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The Curse of the Blessed #1
This Dark Alliance
An Heiress. An Assassin. A Quest for Vengeance.
They say if you want a job done properly, don't do it yourself; hire a Blessed to do it for you.
When the kingdom of Erala found itself full of humans exceptionally talented in various arts, they were revered as saviors. Centuries later, they're no more than slaves. For the right amount of gold, a Blessed can make you rich. It can build you a mansion. It can turn your debts to sums.
But when wealthy heiress Elynor of Bast arrives at the Sanctum of the Blessed, she isn't looking for a tailor or a storyteller. She's searching for a Blessed assassin.
It's been months since anyone required Sharek's murderous services. With Elynor's contract, he sees a chance to be useful - and for freedom. But when the mark goes awry, Sharek and Elynor find themselves in possession of secrets that could lead their kingdom to war. In order to prevent it, a Blessed and his hirer must learn to work together-and in the journey, learn who they truly are.
They say if you want a job done properly, don't do it yourself; hire a Blessed to do it for you.
When the kingdom of Erala found itself full of humans exceptionally talented in various arts, they were revered as saviors. Centuries later, they're no more than slaves. For the right amount of gold, a Blessed can make you rich. It can build you a mansion. It can turn your debts to sums.
But when wealthy heiress Elynor of Bast arrives at the Sanctum of the Blessed, she isn't looking for a tailor or a storyteller. She's searching for a Blessed assassin.
It's been months since anyone required Sharek's murderous services. With Elynor's contract, he sees a chance to be useful - and for freedom. But when the mark goes awry, Sharek and Elynor find themselves in possession of secrets that could lead their kingdom to war. In order to prevent it, a Blessed and his hirer must learn to work together-and in the journey, learn who they truly are.
230 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2023
7 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Renee Dugan
16 books176 followersRenee Dugan is an Indiana-based fantasy author who grew up reading fantasy books, chasing stray cats, and writing stories full of dashing heroes and evil masterminds.
Now with over a decade of professional editing, administrative work, and writing every spare second under her belt, she has authored THE CHAOS CIRCUS, a portal fantasy novel, and THE STARCHASER SAGA, an epic high fantasy series.
Living with her husband, son, and not-so-stray cats in the magical Midwest, she continues to explore new worlds and spends her time in this one encouraging and helping other writers on their journey to fulfilling their dreams.
Now with over a decade of professional editing, administrative work, and writing every spare second under her belt, she has authored THE CHAOS CIRCUS, a portal fantasy novel, and THE STARCHASER SAGA, an epic high fantasy series.
Living with her husband, son, and not-so-stray cats in the magical Midwest, she continues to explore new worlds and spends her time in this one encouraging and helping other writers on their journey to fulfilling their dreams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 25, 2023
4 Blessed Stars ⭐️
This book's writing is absolutely phenomenal. If you are the type of person that adores a high fantasy, that has writing and descriptions, that are almost lyrical and prosaic…this is the book for you! As a result, it did take a little bit of time to get into as it can be quite metaphorical; but in my wildest dreams, this is the type of English I wish I could write!
This is a 3rd-person narrative book that follows Elynor and Sharek. Elynor is a wealthy heiress who has just lost her father as he was recently murdered. She wants vengeance for this murder, so she hires Sharek to help accomplish this task. Sharek is one of the "Blessed", which means that he has an innate, almost magical skill to complete certain tasks/actions. Sharek is "Blessed" with killing. Thrust together in trying to achieve retribution, the two of them uncover an even bigger plot filled with political secrets, betrayals, and possibly war.
This book has all the elements I love in Fantasy. There is a slight dusting of romance plot (that is pretty tame and on the YA level as there isn't much steam/spice - yet). There are elements of a journey, fantastic, and phenomenal world-building that is rich with history, lore and religion. You can clearly feel how much care and planning Renee Dugan did to piece all these aspects together. This story does however feel like the foundation and it was missing that extra oomph it needed to tip into AMAZING. I felt it ended too soon as not much happens really in the plot. I am not too upset with this though as it seems like this book's focus is to introduce us to Elynor and Sharek, as very much of the book is character development.
