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The Gemdark Dynasty #1
Counterpart
Leda doesn’t want to be sacrificed, but there’s no escaping a fate written in stone…
In the kingdom of Viridiana, a king makes a deal with the gods; royal blood in exchange for power and prosperity. Every year, one of his children must sacrifice another to prove their loyalty to the throne and to the gods.
Leda Locarno, bastard daughter of the king, has known her fate from the beginning. As death at the hands of her sister looms, she is desperate to escape the palace that is her prison. But Leda knows she has no talent for tricking fate.
Pyrrhus, the mysterious young tutor to the royal court, has other ideas. He may be frustratingly reserved and more compelling than he has any right to be, but he is suddenly everywhere Leda goes, and he seems to know something she doesn’t.
As Leda becomes further embroiled in the dark machinations of her father’s court, she will learn the true price she must pay for her freedom.
Blood will be spilled… but in the end, it won’t just be Leda’s.
In the kingdom of Viridiana, a king makes a deal with the gods; royal blood in exchange for power and prosperity. Every year, one of his children must sacrifice another to prove their loyalty to the throne and to the gods.
Leda Locarno, bastard daughter of the king, has known her fate from the beginning. As death at the hands of her sister looms, she is desperate to escape the palace that is her prison. But Leda knows she has no talent for tricking fate.
Pyrrhus, the mysterious young tutor to the royal court, has other ideas. He may be frustratingly reserved and more compelling than he has any right to be, but he is suddenly everywhere Leda goes, and he seems to know something she doesn’t.
As Leda becomes further embroiled in the dark machinations of her father’s court, she will learn the true price she must pay for her freedom.
Blood will be spilled… but in the end, it won’t just be Leda’s.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2023
39 people are currently reading
3446 people want to read
About the author
Ella Pyne
3 books35 followersElla Pyne lives in London with her husband and a thriving banana plant.
She hangs out on instagram at @ellajpyne and loves to talk all things book-related!
She's been obsessed with writing since she was young and has been coming up with fantastical stories since she could pick up a pencil (though the quality back then was questionable!)
Counterpart is the first novel in her debut fantasy romance series The Gemdark Dynasty.
She hangs out on instagram at @ellajpyne and loves to talk all things book-related!
She's been obsessed with writing since she was young and has been coming up with fantastical stories since she could pick up a pencil (though the quality back then was questionable!)
Counterpart is the first novel in her debut fantasy romance series The Gemdark Dynasty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 11, 2023
Video review: What did I just read?
https://youtu.be/2HPprNL7LCQ
I’ve been trying to figure out what to rate this because it’s definitely no less than a four, but I don’t know if it’s a 4.25 or not. I’m gonna just give it a four for Goodreads purposes.
TW: gore, violence, murder, child abuse, addictive substance use for pain management, dealing with withdrawal symptoms
This is one of the most unique premises I have ever come across in a Ya fantasy. This book is compulsively readable. The synopsis grabbed me, but we jump in and it’s immediately like we hit the ground running, and I didn’t feel like there was a lull at any point which really kept my attention. That was great because I’ve read a lot of books recently that I felt had some pacing issues and were padded up with unnecessary extra shit. This is a good job balancing out parts where there was not action or political intrigue with a really sweet romance that I found really refreshing. So just in general, I feel like the author balanced all of the things they set out to do really well: romance, plot/stakes, family dynamics, theme/conversation about agency. I felt like everything complemented the other parts of this well and we juggled it carefully. Or at least in a way that felt satisfying to me as the reader.
The main character and the love interest are so precious and sincere, and their feelings for each other are written in a way that is so genuine. The feelings are cultivated in a way that I felt was so well written and I was really rooting for them. I love the trope of “nerdy socially awkward guy meets more outgoing gal” but in this version she’s not so much more outgoing as she is running out of time in life and has no choice but to be a little bit more brave and abrupt. It’s one of those situations where you wonder if things have been different, if they really would have had a romance between the two of them at all. But you’re almost glad that the circumstances that are so dire have come up that place them in a position where you can watch them dance around feelings for each other even though the situation is not the best time for a romance to cultivate.
But those two are not the only relationship dynamic that I thought really jumped off the page here. We simply do not get enough books with layered and complicated sibling relationships. Which is something VERY much a favorite thing of mine. And here it comes up between many characters in a variety of ways, because there are so many siblings due to the nature of the plot. And I was really impressed with how those different relationships whether they were good or bad had me so captivated. Like even the small detail of our main character not really having her own name because she’s the counterpart to her royal sister. The small ways that they were denied agency as counterparts, but then you come to learn how much agency is also denied to the Royal sibling to get to live. And how this affects them. I thought that was so interesting and complicated and well done and such a unique theme to explore. It reminded me very much of watching house of the dragon and just eating up the complicated sibling relationships there. I don’t feel like that gets done in young adult fantasy enough in a way that I find unique and intriguing.
I was also incredibly impressed with the way that the author wrote Leda’s mother. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a conversation towards the end, where she explains how she sort of had to separate herself emotionally from her children, and I thought that that was written in a way that is so insightful to how it really feels to be a mom when you have gone through trauma surrounding motherhood, and how that affects your relationship with your children. As a mom? I felt things.
Is this the best written thing ever? I don’t know. I can’t tell you at the prose was anything that was phenomenal. It was not bad by any means, but I can’t say that this is the most beautifully written thing I’ve ever read. There might have been some stuff that was anachronistic in here but I’m not sure because I didn’t look it up. Like when were waffles invented? I have no idea. It’s honestly not a big deal but I’m just warning you that if you go into this book and you’re like hey why didn’t Rachel pick up on this… it’s because I got sucked into the dynamics combined with the stakes. When the exploration of certain relationship dynamics are done this well, it’s hard for me to find any fault in writing because I’m so engrossed with the relationships I’m reading about. This sort of reminded me of reading poison study by Marie Snyder(I think) several years ago. Where I just found everything to be so unique and thrilling. It also reminded me of the complicated siblings dynamics in even the darkest stars by Heather fawcett. Essentially this just sort of reminded me of a lot of great. Why a Books that I don’t talk about enough on my channel that I read before I had joined booktube. This feels like that era of YA fantasy if that makes sense.
