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The Chosen #1
Legend of the Huntress
Skylahr Reed had been nothing more than the outcast for her twenty-two years and has finally grown to accept it. But when a fever hits the village of Noorde Point, she is the only one who can find the courage to venture past the town’s gates in hopes of finding a cure.
Forced to venture into the unknown lands of Elrin, Skylahr soon discovers every tale she had been told as a child had been false. The war of the Gods was not just a myth and the evil Goddess; the Seductress and her Crimson army, are well and truly alive.
Thrust into a world of chaos and death, Skylahr is forced to make impossible choices and trust those around her. Including the dark and dangerous Kalian, a man who always seems to be waiting in the shadows. But what secrets is he hiding and will Skylahr be able to protect her untouched heart from him?
Forced to venture into the unknown lands of Elrin, Skylahr soon discovers every tale she had been told as a child had been false. The war of the Gods was not just a myth and the evil Goddess; the Seductress and her Crimson army, are well and truly alive.
Thrust into a world of chaos and death, Skylahr is forced to make impossible choices and trust those around her. Including the dark and dangerous Kalian, a man who always seems to be waiting in the shadows. But what secrets is he hiding and will Skylahr be able to protect her untouched heart from him?
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2022
377 people are currently reading
12010 people want to read
About the author
K. Godin
3 books188 followersAuthor K. Godin lives in beautiful Ontario Canada, with her husband and four dogs. When she isn’t hiding in her office typing away, she spends her time reading, painting, or daydreaming of the fictional worlds she gets lost in.
Her passion for writing started early, and she has always had a knack for it. She excelled in her high school English classes and decided to pursue a general arts degree after graduation. However, after her first year, she knew that college just wasn’t for her and found herself working for a local animal shelter. After spending nearly a decade there, she decided to change her career path and started her own business all while creating those fantastic stories in her mind once again.
Her passion for writing started early, and she has always had a knack for it. She excelled in her high school English classes and decided to pursue a general arts degree after graduation. However, after her first year, she knew that college just wasn’t for her and found herself working for a local animal shelter. After spending nearly a decade there, she decided to change her career path and started her own business all while creating those fantastic stories in her mind once again.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
August 29, 2022
3.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“I will find the strength and courage you have given me, and I will make you proud. Protect me, Huntress, and I will protect them. I promise.”
Legend of the Huntress is a solid debut and a well-crafted fantasy romance story set in a world of violence and death shaped by gods and prophecies.
I'm always a fan of fantasy stories where the gods are at play as it always feels like the stakes are higher if divine beings are involved.
We follow twenty-two year old Skylahr Reed on her journey to find a cure to save her village, but little did she know the secrets that await her beyond the borders of her home will forever change her life.
There is a greater threat than an illness—a vengeful goddess and her immortal army.
What lies within Skylahr may be the key to defeating the Seductress.
I love that we as thereaders alongside Skylahr begin to learn more of her world and it's history. There was once a great war between the gods spurred by the Seductress's thirst for power and the rage over the Protector choosing to mate with the Huntress instead of her, as she claimed to love him—but her true desire was power.
To avoid spoilers, I will only mention that despite the winning the war at the cost of the Protector and the Huntress, the five Gods lent their magic to five chosen ones who may already exist or are yet born.
The FMC (Skylahr) and the MMC (Kalian) were wonderfully multi-layered. Skylahr was relatable in the sense that she was quite hard on herself which really made her growth throughout this journey meaningful. I appreciate the representation of unconventional beauty (which I don't like calling it thag because beauty is subjective) and a bigger-sized heroine. Kalian on the other hand is swoon-worthy and a cheeky one, but he is a morally ambiguous character and I love that. His actions are not so easily excused and forgiven.
From their first meeting they had a great chemistry and the banter between them is entertaining.
The sexual tension and the spice is just delicious. If you're looking for spice there is definitely spice that is on par with FBAA (though I try not to compare books, but this is more about the spice level).
This is why I'm very excited to see where the story will go in the sequel, because Godin did a great job at setting up the plot and the world for the remainder of the series.
Now, I want to be fair with my rating so I had to give it a 3.5 star rating. I don't know if this is more of a "me" issue than it is with the book since I'm barely out of a slump while reading it.
I think the pacing was a little unsteady and it didn't help with keeping me focused because at one scene it feels that things are progressing at a slow pace, but then it feels rushed and we meet a couple of characters that I don't get the chance to warm up to. This is mostly in the first 50% of the book.
I did not connect much with the secondary characters and I hope they're a bit more fleshed out in the next book. When I meet a lot of characters in what feels to me like a short time, I get a bit overwhelmed and more likely to be confused.
I would also love more world-building because it is built on a strong foundation.
I'm definitely picking up the next book.
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Blood, Mature themes, Explicit Content, Mentions of past Sexual Assault.
“I will find the strength and courage you have given me, and I will make you proud. Protect me, Huntress, and I will protect them. I promise.”
Legend of the Huntress is a solid debut and a well-crafted fantasy romance story set in a world of violence and death shaped by gods and prophecies.