Both of them are dealing with quite a lot of internal trauma that has brought them to the situation where they are now. Elynor is distraught, desperate and on her last resort. She doesn't know what she wants to do except punish the person who took the only person in her life away from her. She deals with the grief and the death of her father throughout the entire book. You can see that she's just a girl that's been pushed into this situation that she's not necessarily ready for. She is sometimes selfish, sometimes even irrational. She's quick to anger, but through contemplation and reflection on her actions, she does grow and shows promise. The development of how she starts to where she was at the end of the book was really beautiful.
Sharek is at the end of his rope. He is tired of being used and abused as nothing but a tool to death. He is tired of being shrouded by death. He feels almost cursed by his innate ability to kill, and he does struggle quite a lot with his internal mental health and what it would mean if he just ended it all. He is a man of very few words, but I think this is because no one has ever really taken the time to know him and treat him as a person, except for Elynor. With her, he is cute, compassionate, and considerate. This is the slowest of slow burns as we haven't yet seen the payoff but we know this is the direction they are heading.
I am going to pick up the second book when this comes out purely because of how beautiful the writing is. I think that Renee Dugan has done a fantastic job and written an elegantly captivating story.
I would recommend this book if you like:
▶ Beautiful Writing
▶ Strong Worldbuilding
▶ Mostly Character Driven Story
▶ Elements of a Journey
▶ Political Intrigue
This book's writing is absolutely phenomenal. If you are the type of person that adores a high fantasy, that has writing and descriptions, that are almost lyrical and prosaic…this is the book for you! As a result, it did take a little bit of time to get into as it can be quite metaphorical; but in my wildest dreams, this is the type of English I wish I could write!
This is a 3rd-person narrative book that follows Elynor and Sharek. Elynor is a wealthy heiress who has just lost her father as he was recently murdered. She wants vengeance for this murder, so she hires Sharek to help accomplish this task. Sharek is one of the "Blessed", which means that he has an innate, almost magical skill to complete certain tasks/actions. Sharek is "Blessed" with killing. Thrust together in trying to achieve retribution, the two of them uncover an even bigger plot filled with political secrets, betrayals, and possibly war.
This book has all the elements I love in Fantasy. There is a slight dusting of romance plot (that is pretty tame and on the YA level as there isn't much steam/spice - yet). There are elements of a journey, fantastic, and phenomenal world-building that is rich with history, lore and religion. You can clearly feel how much care and planning Renee Dugan did to piece all these aspects together. This story does however feel like the foundation and it was missing that extra oomph it needed to tip into AMAZING. I felt it ended too soon as not much happens really in the plot. I am not too upset with this though as it seems like this book's focus is to introduce us to Elynor and Sharek, as very much of the book is character development.
Both of them are dealing with quite a lot of internal trauma that has brought them to the situation where they are now. Elynor is distraught, desperate and on her last resort. She doesn't know what she wants to do except punish the person who took the only person in her life away from her. She deals with the grief and the death of her father throughout the entire book. You can see that she's just a girl that's been pushed into this situation that she's not necessarily ready for. She is sometimes selfish, sometimes even irrational. She's quick to anger, but through contemplation and reflection on her actions, she does grow and shows promise. The development of how she starts to where she was at the end of the book was really beautiful.
Sharek is at the end of his rope. He is tired of being used and abused as nothing but a tool to death. He is tired of being shrouded by death. He feels almost cursed by his innate ability to kill, and he does struggle quite a lot with his internal mental health and what it would mean if he just ended it all. He is a man of very few words, but I think this is because no one has ever really taken the time to know him and treat him as a person, except for Elynor. With her, he is cute, compassionate, and considerate. This is the slowest of slow burns as we haven't yet seen the payoff but we know this is the direction they are heading.
I am going to pick up the second book when this comes out purely because of how beautiful the writing is. I think that Renee Dugan has done a fantastic job and written an elegantly captivating story.
I would recommend this book if you like:
▶ Beautiful Writing
▶ Strong Worldbuilding
▶ Mostly Character Driven Story
▶ Elements of a Journey
▶ Political Intrigue
January 26, 2023
I will forever recommend every book by Renee to anyone wanting to start reading again or read more books.
