flat for me.
In all seriousness, the authors writing style just was not my cup of tea or what I am used to or prefer. The premise was interesting and it had potential but just fell flat for me.
January 31, 2022
I received an ARC and below is my honest thoughts and review.
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Spoilers below
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Can we talk about how Verena is a baddie? I mean I LOVED the prologue. It took a bit for it to dawn on me that the Executioner was female. This badass bitch was a General in an army and taking names like nobody's business. I was hooked.
Things I liked:
1. The characters were engaging and entertaining. Verena and Wren had a bond that reminded me of some of my own friendships. It was real. Wren wasn't just a side character added to give the FMC some growth and a sounding board.
2. Severyn and Marik entertained me and I found myself both sighing and laughing at their interactions.
3 All of the twists and turns throughout the story. The unexpected revelations, the upheaval of emotions, the shattering of perceptions, and the secrets. Wrecked me.
4. Loved having a bisexual FMC
5. Haedon was so easy to love. His demeanor, his cockiness, his general air of authority. I didn't think I would enjoy him as much as I did. Even his soft side
"I'm not fighting anything, I just want to have some sort of choice in my life. I've been forced into enough and scarred in more ways than one. Right now I don't know who I can and cannot trust."
His golden eyes bore into me, he was contemplating something.
"Then allow me to earn it."
*swoon*
The reasons why I gave it 4 stars:
1. This world is NEW. Yes, there are elements of the fantasy world we know but this world is so brilliantly thought out and crafted that I'm in awe. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel because of those elements. I do have to say, the names and intricacies were hard to keep track of, but that was a minor inconvenience. In addition, world-building was slow. Those two things made it really hard to give this a full 5-star rating.
2. Verena's repetitive "I don't want this" narrative. It kind of conflicts with her strong sassy personality.
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Spoilers below
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Can we talk about how Verena is a baddie? I mean I LOVED the prologue. It took a bit for it to dawn on me that the Executioner was female. This badass bitch was a General in an army and taking names like nobody's business. I was hooked.
Things I liked:
1. The characters were engaging and entertaining. Verena and Wren had a bond that reminded me of some of my own friendships. It was real. Wren wasn't just a side character added to give the FMC some growth and a sounding board.
2. Severyn and Marik entertained me and I found myself both sighing and laughing at their interactions.
3 All of the twists and turns throughout the story. The unexpected revelations, the upheaval of emotions, the shattering of perceptions, and the secrets. Wrecked me.
4. Loved having a bisexual FMC
5. Haedon was so easy to love. His demeanor, his cockiness, his general air of authority. I didn't think I would enjoy him as much as I did. Even his soft side
"I'm not fighting anything, I just want to have some sort of choice in my life. I've been forced into enough and scarred in more ways than one. Right now I don't know who I can and cannot trust."
His golden eyes bore into me, he was contemplating something.
"Then allow me to earn it."
*swoon*
The reasons why I gave it 4 stars:
1. This world is NEW. Yes, there are elements of the fantasy world we know but this world is so brilliantly thought out and crafted that I'm in awe. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel because of those elements. I do have to say, the names and intricacies were hard to keep track of, but that was a minor inconvenience. In addition, world-building was slow. Those two things made it really hard to give this a full 5-star rating.
2. Verena's repetitive "I don't want this" narrative. It kind of conflicts with her strong sassy personality.
April 25, 2025
Holy political intrigue!!!
If immense world-building and royal politics is your thing you will LOVE this book!
Right off the bat you are immediately thrust into a complicated world full of shifters, magic, war, and betrayal.
This book has so many layers and the more you read the more you find out… and find how many people have been hiding things.
Verena is as reluctant of a royal (or Empress in this case) as they come. She was a general before she got her title thrust on her and even with blood and violence in her past she is incredibly good. That is the best way to describe her, she just is so GOOD. She truly cares for her people and actively defends those that are preyed upon. She puts up with no shit which is one of the many reasons why I love her!
I really liked this book, the characters are awesome and I love all of the relationships they have— they all joke with each other and you can tell how close they are!! I flew through the latter half of this book especially because once Verena gets to the meeting with the other High Lords… well things get interesting 😂😍
Here are some other reasons to read this book!
🌈Bisexual main character
⚔️Who did this to you trope
🐺Mates
👑Reluctant royal
💀Soooo many SECRETS!