I'm always a fan of fantasy stories where the gods are at play as it always feels like the stakes are higher if divine beings are involved.
We follow twenty-two year old Skylahr Reed on her journey to find a cure to save her village, but little did she know the secrets that await her beyond the borders of her home will forever change her life.
There is a greater threat than an illness—a vengeful goddess and her immortal army.
What lies within Skylahr may be the key to defeating the Seductress.
I love that we as thereaders alongside Skylahr begin to learn more of her world and it's history. There was once a great war between the gods spurred by the Seductress's thirst for power and the rage over the Protector choosing to mate with the Huntress instead of her, as she claimed to love him—but her true desire was power.
To avoid spoilers, I will only mention that despite the winning the war at the cost of the Protector and the Huntress, the five Gods lent their magic to five chosen ones who may already exist or are yet born.
The FMC (Skylahr) and the MMC (Kalian) were wonderfully multi-layered. Skylahr was relatable in the sense that she was quite hard on herself which really made her growth throughout this journey meaningful. I appreciate the representation of unconventional beauty (which I don't like calling it thag because beauty is subjective) and a bigger-sized heroine. Kalian on the other hand is swoon-worthy and a cheeky one, but he is a morally ambiguous character and I love that. His actions are not so easily excused and forgiven.
From their first meeting they had a great chemistry and the banter between them is entertaining.
The sexual tension and the spice is just delicious. If you're looking for spice there is definitely spice that is on par with FBAA (though I try not to compare books, but this is more about the spice level).
This is why I'm very excited to see where the story will go in the sequel, because Godin did a great job at setting up the plot and the world for the remainder of the series.
Now, I want to be fair with my rating so I had to give it a 3.5 star rating. I don't know if this is more of a "me" issue than it is with the book since I'm barely out of a slump while reading it.
I think the pacing was a little unsteady and it didn't help with keeping me focused because at one scene it feels that things are progressing at a slow pace, but then it feels rushed and we meet a couple of characters that I don't get the chance to warm up to. This is mostly in the first 50% of the book.
I did not connect much with the secondary characters and I hope they're a bit more fleshed out in the next book. When I meet a lot of characters in what feels to me like a short time, I get a bit overwhelmed and more likely to be confused.
I would also love more world-building because it is built on a strong foundation.
I'm definitely picking up the next book.
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Blood, Mature themes, Explicit Content, Mentions of past Sexual Assault.
April 9, 2022
This was one of my most eagerly awaited books this year. So I am really upset to give this less than 5🌟 But sadly, it just did not live up to my hopes.
Firstly, the writing needs a lot of work. There are so many points where the writer has forgotten the expression ‘show don’t tell’. It’s so frustrating and really jarring as a reader.
Secondly, the world building was lacking. I didn’t get a good sense of the world and how all the different factions worked together.
Thirdly the characters were lacking in depth. The FMC was annoying, and the writer couldn’t seem to decide if she was a damsel in distress or a strong heroine. I decided for myself that, despite what the writer tried to insist, Skyhlar really was weak and annoying.
I couldn’t get my head around the relationships- Kalian and Skyhlar just seemed so ill suited. There wasn’t really any chemistry between them as characters. And although I did want to find out how they would get together, I found myself disappointed in the outcome.
Ella was so weird. How does one become best friends with someone after just meeting them?? Equally, how and why did Skyhlar decide to stay with the Lupines at the start? It just happened with no explanation as to why she would trust them.
I just had built it in my mind to be better. I thought it was going to be something I couldn’t put down. And instead, sadly, it was something I struggled to finish. I found myself skim reading just to get through it.
I am sad to leave a negative review, as I know this was the author’s first novel. But I feel maybe it would have benefited from more rounds of editing and beta reading before publication.
Firstly, the writing needs a lot of work. There are so many points where the writer has forgotten the expression ‘show don’t tell’. It’s so frustrating and really jarring as a reader.
Secondly, the world building was lacking. I didn’t get a good sense of the world and how all the different factions worked together.
Thirdly the characters were lacking in depth. The FMC was annoying, and the writer couldn’t seem to decide if she was a damsel in distress or a strong heroine. I decided for myself that, despite what the writer tried to insist, Skyhlar really was weak and annoying.
I couldn’t get my head around the relationships- Kalian and Skyhlar just seemed so ill suited. There wasn’t really any chemistry between them as characters. And although I did want to find out how they would get together, I found myself disappointed in the outcome.
Ella was so weird. How does one become best friends with someone after just meeting them?? Equally, how and why did Skyhlar decide to stay with the Lupines at the start? It just happened with no explanation as to why she would trust them.
I just had built it in my mind to be better. I thought it was going to be something I couldn’t put down. And instead, sadly, it was something I struggled to finish. I found myself skim reading just to get through it.
I am sad to leave a negative review, as I know this was the author’s first novel. But I feel maybe it would have benefited from more rounds of editing and beta reading before publication.
March 26, 2022
Thank you K. Godin for the ARC.