I was incredibly impressed with the way the author ended it on a note that I was very tempted to go and get the second book immediately to find out what happens next both politically, and relationship wise. I can’t do that because I have a TBR that I need to stick to in order to get all my work done but if I did not have a TBR need to stick to I would be picking up the next book. I confess that I am genuinely worried that if I pick up the second book, it will have second book syndrome and not hit the same way that this one hit. Because certain villainous dynamics are gone (I don’t wanna spoil anything) I wonder how the author is going to be able to keep up that pacing and keep me on the edge of my seat the way she did in this book so well. So while I’m very eager to move on, I’m also very worried about moving on and not liking the second book which is actually the problem that I had in the second book of the poison study series, and why I never continued. Because we change settings and dynamics so much I worry that what I love about this book will not be in the second book. Certainly this is not a review of the second book. I’m just firing off my thoughts here.
I’m going to talk about this more in a video, but I just wanted to leave these thoughts here.
I was commissioned to read this, but that does not affect my rating.
https://youtu.be/2HPprNL7LCQ
I’ve been trying to figure out what to rate this because it’s definitely no less than a four, but I don’t know if it’s a 4.25 or not. I’m gonna just give it a four for Goodreads purposes.
TW: gore, violence, murder, child abuse, addictive substance use for pain management, dealing with withdrawal symptoms
This is one of the most unique premises I have ever come across in a Ya fantasy. This book is compulsively readable. The synopsis grabbed me, but we jump in and it’s immediately like we hit the ground running, and I didn’t feel like there was a lull at any point which really kept my attention. That was great because I’ve read a lot of books recently that I felt had some pacing issues and were padded up with unnecessary extra shit. This is a good job balancing out parts where there was not action or political intrigue with a really sweet romance that I found really refreshing. So just in general, I feel like the author balanced all of the things they set out to do really well: romance, plot/stakes, family dynamics, theme/conversation about agency. I felt like everything complemented the other parts of this well and we juggled it carefully. Or at least in a way that felt satisfying to me as the reader.
The main character and the love interest are so precious and sincere, and their feelings for each other are written in a way that is so genuine. The feelings are cultivated in a way that I felt was so well written and I was really rooting for them. I love the trope of “nerdy socially awkward guy meets more outgoing gal” but in this version she’s not so much more outgoing as she is running out of time in life and has no choice but to be a little bit more brave and abrupt. It’s one of those situations where you wonder if things have been different, if they really would have had a romance between the two of them at all. But you’re almost glad that the circumstances that are so dire have come up that place them in a position where you can watch them dance around feelings for each other even though the situation is not the best time for a romance to cultivate.
But those two are not the only relationship dynamic that I thought really jumped off the page here. We simply do not get enough books with layered and complicated sibling relationships. Which is something VERY much a favorite thing of mine. And here it comes up between many characters in a variety of ways, because there are so many siblings due to the nature of the plot. And I was really impressed with how those different relationships whether they were good or bad had me so captivated. Like even the small detail of our main character not really having her own name because she’s the counterpart to her royal sister. The small ways that they were denied agency as counterparts, but then you come to learn how much agency is also denied to the Royal sibling to get to live. And how this affects them. I thought that was so interesting and complicated and well done and such a unique theme to explore. It reminded me very much of watching house of the dragon and just eating up the complicated sibling relationships there. I don’t feel like that gets done in young adult fantasy enough in a way that I find unique and intriguing.
I was also incredibly impressed with the way that the author wrote Leda’s mother. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a conversation towards the end, where she explains how she sort of had to separate herself emotionally from her children, and I thought that that was written in a way that is so insightful to how it really feels to be a mom when you have gone through trauma surrounding motherhood, and how that affects your relationship with your children. As a mom? I felt things.
Is this the best written thing ever? I don’t know. I can’t tell you at the prose was anything that was phenomenal. It was not bad by any means, but I can’t say that this is the most beautifully written thing I’ve ever read. There might have been some stuff that was anachronistic in here but I’m not sure because I didn’t look it up. Like when were waffles invented? I have no idea. It’s honestly not a big deal but I’m just warning you that if you go into this book and you’re like hey why didn’t Rachel pick up on this… it’s because I got sucked into the dynamics combined with the stakes. When the exploration of certain relationship dynamics are done this well, it’s hard for me to find any fault in writing because I’m so engrossed with the relationships I’m reading about. This sort of reminded me of reading poison study by Marie Snyder(I think) several years ago. Where I just found everything to be so unique and thrilling. It also reminded me of the complicated siblings dynamics in even the darkest stars by Heather fawcett. Essentially this just sort of reminded me of a lot of great. Why a Books that I don’t talk about enough on my channel that I read before I had joined booktube. This feels like that era of YA fantasy if that makes sense.
I was incredibly impressed with the way the author ended it on a note that I was very tempted to go and get the second book immediately to find out what happens next both politically, and relationship wise. I can’t do that because I have a TBR that I need to stick to in order to get all my work done but if I did not have a TBR need to stick to I would be picking up the next book. I confess that I am genuinely worried that if I pick up the second book, it will have second book syndrome and not hit the same way that this one hit. Because certain villainous dynamics are gone (I don’t wanna spoil anything) I wonder how the author is going to be able to keep up that pacing and keep me on the edge of my seat the way she did in this book so well. So while I’m very eager to move on, I’m also very worried about moving on and not liking the second book which is actually the problem that I had in the second book of the poison study series, and why I never continued. Because we change settings and dynamics so much I worry that what I love about this book will not be in the second book. Certainly this is not a review of the second book. I’m just firing off my thoughts here.
I’m going to talk about this more in a video, but I just wanted to leave these thoughts here.
I was commissioned to read this, but that does not affect my rating.
February 20, 2023
My favourite things about 2023:
1. this book
2. end of list
You guys I seriously think this is a hidden gem of a debut!!
Recommended if you love:
🌟 a unique historical fantasy plot (or at least one I haven’t read before) filled with violence and betrayals and heart
🌟 a slow burn forbidden romance with a super academic, intelligent, stoic hero 🥰
🌟complex morally grey characters who mess with your emotions
🌟a likeable heroine who’s strong despite being viewed as weak by everyone else
1. this book
2. end of list
You guys I seriously think this is a hidden gem of a debut!!