Also, THAT ENDING!!! I did not see that coming and holy crap I want more!!
TW: self harm (in the past done by the MC), self harm scars, childhood neglect, shaming of a woman’s body, brief mention of child slavery/harm
If immense world-building and royal politics is your thing you will LOVE this book!
Right off the bat you are immediately thrust into a complicated world full of shifters, magic, war, and betrayal.
This book has so many layers and the more you read the more you find out… and find how many people have been hiding things.
Verena is as reluctant of a royal (or Empress in this case) as they come. She was a general before she got her title thrust on her and even with blood and violence in her past she is incredibly good. That is the best way to describe her, she just is so GOOD. She truly cares for her people and actively defends those that are preyed upon. She puts up with no shit which is one of the many reasons why I love her!
I really liked this book, the characters are awesome and I love all of the relationships they have— they all joke with each other and you can tell how close they are!! I flew through the latter half of this book especially because once Verena gets to the meeting with the other High Lords… well things get interesting 😂😍
Here are some other reasons to read this book!
🌈Bisexual main character
⚔️Who did this to you trope
🐺Mates
👑Reluctant royal
💀Soooo many SECRETS!
Also, THAT ENDING!!! I did not see that coming and holy crap I want more!!
TW: self harm (in the past done by the MC), self harm scars, childhood neglect, shaming of a woman’s body, brief mention of child slavery/harm
July 14, 2022
On today’s episode of “A book that emotionally wrecked me”, we have The Empress of Scarred Secrets🥰
Honestly, I’m in shock that this is her debut novel. It is so intricate and the story is so creatively thought out.
I loved all of the political intrigue and the representation of mental illness. She truly presented the main character, Verena, in a way that was both vulnerable, strong, and all too relatable. I found myself seeing parts of myself in the character throughout the book.
While there is a lot of build up on the first fourth of the book, after page 200 or so, I couldn’t put the book down. I pretty much binged it and I have no regrets.
The spice is so yummy, but the emotions are make it even better. My heart. The amount of lines I found myself underlining—honestly pretty much everything out MMC said. IYKYK.
The ending gave me major chills and some serious book whiplash at the cliff hanger, but I am so freaking ready for the next one!!!!
I was lured in by the beautiful cover but was not disappointed at all in the book. 🥰 it will receive a place of honor on my shelf, that’s for sure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️adult fantasy, spice 🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (on an adult scale)
Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
My heart is seriously racing right now after that ending. I can’t think clearly enough to write a review yet, but it will be coming soon.
Honestly, I’m in shock that this is her debut novel. It is so intricate and the story is so creatively thought out.
I loved all of the political intrigue and the representation of mental illness. She truly presented the main character, Verena, in a way that was both vulnerable, strong, and all too relatable. I found myself seeing parts of myself in the character throughout the book.
While there is a lot of build up on the first fourth of the book, after page 200 or so, I couldn’t put the book down. I pretty much binged it and I have no regrets.
The spice is so yummy, but the emotions are make it even better. My heart. The amount of lines I found myself underlining—honestly pretty much everything out MMC said. IYKYK.
The ending gave me major chills and some serious book whiplash at the cliff hanger, but I am so freaking ready for the next one!!!!
I was lured in by the beautiful cover but was not disappointed at all in the book. 🥰 it will receive a place of honor on my shelf, that’s for sure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️adult fantasy, spice 🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (on an adult scale)
Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
My heart is seriously racing right now after that ending. I can’t think clearly enough to write a review yet, but it will be coming soon.
January 26, 2022
Thank you Andrea for this ARC 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
SYNOPSIS: To protect the lands of Estrana, Verena must take her place at the demon High Lord’s Table. The blood in Verenas veins has determined her path, but the secrets of others will decide her future. The power of an Empress was a weapon she never wanted to wield, but for her people, she will take what is hers by blood and battle.
You guys, look at that cover 😍 so pretty!
The beginning of this book has a lot of information drop and world building. And the style of writing is not a style that I’m used to. I found that at times the dialog was a bit much.
That being said, the book definitely picks up in the middle and has a good cliff hanger at the end that leaves you wishing for the next book. It’s full of romance, spice, action, strong female characters, and a “I’d burn the world down for her” male character.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
SYNOPSIS: To protect the lands of Estrana, Verena must take her place at the demon High Lord’s Table. The blood in Verenas veins has determined her path, but the secrets of others will decide her future. The power of an Empress was a weapon she never wanted to wield, but for her people, she will take what is hers by blood and battle.