Legend of the huntress was a really good first book, and I don’t mean that just as a debut novel, but as a first book of a what might be a series.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was because of my personal preferences in a FMC, and a huge pet peeve of mine. And that is the “sacrificial lamb”. While I did LOVE how Skylahr was portrayed, as a strong woman physically, badass fighter, no damsel in distress, I did not like how she always apologized for everything, how she always took the blame and how it seemed she had no life preservation instinct.
But overall I loved the story, I loved the way the characters were written, I loved the plot twists and I loved the spice.
I would say this books fits into the adult fantasy genre, some might say new adult, but we all know NA is not recognized as an actual category.
The characters are over 20, and while the sex scenes are not over the top explicit, they’re definitely not fade to black.
Congrats to the author on her debut novel, and can’t wait for the sequel.
Legend of the huntress was a really good first book, and I don’t mean that just as a debut novel, but as a first book of a what might be a series.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was because of my personal preferences in a FMC, and a huge pet peeve of mine. And that is the “sacrificial lamb”. While I did LOVE how Skylahr was portrayed, as a strong woman physically, badass fighter, no damsel in distress, I did not like how she always apologized for everything, how she always took the blame and how it seemed she had no life preservation instinct.
But overall I loved the story, I loved the way the characters were written, I loved the plot twists and I loved the spice.
I would say this books fits into the adult fantasy genre, some might say new adult, but we all know NA is not recognized as an actual category.
The characters are over 20, and while the sex scenes are not over the top explicit, they’re definitely not fade to black.
Congrats to the author on her debut novel, and can’t wait for the sequel.
June 22, 2024
I'm trying not to be a bitter, petty bitch but what the actual fuck was that ending?
And I think that Godin does a phenomenal job at building tension between characters but I had such a hard time following along with everyone's motivations. Sky goes with the Lupin because she's cold, like she's about to freeze in the elements but... she could try and go back home??? Also why are we trusting unspecified wolves in the woods who take us back to castles. Girl didn't even blink. Then we get to the castle and Sky just kind of loafs around while everyone calls her a freak and ridicules her for being unfuckable. What in the what is whating?
Then we have Kalian... who is hot.... but seems to have only that going on for him. They have phenomenal chemistry when he's not throwing some of the most egregious insults her way that I have ever seen. His motivations aren't at all stable either. He takes care of her but demeans her very existence and causes her immense emotional damage all the way through by fucking other women right outside Sky's door so she can hear it.
Lol. He's awful.
I just... I can't even talk about the ending because their break up made absolutely no sense to me. The major focal point of this novel was the romance. A toxic one but hey I've lived in chemical plants before, I'm used to it. So Kailan just...goes back to that awful, soul sucking harpy and gives over all of his lands to her??? Mmmmmkkkkaaaaayyyy scoop my eyes out with a spoon.
And I get it. There's a second book. There's a continuation to this where Kalian has another chance to win over Sky's fractured heart... but do I really want him to? Genuinely. After all the shitty behavior - he KNEW that the Crimsons were going to burn Sky's village to the ground and torture her parents and idk I guess it just skipped his mind to warn her. The mean words, the inability to STOP FUCKING TALKING ABOUT HER PHYSICAL INSECURITIES, and then the fucking audacity to go back to his MISTRESS? No. Yeah. I'll pass on the second chance romance.
And I think that Godin does a phenomenal job at building tension between characters but I had such a hard time following along with everyone's motivations. Sky goes with the Lupin because she's cold, like she's about to freeze in the elements but... she could try and go back home??? Also why are we trusting unspecified wolves in the woods who take us back to castles. Girl didn't even blink. Then we get to the castle and Sky just kind of loafs around while everyone calls her a freak and ridicules her for being unfuckable. What in the what is whating?
Then we have Kalian... who is hot.... but seems to have only that going on for him. They have phenomenal chemistry when he's not throwing some of the most egregious insults her way that I have ever seen. His motivations aren't at all stable either. He takes care of her but demeans her very existence and causes her immense emotional damage all the way through by fucking other women right outside Sky's door so she can hear it.
Lol. He's awful.
I just... I can't even talk about the ending because their break up made absolutely no sense to me. The major focal point of this novel was the romance. A toxic one but hey I've lived in chemical plants before, I'm used to it. So Kailan just...goes back to that awful, soul sucking harpy and gives over all of his lands to her??? Mmmmmkkkkaaaaayyyy scoop my eyes out with a spoon.
And I get it. There's a second book. There's a continuation to this where Kalian has another chance to win over Sky's fractured heart... but do I really want him to? Genuinely. After all the shitty behavior - he KNEW that the Crimsons were going to burn Sky's village to the ground and torture her parents and idk I guess it just skipped his mind to warn her. The mean words, the inability to STOP FUCKING TALKING ABOUT HER PHYSICAL INSECURITIES, and then the fucking audacity to go back to his MISTRESS? No. Yeah. I'll pass on the second chance romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2022
I wanted to love this. I did love some parts but not enough. I actually thought about dnf’ing around 80%. I struggled with the sacrificial lamb, I will die for one person rather than living to save thousands, attitude of the FMC. I was confused in the begging of how the FMC didn’t question following and staying with the Lupines. Did I miss some parts that provided some background as to why she just blindly followed them and stayed in the castle for days. Lastly, I wanted more from the ending. I skimmed the last couple pages and we were introduced to new characters quickly which just seemed like it tried to end with a cliffhanger.