Recommended if you love:
🌟 a unique historical fantasy plot (or at least one I haven’t read before) filled with violence and betrayals and heart
🌟 a slow burn forbidden romance with a super academic, intelligent, stoic hero 🥰
🌟complex morally grey characters who mess with your emotions
🌟a likeable heroine who’s strong despite being viewed as weak by everyone else
March 4, 2023
I was not prepared for this book! ❤️ this was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from heartbreak to betrayal to shocking reveals. This dark NA fantasy romance had me gasping for breath!
Each legitimate royal child in the kingdom of Viridiana has a respective counterpart. Counterparts are half-siblings, bastards of the king, that live alongside a royal child and will one day serve as a godly sacrifice, killed by the hands of their own flesh and blood. Leda is a counterpart of one of the most ruthless and violent royal offsprings, Azaria. After a lifetime of suffering, Leda hopes to escape this prison before Azaria herself ends her life. However the castle holds many dark secrets and we learn just how far one will go to escape their fate.
The suspense was dripping of the pages! Each day closer to Ledas ceremony brought more tension and fear to the reader. Put that together with the slowburn forbidden romance that blooms between Leda and the royal tutor, this book became unputdownable. The romance is not spicy, but the chemistry between these two characters was undeniable (to the level of hand twitch in Pride & Prejudice). These two didn’t even have to touch and I was already squealing like a pig by the subtle hints that they were so strongly affected in each others presence 😭❤️
The ending is bittersweet and makes me want to pick up the sequel immediately! I am a sucker for bittersweet endings. An incredible debut!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
Each legitimate royal child in the kingdom of Viridiana has a respective counterpart. Counterparts are half-siblings, bastards of the king, that live alongside a royal child and will one day serve as a godly sacrifice, killed by the hands of their own flesh and blood. Leda is a counterpart of one of the most ruthless and violent royal offsprings, Azaria. After a lifetime of suffering, Leda hopes to escape this prison before Azaria herself ends her life. However the castle holds many dark secrets and we learn just how far one will go to escape their fate.
The suspense was dripping of the pages! Each day closer to Ledas ceremony brought more tension and fear to the reader. Put that together with the slowburn forbidden romance that blooms between Leda and the royal tutor, this book became unputdownable. The romance is not spicy, but the chemistry between these two characters was undeniable (to the level of hand twitch in Pride & Prejudice). These two didn’t even have to touch and I was already squealing like a pig by the subtle hints that they were so strongly affected in each others presence 😭❤️
The ending is bittersweet and makes me want to pick up the sequel immediately! I am a sucker for bittersweet endings. An incredible debut!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
May 29, 2023
I went into this book thinking it was a fantasy romance, however I would say it's more like a YA fantasy that has romance!
Things I really enjoyed
- the setting and the plot
- our main characters relationships and how trauma affects those.
- the overall concept!
What didn't work for me
- the forbidden romance, it just felt like insta love.
I will strongly be recommending this one to older YA readers. I thought this was really fun!
If you want my full thoughts it's in this vlog on my channel
Spinner Wheel Picks My Romantsy Reads 72 Hours | 72 Hours In The Smut Den Readathon
https://youtu.be/b4tDQnCsCmY
Things I really enjoyed
- the setting and the plot
- our main characters relationships and how trauma affects those.
- the overall concept!
What didn't work for me
- the forbidden romance, it just felt like insta love.
I will strongly be recommending this one to older YA readers. I thought this was really fun!
If you want my full thoughts it's in this vlog on my channel
Spinner Wheel Picks My Romantsy Reads 72 Hours | 72 Hours In The Smut Den Readathon
https://youtu.be/b4tDQnCsCmY
August 10, 2023
"You know that I can´t spend a day without listening to you loudly point out mistakes in books or curse at your knitting or laugh when you lose at chess. And I know that you want me with you too."
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Leda.
For some reason I couldn´t really connect with Leda for almost the entirety of the book. It was only by the ending where I was like "yes. Finally some personality!". Most of the time Leda is a bit of a follower and a "blend into the crowd" kind of girl.
With side characters, as much as the author tried to make her unlikeable, I liked Azaria the best. Not her character in particular, but I was really invested in her background story, so I am kind of sad that it never really got told.....
I liked the idea of the plot and I like the potential of what this book could have been, however the execution fell a bit flat for me. The book feels a bit long and the pacing quite slow due to the entirety of the book taking place at only one place. This absolutely never changes. Some things that happened during the plot came out of nowhere for me and some of the characters felt a little bit two dimentional. The romance was sadly barely there, we get a slight hint towards the ending, but in terms of romance I would say this is more a YA book. I would argue that it felt like an average fantasy YA read.
Overall it´s an okay book, but nothing out of the ordinary.
trigger warnings: domestic abuse, addiction, kidnapping, torture, murder/death, loss of loved ones
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Leda.
For some reason I couldn´t really connect with Leda for almost the entirety of the book. It was only by the ending where I was like "yes. Finally some personality!". Most of the time Leda is a bit of a follower and a "blend into the crowd" kind of girl.
With side characters, as much as the author tried to make her unlikeable, I liked Azaria the best. Not her character in particular, but I was really invested in her background story, so I am kind of sad that it never really got told.....
I liked the idea of the plot and I like the potential of what this book could have been, however the execution fell a bit flat for me. The book feels a bit long and the pacing quite slow due to the entirety of the book taking place at only one place. This absolutely never changes. Some things that happened during the plot came out of nowhere for me and some of the characters felt a little bit two dimentional. The romance was sadly barely there, we get a slight hint towards the ending, but in terms of romance I would say this is more a YA book. I would argue that it felt like an average fantasy YA read.
Overall it´s an okay book, but nothing out of the ordinary.
trigger warnings: domestic abuse, addiction, kidnapping, torture, murder/death, loss of loved ones
March 4, 2023
Y’all. I truly don’t even know where to begin with this book…it was easy 5 stars. And easily the MOST unique fantasy book I’ve ever read. Like, I’m sitting here trying to come up with comp titles and I’ve got nothing. It is THAT original. And in a world with no shortage of Fae and romance and magic, it was so refreshing to read something wholly new and fresh. Please keep reading to find the synopsis and pleaseeee pick this one up! I cannot wait to see where this series goes.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 1, 2023
Ugh I’m struggling with this one because I did enjoy it initially and I really enjoyed Azaria’s character (the FMCs sister) wayyyy more than any other character in the book. Had this been in her POV I would have probably liked this more..
