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Moons of the Divine #1
Heart of the Marked
You cannot know depth of your light without knowing the depth of your darkness.
Darkness stirs in the continent of Ladon.
A realm divided by blood, built atop the bones of humans enslaved by the fae.
A human pulled from the wreckage of a once-great kingdom, chosen to usher in a new era of peace.
A marriage to bridge an alliance between two kingdoms and two species, to prove that humans and fae can live side by side peacefully.
Eighteen years ago, Cassandra was saved from the ashes of Menodore and brought to live within the safety of Argyll’s fae-ruled borders. Now that the time has come, she will do anything to bring an end to this centuries old conflict between her kind and the fae… Even forfeit her freedom to marry the High Fae Crown Prince of Gambriel—the same kingdom that has enslaved her people for all of time.
Will Cassandra’s sacrifice of her freedom be enough to unite the realm and end the enslavement and slaughter of her people? As the sparks of rebellion begin to blaze through the continent, harsh betrayals and hidden alliances are uncovered, and Cassandra begins to realize that nothing—and nobody—is ever as it seems.
Darkness stirs in the continent of Ladon.
A realm divided by blood, built atop the bones of humans enslaved by the fae.
A human pulled from the wreckage of a once-great kingdom, chosen to usher in a new era of peace.
A marriage to bridge an alliance between two kingdoms and two species, to prove that humans and fae can live side by side peacefully.
Eighteen years ago, Cassandra was saved from the ashes of Menodore and brought to live within the safety of Argyll’s fae-ruled borders. Now that the time has come, she will do anything to bring an end to this centuries old conflict between her kind and the fae… Even forfeit her freedom to marry the High Fae Crown Prince of Gambriel—the same kingdom that has enslaved her people for all of time.
Will Cassandra’s sacrifice of her freedom be enough to unite the realm and end the enslavement and slaughter of her people? As the sparks of rebellion begin to blaze through the continent, harsh betrayals and hidden alliances are uncovered, and Cassandra begins to realize that nothing—and nobody—is ever as it seems.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2022
239 people are currently reading
3198 people want to read
About the author
Lyra Asher
7 books60 followersLyra Asher is an indie author with a love for all things romance and fantasy. When she’s not creating compelling worlds filled with smut and dragons, she spends her days with her fur-baby, sipping tea or coffee while reading through her never ending ‘to be read’ pile. She has thousands of ideas for stories running through her head that she attempts to write out as quickly as humanly possible.
You can find out more about Lyra, her upcoming novels and exquisite fanart on her socials.
Instragram- @author.lyra.asher
TikTok- @author.lyra.asher
You can find out more about Lyra, her upcoming novels and exquisite fanart on her socials.
Instragram- @author.lyra.asher
TikTok- @author.lyra.asher
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 13, 2023
What this book seriously lacked was exactly that, seriousness!
The FMC starts off great, but loses her charm halfway (she certainly deserved better), and gets lost in the same narrative structure. The big reveal in the end too was kinda predictable and moreover felt a litttle under cooked. But yeah, going in I knew the pay off wont sweep me off my feet, so that didnt deter my experience per se.
The main problem though, apart from a thin plot lied in the writing, the execution mainly, of the FMC herself. Also lacked serious character development. Not to mention the writing gets too repetitive and too afraid to broaden the horizon, too restrained in its presentation.
Nonetheless excited to see what Ms Lyra Asher has in store for us next. Not entirely giving up on the series as it did have its fair share of amazing moments
The FMC starts off great, but loses her charm halfway (she certainly deserved better), and gets lost in the same narrative structure. The big reveal in the end too was kinda predictable and moreover felt a litttle under cooked. But yeah, going in I knew the pay off wont sweep me off my feet, so that didnt deter my experience per se.
The main problem though, apart from a thin plot lied in the writing, the execution mainly, of the FMC herself. Also lacked serious character development. Not to mention the writing gets too repetitive and too afraid to broaden the horizon, too restrained in its presentation.
Nonetheless excited to see what Ms Lyra Asher has in store for us next. Not entirely giving up on the series as it did have its fair share of amazing moments
December 20, 2022
I can't believe this is a debut novel. Like wow, It has everything I hope to find in a fantasy story. I really enjoyed the writing style this author opted. There is just enough world building to make it feel real without overloading the reader with useless info, while also leaving enough mystery to grab your attention. All of the characters feel fleshed out with actual personalities especially the FMC; Cassandra is the very definition of dichotomy, she's authentic and valorous but also understands the importance of compassion and mercy. I love that the cliff hanger comes right at the end of the battle when Cassandra's true identity is revealed. I need the next installment asap!
March 3, 2023
I HATED THIS. Hear me out- the plot was promising and had potential but the writing ruined it for me big time. (some spoilters ahead)
The starting was okay- acceptable but later it got so repititive and boring and the fact that we had to live the story through Cassandra's head (which happens to be an empy vessel with no brain) was just worst, the first time she went into a whole two page long mologue about how bad she felt about the suffering of the humans i was like ok, the writing during that part disturbed me but FINE i accepted it but later on when we got the same thing every 5 pages it started messing with the veins of my brain. WE GET IT SHE FEELS BAD FOR HUMANS WHY R WE BEING REMINDED AGAIN AND AGAIN???????
"if i continued my shit he was going to rape me"
WHAT??????????????????????? Ok the scene was supposed to be serious but the horrible writing made my head erupt into question marks, and then the emrys dude comes in to save our damnsel in distress who can apparently fight very well. She then proceeds to act super bitchy to him for no reason at all. They were literally forced to be enemies to lover by the author.
The story was also all over the place, and the love interest parts were a little better than the rest but still horrible, i felt no spark between cassandra and any of the princes (prince king whatever that emrys dude turns out to be), I picture them both as ugly simps who have never talked to a beautiful girl, and each time the emrys dude (I FORGOT HIS NAME OK) used the word 'dove' it was so creepy.
Honestly i skipped most of the book after 60% and somehow completed it, YES IT WAS THAT BAD.
Im not in a state to reveal more as my brain has lost the capacity and nor do i want to remind myself of the horrors i had to face, I have never ever hated reading as much as i did reading this 'masterpiece'. I do not know why i saw so many 5 star reviews under this idk maybe some inhuman spirit has taken over my brain and i failed to recognize good literature or it was just as bad as i say it is.