I wanted this to be a book that I continue to think about even after reading 5-10 other books. Sadly, it isn’t even making my list of unfinished series that I will wait for.
I wanted this to be a book that I continue to think about even after reading 5-10 other books. Sadly, it isn’t even making my list of unfinished series that I will wait for.
January 3, 2023
An L is an L. I wish I could unread this.
Seriously how many times did Sky need to make the same mistake before learning, this was almost FIVE HUNDRED pages, and I didn’t notice one modicum of growth in her character? Even near the end, when you think she’s finally going to step past her previous, obscenely similar repeated mistakes, the chapter ends. And the next has her backsliding.
An extra star because I saw fan art (??) of Kal, and despite him being one of the most two-dimensional, unconvincing MMC that I have ever read, at least he’s big and hot.
UPDATE (because I was thinking about it on the car ride to work today)
Seriously how many times did Sky need to make the same mistake before learning, this was almost FIVE HUNDRED pages, and I didn’t notice one modicum of growth in her character? Even near the end, when you think she’s finally going to step past her previous, obscenely similar repeated mistakes, the chapter ends. And the next has her backsliding.
An extra star because I saw fan art (??) of Kal, and despite him being one of the most two-dimensional, unconvincing MMC that I have ever read, at least he’s big and hot.
UPDATE (because I was thinking about it on the car ride to work today)
September 10, 2023
I loved this book so much. I don’t even want to know why some of the reviews aren’t five stars because… they’re simply wrong.
dnf
June 17, 2022I thought I was going to get a story and instead got another. Dnfing at 22%
The main character is annoying, the “romance” is cringe, the guy is insufferable, and the plot and worldbuilding aren’t really explained. Things happened and the character just… does nothing. I just can’t bother to keep reading to find out if in the ending it pays off because everything sounds so flat.
The main character is annoying, the “romance” is cringe, the guy is insufferable, and the plot and worldbuilding aren’t really explained. Things happened and the character just… does nothing. I just can’t bother to keep reading to find out if in the ending it pays off because everything sounds so flat.
March 6, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed the story and once the characters started interacting more with each other I grew to love them all!
The last 3rd of the book really pulled me in and I am really looking forward to next one.
This book finishes with a satisfactory conclusion while still leaving you burning for more answers.
I really enjoyed the story and once the characters started interacting more with each other I grew to love them all!
The last 3rd of the book really pulled me in and I am really looking forward to next one.
This book finishes with a satisfactory conclusion while still leaving you burning for more answers.
February 23, 2022
So many of my thoughts and opinions about this book would spoil it, so I’m going to keep all of that to myself until after release. I was immediately enthralled by Skylahr’s story. The beautifully crafted writing style and storytelling kept a steady pace. I felt like I was right there with her in the forest. Bonus points because I loved having a map and pronunciation guide to refer to to better keep up.
It was an interesting concept to combine wolf shifters with royalty. I haven’t read that before. An alpha, but also lord of a castle? I dig it. We got a lot of information, but it never felt aggressively info-dumped.
The dialogue between the characters got a little choppy at times, but the instant banter between Skylahr and Kalian was great. Their slow-burn chemistry had me hooked. I definitely struggled with Kailan’s playboy demeanor at times, but that’s just a personal preference. I wanted to hit him in the head with the book more than once.
This book only got better as it went on. I was so excited following along this journey. There’s a lot of tension and adventure to keep up with. Plenty of action. I was living for a plus-sized heroine (can we PLEASE have more in fantasy?!) but also wished she wasn’t so hard on herself. She bounced a lot between occasionally confident and self-deprecating— which is completely understandable given her circumstances / how she was treated. I’m hoping for more of a confidence glow-up in book two because she’s magnificent and she deserves it.
I wasn’t prepared for how much this book would punch me in the gut. It broke my heart more than once. I’ll be so incredibly excited to read the next piece to the story. Bravo on this debut! Fantasy romance fans need to keep their eyes peeled for this release come early April.
[small side note] I’m unsure whether or not the physical ARC I received was the book’s final draft or if it’s still going through editing— and I also always want to give major kudos to indie authors who self publish— so I don’t want to be too critical of some grammatical or spelling errors.
I’d rate this between 3.5 - 4 ⭐️ but it deserves the 4 for the purpose of this app. Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and sending me a physical ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
It was an interesting concept to combine wolf shifters with royalty. I haven’t read that before. An alpha, but also lord of a castle? I dig it. We got a lot of information, but it never felt aggressively info-dumped.
The dialogue between the characters got a little choppy at times, but the instant banter between Skylahr and Kalian was great. Their slow-burn chemistry had me hooked. I definitely struggled with Kailan’s playboy demeanor at times, but that’s just a personal preference. I wanted to hit him in the head with the book more than once.