You guys, look at that cover 😍 so pretty!
The beginning of this book has a lot of information drop and world building. And the style of writing is not a style that I’m used to. I found that at times the dialog was a bit much.
That being said, the book definitely picks up in the middle and has a good cliff hanger at the end that leaves you wishing for the next book. It’s full of romance, spice, action, strong female characters, and a “I’d burn the world down for her” male character.
June 12, 2022
DNF @ 29%
July 5, 2022
⚠️⚠️⚠️ 𝗔𝗟𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ⚠️⚠️⚠️
𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄 '𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲' 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪.
Verena is the leading lady of this novel. Unfortunately, connecting to this FMC is difficult because she is completely one-dimensional, and lackluster; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧. Verena's personality is heavily dependent on supporting characters and situational emotions. If not for the 'inner circle' the story would have been too bland for most readers to find interesting. This is a shame because there are elements of the book that are actually pretty good and they get lost in the repetitional writing, information dumping, and abrupt directional shifts of the plot. Emotionally stunted is a kind explanation for this character, she's as charismatic as a plank of wood. There is a lot of talk and no action. Verena doesn't actually speak or interact with the others much either. Many times she comes off as an interloper while she alienates herself from her people and watches them live out their daily lives.
An irritating factor concerning Verena is that she's prone to long bouts of inner monologue. A lot of emotions, rationalization of situations, and choices are made in her head; sometimes going on for pages at a time with none of the supporting characters actually involved and interacting with her. Verena has a self-righteous attitude regardless of the attempt to make her seem self-sacrificing. Yet it was her sense of entitlement that I found to be truly contradictory to what was meant to be a fiercely selfless personality. Add in the scenes of self-deprecation and it reached a level of discomfort that had me skimming through scenes. It's made very clear early on that Verena is suffering from some mental issues. Subsequently, her cry for help is touched on in the chapters regarding her self-harm due to her abilities (which are barely explained/ explored). However, Verena never loses her melancholy and she doesn't deal with her obstacles in a healthy manner. For most of the book Verena practices self-care, which is counterproductive since she takes out her pain on herself. We see the strain it puts on her psyche and body. Aside from the eventual explosion of bottled-up resentment and pain, Verena doesn't ever reach that point of vulnerability necessary to begin healing. She ends up trauma dumping in the last 15%-20% of the book on one of her adoptive fathers, Sevryn. Most of her stability comes from her relationship with him and his absence from her life does affect the progression of the book. As the story progresses the uncertainty Verena has when making decisions is alarming, especially considering that prior to her eventual Lordship/Empress classifications she was a General.
As I mentioned previously, a big stress factor for Verena is her prestige. This is where I think that more time and development would have greatly improved the book. To understand where I'm coming from I'm going to give a bit of background information on Verena. She is the adoptee of a couple that is well trusted by the Lords as they work for the betterment/safety of Seneveer. Though they're high-ranked officials for the crown, they're not native to the country nor are they of royal blood. In spite of her lack of connections and being raised in a foreign land, Verena somehow manages to become the General of Seneveer at the age of 24. Yeah, really mull that over. Thrown into battle as a grunt, Verena somehow worked her way up to the top of leadership without any sort of retaliation or misgivings from the more seasoned veterans of their militia. We learn all of this at the introduction, so there's really no time to understand how she was able to achieve this in so little time, we just have to accept it at face value. It is from this point that Bastien, the Lord of Seneveer, poisons himself and names Verena as the new Lord of the land. Verena has no real claim to this, and she doesn't want the position either. Only Bastien and Verena are aware of this agreement before he passes while only himself and Verena are present in his room. First of all, no one questioned that? Also, people just go off of Verena's word that she is the new Lord? This scenario is made to be more incredulous once we're introduced to an individual named Niko - the rightful heir of Seneveer.
One of the biggest issues with this book is how similar the plot is compared to more popular works such as JLA's FB&A series AND J.R. Ward's Brotherhood. Here are a few comparisons regarding the FMC:
𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙀𝙉𝘼:
1) 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥
2) 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥
3) 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘯𝘦
4) 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩
5) 𝘐𝘯𝘢𝘪 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 = 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 / 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴
6) 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 = 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥
7) 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 = 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘉&𝘈
8) 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘵𝘦𝘳/𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘳𝘺𝘯 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦
9) '𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧' 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵: 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘴/𝘏𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 = 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯��/𝘕𝘺𝘬𝘵𝘰𝘴
10) 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥
I could go on and on about the pretty obvious similarities to prior released series, but if you want to experience this for yourself the book is on Kindle Unlimited.