The starting was okay- acceptable but later it got so repititive and boring and the fact that we had to live the story through Cassandra's head (which happens to be an empy vessel with no brain) was just worst, the first time she went into a whole two page long mologue about how bad she felt about the suffering of the humans i was like ok, the writing during that part disturbed me but FINE i accepted it but later on when we got the same thing every 5 pages it started messing with the veins of my brain. WE GET IT SHE FEELS BAD FOR HUMANS WHY R WE BEING REMINDED AGAIN AND AGAIN???????
"if i continued my shit he was going to rape me"
WHAT??????????????????????? Ok the scene was supposed to be serious but the horrible writing made my head erupt into question marks, and then the emrys dude comes in to save our damnsel in distress who can apparently fight very well. She then proceeds to act super bitchy to him for no reason at all. They were literally forced to be enemies to lover by the author.
The story was also all over the place, and the love interest parts were a little better than the rest but still horrible, i felt no spark between cassandra and any of the princes (prince king whatever that emrys dude turns out to be), I picture them both as ugly simps who have never talked to a beautiful girl, and each time the emrys dude (I FORGOT HIS NAME OK) used the word 'dove' it was so creepy.
Honestly i skipped most of the book after 60% and somehow completed it, YES IT WAS THAT BAD.
Im not in a state to reveal more as my brain has lost the capacity and nor do i want to remind myself of the horrors i had to face, I have never ever hated reading as much as i did reading this 'masterpiece'. I do not know why i saw so many 5 star reviews under this idk maybe some inhuman spirit has taken over my brain and i failed to recognize good literature or it was just as bad as i say it is.
October 17, 2022
I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a great premise, but I feel it lacks in execution. The plot was very enjoyable. A human girl set to marry a fae prince. A continent in conflict as human slaves threaten to stage a rebelling. Once great gods that have abandoned the world. The storyline delivered, I read it eagerly, and it left me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
But the execution was lacking. I read one review that said they felt it had too much exposition. I disagree. This book could have easily been two. I would have enjoyed a bit more exposition, world building, and just time for the story to unfold. Much of the emotional development seemed to be the victim of moving the plot along. I wanted to slow things down, get inside the characters heads a bit more. The whole book took place over such a short period of time that it felt like a race.
Along those lines, there were two scenes that felt forced; that felt to me that they were included simply to speed the emotional plot along to keep up with the rest of the story. The first was an attempted SA of the FMC. The second was a romantic liaison between the FMC and the fae prince. They felt clumsy and rushed; like a quick way to get the FMC on to what needed to happen next than a natural part of the story.
Finally, the book contained modern slang phrases. They felt very out of place in the setting and were jarring to read. My personal preference is not to read modern slang in fantasy books. I would much prefer the author develop a few original ones because it's fun and help me understand the world a bit better.
This book has a great premise, but I feel it lacks in execution. The plot was very enjoyable. A human girl set to marry a fae prince. A continent in conflict as human slaves threaten to stage a rebelling. Once great gods that have abandoned the world. The storyline delivered, I read it eagerly, and it left me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
But the execution was lacking. I read one review that said they felt it had too much exposition. I disagree. This book could have easily been two. I would have enjoyed a bit more exposition, world building, and just time for the story to unfold. Much of the emotional development seemed to be the victim of moving the plot along. I wanted to slow things down, get inside the characters heads a bit more. The whole book took place over such a short period of time that it felt like a race.
Along those lines, there were two scenes that felt forced; that felt to me that they were included simply to speed the emotional plot along to keep up with the rest of the story. The first was an attempted SA of the FMC. The second was a romantic liaison between the FMC and the fae prince. They felt clumsy and rushed; like a quick way to get the FMC on to what needed to happen next than a natural part of the story.
Finally, the book contained modern slang phrases. They felt very out of place in the setting and were jarring to read. My personal preference is not to read modern slang in fantasy books. I would much prefer the author develop a few original ones because it's fun and help me understand the world a bit better.
November 22, 2022
WOW WOW WOW. Where do I even begin?!
This book grabbed my full attention from page one onward and my GODS the storytelling was absolutely immaculate. The overall plot was incredible and I found myself growing attached to each of the characters. Cassandra is a BAD*** and Wesley is so.... *swoons*. Even minor characters such as Minka and Emrys really helped move the plot along and I can't wait to see where things end up in future books - especially after that ending!
Well done, Lyra!
This book grabbed my full attention from page one onward and my GODS the storytelling was absolutely immaculate. The overall plot was incredible and I found myself growing attached to each of the characters. Cassandra is a BAD*** and Wesley is so.... *swoons*. Even minor characters such as Minka and Emrys really helped move the plot along and I can't wait to see where things end up in future books - especially after that ending!
Well done, Lyra!
November 12, 2022
This was a hot mess.
⭐️⭐️ (for the premise)
🌶
🌑🌑🌑🌑
I loved the premise of this book, it has so much potential! However, it was not delivered well.. This story was all over the place and it felt like I was reading a first draft version of what could have been a great read.
⭐️⭐️ (for the premise)
🌶
🌑🌑🌑🌑
I loved the premise of this book, it has so much potential! However, it was not delivered well.. This story was all over the place and it felt like I was reading a first draft version of what could have been a great read.
August 14, 2023
I literally have no words
October 26, 2022
I have so many emotions right now as I just finished the book. This was truly so.freaking.good.
The storytelling, the plot…I became so attached to a certain character who…well lets just say most likely won’t be coming back and I am SO SAD about it (no I will never forgive you Lyra!)
We ended on quite the cliffhanger and I am going to be not so patiently waiting for the next book.
Incredible job Lyra!!!!
The storytelling, the plot…I became so attached to a certain character who…well lets just say most likely won’t be coming back and I am SO SAD about it (no I will never forgive you Lyra!)
We ended on quite the cliffhanger and I am going to be not so patiently waiting for the next book.
Incredible job Lyra!!!!
October 2, 2023
Hands down third best book I’ve read this year! Already bought the second book!
October 13, 2022
I was sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Heart of the Marked by Lyra Asher is built upon a human girl taken from a war stricken city and placed in an arranged marriage. The arrangement puts the human girl marrying the crown prince of the Fae. This is the first book in the series so there is a lot of world building and explanations for the world they live in. The author does a great job of setting the scene, and using descriptions. Her writing isn’t over the top and gives the reader a straight forward view, allowing for enough detail.