This book only got better as it went on. I was so excited following along this journey. There’s a lot of tension and adventure to keep up with. Plenty of action. I was living for a plus-sized heroine (can we PLEASE have more in fantasy?!) but also wished she wasn’t so hard on herself. She bounced a lot between occasionally confident and self-deprecating— which is completely understandable given her circumstances / how she was treated. I’m hoping for more of a confidence glow-up in book two because she’s magnificent and she deserves it.
I wasn’t prepared for how much this book would punch me in the gut. It broke my heart more than once. I’ll be so incredibly excited to read the next piece to the story. Bravo on this debut! Fantasy romance fans need to keep their eyes peeled for this release come early April.
[small side note] I’m unsure whether or not the physical ARC I received was the book’s final draft or if it’s still going through editing— and I also always want to give major kudos to indie authors who self publish— so I don’t want to be too critical of some grammatical or spelling errors.
I’d rate this between 3.5 - 4 ⭐️ but it deserves the 4 for the purpose of this app. Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and sending me a physical ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2023
I wanted to like this book so bad! But unfortunately I gave up about halfway through. It’s difficult to go more than two pages without the MC mentioning how ugly she is - seriously it is CONSTANT.
Yes, I get we want the character to be relatable and inspiring - this is not how you do that. Instead you’ve made a self-loathing character who is only defined in the readers mind as those traits because they’re shoved in our face constantly.
It’s hard to focus on the story or any of her actual personality because she seems to be defined by her height and appearance both by herself and literally every other character. Also the love interest? Could just be me, but any man who meets a woman and instantly puts her down based on appearance while blatantly tossing around sexually predatory comments is not redeemable in my books. That’s not “enemies to lovers”.
Anyway, this one’s not worth it.
Yes, I get we want the character to be relatable and inspiring - this is not how you do that. Instead you’ve made a self-loathing character who is only defined in the readers mind as those traits because they’re shoved in our face constantly.
It’s hard to focus on the story or any of her actual personality because she seems to be defined by her height and appearance both by herself and literally every other character. Also the love interest? Could just be me, but any man who meets a woman and instantly puts her down based on appearance while blatantly tossing around sexually predatory comments is not redeemable in my books. That’s not “enemies to lovers”.
Anyway, this one’s not worth it.
April 2, 2022
PHENOMENAL.
K. Godin has created something special with this story.
The female MC is like nothing you’ve read before, she is unique & refreshing.
The TENSION, the relationships, THE IMAGERY!!
She does more than just tell you the story, she puts you there. Like watching an artist paint a masterpiece, it was a work of art from start to finish. Read this book. You won’t regret it!
K. Godin has created something special with this story.
The female MC is like nothing you’ve read before, she is unique & refreshing.
The TENSION, the relationships, THE IMAGERY!!
She does more than just tell you the story, she puts you there. Like watching an artist paint a masterpiece, it was a work of art from start to finish. Read this book. You won’t regret it!
March 12, 2023
It was a good read, but it did not overwhelm me? There were many great bits and pieces but somehow certain elements that repeatedly did not make any sense at all bothered me to no end: Did it still entice me to read this whole book in almost one sitting? Yes. Yes, it did. And am I (eagerly) awaiting the second book, ? Yes, I absolutely am.
May 20, 2022
You should 100% read this book. The world is amazing, the FMC is such a badass and doesn’t follow stereotypical descriptors, the love interest is so good. I cannot wait for book 2 to come out.
June 16, 2022
Before I say anything about this book, I’d like to give a huge Thank You to @authorkgodin for sending me this ARC of her book. I am beyond thankful! Okay, review time! This story hooked me right from the start. So many things in the beginning were intriguing and had me wanting to know everything about them. Let’s start with the basics. The writing in this book was phenomenal. I absolutely loved K. Godin’s writing style. The book was extremely well paced and the storytelling impeccable. Oh my goodness, the imagery! I could visualize every character, every town and scenery, every conflict. It was all so visual, and as a reader, I really appreciated that. There were moments of heart-pounding suspense and adventure that kept me turning pages to know what happened. I just felt very present in the story. Moving on to the characters, where do I even begin! I absolutely adored Skylahr. She was such a unique female main character both physically and emotionally. She has insecurities that were extremely relatable as well. Kalian, was so dreamy. He created this exquisite sexual tension between he and Skylahr which had amazing pay off. Three words: enemies to lovers! Can’t not mention all of the amazing side character dynamics, I loved them all! I am extremely interested and intrigued to see where K. Godin takes Skylahr’s story in future books. This is an adult high fantasy, 18+ for language and sexual content. Please preorder Legend of the Huntress by K. Godin which releases 4/2/22!
April 30, 2022
I 50% liked this book but it just felt so very rushed to get between all the plot points. I feel like there should've been more to the story. We would have a chapter or two of being in one spot with some character building then the next chapter we were running through time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️SPOILERS⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skylahr trusts just about everyone she meets within seconds of meeting them. Yikes. We never get an explanation on how she just seems to go along with winding up with the Lupines in the first 1/4 of the book.