While there is a good amount of representation for the LGBTQ+ community, many of the relationships showcased are not in healthy situations and do not highlight the community in a positive light. For example, during the first few chapters, it is vaguely mentioned that Verena is in a relationship with a male soldier named Dominik. Dominik is written as the typical abusive alpha asshole NPC that encompasses everything a Feminist would cancel. Because of this, Verena's misuse of power to avoid and manipulate Dominik's whereabouts is given a pass. Once the situation regarding Dominik is dealt with, Verena then uses a woman named Gemma (who obviously has feelings for her) as a means of sexual release. After that sexual encounter, Verena uses her open sexuality as a weapon against the love interest to punish him whenever he upsets her. At the very least it was distasteful.
As many of us know, body image is a hot-button issue for many people in our society. Representation of the varying body types has never been more positive than in our current timeline. So I am surprised that Verena is depicted as both curvy and skinny depending on the circumstances. The mixed signals and ever-changing image of Verena are not only confusing but insulting. Either Verena, the General that's been actively fighting in wars and battles is either extremely fit or curvy. Hopefully, in book two, this issue is addressed and a degree of consistency is maintained.
There used to be a time when stories were 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘, not carbon copies of what is popular. Ultimately, this book fell prey to a lack of editing and bad timing (aka, pushing to release before The War of Two Queens and House of Sky and Breath). The writing here isn't bad, but it could be much better. Some of the strongest points in the story were glossed over or dropped abruptly. The opportunity to explore the more interesting aspects of the plot was there but for some reason was also left unfinished. After reading the conclusion of this book, I'm hesitant to make any more calls as the time-traveling element already has a few issues. Only time will tell how the story plays out in book 2.
𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄 '𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲' 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪.
Verena is the leading lady of this novel. Unfortunately, connecting to this FMC is difficult because she is completely one-dimensional, and lackluster; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧. Verena's personality is heavily dependent on supporting characters and situational emotions. If not for the 'inner circle' the story would have been too bland for most readers to find interesting. This is a shame because there are elements of the book that are actually pretty good and they get lost in the repetitional writing, information dumping, and abrupt directional shifts of the plot. Emotionally stunted is a kind explanation for this character, she's as charismatic as a plank of wood. There is a lot of talk and no action. Verena doesn't actually speak or interact with the others much either. Many times she comes off as an interloper while she alienates herself from her people and watches them live out their daily lives.
An irritating factor concerning Verena is that she's prone to long bouts of inner monologue. A lot of emotions, rationalization of situations, and choices are made in her head; sometimes going on for pages at a time with none of the supporting characters actually involved and interacting with her. Verena has a self-righteous attitude regardless of the attempt to make her seem self-sacrificing. Yet it was her sense of entitlement that I found to be truly contradictory to what was meant to be a fiercely selfless personality. Add in the scenes of self-deprecation and it reached a level of discomfort that had me skimming through scenes. It's made very clear early on that Verena is suffering from some mental issues. Subsequently, her cry for help is touched on in the chapters regarding her self-harm due to her abilities (which are barely explained/ explored). However, Verena never loses her melancholy and she doesn't deal with her obstacles in a healthy manner. For most of the book Verena practices self-care, which is counterproductive since she takes out her pain on herself. We see the strain it puts on her psyche and body. Aside from the eventual explosion of bottled-up resentment and pain, Verena doesn't ever reach that point of vulnerability necessary to begin healing. She ends up trauma dumping in the last 15%-20% of the book on one of her adoptive fathers, Sevryn. Most of her stability comes from her relationship with him and his absence from her life does affect the progression of the book. As the story progresses the uncertainty Verena has when making decisions is alarming, especially considering that prior to her eventual Lordship/Empress classifications she was a General.