My favorite quote from the book was “Almost like a warm embrace, if only books could actually physically embrace me in the same manner they embraced my mind.” The MC has a love for reading and of course I identified with that!
I personally loved this book. It had some twists and unpredictable moments, which I really appreciated. I loved it so much that I CANNOT wait for the second book!
Heart of the Marked by Lyra Asher is built upon a human girl taken from a war stricken city and placed in an arranged marriage. The arrangement puts the human girl marrying the crown prince of the Fae. This is the first book in the series so there is a lot of world building and explanations for the world they live in. The author does a great job of setting the scene, and using descriptions. Her writing isn’t over the top and gives the reader a straight forward view, allowing for enough detail.
My favorite quote from the book was “Almost like a warm embrace, if only books could actually physically embrace me in the same manner they embraced my mind.” The MC has a love for reading and of course I identified with that!
I personally loved this book. It had some twists and unpredictable moments, which I really appreciated. I loved it so much that I CANNOT wait for the second book!
June 12, 2023
3⭐️
I have to honestly attribute some of this to the post fourth wing slump but this was like a carbon copy of from blood and ash with a hint of acotar. Reading any fantasy right now is difficult but I wanted a lil more originality throughout not just at the end (the ending had a fun twist)!!
I have to honestly attribute some of this to the post fourth wing slump but this was like a carbon copy of from blood and ash with a hint of acotar. Reading any fantasy right now is difficult but I wanted a lil more originality throughout not just at the end (the ending had a fun twist)!!
February 1, 2023
⇢ Actual rating: 4.5🌟
I'm honestly amazed how good this debut is 🥹
⇢ What to expect:
∘ New Adult
∘ Fantasy Romance
∘ Dark
∘ Royals & Gods
∘ Dragons & Fae
∘ Stabby FMC & Morally Grey MMC
∘ Villain Origin Story
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Arranged Marriage
∘ Found Family
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ "Touch her and you die"
∘ "Who did this to you?"
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, rape, slaves, torture, mental & physical abuse, death, graphic violence
I'm honestly amazed how good this debut is 🥹
⇢ What to expect:
∘ New Adult
∘ Fantasy Romance
∘ Dark
∘ Royals & Gods
∘ Dragons & Fae
∘ Stabby FMC & Morally Grey MMC
∘ Villain Origin Story
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Arranged Marriage
∘ Found Family
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ "Touch her and you die"
∘ "Who did this to you?"
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, rape, slaves, torture, mental & physical abuse, death, graphic violence
September 1, 2023
“I would wait a million lifetimes to have met you. I would give up all of them to just spend one moment with you.”
This book was very nearly a dnf for me. I pushed on and despite wanting to quit, it did pick up at around 50/60%. I just needed to see how it ended and it did redeem itself, which is why it’s a 3 ⭐️ despite the fact there were things that just bugged me personally.
So, why was it nearly a dnf? Firstly, Cassandra. In the beginning half of this book. She irritated the hell out of me. She’s repetitive to the point it’s honestly aggravating. The humans are slaves to the fae and she’s angry about that. She has every right to be, it’s everywhere. A lot of the fae constantly look down on the humans and the divide has just been aided throughout the years. But she constantly feels guilty about her life vs other humans. Despite the fact there’s very little she can currently do to change their life. The guilt is just consuming. Everything she does it’s a reminder that she, for no reason, managed to escape that fate.
It’s not the determination for change that pushes through to me though, it’s just whiney and repetitive which is honestly just a shame. As a human, her whole kingdom (Menodore) is raided and destroyed and she is the only survivor. She’s “rescued” and held in a tower with limited freedom, only to find out she’s betrothed to a Fae Prince. That’s all well and good but during this whole transition from tower to castle, her actions are just strange. She’s helped by someone and she then goes on a rant about how he’s a “faerie fuck”, which given the situation is just really strange. I don’t want to say too much in case someone sees the blurb and wants to read it but the tldr is I just couldn’t get behind her character until much later on. She’s confusing. The way she reacts in certain situations just really bugged me. She becomes less aggravating as the plot changes and she turns more to action rather than pining over change she can’t enact.
Wesley is the fae Prince she’s betrothed too, he seems sweet throughout, he’s kinda like a little golden retriever boy and it’s cute. He’s genuinely nothing but nice to Cassandra.
I wish Emrys was seen more and this was built on but that could be more developed in the second soooo I’ll have to see if that changes.
The latter part of this book is full of drama that could have done with being brought through earlier in my opinion. I understand that the plot and world building needed to happen to a degree but for me, the beginning could have been cut down. Bringing the latter part through earlier and expanding on the plot that happened. Though, I actually really liked all the spoilers during this part of the book. This was very much the redemption it needed and it was exactly the reason I didn’t dnf.
I’m interested to see how the plot pans out and I’ll try the second to see what happens. I’m just hoping that Cassandra grows on me and that her character arc shines through more than it has done.
I’m super tired so I might come back and edit this at some point but my rating will stay the same regardless.
This book was very nearly a dnf for me. I pushed on and despite wanting to quit, it did pick up at around 50/60%. I just needed to see how it ended and it did redeem itself, which is why it’s a 3 ⭐️ despite the fact there were things that just bugged me personally.
So, why was it nearly a dnf? Firstly, Cassandra. In the beginning half of this book. She irritated the hell out of me. She’s repetitive to the point it’s honestly aggravating. The humans are slaves to the fae and she’s angry about that. She has every right to be, it’s everywhere. A lot of the fae constantly look down on the humans and the divide has just been aided throughout the years. But she constantly feels guilty about her life vs other humans. Despite the fact there’s very little she can currently do to change their life. The guilt is just consuming. Everything she does it’s a reminder that she, for no reason, managed to escape that fate.
It’s not the determination for change that pushes through to me though, it’s just whiney and repetitive which is honestly just a shame. As a human, her whole kingdom (Menodore) is raided and destroyed and she is the only survivor. She’s “rescued” and held in a tower with limited freedom, only to find out she’s betrothed to a Fae Prince. That’s all well and good but during this whole transition from tower to castle, her actions are just strange. She’s helped by someone and she then goes on a rant about how he’s a “faerie fuck”, which given the situation is just really strange. I don’t want to say too much in case someone sees the blurb and wants to read it but the tldr is I just couldn’t get behind her character until much later on. She’s confusing. The way she reacts in certain situations just really bugged me. She becomes less aggravating as the plot changes and she turns more to action rather than pining over change she can’t enact.