This Dark Alliance is the second book series written by Renee Dugan that I have read and it is as good as the Starchaser Saga. She has the ability to make you love characters so quickly, it is as if you have always known them. Renee’s writing is not too difficult to follow but incredibly descriptive, pulling you into the immersion of the book immediately. I was so engulfed in the book I did not want to put it down. World building is introduced as you travel with the characters, making it easy to to follow without being overwhelmed by so many facts to remember. Elynor and Sharek are polar opposites and like one says, opposites attract. I truly cannot wait for the other two books to come out and I already know I will absolutely love them!!
This Dark Alliance is the second book series written by Renee Dugan that I have read and it is as good as the Starchaser Saga. She has the ability to make you love characters so quickly, it is as if you have always known them. Renee’s writing is not too difficult to follow but incredibly descriptive, pulling you into the immersion of the book immediately. I was so engulfed in the book I did not want to put it down. World building is introduced as you travel with the characters, making it easy to to follow without being overwhelmed by so many facts to remember. Elynor and Sharek are polar opposites and like one says, opposites attract. I truly cannot wait for the other two books to come out and I already know I will absolutely love them!!
January 9, 2023
This Dark Alliance was the first for me from Renee Dugan and will not be my last, I have already put in an order for her other series based on this read! This book is the start of what I know will be an amazing fantasy trilogy and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
We follow Elynor, the heiress of the nations most powerful shipping fleet, and Sharek, the blessed assassin she hires to avenge her fathers death, as they journey across Erala and learn to work together as well as learn more about each other. But they find a secret along the way that spells trouble for the nation, and just might bring war to their doorstep.
The best part of this book for me was the character development. I loved Sharek from page one and that only grew as the book went on. He may be blessed in killing but he is kind, caring, dedicated, and selfless. Elynor I did not care for at the beginning as she is a bit snobbish, but she is an heiress with close ties to the King after all so its to be expected. But she grows so much over the course of the story, learning to not only care for Sharek but to put the greater good of others above her own. The world Dugan has created is rich in detail and very intriguing, including the Blessed magic system.
The last few chapters had my eyes glued to the page, desperate to find out what was going to happen. And while this story doesn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger, I am extremely eager for the next book to see what happens next in this journey. I have some theories and cannot wait to see how it all plays out.
Fantasy fans will devour this quick but moving story, I cannot recommend this one enough!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We follow Elynor, the heiress of the nations most powerful shipping fleet, and Sharek, the blessed assassin she hires to avenge her fathers death, as they journey across Erala and learn to work together as well as learn more about each other. But they find a secret along the way that spells trouble for the nation, and just might bring war to their doorstep.
The best part of this book for me was the character development. I loved Sharek from page one and that only grew as the book went on. He may be blessed in killing but he is kind, caring, dedicated, and selfless. Elynor I did not care for at the beginning as she is a bit snobbish, but she is an heiress with close ties to the King after all so its to be expected. But she grows so much over the course of the story, learning to not only care for Sharek but to put the greater good of others above her own. The world Dugan has created is rich in detail and very intriguing, including the Blessed magic system.
The last few chapters had my eyes glued to the page, desperate to find out what was going to happen. And while this story doesn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger, I am extremely eager for the next book to see what happens next in this journey. I have some theories and cannot wait to see how it all plays out.
Fantasy fans will devour this quick but moving story, I cannot recommend this one enough!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 18, 2023
I have been wanting to try Renee's books for some time..so I definitely jumped at the chance to read the first book in her The Curse of the Blessed series. AND. This Dark Alliance did not disappoint.
This book is on the smaller side for fantasy book but it was interesting right from the get go and held my attention throughout. I found myself interested in the story of revenge involving a soft hearted assassin and a woman with a lost legacy.
The large majority of this book focuses on the relationship between our two main POV's. An assassin and an heiress. They have a lot of obstacles to prevent their relationship from blossoming....station, power, religion, and not to mention its basically forbidden for them to be friends in the first place. This is not a romance plot yet BUT I can see it going there and i'm excited for it! They have a lot of overcome before moves can be made.
I liked that it wasn't so romance forward at first. This is a series so it gives us some time to set up a more solid foundation going forward.