The premise Is intriguing, it was dark at the beginning and I was keen to know more so I kept reading- but the insta love and overall romance was boring, our FMC was a bit annoying, she seemed to be more of an observer than actually doing anything useful & then the ending was just all over the place.
Had the next book in Azaria’s POV I would have continued with the series but it’s not & the current main characters just don’t interest me enough so.. But anyway it’s on kindle unlimited and would maybe be a good book for somebody that’s just starting out in the fantasy romance genre💫
The premise Is intriguing, it was dark at the beginning and I was keen to know more so I kept reading- but the insta love and overall romance was boring, our FMC was a bit annoying, she seemed to be more of an observer than actually doing anything useful & then the ending was just all over the place.
Had the next book in Azaria’s POV I would have continued with the series but it’s not & the current main characters just don’t interest me enough so.. But anyway it’s on kindle unlimited and would maybe be a good book for somebody that’s just starting out in the fantasy romance genre💫
July 1, 2024
3.75 stars
i really liked this. the writing was good,compelling story, and ill definitely continue. i like the fmc i just wanna see a little more from her. excited to see where this goes.
i really liked this. the writing was good,compelling story, and ill definitely continue. i like the fmc i just wanna see a little more from her. excited to see where this goes.
October 1, 2023
2,5 stars. It was fiiiiine, okayy??
Another book I picked up because the MC has to deal with pain management and abuses painkillers. To be fair, that part was done really well (I did compare it to Fourth Wing especially). The descriptions of pain, how it is immobilising, the addiction to opioids, the withdrawal – chef's kiss. I felt kinship with Leda.
I also enjoyed the incredibly complex relationship between Azaria and Leda. There was so much to unpack there and there were no straightforward answers. I wish we'd gotten even more of it, but I imagine the sequel does a good job providing on that front.
So, why the low rating? Honestly, I'm not sure myself. In the end it felt shallow and mediocre. The ending made sense and I liked it, but I guess I didn't really feel attached to any of the characters. Phyrrus was perfectly fine. So was Leda, though I fail to see what makes her so special. Many things were fine. Maybe it is, yet again, that there was potential and... it was not fulfilled. Also I spoiled the second book for myself because I felt disappointed, and that was enough for me to know I don't want to continue the series (I sometimes do that, spoil things for myself. If I like the direction, I carry on. If I don't, I'm out. So the spoiling itself is never the problem).
I am too old for these stereotypical YA cliffhangers and plotlines. Too damn old.
Another book I picked up because the MC has to deal with pain management and abuses painkillers. To be fair, that part was done really well (I did compare it to Fourth Wing especially). The descriptions of pain, how it is immobilising, the addiction to opioids, the withdrawal – chef's kiss. I felt kinship with Leda.
I also enjoyed the incredibly complex relationship between Azaria and Leda. There was so much to unpack there and there were no straightforward answers. I wish we'd gotten even more of it, but I imagine the sequel does a good job providing on that front.
So, why the low rating? Honestly, I'm not sure myself. In the end it felt shallow and mediocre. The ending made sense and I liked it, but I guess I didn't really feel attached to any of the characters. Phyrrus was perfectly fine. So was Leda, though I fail to see what makes her so special. Many things were fine. Maybe it is, yet again, that there was potential and... it was not fulfilled. Also I spoiled the second book for myself because I felt disappointed, and that was enough for me to know I don't want to continue the series (I sometimes do that, spoil things for myself. If I like the direction, I carry on. If I don't, I'm out. So the spoiling itself is never the problem).
I am too old for these stereotypical YA cliffhangers and plotlines. Too damn old.
January 30, 2023
I had the privilege to be an ARC reader through BookSirens for Ella Pyne's Counterpart and this book did not disappoint. I finished it in two days (I started late on day one). I was first intrigued by the books synopsis of the life of Leda. I was introduced to a bizarre king who ruled a bizarre kingdom with his bizarre ceremonies and lots of secrets which I totally loved. Leda is a strong FMC whose journey only strengthens her as she faces incredible odds (that are not in her favor). Pyne has created an interesting and detailed world that I hope to revisit again. Pyne's characters are unique and relatable which make you fall in love with them or hope they get unalive. It was also refreshing to read a book that focused on just being a human and all that entails. I highly recommend you put this book at the top of your reading list and purchase it on the release date.
March 9, 2023
If you love ROMANTASY and slow burn you’re going to love this. It reminded me a lot of Kendare Blake’s Three dark crowns series in the aspect the siblings have to sacrifice each other. The world was so unique and the building lovely. Extremely slow burn because it is forbidden romance. Emotional roller coaster. I highly recommend.
February 5, 2023
"This man, with the most extensive vocabulary she'd ever heard, was struggling to form a sentence as he looked at her."
Read the blurb and tell me this doesn't sound so intriguing! I can tell you that it was exactly that! For a debut novel this author has done spectacularly well to deliver complex and morally grey characters like no other I've read about, combine that with some amazing slow burn forbidden love and a completely original and entertaining plot you've got yourself a really great read!
I finished this book in one day. It was so good! So original! I've never read anything like it before and found myself constantly wanting to learn more about the world, politics and characters.
I loved the plot! I am that type of person who loves a bit of trauma in characters and boy did the author provide that! Each character had their own backstory and corruption that shaped who they were. It left you guessing and was so hard to judge them because of how complex they were. I really did love each character even though they all had their flaws! I would definitely say that they were all morally grey. I was especially interested in Azaria! her character was so amazing and crazy that I just couldn't help but love her! Our FMC Leda was a strong character and I love how the circumstances she was in shaped her personality, and her interactions with Pyrrhus (forbidden love anyone?) I do wish we delved a little more into his character because I felt it was brushed over a little but I did love his personality.
The ending was actually perfect! It was bittersweet and left a lot of things to be fleshed out in the next book. It really made me realise how good bittersweet endings can be! I cannot wait for the next book and am excited to see where the author takes Leda's story next!
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens but I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read the blurb and tell me this doesn't sound so intriguing! I can tell you that it was exactly that! For a debut novel this author has done spectacularly well to deliver complex and morally grey characters like no other I've read about, combine that with some amazing slow burn forbidden love and a completely original and entertaining plot you've got yourself a really great read!