Wesley is the fae Prince she’s betrothed too, he seems sweet throughout, he’s kinda like a little golden retriever boy and it’s cute. He’s genuinely nothing but nice to Cassandra.
I wish Emrys was seen more and this was built on but that could be more developed in the second soooo I’ll have to see if that changes.
The latter part of this book is full of drama that could have done with being brought through earlier in my opinion. I understand that the plot and world building needed to happen to a degree but for me, the beginning could have been cut down. Bringing the latter part through earlier and expanding on the plot that happened. Though, I actually really liked all the spoilers during this part of the book. This was very much the redemption it needed and it was exactly the reason I didn’t dnf.
I’m interested to see how the plot pans out and I’ll try the second to see what happens. I’m just hoping that Cassandra grows on me and that her character arc shines through more than it has done.
I’m super tired so I might come back and edit this at some point but my rating will stay the same regardless.
February 11, 2023
I saw this book on KU, loved the cover and thought “why not?!”
I can tell you that I screamed OMG at the end because I didn’t want it to end! Not like that!!!
I can tell you that I screamed OMG at the end because I didn’t want it to end! Not like that!!!
October 10, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. It's refreshingly different with having different types of Fae, Faeries, Goblins, mention of Pegasus'.
The characters are brilliant and I definitely hated the badies in here with a passion.
Loved the world building and the magic in it, feels like a mixture of Harry Potter, ACOTAR, with God's mixed in 😁.
I had theories through this book and by the end I was surprised by some of the ending and a theory I have for the next one I'm hoping will be right.
I had a feeling of what was going to happen to a certain someone which hopefully gives my theory traction for the next book.
Gutted that the next book isn't until June 2023 hoping Lyra will do ARC readers again cause I'm chomping at the bit for the next one 🥰.
The characters are brilliant and I definitely hated the badies in here with a passion.
Loved the world building and the magic in it, feels like a mixture of Harry Potter, ACOTAR, with God's mixed in 😁.
I had theories through this book and by the end I was surprised by some of the ending and a theory I have for the next one I'm hoping will be right.
I had a feeling of what was going to happen to a certain someone which hopefully gives my theory traction for the next book.
Gutted that the next book isn't until June 2023 hoping Lyra will do ARC readers again cause I'm chomping at the bit for the next one 🥰.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2023
Queue book hangover! 10 minutes after finishing this book I'm sitting here with a vacant look in my eyes and my jaw still hanging. I need the rest of this series asap (definitely one to be added to my physical bookshelves)
January 12, 2023
Maybe 2.5 stars?
I’m in the camp with the other 2/3 star reviews I read. This book wasn’t terrible… it just had some issues.
There was way too much info dumping. The gods, the various kingdoms. I get that we need information, but if there’s over a page of just information, I’m losing interest. Especially when names are being tossed in that I don’t know.
Cassandra. I’m so confused by her. In the beginning she seemed more or less committed to her cause— a marriage to bring alliance between fae and humans. And she has a little side hobby of sneaking out at night to “train.” Side note, I’m getting sick of that story line in books lol. How effective can a girl be training herself? But anyway, she restrains her temper well and doesn’t seem overly fiery in the beginning.
Then when she gets to the castle, all the sudden she’s cussing an awful lot, suddenly interested in sneaking around the castle and finding hidden runes and researching magic? Magic didn’t even seem to be on her radar in her life before, and there was nothing that really brought it on other than running her hands along the wall?
And then she’s sneaking around to “train” and nearly gets raped the very first time. Then a random, hot, dark-powered, fae male turns up out of nowhere and decides out of the goodness of his heart to train her? Is this supposed to be the Rhy-like character? It was too random. There was no explanation for this, and then she accepts his help to train without asking him questions (seriously, who would not ask questions?), but then proceeds to insult him incessantly. For some reason he finds this cute?
Then our MC takes a real turn… becoming oddly brutal. She sneaks out with the prince and then when a bar fight breaks out she sets a male on FIRE and throws multiple glasses of alcohol on him to spread the blaze. The prince thinks this is cute.
The end… I’m not sure what to say. I guess if I cared about the MC I would feel bad for her, but I don’t. She lost the shadow blade Emrys gave her about 5 minutes later. Also, now that the gods are free it doesn’t seem like the fight will take long?
The book has a nice cover and the editing was professional. However, I won’t be continuing the series.
I’m in the camp with the other 2/3 star reviews I read. This book wasn’t terrible… it just had some issues.
There was way too much info dumping. The gods, the various kingdoms. I get that we need information, but if there’s over a page of just information, I’m losing interest. Especially when names are being tossed in that I don’t know.
Cassandra. I’m so confused by her. In the beginning she seemed more or less committed to her cause— a marriage to bring alliance between fae and humans. And she has a little side hobby of sneaking out at night to “train.” Side note, I’m getting sick of that story line in books lol. How effective can a girl be training herself? But anyway, she restrains her temper well and doesn’t seem overly fiery in the beginning.
Then when she gets to the castle, all the sudden she’s cussing an awful lot, suddenly interested in sneaking around the castle and finding hidden runes and researching magic? Magic didn’t even seem to be on her radar in her life before, and there was nothing that really brought it on other than running her hands along the wall?
And then she’s sneaking around to “train” and nearly gets raped the very first time. Then a random, hot, dark-powered, fae male turns up out of nowhere and decides out of the goodness of his heart to train her? Is this supposed to be the Rhy-like character? It was too random. There was no explanation for this, and then she accepts his help to train without asking him questions (seriously, who would not ask questions?), but then proceeds to insult him incessantly. For some reason he finds this cute?
Then our MC takes a real turn… becoming oddly brutal. She sneaks out with the prince and then when a bar fight breaks out she sets a male on FIRE and throws multiple glasses of alcohol on him to spread the blaze. The prince thinks this is cute.
The end… I’m not sure what to say. I guess if I cared about the MC I would feel bad for her, but I don’t. She lost the shadow blade Emrys gave her about 5 minutes later. Also, now that the gods are free it doesn’t seem like the fight will take long?