I'm so interested to see where this story takes us. I believe this was a fabulous set up with characters I can't wait to see developed more. I fell for Sharek and can't wait to get more of SLY! I will be anxiously awaiting the next release and read more of Renee's books in the mean time.
*some moderate violence but no language or steam. (potential romance in the works?)
This book is on the smaller side for fantasy book but it was interesting right from the get go and held my attention throughout. I found myself interested in the story of revenge involving a soft hearted assassin and a woman with a lost legacy.
The large majority of this book focuses on the relationship between our two main POV's. An assassin and an heiress. They have a lot of obstacles to prevent their relationship from blossoming....station, power, religion, and not to mention its basically forbidden for them to be friends in the first place. This is not a romance plot yet BUT I can see it going there and i'm excited for it! They have a lot of overcome before moves can be made.
I liked that it wasn't so romance forward at first. This is a series so it gives us some time to set up a more solid foundation going forward.
I'm so interested to see where this story takes us. I believe this was a fabulous set up with characters I can't wait to see developed more. I fell for Sharek and can't wait to get more of SLY! I will be anxiously awaiting the next release and read more of Renee's books in the mean time.
*some moderate violence but no language or steam. (potential romance in the works?)
April 17, 2023
UGH.
The twists. The tension. The slow to trust friendship between our main ship. I’m so into this it hurts. Sharek is the softest assassin ever. He makes you want to wrap him up in blankets and protect him from the world. Elynor is the determined young heiress (who also deserves to be wrapped in blankets) and finding her place despite being utterly lost to her grief and revenge. And I’m already obsessed with a certain bard. And that’s just the characters, the plot is equally great and throws some fun schemes into the mix.
Love the story. Love the characters. Love what Renee is building with this series.
The twists. The tension. The slow to trust friendship between our main ship. I’m so into this it hurts. Sharek is the softest assassin ever. He makes you want to wrap him up in blankets and protect him from the world. Elynor is the determined young heiress (who also deserves to be wrapped in blankets) and finding her place despite being utterly lost to her grief and revenge. And I’m already obsessed with a certain bard. And that’s just the characters, the plot is equally great and throws some fun schemes into the mix.
Love the story. Love the characters. Love what Renee is building with this series.
April 30, 2023
Another five star buddy read with the lovely @and.a.good.book 🤍
Here’s what I loved about this book:
• the addictive plot
• I loved the magic system
• forbidden friendship
• an assassin and a heiress
• the jaw-dropping ending
I cannot wait to see where Sharek and Elynor’s story takes them next and while there was no romance in this story, a girl can HOPE! I am excited to see where it goes in book two.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: none
TW: blood, gore, murder, death, an intense medical scene
Here’s what I loved about this book:
• the addictive plot
• I loved the magic system
• forbidden friendship
• an assassin and a heiress
• the jaw-dropping ending
I cannot wait to see where Sharek and Elynor’s story takes them next and while there was no romance in this story, a girl can HOPE! I am excited to see where it goes in book two.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: none
TW: blood, gore, murder, death, an intense medical scene
February 24, 2023
A few days ago I was gifted an ARC of this book and I knew I needed to jump straight to the top on my tbr pile.
Having read previous books by this author I hoped it would be the start of a brilliant new fantasy series And it totally was!!! A definite five star read (more if that's possible)
WHAT THE BOOKS ABOUT -
This is book one in the curse of the blessed series.
Elynor, heiress to a shipping fleet, seeks the hire of a Blessed Assassin from within the walls of The Sanctum after her father is murdered.
Sharak, one of many humans gifted with special abilities for hire. Imprisoned in the Sanctum until his services as a Blessed Assassin are needed.
But when things go wrong, both their lives are in danger.
MY THOUGHTS-
I love this authours writing style and how she creates such different, beautifully constructed worlds and characters within her books.
This book, quite literally envokes all your senses as you read it and it draws you in at every page. It's adventure, magick, discovery and fantasy at it's best and I simply couldnt put it down.
I absolutely adored Elynor and Sharek as the MCs. Two people from such opposing worlds, who connect in grief and their mission. And I so cant wait to see where this series leads.
I've already preordered a physical copy of this book as I need this on my bookshelves to read again and again.