I finished this book in one day. It was so good! So original! I've never read anything like it before and found myself constantly wanting to learn more about the world, politics and characters.
I loved the plot! I am that type of person who loves a bit of trauma in characters and boy did the author provide that! Each character had their own backstory and corruption that shaped who they were. It left you guessing and was so hard to judge them because of how complex they were. I really did love each character even though they all had their flaws! I would definitely say that they were all morally grey. I was especially interested in Azaria! her character was so amazing and crazy that I just couldn't help but love her! Our FMC Leda was a strong character and I love how the circumstances she was in shaped her personality, and her interactions with Pyrrhus (forbidden love anyone?) I do wish we delved a little more into his character because I felt it was brushed over a little but I did love his personality.
The ending was actually perfect! It was bittersweet and left a lot of things to be fleshed out in the next book. It really made me realise how good bittersweet endings can be! I cannot wait for the next book and am excited to see where the author takes Leda's story next!
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens but I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 2, 2023
Counterpart by Ella Pyne is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The premise is what caught my attention, but the intricacies of Leda’s relationships are what made me devour the novel in a few short hours. The characterization of Leda’s siblings, Azaria especially, was well thought out, and I found myself looking forward to learning more about each counterpart I encountered. I cannot wait to discover what happens next in Leda’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
November 18, 2023DNF at 50% - couldn’t keep going and really wasn’t into the book. I wish I could’ve found a way to finish but it was so flat and dull.
February 27, 2023
A story you can easily relate to when you feel like life is just happening to you instead of you controlling what happens.
Leda's adventures encouraged me to make bolder decisions in life and I am almost certain that this exciting, adventurous story can change your life as well for the better of course. :D.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Leda's adventures encouraged me to make bolder decisions in life and I am almost certain that this exciting, adventurous story can change your life as well for the better of course. :D.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 4, 2023
4.5 stars
I feel a book hangover coming and I don’t know how to stop it.
This book had me gasping and screaming from the very beginning once the author artfully immerged the reader into the brutal world of Counterpart, first book in the New Adult series, The Gemdark Dynasty. I adore sibling bonds in books and family bonds in general, so when I read the King made a pact with the gods for royal blood and has his royal children sacrificing their siblings born from his mistresses, aka the Counterparts…it made me strongly dislike this character like I’ve disliked few others. We’re talking about The Regent from Captive Prince levels of hate. And this is only one of the things that makes this book so good—the fact that I felt strongly for the characters. They’re all so fascinating and complex, starting with Leda herself, and all her little contradictions. She’s a young woman who feels fiercely but forces herself to stay invisible so that her younger siblings won’t grow attached to her—and yet, despite her best (or wost) efforts, it’s impossible not to love her. Her brother Eber would do anything to see her safe, despite sharing her same fate as a fellow Counterpart. Her sister, Princess Azaria, the one meant to sacrifice her, has a mean streak and is barbaric to others, and while she’s also hurt Leda, she also loves her a lot. Phyrrus, the royal tutor for the eldest royal children, shouldn’t even know her name and yet he knows who she is and can’t help but notice her. Leda’s thirst for knowledge, her quest for freedom—for a life—her determination, the war between being compassionate and being desperately selfish, turned her into one of my favorite female protagonists ever.
While the worldbuilding was phenomenal, what truly hooked me to the book was the complex and relationships, starting from the sibling relationships. All the children have complex dynamics. The royal children often fight among themselves, encouraged by their horrible father to fight among each other, to compete for his attention, and to just be plain brutal. The Counterparts, on the other hand, try hard not to form bonds with each other because their destiny is to die eventually at the hand of their royal siblings. This doesn’t always work, of course. Then there are the dynamics between the royal children and their Counterparts, forced to grow together until one has to sacrifice the other. Leda and Azaria’s relationship, for example, is one of the most complex, even toxic sibling relationships I’ve ever read (and Leda is fully aware of this, too.) They hurt each other all the time, but they’re also very protective of each other. From a reader perspective, it was fascinating. From a human level, I wanted to protect them. They deserved better from the world.
Before I make this review too long, let me just scream for the romance subplot in this book. It was the most delicious slow-burn forbidden romance I’ve read. The tension was so good, and Phyrrus, my beautiful scholar with many hidden depths, has become a book boyfriend. I love him, I love him and Leda together, I need them to be happy! *cries a river*
I recommend this to all fantasy lovers! The book has a bit of a slow start, but it beautifully builds up the world and character dynamics, and the tension is always rising!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
I feel a book hangover coming and I don’t know how to stop it.
This book had me gasping and screaming from the very beginning once the author artfully immerged the reader into the brutal world of Counterpart, first book in the New Adult series, The Gemdark Dynasty. I adore sibling bonds in books and family bonds in general, so when I read the King made a pact with the gods for royal blood and has his royal children sacrificing their siblings born from his mistresses, aka the Counterparts…it made me strongly dislike this character like I’ve disliked few others. We’re talking about The Regent from Captive Prince levels of hate. And this is only one of the things that makes this book so good—the fact that I felt strongly for the characters. They’re all so fascinating and complex, starting with Leda herself, and all her little contradictions. She’s a young woman who feels fiercely but forces herself to stay invisible so that her younger siblings won’t grow attached to her—and yet, despite her best (or wost) efforts, it’s impossible not to love her. Her brother Eber would do anything to see her safe, despite sharing her same fate as a fellow Counterpart. Her sister, Princess Azaria, the one meant to sacrifice her, has a mean streak and is barbaric to others, and while she’s also hurt Leda, she also loves her a lot. Phyrrus, the royal tutor for the eldest royal children, shouldn’t even know her name and yet he knows who she is and can’t help but notice her. Leda’s thirst for knowledge, her quest for freedom—for a life—her determination, the war between being compassionate and being desperately selfish, turned her into one of my favorite female protagonists ever.
While the worldbuilding was phenomenal, what truly hooked me to the book was the complex and relationships, starting from the sibling relationships. All the children have complex dynamics. The royal children often fight among themselves, encouraged by their horrible father to fight among each other, to compete for his attention, and to just be plain brutal. The Counterparts, on the other hand, try hard not to form bonds with each other because their destiny is to die eventually at the hand of their royal siblings. This doesn’t always work, of course. Then there are the dynamics between the royal children and their Counterparts, forced to grow together until one has to sacrifice the other. Leda and Azaria’s relationship, for example, is one of the most complex, even toxic sibling relationships I’ve ever read (and Leda is fully aware of this, too.) They hurt each other all the time, but they’re also very protective of each other. From a reader perspective, it was fascinating. From a human level, I wanted to protect them. They deserved better from the world.