The book has a nice cover and the editing was professional. However, I won’t be continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2022
I just finished the ARC that I was sent for an honest review. It is a good book with a great plot that Sara J Maas readers would love. I do wish it had more emotional meat. It felt like the writing was rushed and the author could have put more detail and time into it. I do love the characters though.
February 9, 2023
Oh my gosh.. what a wild ride! This book was everything I hoped it would be and more!
The story revolves around a girl taken during a siege and raised to be the bride of a crowned prince in hopes of brokering peace between not only kingdoms but the humans and fae. Along the way there is so much she uncovers that will shake the very foundation of what she knows to be true.
I am obsessed with these characters… obviously I have my favorites but Lyra did an amazing job of giving them depth and purpose. The world building was spot on and I truly wanted to step into it!!
The ending… ahhhh how am I possibly supposed to wait for the next book! I NEED to know what happens!!!
The story revolves around a girl taken during a siege and raised to be the bride of a crowned prince in hopes of brokering peace between not only kingdoms but the humans and fae. Along the way there is so much she uncovers that will shake the very foundation of what she knows to be true.
I am obsessed with these characters… obviously I have my favorites but Lyra did an amazing job of giving them depth and purpose. The world building was spot on and I truly wanted to step into it!!
The ending… ahhhh how am I possibly supposed to wait for the next book! I NEED to know what happens!!!
October 28, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5/5
If you are a fan of arranged marriage, forced proximity, secret powers and heritage, powerful female MC, then this is a story for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 50% of the book. I could see influences from popular YA/New Adult plots but it was unique enough to catch my interest. The author did a good job portraying Cassandra as a mix of sassy and traumatized from her upbringing. While she became more bold throughout the story, which I believe was the author’s intent to showcase that her “monster” was coming closer to the surface rather than her learned behaviors, the transition wasn’t as smooth as I hoped for. It seemed like she went from sheltered and meek, fearing the reactions of her aunt and caregivers to having little verbal filter and becoming more bold with her intrusive thoughts and violent actions.
The pacing felt a bit off throughout the story with everything occurring in 1-2wks time. During this time, Cassandra is intermittently training with Emrys and gets good enough at swordplay and fighting in 2wks to take on several guards singlehandedly and easily. At the time she fights them, she doesn’t have access to her godly powers so readers are supposed to believe she went from self-taught and “mediocre” according to Emrys to highly skilled in several nightly training sessions. The last 25% of the book moves incredibly quickly with everything left on a cliffhanger as soon as she comes into her power which reminds me of several other books out right now (These Hollow Vows comes to mind immediately).
Unfortunately the uniqueness I loved in the first half was overshadowed by the similarities in the last half to TOG and ACOTAR (evil baddies with necklaces, her relationship with Wesley aka prince with bright blue eyes - Dorian and Celaena in TOG, Emrys as the “evil” prince with shadow powers and the obvious set up for love interest in future books, Cassandra exploring the castle and finding secret offices/tunnels to uncover secrets about the realm). That being said, I may be a little too picky on originality as all literature plays off each other. But if I am pulled out of a book while reading because I think the plot/characters/situations are too similar to another book, then my enjoyment isn’t as high.
Overall, I did enjoy the first book in this series and will be continuing with the sequel when it comes out next summer. I think the pacing, characterization and similarities to other books took me out of the story for a bit but I still had a good time reading it in one sitting. Cassandra’s banter with Emrys was one of the highlights and her internal monologue filled with more colorful language is something desperately needed in YA/NA fantasy. I liked the world building aspects with history of the deal with the gods and am looking forward to exploring more of that bond and its effects on Selene in the next book.
If you are a fan of arranged marriage, forced proximity, secret powers and heritage, powerful female MC, then this is a story for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 50% of the book. I could see influences from popular YA/New Adult plots but it was unique enough to catch my interest. The author did a good job portraying Cassandra as a mix of sassy and traumatized from her upbringing. While she became more bold throughout the story, which I believe was the author’s intent to showcase that her “monster” was coming closer to the surface rather than her learned behaviors, the transition wasn’t as smooth as I hoped for. It seemed like she went from sheltered and meek, fearing the reactions of her aunt and caregivers to having little verbal filter and becoming more bold with her intrusive thoughts and violent actions.
The pacing felt a bit off throughout the story with everything occurring in 1-2wks time. During this time, Cassandra is intermittently training with Emrys and gets good enough at swordplay and fighting in 2wks to take on several guards singlehandedly and easily. At the time she fights them, she doesn’t have access to her godly powers so readers are supposed to believe she went from self-taught and “mediocre” according to Emrys to highly skilled in several nightly training sessions. The last 25% of the book moves incredibly quickly with everything left on a cliffhanger as soon as she comes into her power which reminds me of several other books out right now (These Hollow Vows comes to mind immediately).
Unfortunately the uniqueness I loved in the first half was overshadowed by the similarities in the last half to TOG and ACOTAR (evil baddies with necklaces, her relationship with Wesley aka prince with bright blue eyes - Dorian and Celaena in TOG, Emrys as the “evil” prince with shadow powers and the obvious set up for love interest in future books, Cassandra exploring the castle and finding secret offices/tunnels to uncover secrets about the realm). That being said, I may be a little too picky on originality as all literature plays off each other. But if I am pulled out of a book while reading because I think the plot/characters/situations are too similar to another book, then my enjoyment isn’t as high.
Overall, I did enjoy the first book in this series and will be continuing with the sequel when it comes out next summer. I think the pacing, characterization and similarities to other books took me out of the story for a bit but I still had a good time reading it in one sitting. Cassandra’s banter with Emrys was one of the highlights and her internal monologue filled with more colorful language is something desperately needed in YA/NA fantasy. I liked the world building aspects with history of the deal with the gods and am looking forward to exploring more of that bond and its effects on Selene in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2022
I saw someone praise this as having similar vibes as Throne of Glass so I knew I had to check it out.
Heart of the Marked starts off with a pretty kick ass prologue, however I've been burned by that in the past so I tried to stay reserved.
The book is about Cassandra, a human who was rescued during the siege of her kingdom. She was rescued by the King and Queen of a neighboring Kingdom who came to aid Cassandra's kingdom.
She's essentially raised alone as the only human in a castle full of Fae, with the intention of marrying her off to a Fae prince to secure an alliance and show a semblance of peace between the Fae and Humans. Most Fae view humans as lesser creatures, however they outnumber the Fae and they know they need to gain their trust.