The FMC is so insecure the whole entire book over the dumbest things. Such as when she feels bad because so many died because of her since the Seductress is hunting her. Nevermind the fact the Seductress is wanting to get rid of all the Chosens. Or when the FMC feels bad because she basically can't go save some halflings because she'd probably die since she's outnumbered. Don't even get me started on the amount of times she would be gaping at someone or she'd want to run away from embarrassment.
All the lupines were all right but again everything just felt rushed and not really fleshed out. Things didn't make sense with Kalian "loving" Sky but he's gonna go ahead and perform the mating rite with Nadine. Make it make sense.
I think this series would be better if in the next book the author took a little more time to let us learn and love the other characters, stop sprinting us through the story, allow time for world building, and don't leave us with a gaping plot hole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️SPOILERS⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skylahr trusts just about everyone she meets within seconds of meeting them. Yikes. We never get an explanation on how she just seems to go along with winding up with the Lupines in the first 1/4 of the book.
The FMC is so insecure the whole entire book over the dumbest things. Such as when she feels bad because so many died because of her since the Seductress is hunting her. Nevermind the fact the Seductress is wanting to get rid of all the Chosens. Or when the FMC feels bad because she basically can't go save some halflings because she'd probably die since she's outnumbered. Don't even get me started on the amount of times she would be gaping at someone or she'd want to run away from embarrassment.
All the lupines were all right but again everything just felt rushed and not really fleshed out. Things didn't make sense with Kalian "loving" Sky but he's gonna go ahead and perform the mating rite with Nadine. Make it make sense.
I think this series would be better if in the next book the author took a little more time to let us learn and love the other characters, stop sprinting us through the story, allow time for world building, and don't leave us with a gaping plot hole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2022
I did not like this book. The longer I sit away from it the more I dislike it.
I’m not saying Skylahr had to be a stereotypical showstopper FMC. I love a normal character. However, why does she have to be ugly? And once you say she has crooked teeth I’m sorry.. it’s not for me in a fantasy novel.
Other points
-her female friendships feel forced
-writing feels like forced tropes
-Gaelon is not a love interest they barely speak!
- why did Kalian get engaged Nadine?
-yes this absolutely does mean they are fated mates as protectors
- my favorite character was the bitchy sister
I’m not saying Skylahr had to be a stereotypical showstopper FMC. I love a normal character. However, why does she have to be ugly? And once you say she has crooked teeth I’m sorry.. it’s not for me in a fantasy novel.
Other points
-her female friendships feel forced
-writing feels like forced tropes
-Gaelon is not a love interest they barely speak!
- why did Kalian get engaged Nadine?
-yes this absolutely does mean they are fated mates as protectors
- my favorite character was the bitchy sister
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
I really enjoyed it! This book deserves a lot more hype tbh. Great escapism and I can’t wait to see what the next book will bring.
August 2, 2023
the last line of this book is permanently burned in my brain and it didn’t hurt any less the second time around
December 30, 2022
Bad. No one in this book is nice.
Being a bitch =/= being "badass".
Being a bitch =/= being "badass".
September 6, 2025
I am so excited to dive back into fantasy, this world and concept sound so much fun. AND WE LOVE A PLUS SIZE FANTASY LEAD🔥.
July 10, 2022
4.5 stars
3 Spice
This was great! I love the twist on a shifter story. Sometimes i feel like they are all the same, but this had way more fantasy elements to it that kept me interested and engaged. Our FMC isnt your typical beauty. She doesnt have much self confidence in her looks, but throughout the story I feel like her self worth journey becomes something beautiful.
I think the plot was well done, though it felt a bit jumbled at just a few parts. But overall I understood it and I really like where its going.
The romance was good! I wished there was a bit more build up, but the twist in the end evens it out I think and Im so excited to see where the romance is headed!
Great job Godin!!!
3 Spice
This was great! I love the twist on a shifter story. Sometimes i feel like they are all the same, but this had way more fantasy elements to it that kept me interested and engaged. Our FMC isnt your typical beauty. She doesnt have much self confidence in her looks, but throughout the story I feel like her self worth journey becomes something beautiful.
I think the plot was well done, though it felt a bit jumbled at just a few parts. But overall I understood it and I really like where its going.
The romance was good! I wished there was a bit more build up, but the twist in the end evens it out I think and Im so excited to see where the romance is headed!
Great job Godin!!!
September 30, 2022
3.5 stars, 2 spice
Overall I am excited to read the next book and learn more about the God's and the world.
I loved that Skylahr isn't a typical fantasy book beauty, and I am excited to see her come into her own.
The romance was good, twists really got me in the gut, and I have my fingers crossed that we will see some more happiness and resolution in the next book.
The plot grabbed me, but then I felt a bit jumbled and lost. I am not sure how much of my confusion was from listening to it rather than reading it, but I felt that there were times where we would move forward in time when I hadn't caught on that the time was different. Or she was mourning a character she was friends with, but I don't really recall her and that character really getting to know eachother at all.