Before I make this review too long, let me just scream for the romance subplot in this book. It was the most delicious slow-burn forbidden romance I’ve read. The tension was so good, and Phyrrus, my beautiful scholar with many hidden depths, has become a book boyfriend. I love him, I love him and Leda together, I need them to be happy! *cries a river*
I recommend this to all fantasy lovers! The book has a bit of a slow start, but it beautifully builds up the world and character dynamics, and the tension is always rising!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
July 11, 2024
Actual rating is 4.4
Picked up this book based on ReadswithRachel's super enthusiastic review from sometime last year.
Leda, the MC, is an engaging character. The only thing that makes her 'special' is the fact that she's one of the king's bastards--which, in turn, gives her the 'opportunity' to exist only to be sacrificed. Instead of turning her resentment into pure bitterness, Leda tries to figure out a way to escape. I liked her personality, her practicality, and her flaws as well. The dynamic she has with her love interest becomes more complex as the story nears the end.
I also enjoyed how PLOTTY this book is. Unfortch for me, I truly don't like the current trend of books that exist on "vibes only". I need something meatier and this book totally delivers in that front. The story has good pacing and the majority of the characters have surprise depths. Out of the 20 or so characters in the story, there are 4 who are exactly who they seem to be from the beginning.
My one true negative has to do with a scene that is meant to be an emotional climax. Leda and {character] have a convo full of reveals and explanations. However, my reaction to [character's] words was a ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trigger/Content warnings:
TL;DR: A fantastic first novel in an already finished YA fantasy trilogy. I read it way faster than I thought I would because it's THAT readable. The majority of the characters' actions made sense. Sure, there were a handful of plot holes, but i got the sense that these will get resolved in Books 2 and 3.
I'm extremely curious as to how the story will continue (given the ending in Book 1). My best guess is that the next novel will be all abt consenquences and I'm READY FOR IT. I read this book via KU.
Picked up this book based on ReadswithRachel's super enthusiastic review from sometime last year.
Leda, the MC, is an engaging character. The only thing that makes her 'special' is the fact that she's one of the king's bastards--which, in turn, gives her the 'opportunity' to exist only to be sacrificed. Instead of turning her resentment into pure bitterness, Leda tries to figure out a way to escape. I liked her personality, her practicality, and her flaws as well. The dynamic she has with her love interest becomes more complex as the story nears the end.
I also enjoyed how PLOTTY this book is. Unfortch for me, I truly don't like the current trend of books that exist on "vibes only". I need something meatier and this book totally delivers in that front. The story has good pacing and the majority of the characters have surprise depths. Out of the 20 or so characters in the story, there are 4 who are exactly who they seem to be from the beginning.
My one true negative has to do with a scene that is meant to be an emotional climax. Leda and {character] have a convo full of reveals and explanations. However, my reaction to [character's] words was a ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trigger/Content warnings:
TL;DR: A fantastic first novel in an already finished YA fantasy trilogy. I read it way faster than I thought I would because it's THAT readable. The majority of the characters' actions made sense. Sure, there were a handful of plot holes, but i got the sense that these will get resolved in Books 2 and 3.
I'm extremely curious as to how the story will continue (given the ending in Book 1). My best guess is that the next novel will be all abt consenquences and I'm READY FOR IT. I read this book via KU.
August 7, 2024
I think it's 4,5. This is what I expect to find in a romantasy. It has a good world development, not that deep, but not shallow in a way that I keep asking for more information. The romance is a slow burn with stakes, and Leda, the female main character, is not 100% sure she can trust Pyrrhus (my god, what a silly name, lol), the male main character. As the daughter of one of the king's royal mistress, she's bound to be sacrificed to the Gods in the following year, so her sister can fulfill her role as one of the royal heirs But Leda is planning her escape, and she can't risk the king discovering her plan.
The sibling relationship is so good, so full of angst, I was rooting for a redemption arc. Azaria and Leda reminded me of Zuko and Azula, if Azula had some redeemable qualities. And of course there's mommy issues, daddy issues, Pyrrhus becomes the second friend Leda ever had, and the friendship and impossibility of their relationship made me cry a little bit.
It's not a 5 stars because I wish the social aspects had more impact, that the parallels between fiction world and real world were explored. Not that there isn't is just that it's not deep. I still really liked the book, and immediately grabbed book 2 on KU (the whole series is available for free with KU).
edit to add that: Leda is described as a plain girl with brown hair, this is so rare in romantasy I thought it was worth mentioning.
The sibling relationship is so good, so full of angst, I was rooting for a redemption arc. Azaria and Leda reminded me of Zuko and Azula, if Azula had some redeemable qualities. And of course there's mommy issues, daddy issues, Pyrrhus becomes the second friend Leda ever had, and the friendship and impossibility of their relationship made me cry a little bit.
It's not a 5 stars because I wish the social aspects had more impact, that the parallels between fiction world and real world were explored. Not that there isn't is just that it's not deep. I still really liked the book, and immediately grabbed book 2 on KU (the whole series is available for free with KU).
edit to add that: Leda is described as a plain girl with brown hair, this is so rare in romantasy I thought it was worth mentioning.
August 28, 2023
Underrated gem alert 🚨 A solidly entertaining, ruthless read that surprisingly has so much heart. We have bargains with the gods, a stoic scholarly love interest and incredibly complicated family dynamics. I’m so glad I picked this up.
The story follows Leda, the half sibling of a princess who is marked to be sacrificed to the world’s faceless gods. We follow Leda as she comes to terms with her impending death at the hands of her half sister Azaria. As the date looms closer Leda becomes more desperate for escape from the corrupt and vile court.
It’s heavy in places and doesn’t pull any punches but what I loved was how unique this set up was. The entire royal family has a “counterpart” - a half sibling who will be sacrificed to the gods. What really made this such an enthralling read was the relationships between the “true” royals and their disposable counterpart. Truly morally grey and twisted - there’s genuine love as they’ve grown up together but also a sense of possession from being raised in such a cutthroat environment. This dynamic is done so well and is balanced with some laugh out loud frank-snarky banter that makes it feel realistic in some ways - like bickering amongst siblings.