When Cassandra finally meets Wesley, her betrothed she's surprised to find out he is not what she thought he would be.
Many secrets and plots are uncovered, and the ending certainly did leave me anxious for book 2.
One of the things I greatly appreciated about this book is that it wasn't filled with spicy scene after spicy scene. So many books nowadays go that route and lose all semblance of a plot. Kudos to the author.
I also LOVED the chapter headers, but felt they were a bit of a hook and bait situation in the sense we didn't see much of the creatures that were represented.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 for me was primarily that at times it felt like things were rushed, and I was having to re-read several scenes because I'd find that I completely missed something important. I also found it quire jarring that the characters used modern slang.
Overall though, an excellent debut from Lyra Asher!
Heart of the Marked starts off with a pretty kick ass prologue, however I've been burned by that in the past so I tried to stay reserved.
The book is about Cassandra, a human who was rescued during the siege of her kingdom. She was rescued by the King and Queen of a neighboring Kingdom who came to aid Cassandra's kingdom.
She's essentially raised alone as the only human in a castle full of Fae, with the intention of marrying her off to a Fae prince to secure an alliance and show a semblance of peace between the Fae and Humans. Most Fae view humans as lesser creatures, however they outnumber the Fae and they know they need to gain their trust.
When Cassandra finally meets Wesley, her betrothed she's surprised to find out he is not what she thought he would be.
Many secrets and plots are uncovered, and the ending certainly did leave me anxious for book 2.
One of the things I greatly appreciated about this book is that it wasn't filled with spicy scene after spicy scene. So many books nowadays go that route and lose all semblance of a plot. Kudos to the author.
I also LOVED the chapter headers, but felt they were a bit of a hook and bait situation in the sense we didn't see much of the creatures that were represented.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 for me was primarily that at times it felt like things were rushed, and I was having to re-read several scenes because I'd find that I completely missed something important. I also found it quire jarring that the characters used modern slang.
Overall though, an excellent debut from Lyra Asher!
October 19, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. This in my opinion was a very good. There is a map included and always my favorite, a pronunciation guide and a guide on who’s who. Those two things are always my favorite in fantasy that make the reading more immersive for me. I very much got Throne of Glass/Blood and Ash vibes and if you like those series, you will definitely like this book!
From the very start we get to see Cassandra as a strong character. She makes sure she is protected and knows not to trust anyone. We get to see her character build over time. She’s strong but yet innocent. She’s curious and always seeking knowledge. She is so caring and kind but yet will make sure you know your place if you cross her. One thing is for sure she with out a doubt always herself, even when she knows she shouldn’t be.
The world building comes over time. We meet the gods and learn who is who in royalty. We get some history throughout the book to build the story and what has happened to build up to this point. I can’t wait to see how the world building continues in the next book. There are so many different types of fae and other creatures that creat a refreshing sight because we get to see more than just what the main characters are. I would have loved to see more about the sirens but hopefully they will make an appearance again.
Overall I gave the book five stars because I truly enjoyed this book. It is a good fantasy that keeps you guessing and is not afraid to cut off some characters… the ending definitely will drop your jaw. I can’t wait for the second book and watching Cassandra grow more into who she is.
From the very start we get to see Cassandra as a strong character. She makes sure she is protected and knows not to trust anyone. We get to see her character build over time. She’s strong but yet innocent. She’s curious and always seeking knowledge. She is so caring and kind but yet will make sure you know your place if you cross her. One thing is for sure she with out a doubt always herself, even when she knows she shouldn’t be.
The world building comes over time. We meet the gods and learn who is who in royalty. We get some history throughout the book to build the story and what has happened to build up to this point. I can’t wait to see how the world building continues in the next book. There are so many different types of fae and other creatures that creat a refreshing sight because we get to see more than just what the main characters are. I would have loved to see more about the sirens but hopefully they will make an appearance again.
Overall I gave the book five stars because I truly enjoyed this book. It is a good fantasy that keeps you guessing and is not afraid to cut off some characters… the ending definitely will drop your jaw. I can’t wait for the second book and watching Cassandra grow more into who she is.
October 14, 2022
I was sent a copy of this book to read as an ARC review. There were parts that I enjoyed and parts that I didn't. I feel like the entire book had too much expo that was not necessary. I actually was able to literally skip entire chapters on my first read and still completely know what was going on. The beginning of the story just goes so slow and we spend so much time with the character doing absolutely nothing of importance or consequence to the plot. The last arc of the book was great and I devoured it but I feel like we could have gotten to it so much sooner with a more satisfying journey there. I also feel like we could have gotten to the concluding character development without the involvement of the person she met literally a week ago who we knew was never going to be the main interest anyway. There's still so many holes in this book and I know it's the start to a continuing series but it left me feeling very unsatisfied with the information given. And the ending left me feel like the download missed a chapter. A very startling, frustrating cliffhanger. Honestly, whenever the second book comes out, I get the feeling you could skip the first and jump right in and catch up fairly quick. This author has a habit of repeating phrases or plot points repeatedly throughout the story. I also did not feel any emotional connections to any of the characters. They were all very dull and passive. It's not a bad story by any means and again I think I'll enjoy the rest of this series but this first book was just not for me.
October 21, 2022
ARC REVIEW
This was my first ever ARC reading, and I couldn't be happier about it!
I have to be honest, at the beginning I wasn't expecting very much from this book, because it just reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash, I found really many similarities between the stories of Cassandra and Poppy. And I wanted more than anything for this book to take its own path. And it happened!
I loved so many things in this book, most of all the characters. Cassandra is one of my favourite female main character EVER. She's strong, she's fierce, she's not just a doll with a beautiful face. She wants to fight, she knows what is right. She's got my heart!
Minka and Wesley (can I have one for me as well?) are also a great addition to the story, both so sweet and strong as well, but in different ways.
And Emrys, his darkness, oh I really fell for him!
Those four, I loved them so much and I didn't expect it!
Everything is so well done, the writing, the Worldbuilding, the lenght of the chapters, the characters, the story, the details (how are you supposed not to fall in love with the tiny dragons all around the book?).
I was enjoying this book so much, thinking about giving it 4 stars. But then the last 50 pages came, and the story really caught me! I started having goosebumps. The story got into my veins. Gosh, this is how you write a book! And THIS is a full 5 stars books, for sure!