I also was a bit thrown by the end that they had been through a 'war' when from what I saw this was just a single battle? Maybe that is just the main character's naivety showing through and we will see more of the war in the next book?
Overall I am excited to read the next book and learn more about the God's and the world.
I loved that Skylahr isn't a typical fantasy book beauty, and I am excited to see her come into her own.
The romance was good, twists really got me in the gut, and I have my fingers crossed that we will see some more happiness and resolution in the next book.
The plot grabbed me, but then I felt a bit jumbled and lost. I am not sure how much of my confusion was from listening to it rather than reading it, but I felt that there were times where we would move forward in time when I hadn't caught on that the time was different. Or she was mourning a character she was friends with, but I don't really recall her and that character really getting to know eachother at all.
I also was a bit thrown by the end that they had been through a 'war' when from what I saw this was just a single battle? Maybe that is just the main character's naivety showing through and we will see more of the war in the next book?
July 30, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
June 16, 2022
This read was a solid 3.5/⭐ for me. The last half of the book was much better than the first. The storyline felt a bit rushed at the beginning and I found myself asking questions like, "why isn't the MC questioning this?" Or, "really? You're just gonna live with these random people suddenly?" And some of the plot was fairly predictable. But the choppiness of the first half was made up for by the second half.
The love story is... Ugh. I loved it. The MMC is a total rake for most of this book. But you can tell he only really has eyes for her. It's tense, romantic, banter-filled. And I'm here for it. The ending was 💔 and I need book two now. It is a spicier read which surprised me because of how YA it felt at the beginning. Don't let that fool you... Things get a bit spicier later in the book and I'm sure the next book will be just as spicy as I sense a love triangle and jealousy tropes in our future.
The FMC is really interesting. There's a lot of body image discussion in this book that I appreciated. It was nice to read about a heroine who had more internal conflicts besides just being a female heroine in a fantasy book. My only main issue was the YA vibe at the beginning with the courting and spice. I really prefer to read about women who are a bit more self confident. The pages and pages of her doing and saying cringe worthy stuff regarding desire or flirtation was trying to read. If you are into the virginal doe eyed FMC then you'll probably like this book. I wasn't a huge fan, and wanted her background and childhood to give her more of an edge than a victimized mindset. (Just my preference though)
Overall, for a debut novel this was really fun to read. There's a lot of excellent parts to this book and the author really does a great job making you feel connected to the characters. If we get some duel POVS next book I will absolutely freak out. I need to know about that mating ceremony, and what the villain is plotting ASAP.
The love story is... Ugh. I loved it. The MMC is a total rake for most of this book. But you can tell he only really has eyes for her. It's tense, romantic, banter-filled. And I'm here for it. The ending was 💔 and I need book two now. It is a spicier read which surprised me because of how YA it felt at the beginning. Don't let that fool you... Things get a bit spicier later in the book and I'm sure the next book will be just as spicy as I sense a love triangle and jealousy tropes in our future.
The FMC is really interesting. There's a lot of body image discussion in this book that I appreciated. It was nice to read about a heroine who had more internal conflicts besides just being a female heroine in a fantasy book. My only main issue was the YA vibe at the beginning with the courting and spice. I really prefer to read about women who are a bit more self confident. The pages and pages of her doing and saying cringe worthy stuff regarding desire or flirtation was trying to read. If you are into the virginal doe eyed FMC then you'll probably like this book. I wasn't a huge fan, and wanted her background and childhood to give her more of an edge than a victimized mindset. (Just my preference though)
Overall, for a debut novel this was really fun to read. There's a lot of excellent parts to this book and the author really does a great job making you feel connected to the characters. If we get some duel POVS next book I will absolutely freak out. I need to know about that mating ceremony, and what the villain is plotting ASAP.
January 31, 2022
Firstly thank you K. Godin for the ARC :)
Before I talk about the story itself, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. I love the dark background, the swirly font and the foliage around the edges. The flaming heart adds intrigue and makes you want to know what it represents. I just love the forest feel you get from it.
Then we have the chapter page headers. I love when a book adds a little something extra to the pages to make it more exciting. These ones are so pretty with the addition of the tree branches.
Okay so the story itself is amazing! It pulls you in from the beginning and the need to find out what’s going to happen next is strong. I loved the world building and the pace of the story. It never felt like it was dragging or getting boring. The imagery and descriptions were perfect too.
The characters were on point. Skylahr isn’t your typical main character and I love her for it. She can be sassy and stubborn but cares deeply for those around her. We also get Kalian, a super hot guy who is arrogant but also mysterious, so what’s not to like? The banter and tension between these two is amazing. A slow burning enemies to lovers? Yes please. I also love Ella. Attitude for days and wouldn’t want her any other way.
There’s supernatural creatures that were terrifying but so interesting to read about. The enemies were ones you really loved to hate. There’s tension, suspense, sword fighting and battles. Everything you want in an adult fantasy and more. While there was no cliff hanger that made me angry that I have to wait for the second, I guarantee you that all I think about is what will happen in the next one.