The romance is at once soft and fiery. It never overwhelms the story but is a beautiful bright spot as the pace picks up and the action ramps up.
All in all, a great read that feels really different to all the freakin’ shadow magic and fae based stories inundating the fantasy scene at the moment (no shade, I eat that up but your girl needs variety).
The story follows Leda, the half sibling of a princess who is marked to be sacrificed to the world’s faceless gods. We follow Leda as she comes to terms with her impending death at the hands of her half sister Azaria. As the date looms closer Leda becomes more desperate for escape from the corrupt and vile court.
It’s heavy in places and doesn’t pull any punches but what I loved was how unique this set up was. The entire royal family has a “counterpart” - a half sibling who will be sacrificed to the gods. What really made this such an enthralling read was the relationships between the “true” royals and their disposable counterpart. Truly morally grey and twisted - there’s genuine love as they’ve grown up together but also a sense of possession from being raised in such a cutthroat environment. This dynamic is done so well and is balanced with some laugh out loud frank-snarky banter that makes it feel realistic in some ways - like bickering amongst siblings.
The romance is at once soft and fiery. It never overwhelms the story but is a beautiful bright spot as the pace picks up and the action ramps up.
All in all, a great read that feels really different to all the freakin’ shadow magic and fae based stories inundating the fantasy scene at the moment (no shade, I eat that up but your girl needs variety).
July 29, 2024
An unique premise with interesting world building and complex relationship dynamics. It had me engrossed enough to finish it in one day, although I kind of slogged through the ending. Unfortunately, I felt the author didn’t focus enough on the most interesting one— the relationship between the protagonist Leda and her sister Azaria. I hope it is explored more in the sequel. However, my biggest qualm with this book was how Leda was not really an active protagonist— especially for the final 2/3rd of the book, where it feels like she is just dragged around through random events. Things just happen to her. The first line in the book actually alludes to this, but then for the first part of the book at least, she was making plans and decisions. Then it falls off. At the end she does make a decision, but it felt anticlimactic. Also, the book loses all subtlety in the climax, where characters just go out and say their motivations and explain everything that happened in a way that felt forced and unnecessary. Did we really need to know? It felt like listening to a villain give a speech. Still a promising story with heart. I will be reading the sequel.
January 26, 2023
Ella Pyne is a stellar author with a stellar book. I read Counterpart in two days, and it only took me that long because I started it too late on the first day. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and wants to read a unique story with realistic characters. Leda is such a flawed character, but so are all the others; that's why I love her so much. Her circumstances turn her into who she is, and when her freedom is at her fingertips, nothing can change what she chooses to do with that chance. She stays true to her character, and when I finished the book, all I wanted to do was keep reading so that I could discover what happens next.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Counterpart from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Counterpart from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
January 4, 2023
I am almost shaking as I write this review. It has by far been one of my favorite fantasy books I've read in a very long time.
The romance was my favorite trope (Forbidden Love), and it was swoony and not graphic like many others on the market.
It was ORIGINAL! Not a retelling, not some weird fated-mates knockoff, but a book on a whole other level.
That being said the ending has me irrationally irate and I need the second book immediately. 10/10 would recommend.
I received this book as a free ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The romance was my favorite trope (Forbidden Love), and it was swoony and not graphic like many others on the market.
It was ORIGINAL! Not a retelling, not some weird fated-mates knockoff, but a book on a whole other level.
That being said the ending has me irrationally irate and I need the second book immediately. 10/10 would recommend.
I received this book as a free ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 24, 2023
This book had tyranny, fanatics, violence, love and rebellion. Leda is a Counterpart to her half sister Azaria. Azaria’s destiny is to kill Leda to show her loyalty to the realm. With rumours of rebels reaching the kings ears, he brings forward the ceremony to please the gods and demonstrate Azarias readiness to lead and conquer. Leda’s plans for escape slowly diminish and her only comfort is books and the royal tutor Pyrrhus who agrees to teach her about the world while she has a few months to live.
This was a brilliant read and highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasy with a side of romance. Lots of twists and turns of characters who play cards close to their chest. Frustrated that I have to wait for book 2. This will be an amazing series.
Received a complimentary copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only and provided a review voluntarily.
This was a brilliant read and highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasy with a side of romance. Lots of twists and turns of characters who play cards close to their chest. Frustrated that I have to wait for book 2. This will be an amazing series.
Received a complimentary copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only and provided a review voluntarily.
April 25, 2023
*4/5 Stars
For a moment there, I almost stopped reading and called it a day before the last two chapters because I just did not want to know what happens in the end.
Gosh, this book got me sweating and all from nerves.
For a moment there, I almost stopped reading and called it a day before the last two chapters because I just did not want to know what happens in the end.
Gosh, this book got me sweating and all from nerves.
Want to read
September 29, 2023Alright the synopsis has me in a chokehold
November 13, 2023
4
This was indeed a solid debut. This gem sparkles.
This was indeed a solid debut. This gem sparkles.
November 24, 2023
I enjoyed the concept, about how the siblings had to kill one another. I thought it was unique but I just wish it was more on like every level. More on the brutality, more background, more slow burn, more romance. I wished the FMC was more bad ass, I loved her sister who she was a counterpart for …loved her! But I still wanted more from her, more dialogue, more character development. I felt like everything was clashed together for the sake of time, but I feel like this could have been longer and been fully developed. The characters I thought were so interesting but in the end their development was not enough. Because of that I gave it a 3 might even be 2.5.
February 21, 2023
Wow.
I truly believe this could be the best YA book of the year and I'm here for it.
I'll be following this author without doubt. The book is perfection. The story isn't convoluted. The romance is natural. The politics are realistic. The characters were really interesting. Everything had a purpose. When I say I was enthralled by this book, I was reading it at stop lights. I could not put it down. I was so invested in the characters and story. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.
I truly believe this could be the best YA book of the year and I'm here for it.
I'll be following this author without doubt. The book is perfection. The story isn't convoluted. The romance is natural. The politics are realistic. The characters were really interesting. Everything had a purpose. When I say I was enthralled by this book, I was reading it at stop lights. I could not put it down. I was so invested in the characters and story. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.