As I mentioned previously, a big stress factor for Verena is her prestige. This is where I think that more time and development would have greatly improved the book. To understand where I'm coming from I'm going to give a bit of background information on Verena. She is the adoptee of a couple that is well trusted by the Lords as they work for the betterment/safety of Seneveer. Though they're high-ranked officials for the crown, they're not native to the country nor are they of royal blood. In spite of her lack of connections and being raised in a foreign land, Verena somehow manages to become the General of Seneveer at the age of 24. Yeah, really mull that over. Thrown into battle as a grunt, Verena somehow worked her way up to the top of leadership without any sort of retaliation or misgivings from the more seasoned veterans of their militia. We learn all of this at the introduction, so there's really no time to understand how she was able to achieve this in so little time, we just have to accept it at face value. It is from this point that Bastien, the Lord of Seneveer, poisons himself and names Verena as the new Lord of the land. Verena has no real claim to this, and she doesn't want the position either. Only Bastien and Verena are aware of this agreement before he passes while only himself and Verena are present in his room. First of all, no one questioned that? Also, people just go off of Verena's word that she is the new Lord? This scenario is made to be more incredulous once we're introduced to an individual named Niko - the rightful heir of Seneveer.
One of the biggest issues with this book is how similar the plot is compared to more popular works such as JLA's FB&A series AND J.R. Ward's Brotherhood. Here are a few comparisons regarding the FMC:
𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙀𝙉𝘼:
1) 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥
2) 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥
3) 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘯𝘦
4) 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩
5) 𝘐𝘯𝘢𝘪 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 = 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 / 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴
6) 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 = 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥
7) 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 = 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘉&𝘈
8) 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘵𝘦𝘳/𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘳𝘺𝘯 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦
9) '𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧' 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵: 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘴/𝘏𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘯 = 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯��/𝘕𝘺𝘬𝘵𝘰𝘴
10) 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥
I could go on and on about the pretty obvious similarities to prior released series, but if you want to experience this for yourself the book is on Kindle Unlimited.
While there is a good amount of representation for the LGBTQ+ community, many of the relationships showcased are not in healthy situations and do not highlight the community in a positive light. For example, during the first few chapters, it is vaguely mentioned that Verena is in a relationship with a male soldier named Dominik. Dominik is written as the typical abusive alpha asshole NPC that encompasses everything a Feminist would cancel. Because of this, Verena's misuse of power to avoid and manipulate Dominik's whereabouts is given a pass. Once the situation regarding Dominik is dealt with, Verena then uses a woman named Gemma (who obviously has feelings for her) as a means of sexual release. After that sexual encounter, Verena uses her open sexuality as a weapon against the love interest to punish him whenever he upsets her. At the very least it was distasteful.
As many of us know, body image is a hot-button issue for many people in our society. Representation of the varying body types has never been more positive than in our current timeline. So I am surprised that Verena is depicted as both curvy and skinny depending on the circumstances. The mixed signals and ever-changing image of Verena are not only confusing but insulting. Either Verena, the General that's been actively fighting in wars and battles is either extremely fit or curvy. Hopefully, in book two, this issue is addressed and a degree of consistency is maintained.
There used to be a time when stories were 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘, not carbon copies of what is popular. Ultimately, this book fell prey to a lack of editing and bad timing (aka, pushing to release before The War of Two Queens and House of Sky and Breath). The writing here isn't bad, but it could be much better. Some of the strongest points in the story were glossed over or dropped abruptly. The opportunity to explore the more interesting aspects of the plot was there but for some reason was also left unfinished. After reading the conclusion of this book, I'm hesitant to make any more calls as the time-traveling element already has a few issues. Only time will tell how the story plays out in book 2.
February 6, 2022
I had the absolute honor of being a beta reader and experience this wonderful world being created. This is a high fantasy so in the beginning start out with a bang, in the middle of a battlefield. This battle is an age old political struggle that the land of Estrena has been dealing with for decades. Humans versus demons, why can't they coexist as one...Verena is our badass female main character, commander, high lady and and empress she will become in order to fight for her people to live equally and freely. A lot of the beginning is world building and understanding our main characters and their motivations but once you get immersed the world is so unique and it draws you in.
All the main characters and side characters alike I fell in love with and they all added a different element to the story for me and made it all the better, I can't wait to see where the second book will take us. Some of my favorite people included: Sevryn and Marik, who raised Verena and their relationship is so special and intricate, Vasuko and his hilarious perspective and side comments, and Hadeon *big lovesick sigh* how could you not fall for this man?
This book shows a lot of the lgbtq and sexual representation, we love an empowered female woman who is strong, both mentally and physically, and complex but also smart. This book was insanely good, I am obsessed and everyone should read it!