I'm so glad I had the chance to read it before it came out, it was really a blast! And I just need more! Can't wait for the second book!
This was my first ever ARC reading, and I couldn't be happier about it!
I have to be honest, at the beginning I wasn't expecting very much from this book, because it just reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash, I found really many similarities between the stories of Cassandra and Poppy. And I wanted more than anything for this book to take its own path. And it happened!
I loved so many things in this book, most of all the characters. Cassandra is one of my favourite female main character EVER. She's strong, she's fierce, she's not just a doll with a beautiful face. She wants to fight, she knows what is right. She's got my heart!
Minka and Wesley (can I have one for me as well?) are also a great addition to the story, both so sweet and strong as well, but in different ways.
And Emrys, his darkness, oh I really fell for him!
Those four, I loved them so much and I didn't expect it!
Everything is so well done, the writing, the Worldbuilding, the lenght of the chapters, the characters, the story, the details (how are you supposed not to fall in love with the tiny dragons all around the book?).
I was enjoying this book so much, thinking about giving it 4 stars. But then the last 50 pages came, and the story really caught me! I started having goosebumps. The story got into my veins. Gosh, this is how you write a book! And THIS is a full 5 stars books, for sure!
I'm so glad I had the chance to read it before it came out, it was really a blast! And I just need more! Can't wait for the second book!
November 14, 2022
2.5 stars
I so wanted to like this book! The prologue honestly had me hooked. But after that, it was all down hill. I struggled with the amount of info dump thrown my way from chapter 1 all the way until about 70% in (which is when I couldn't do it anymore). I also found the book confusing at times and felt that things should have been left out because they had no place in the story, it seemed more like filler than anything else.
Cassandra is so frustrating. On the one hand, she is big-hearted and naive; on the other, she is a rule breaker and a martyr for the people. Even though she only grumbles her complaints about how she needs to help the people. She is always angry, always difficult, and quite frankly too immature for my taste.
Wesley is very one-dimensional. He is good looking and that is about all there is to him. The mysterious fae Cassandra meets, Emrys, is more interesting than him. I am sorry, I don't mean to be harsh. I just thought this would have been a bit more mature and after all the reviews said it was romance and spice, I have to say I am disappointed. There is a 'spicy' scene at about 60% in but I honestly cringed. The overuse of Cassandra's name kind of ruined any steam this might have had.
If you are into a more YA-type maturity and feel of a book and a vanilla/sweet romance I think this would be a great book for you. If you are also into more world-building than character building this is up your alley. I had high hopes, but for me, this just wasn't for me.
I so wanted to like this book! The prologue honestly had me hooked. But after that, it was all down hill. I struggled with the amount of info dump thrown my way from chapter 1 all the way until about 70% in (which is when I couldn't do it anymore). I also found the book confusing at times and felt that things should have been left out because they had no place in the story, it seemed more like filler than anything else.
Cassandra is so frustrating. On the one hand, she is big-hearted and naive; on the other, she is a rule breaker and a martyr for the people. Even though she only grumbles her complaints about how she needs to help the people. She is always angry, always difficult, and quite frankly too immature for my taste.
Wesley is very one-dimensional. He is good looking and that is about all there is to him. The mysterious fae Cassandra meets, Emrys, is more interesting than him. I am sorry, I don't mean to be harsh. I just thought this would have been a bit more mature and after all the reviews said it was romance and spice, I have to say I am disappointed. There is a 'spicy' scene at about 60% in but I honestly cringed. The overuse of Cassandra's name kind of ruined any steam this might have had.
If you are into a more YA-type maturity and feel of a book and a vanilla/sweet romance I think this would be a great book for you. If you are also into more world-building than character building this is up your alley. I had high hopes, but for me, this just wasn't for me.
November 20, 2022
Captivating and Heart Wrenching - I Need Book 2 Like, Yesterday !
After a siege laid waste to her people and the Kingdom Menodore, Cassandra was saved and raised by her Aunt Radha, Queen Consort of Argyll, and was to be offered into an arranged marriage with Crowned Prince Wesley of Gambriel. Her marriage was to be a peace offering between the largely enslaved humans and high fae rulers. However, the specifics never quite added up, and upon arriving at the castle in Gambriel, Cassandra found herself with more mysteries yet unanswered.
Lyra Asher wrote a beautiful tale of love, light and darkness. Lyra Asher gutted my soul and now I have to wait until book 2 for it to be put back together Cassandra and Wesley as characters were consistent, loving, and FUNNY
The humor in this book was unmatched and the dialogue so refreshing!
Too often characters try to be too tough or too sarcastic. Banter in books and TV shows alike has devolved to what I call the "Marvel Quip" which is just a series of sarcastic remarks shot back and forth, none of which are truly representative of a character.
- "Can I get that in writing"
- Corsets
- "No amount of crazy is supposed to be good"
In one book, I came to love characters in a way I haven't in a long time. I was laughing out loud, crying, gasping, and experiencing the full range of emotions. The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is I would've wanted 2-3 more scenes with the Faerie Fuck to get to know him in a way I felt I knew everyone else.
After a siege laid waste to her people and the Kingdom Menodore, Cassandra was saved and raised by her Aunt Radha, Queen Consort of Argyll, and was to be offered into an arranged marriage with Crowned Prince Wesley of Gambriel. Her marriage was to be a peace offering between the largely enslaved humans and high fae rulers. However, the specifics never quite added up, and upon arriving at the castle in Gambriel, Cassandra found herself with more mysteries yet unanswered.
Lyra Asher wrote a beautiful tale of love, light and darkness. Lyra Asher gutted my soul and now I have to wait until book 2 for it to be put back together Cassandra and Wesley as characters were consistent, loving, and FUNNY
The humor in this book was unmatched and the dialogue so refreshing!
Too often characters try to be too tough or too sarcastic. Banter in books and TV shows alike has devolved to what I call the "Marvel Quip" which is just a series of sarcastic remarks shot back and forth, none of which are truly representative of a character.
- "Can I get that in writing"
- Corsets
- "No amount of crazy is supposed to be good"
In one book, I came to love characters in a way I haven't in a long time. I was laughing out loud, crying, gasping, and experiencing the full range of emotions. The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is I would've wanted 2-3 more scenes with the Faerie Fuck to get to know him in a way I felt I knew everyone else.