I highly recommend the chaos circus (standalone fantasy) and the star chaser series by the same author too
Having read previous books by this author I hoped it would be the start of a brilliant new fantasy series And it totally was!!! A definite five star read (more if that's possible)
WHAT THE BOOKS ABOUT -
This is book one in the curse of the blessed series.
Elynor, heiress to a shipping fleet, seeks the hire of a Blessed Assassin from within the walls of The Sanctum after her father is murdered.
Sharak, one of many humans gifted with special abilities for hire. Imprisoned in the Sanctum until his services as a Blessed Assassin are needed.
But when things go wrong, both their lives are in danger.
MY THOUGHTS-
I love this authours writing style and how she creates such different, beautifully constructed worlds and characters within her books.
This book, quite literally envokes all your senses as you read it and it draws you in at every page. It's adventure, magick, discovery and fantasy at it's best and I simply couldnt put it down.
I absolutely adored Elynor and Sharek as the MCs. Two people from such opposing worlds, who connect in grief and their mission. And I so cant wait to see where this series leads.
I've already preordered a physical copy of this book as I need this on my bookshelves to read again and again.
I highly recommend the chaos circus (standalone fantasy) and the star chaser series by the same author too
February 12, 2023
ARC Review ~ This Dark Alliance ~
An Heiress. An Assassin. A Quest for Vengeance.
*******************************************
After reading Renee Dugan’s Darkwind, I fell in love with her writing style! Though I still need to finish her Starchaser series when I saw that she was writing the Cursed of the Blessed series, I jumped at the chance to sign up for an ARC of This Dark Alliance!
I wasn’t surprised to find I loved this book as well. Her world building pulls you into the world she’s created and immerses you in the intrigue.
The book follows Elynor and Sharek, heiress and the assassin she hired to avenge her father. They are opposites, not just in their standing in the world but their beliefs and views of the world and we get to watch them find common ground. Sharek, ‘blessed’ with an aptitude for killing is all sharp edges but definitely a softie at heart. While I struggled with Elynor at times, as a whole I adored her and loved watching her development.
The plot moves along at a steady pace and it is such a great start to the series! The last few chapters had me in a chokehold and I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to continue the series and adventure.
Features:
*Opposites attract/Unlikely allies
*Slow Burn
*Bonding through grief
*Great world building with an intriguing magical system
*Exceptional character development
This Dark Alliance comes out in a little over a week on Feb 20th
If you’re looking for something to read in the meantime I highly recommend digging into her Starchaser series as well!
An Heiress. An Assassin. A Quest for Vengeance.
*******************************************
After reading Renee Dugan’s Darkwind, I fell in love with her writing style! Though I still need to finish her Starchaser series when I saw that she was writing the Cursed of the Blessed series, I jumped at the chance to sign up for an ARC of This Dark Alliance!
I wasn’t surprised to find I loved this book as well. Her world building pulls you into the world she’s created and immerses you in the intrigue.
The book follows Elynor and Sharek, heiress and the assassin she hired to avenge her father. They are opposites, not just in their standing in the world but their beliefs and views of the world and we get to watch them find common ground. Sharek, ‘blessed’ with an aptitude for killing is all sharp edges but definitely a softie at heart. While I struggled with Elynor at times, as a whole I adored her and loved watching her development.
The plot moves along at a steady pace and it is such a great start to the series! The last few chapters had me in a chokehold and I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to continue the series and adventure.
Features:
*Opposites attract/Unlikely allies
*Slow Burn
*Bonding through grief
*Great world building with an intriguing magical system
*Exceptional character development
This Dark Alliance comes out in a little over a week on Feb 20th
If you’re looking for something to read in the meantime I highly recommend digging into her Starchaser series as well!
January 30, 2023
If you want to jump into a world that will grasp you by its hand and take you into a story of betrayal, mystery, hidden abilities, assassins, slow burn romance, and so much more, look no further!
Renee Dugan does so well with her world building as well as character development. It amazes me how well I can picture the surroundings. The characters are written with a purpose and the hidden scars they all are fighting against makes you love them more.
I cannot wait for the second book.