All the main characters and side characters alike I fell in love with and they all added a different element to the story for me and made it all the better, I can't wait to see where the second book will take us. Some of my favorite people included: Sevryn and Marik, who raised Verena and their relationship is so special and intricate, Vasuko and his hilarious perspective and side comments, and Hadeon *big lovesick sigh* how could you not fall for this man?
This book shows a lot of the lgbtq and sexual representation, we love an empowered female woman who is strong, both mentally and physically, and complex but also smart. This book was insanely good, I am obsessed and everyone should read it!
July 19, 2022
"I may look prim, and proper, docile even, but no male should ever underestimate a woman in a black dress."
The beginning of this book was confusing, it started off as high fantasy with all the names, houses, and regions you had to keep track of. Have no fear the author did include a glossary and guide with her book, which by the way I didn't know about until after I finish (way to go me).
The story is complex and story plot heavy with political intrigue. I was invested in the main characters about half way through the book and the plot twist really got me good about 75% into the book. I love the strength of Verena and the love the MMC has for her. Verena shows a lot of integrity which I admire towards leading her people and the love she has for those around her is heartbreaking and endearing. I never saw the end coming, you're left with a cliffhanger and your heart wrenched.
“If you need someone to take out your anger and frustration on, then do so with me. Hit, scream, throw anything you want at me, I’ll take it all. Every last scarred secret, every emotion, every smile or dark thought. I want all of you. Not just the pleasant facade you put on.”
Overall, I highly recommend reading if you love
- enemies to lovers
- fantasy romance
- strong female characters
- paranormal
- found family
- lgbtq representation
Spicy 3/5
The beginning of this book was confusing, it started off as high fantasy with all the names, houses, and regions you had to keep track of. Have no fear the author did include a glossary and guide with her book, which by the way I didn't know about until after I finish (way to go me).
The story is complex and story plot heavy with political intrigue. I was invested in the main characters about half way through the book and the plot twist really got me good about 75% into the book. I love the strength of Verena and the love the MMC has for her. Verena shows a lot of integrity which I admire towards leading her people and the love she has for those around her is heartbreaking and endearing. I never saw the end coming, you're left with a cliffhanger and your heart wrenched.
“If you need someone to take out your anger and frustration on, then do so with me. Hit, scream, throw anything you want at me, I’ll take it all. Every last scarred secret, every emotion, every smile or dark thought. I want all of you. Not just the pleasant facade you put on.”
Overall, I highly recommend reading if you love
- enemies to lovers
- fantasy romance
- strong female characters
- paranormal
- found family
- lgbtq representation
Spicy 3/5
February 3, 2022
This is the first book that this author has ever written. The fact that she had the courage and ambition to write a novel means that it deserves five stars to me. And look at that beautiful cover!! As somebody who is also working on a novel myself, I can attest to how difficult it is to create relatable characters and build a world from scratch.
I think that Corbin succeeds in building this world. I had a clear understanding of what was going on even if it was a little rough for me to read through the world-building. I especially liked the best friend character, Wren.
I should mention now that I DNFed this book. And normally, when I stop reading something it's because I genuinely don't like it. And I rate it accordingly. That wasn't the case this time. I could see the love put into the story. For me personally, (and this is probably my fault), I just couldn't immerse myself. I struggled to really care about the nuances and problems of the world.
If you prefer high fantasy that focuses on world-building, this book is for you. For me personally, I've always preferred romance over fantasy (with some exceptions). Go into this knowing you will be entering a full-fledged fantasy world.
Congratulations to this author for releasing her first book!
I think that Corbin succeeds in building this world. I had a clear understanding of what was going on even if it was a little rough for me to read through the world-building. I especially liked the best friend character, Wren.
I should mention now that I DNFed this book. And normally, when I stop reading something it's because I genuinely don't like it. And I rate it accordingly. That wasn't the case this time. I could see the love put into the story. For me personally, (and this is probably my fault), I just couldn't immerse myself. I struggled to really care about the nuances and problems of the world.
If you prefer high fantasy that focuses on world-building, this book is for you. For me personally, I've always preferred romance over fantasy (with some exceptions). Go into this knowing you will be entering a full-fledged fantasy world.
Congratulations to this author for releasing her first book!
January 27, 2022
Thank you to NBB tours and the author, Andrea Corbin, for an e-ARC of this book.