November 3, 2022
Overall, a captivating fantasy book that was close to impossible to put down!
I really enjoyed reading this book and it had so many components that I didn't realize I needed to read until now. It has an arranged marriage and right off the bat, it was instant love in my opinion. As an enemies-to-lovers reader, I have to say this instant love was written and progressed beautifully.
This story is set in a high fantasy world but it was easy to follow. There is a prologue that didn't seem to matter much at first but then becomes clear why it was mentioned. I also thought the whole premise of the story was STUNNING and I do look forward to reading the next book. :)
Now, I know I gave this 4 stars and not 5. It was very difficult for me because reading the last 20% of the book felt so rushed. It didn't flow as well as the rest of the book and there were a few scenes that felt shoved in or simply misplaced. Not too mention, I was absolutely WRECKED by the ending. It was overall heart wrenching for me and that played a part in my rating. I felt the very end didn't need to be written the way it was, but I am hopeful that it may have more clarification in the next installment.
I still would recommend this book but for those who love a good fantasy/romance book, be weary. The romance is beautiful and gorgeously written but you may need some time to recover after reading this book.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it had so many components that I didn't realize I needed to read until now. It has an arranged marriage and right off the bat, it was instant love in my opinion. As an enemies-to-lovers reader, I have to say this instant love was written and progressed beautifully.
This story is set in a high fantasy world but it was easy to follow. There is a prologue that didn't seem to matter much at first but then becomes clear why it was mentioned. I also thought the whole premise of the story was STUNNING and I do look forward to reading the next book. :)
Now, I know I gave this 4 stars and not 5. It was very difficult for me because reading the last 20% of the book felt so rushed. It didn't flow as well as the rest of the book and there were a few scenes that felt shoved in or simply misplaced. Not too mention, I was absolutely WRECKED by the ending. It was overall heart wrenching for me and that played a part in my rating. I felt the very end didn't need to be written the way it was, but I am hopeful that it may have more clarification in the next installment.
I still would recommend this book but for those who love a good fantasy/romance book, be weary. The romance is beautiful and gorgeously written but you may need some time to recover after reading this book.
November 4, 2022
This was a beautifully written fantasy romance novel. With a previous war stricken world now facing rebellion, an arranged marriage of a human and a high fae prince is the hope for peace and transition toward equality. Unfortunately, as all situations, it isn't quite as it seems and there are surprises with new knowledge around every corner.
Cassandra is a wonderful MC who we see grow into a strong, opinionated woman who strives for equality of her race. We watch her become a relatively obedient person to someone who stands up and commands respect. I absolutely loved the MMC. Coming from an enemies to lovers fanactic, the insta-love/like in this book was well done and heart warming. The banter and trust between the two characters were perfect. With that being said, my heart belongs to another broody character 😍 I'm a sucker for those types. I can't wait to see what happens with him. I loved the banter and dynamics between the two. I would love to see his pov 👀
Lyra does a great job with the world building and the character development. I was confused on a few parts trying to figure out who certain people were with the flashback povs, but I started to understand with the more information given towards the end of the book. It is a slower build novel due to requiring a lot of background information and setting up the plot, world, tension, and events. Overall, I'm excited and can't wait for the next book.
4.5 ☆
Cassandra is a wonderful MC who we see grow into a strong, opinionated woman who strives for equality of her race. We watch her become a relatively obedient person to someone who stands up and commands respect. I absolutely loved the MMC. Coming from an enemies to lovers fanactic, the insta-love/like in this book was well done and heart warming. The banter and trust between the two characters were perfect. With that being said, my heart belongs to another broody character 😍 I'm a sucker for those types. I can't wait to see what happens with him. I loved the banter and dynamics between the two. I would love to see his pov 👀
Lyra does a great job with the world building and the character development. I was confused on a few parts trying to figure out who certain people were with the flashback povs, but I started to understand with the more information given towards the end of the book. It is a slower build novel due to requiring a lot of background information and setting up the plot, world, tension, and events. Overall, I'm excited and can't wait for the next book.
4.5 ☆
November 9, 2022
Heart of the Marked
By Lyra Asher
Heart of the Marked is the first in @author.lyra.asher’s Moons of the Divine trilogy. If you enjoy reading books like Throne of Glass and From Blood and Ash, this one’s for you.
This book did a great job of world building without being boring. I wanted to know more, which kept me turning pages. The relationship development seems to happen naturally, the banter is good, and there is even a little bit of spice.
Our girl, Cassandra, is smart, witty, and brave. She has compassion for others and wants to abolish the slavery of humans and do away with the class divide between the people. She is hoping to leverage her power and status following her arranged marriage with the high Fae crown prince to do so. Our story and the world building really start when she arrives at her new home.
There are so many questions to be answered as Cassandra settles in. Is her betrothed really as dreamy as he seems? Is she going to get busted sneaking off to train? Who is the shadowy Fae male that cleans up her mess and keeps making appearances at her training sessions? What will the discreet runes she discovered reveal? Why *was* she chosen and why would her marriage end the rebellion and bring the people together?
This book weaves a thrilling tale of mystery, murder, betrayal, friendship, love, hope, and revenge. I am ready for the next installment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶
✨ I received an eARC of this book
this is my honest review ✨
By Lyra Asher
Heart of the Marked is the first in @author.lyra.asher’s Moons of the Divine trilogy. If you enjoy reading books like Throne of Glass and From Blood and Ash, this one’s for you.
This book did a great job of world building without being boring. I wanted to know more, which kept me turning pages. The relationship development seems to happen naturally, the banter is good, and there is even a little bit of spice.
Our girl, Cassandra, is smart, witty, and brave. She has compassion for others and wants to abolish the slavery of humans and do away with the class divide between the people. She is hoping to leverage her power and status following her arranged marriage with the high Fae crown prince to do so. Our story and the world building really start when she arrives at her new home.
There are so many questions to be answered as Cassandra settles in. Is her betrothed really as dreamy as he seems? Is she going to get busted sneaking off to train? Who is the shadowy Fae male that cleans up her mess and keeps making appearances at her training sessions? What will the discreet runes she discovered reveal? Why *was* she chosen and why would her marriage end the rebellion and bring the people together?
This book weaves a thrilling tale of mystery, murder, betrayal, friendship, love, hope, and revenge. I am ready for the next installment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶
✨ I received an eARC of this book
this is my honest review ✨
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