July 16, 2023
I was waiting to collect my thoughts before writing a review, but I can’t get this book out of my head omg. It’s so so so incredible and I wish it was more known!!!!!! It deserves way more hype!!!! 100/10 stars! ⭐️Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year!!
First of all, I wanna say that I fucking love the writing style. I can’t even explain it, but it itched my brain and was just so satisfying, easy to read while still retaining huge amounts of depth.
The EMOTIONS were on another level. The way that I felt visceral horror, grief, and desperation through Leda’s perspective was crazy. The situation in this story is so so so dark and messed up, and I loved that I was able to connect through her writing with our MC.
The issue with a lot of fantasies is that they don’t write trauma dumps very well, but that is absolutely not the case in this story. Never did I feel a “woe is me” vibe from Leda. She was such a compelling character that I just had to root her.
Essentially, this story is a building block for the rest of the series. Ngl I was surprised at how it ended, and I was so pleased that it didn’t follow the stereotypical linear plot line of so many fantasies. Leda is not pulled into the rebellion or anything you would expect, and I love that. Not only is it a bit realistic, but it keeps me so excited to see how this series will possibly play out.
Moving on, the characters are all written so beautifully and complex!!!! The royal children are CUNTS but you can’t help but feel awful for them too. And I love that Leda eventually realizes that there are no winners under their father’s empire. All of them have been hurt and broken as a result.
Azaria is one of the most interesting parts of the book for sure. She’s horrible but so extraordinarily fascinating, like I just wanna know what’s going on in her mind. She’s cold, vicious, toxic, and yet you can’t help but feel for the relationship between her and Leda, no matter how codependent it is.
She truly reminds me of Azula actually!!!! (Omg even their names are similar)
PYRRHUS!!!!! 🫶💗💕💕💕 THATS MY MAN!!!! UGH I LOVE THE COLD REPRESSED ACADEMIC TYPES WHO ONLY LOSE THEIR COMPOSURE FOR THEIR GIRLS!!!!!!!!!! AND HES ANTI FASCIST!!!!!!!!! HES 10000X BETTER THAN EVERY OTHER FANTASY BOOK MAN!!!!!!
SOMEHOW IN 308 PAGES ELLA PYNE CREATED A BEAUTIFUL SLOW BURN THAT HAD ME HOOKED!!!!!!! I LOVED THEIR CHEMISTRY, THE FRIENDSHIP!!!!!
Usually in fantasy, the male love interest goes out of his way for her for absolutely no reason, other than she somehow caught his eye.
BUT IN THIS BOOK THEY BECOME FRIENDS AND IT FLOWS SO NATURALLY BUT THERES STILL SOME SPICE BC ITS FORBIDDEN ITS LIKE THE PERFECT FORMULA!!!!!!!!
Omg I wish I was a huge influencer so I could promote this book bc it deserves all the love. And i haven’t even read the sequel yet omg!!! I’m so excited to see more of the worldbuilding what comes next for Leda!!! I instantly ordered a paperback right after I finished Counterpart!
Overall, this book is a masterfully crafted dark fantasy with a heaping dose of family drama, forbidden romance, horror, tragedy (all of which I adore), and I cannot wait for the adventure in the next one!!
Also!!
If you enjoy historical manhwas, you would love this!!!!
First of all, I wanna say that I fucking love the writing style. I can’t even explain it, but it itched my brain and was just so satisfying, easy to read while still retaining huge amounts of depth.
The EMOTIONS were on another level. The way that I felt visceral horror, grief, and desperation through Leda’s perspective was crazy. The situation in this story is so so so dark and messed up, and I loved that I was able to connect through her writing with our MC.
The issue with a lot of fantasies is that they don’t write trauma dumps very well, but that is absolutely not the case in this story. Never did I feel a “woe is me” vibe from Leda. She was such a compelling character that I just had to root her.
Essentially, this story is a building block for the rest of the series. Ngl I was surprised at how it ended, and I was so pleased that it didn’t follow the stereotypical linear plot line of so many fantasies. Leda is not pulled into the rebellion or anything you would expect, and I love that. Not only is it a bit realistic, but it keeps me so excited to see how this series will possibly play out.
Moving on, the characters are all written so beautifully and complex!!!! The royal children are CUNTS but you can’t help but feel awful for them too. And I love that Leda eventually realizes that there are no winners under their father’s empire. All of them have been hurt and broken as a result.
Azaria is one of the most interesting parts of the book for sure. She’s horrible but so extraordinarily fascinating, like I just wanna know what’s going on in her mind. She’s cold, vicious, toxic, and yet you can’t help but feel for the relationship between her and Leda, no matter how codependent it is.
She truly reminds me of Azula actually!!!! (Omg even their names are similar)
PYRRHUS!!!!! 🫶💗💕💕💕 THATS MY MAN!!!! UGH I LOVE THE COLD REPRESSED ACADEMIC TYPES WHO ONLY LOSE THEIR COMPOSURE FOR THEIR GIRLS!!!!!!!!!! AND HES ANTI FASCIST!!!!!!!!! HES 10000X BETTER THAN EVERY OTHER FANTASY BOOK MAN!!!!!!
SOMEHOW IN 308 PAGES ELLA PYNE CREATED A BEAUTIFUL SLOW BURN THAT HAD ME HOOKED!!!!!!! I LOVED THEIR CHEMISTRY, THE FRIENDSHIP!!!!!
Usually in fantasy, the male love interest goes out of his way for her for absolutely no reason, other than she somehow caught his eye.
BUT IN THIS BOOK THEY BECOME FRIENDS AND IT FLOWS SO NATURALLY BUT THERES STILL SOME SPICE BC ITS FORBIDDEN ITS LIKE THE PERFECT FORMULA!!!!!!!!
Omg I wish I was a huge influencer so I could promote this book bc it deserves all the love. And i haven’t even read the sequel yet omg!!! I’m so excited to see more of the worldbuilding what comes next for Leda!!! I instantly ordered a paperback right after I finished Counterpart!
Overall, this book is a masterfully crafted dark fantasy with a heaping dose of family drama, forbidden romance, horror, tragedy (all of which I adore), and I cannot wait for the adventure in the next one!!
Also!!
If you enjoy historical manhwas, you would love this!!!!
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