This is a new adult high fantasy with lgbt+ rep. and the tropes of found family and a little enemies to lovers.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a roller coaster of emotions and so intriguing! I loved the main character, Verena. She was a strong and fierce MC with bi representation. The side characters were just as strong!
The world building was confusing at first because a lot of the names were similar. However, the book really picked up speed in the middle and I was haging on every word!
If you loved From Blood and Ash and/or A Court of Thorns and Roses, I think you'll really love this book!
I highly recommend!
Trigger/content warnings: violence, death, self-harm, sexual comments
This is a new adult high fantasy with lgbt+ rep. and the tropes of found family and a little enemies to lovers.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a roller coaster of emotions and so intriguing! I loved the main character, Verena. She was a strong and fierce MC with bi representation. The side characters were just as strong!
The world building was confusing at first because a lot of the names were similar. However, the book really picked up speed in the middle and I was haging on every word!
If you loved From Blood and Ash and/or A Court of Thorns and Roses, I think you'll really love this book!
I highly recommend!
Trigger/content warnings: violence, death, self-harm, sexual comments
February 3, 2022
Thanks so much to NBB Tours and the author for the eARC!
Actual rating: 4.5 stars ⭐️
I went into this with no expectations since I’m so intrigued by the synopsis but keeping in mind that this is a debut author as well. However, I loved how the storyline was setup from the get-go. I’m such a sucker for a good world building that would manage to sweep me away and this is one of such books! I can’t describe enough the whirlwind of emotions that coursed through me while I was reading this. It definitely revived me enough to get me out of my book slump temporarily🥺 And that ending! I cannot wait to read what happens next because I would definitely, DEFINITELY, be reading that as soon as the next one’s released 🤩
Actual rating: 4.5 stars ⭐️
I went into this with no expectations since I’m so intrigued by the synopsis but keeping in mind that this is a debut author as well. However, I loved how the storyline was setup from the get-go. I’m such a sucker for a good world building that would manage to sweep me away and this is one of such books! I can’t describe enough the whirlwind of emotions that coursed through me while I was reading this. It definitely revived me enough to get me out of my book slump temporarily🥺 And that ending! I cannot wait to read what happens next because I would definitely, DEFINITELY, be reading that as soon as the next one’s released 🤩
March 9, 2022
AMAZING DEBUT
It’s not very often that a am BLOWN away by a debut author, but I absolutely was with this one. I blew through it in two days.
The storyline sucked me in from page one it was completely unique. I love the FMC she is a totally relatable character. The “love interest” holy yummmmm that is all I will say about him.
The two of them together is off the charts chemistry.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The only reason this didn’t get a full 5⭐️ from me was because there was some repetition with an event happening and then the FMC would dwell on it for a chapter or two. Just seemed a little draggy, with all that in some spots.
But other than that this book was PERFECTION, AND THAT ENDING😱😱I am going to sit here and eagerly await book 2.
It’s not very often that a am BLOWN away by a debut author, but I absolutely was with this one. I blew through it in two days.
The storyline sucked me in from page one it was completely unique. I love the FMC she is a totally relatable character. The “love interest” holy yummmmm that is all I will say about him.
The two of them together is off the charts chemistry.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The only reason this didn’t get a full 5⭐️ from me was because there was some repetition with an event happening and then the FMC would dwell on it for a chapter or two. Just seemed a little draggy, with all that in some spots.
But other than that this book was PERFECTION, AND THAT ENDING😱😱I am going to sit here and eagerly await book 2.
May 18, 2022
Hard to Retain, DNF
✨Disclosure because i only made it about 30% through the book.✨
While this seemed like a riveting plot, I couldn’t retain most of it because of the run on sentences with no commas, and numerous name dropping/ranks in the beginning. Super confusing and headache inducing. The glossary and pronunciation list should have been provided at the beginning.
Otherwise, like I said, this book sounded very interesting, but I couldn’t handle not being able to retain information.
✨Disclosure because i only made it about 30% through the book.✨
While this seemed like a riveting plot, I couldn’t retain most of it because of the run on sentences with no commas, and numerous name dropping/ranks in the beginning. Super confusing and headache inducing. The glossary and pronunciation list should have been provided at the beginning.
Otherwise, like I said, this book sounded very interesting, but I couldn’t handle not being able to retain information.
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