Such an awesome debut novel! I loved it and I’m so happy to have received an ARC!
Before I talk about the story itself, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. I love the dark background, the swirly font and the foliage around the edges. The flaming heart adds intrigue and makes you want to know what it represents. I just love the forest feel you get from it.
Then we have the chapter page headers. I love when a book adds a little something extra to the pages to make it more exciting. These ones are so pretty with the addition of the tree branches.
Okay so the story itself is amazing! It pulls you in from the beginning and the need to find out what’s going to happen next is strong. I loved the world building and the pace of the story. It never felt like it was dragging or getting boring. The imagery and descriptions were perfect too.
The characters were on point. Skylahr isn’t your typical main character and I love her for it. She can be sassy and stubborn but cares deeply for those around her. We also get Kalian, a super hot guy who is arrogant but also mysterious, so what’s not to like? The banter and tension between these two is amazing. A slow burning enemies to lovers? Yes please. I also love Ella. Attitude for days and wouldn’t want her any other way.
There’s supernatural creatures that were terrifying but so interesting to read about. The enemies were ones you really loved to hate. There’s tension, suspense, sword fighting and battles. Everything you want in an adult fantasy and more. While there was no cliff hanger that made me angry that I have to wait for the second, I guarantee you that all I think about is what will happen in the next one.
Such an awesome debut novel! I loved it and I’m so happy to have received an ARC!
July 10, 2022
This book had a perfectly imperfect female main character, Skylahr. She was taller than most men, she wasn't delicate and as feminine as other women, and her appearance was considered plain by many. Her story shows us that what makes a hero is what is on the inside not on the outside. As a taller woman who always felt less feminine compared to other women I could relate to Skylahr and her insecurities.
I enjoyed the unique mythology that was created for the story and the journey our main character makes. I did find that it took a while for me to get into the story since there was less dialogue than I am used to which means that it was hard to feel connected to the characters. I also wish that Skylahr would have found a little more self confidence by the end.
I enjoyed the unique mythology that was created for the story and the journey our main character makes. I did find that it took a while for me to get into the story since there was less dialogue than I am used to which means that it was hard to feel connected to the characters. I also wish that Skylahr would have found a little more self confidence by the end.
dnf
July 2, 2022DNF @ 24%
I really wanted to like this one, but the writing is bad and I had no desire to continue because of it.
I really wanted to like this one, but the writing is bad and I had no desire to continue because of it.
August 24, 2022
I’m so emotionally drained from this book. I cried multiple times. I hope the author is making this a series because this boom did not have a happily ever after and no cliffhanger, so it could just be done hypothetically. That would break my heart. I loved the two main characters. I wanted them together so badly. The brief couple days they let themselves be together were great and then shit hit the fan. I cried a fair bit after reading the epilogue because it was so sad.
The FMC was a really well rounded character. She made a lot of decisions that frustrated the shit out of me, but we’re completely justified considering her life experiences. It made the book seem that much more real because the characters behaved as real people would, not stereotypes.
I really really hope the MMC figures out a way to make up for what happened between them so they can be together. I honestly don’t know how. The FMC is gonna need a lot of time and something really powerful to help her forgive him (assuming there is a sequel). If this is the end of their story, the way they left things is devastating.
I loved how real all the characters were, even the side characters. They all had unique personalities and histories and opinions. They weren’t just accessories to the main characters. Even if they were only on page for very briefly, they were flushed out well.
The main conflict involving the Chosen and the Seductress/Crimson Army was very interesting. The lore created about the Huntress and other gods/goddesses was very unique. I love when my fantasy books include a gods system. I think it adds a deeper layer into the world building.
There is a few triggers involving gore and torture, but it didn’t feel excessive or out of place. It fit with a fantastical country being in the beginning of a civil war with a ruthless goddess. PTSD isn’t directly mentioned, but some symptoms are included like nightmares, deteriorating mental health, guilt, and lack of self-worth.
The FMC was a really well rounded character. She made a lot of decisions that frustrated the shit out of me, but we’re completely justified considering her life experiences. It made the book seem that much more real because the characters behaved as real people would, not stereotypes.
I really really hope the MMC figures out a way to make up for what happened between them so they can be together. I honestly don’t know how. The FMC is gonna need a lot of time and something really powerful to help her forgive him (assuming there is a sequel). If this is the end of their story, the way they left things is devastating.
I loved how real all the characters were, even the side characters. They all had unique personalities and histories and opinions. They weren’t just accessories to the main characters. Even if they were only on page for very briefly, they were flushed out well.
The main conflict involving the Chosen and the Seductress/Crimson Army was very interesting. The lore created about the Huntress and other gods/goddesses was very unique. I love when my fantasy books include a gods system. I think it adds a deeper layer into the world building.
There is a few triggers involving gore and torture, but it didn’t feel excessive or out of place. It fit with a fantastical country being in the beginning of a civil war with a ruthless goddess. PTSD isn’t directly mentioned, but some symptoms are included like nightmares, deteriorating mental health, guilt, and lack of self-worth.
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