Renee Dugan does so well with her world building as well as character development. It amazes me how well I can picture the surroundings. The characters are written with a purpose and the hidden scars they all are fighting against makes you love them more.
I cannot wait for the second book.
January 14, 2023
Okay. Wow. I have literally NO words. As always, Dugan really hooks you and draws you into the story.
One of my absolute favorite things about the way she writes is how she manages to really bring everything to life. It is like actually being there with the characters, seeing and feeling exactly what their feeling and feeling. I absolutely love that level of connection.
This story was a whirlwind of emotions and my gods, I love it all.😍
One of my absolute favorite things about the way she writes is how she manages to really bring everything to life. It is like actually being there with the characters, seeing and feeling exactly what their feeling and feeling. I absolutely love that level of connection.
This story was a whirlwind of emotions and my gods, I love it all.😍
January 16, 2023
I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I am obsessed and I desperately need the second book. How does Dugan manage to blow me away every single time? Like my expectations are high but each time she exceeds them beyond a scale. The characters were so developed and I felt as if I knew them myself. The plot was incredibly captivating and I was on the edge of my seat the whole novel. I anxiously await the next installment and cannot recommend this book enough.
February 20, 2023
This Dark Alliance is a small cast, character driven fantasy.
The novel is told from the perspectives of our two MCs, Elanor and Sharek. There are a few other characters that pop in once and while, but most of the scenes are focused on our MCs interacting with each other. At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this. I'm used to novels with a horde of characters to the point of not being able to remember who is who. But I found the set up in this novel to be cozy and intimate.
As I said before, this is a very character driven novel. We see the internal strife of each MC as they navigate their changing emotions, past trauma (in one case) and a slow burn of romance forms between them.
The novel ended bringing in a lot more plot and characters. I think this novel did a great job establishing our two MC's and initiating an exiting new trilogy.
The novel is told from the perspectives of our two MCs, Elanor and Sharek. There are a few other characters that pop in once and while, but most of the scenes are focused on our MCs interacting with each other. At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this. I'm used to novels with a horde of characters to the point of not being able to remember who is who. But I found the set up in this novel to be cozy and intimate.
As I said before, this is a very character driven novel. We see the internal strife of each MC as they navigate their changing emotions, past trauma (in one case) and a slow burn of romance forms between them.
The novel ended bringing in a lot more plot and characters. I think this novel did a great job establishing our two MC's and initiating an exiting new trilogy.
February 15, 2023
Thank you to the author for the gifted ARC!
What a great start to a new fantasy series from Renee Dugan! She is the queen of world building, character development, and slow burns. This series has a shorter length, smaller cast, and faster pace than The Starchaser Saga, but I know it’s going to be a fantastic trilogy!
I really like the the way the magic and political system is conceived, closely tied to religion. It’s straightforward, but creates a hierarchy in society that is rife with injustices and intrigue.
Both of the dual POV characters, Sharek and Elynor, have trauma in their pasts. Renee does such of a great job of making readers empathize with her characters so quickly! I just want to give Sharek a big hug; while he’s forced to be a ruthless killer, he’s a total softie at heart. Elynor is mostly driven by a bloodthirsty quest for revenge in this book, but I can’t wait to see more of who she is under the hard exterior. AND SLY! He doesn’t have much page time, but he made such an impression. I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in the rest of the series.
Even though the action is fast paced, the burn is slow. There’s not really romance in this book, but there are definitely feelings to be further explored! Thank goodness for the rapid release schedule; between the action, intrigue, and characters, I know this series will be so easy to binge!
Blog | Instagram
What a great start to a new fantasy series from Renee Dugan! She is the queen of world building, character development, and slow burns. This series has a shorter length, smaller cast, and faster pace than The Starchaser Saga, but I know it’s going to be a fantastic trilogy!
I really like the the way the magic and political system is conceived, closely tied to religion. It’s straightforward, but creates a hierarchy in society that is rife with injustices and intrigue.
Both of the dual POV characters, Sharek and Elynor, have trauma in their pasts. Renee does such of a great job of making readers empathize with her characters so quickly! I just want to give Sharek a big hug; while he’s forced to be a ruthless killer, he’s a total softie at heart. Elynor is mostly driven by a bloodthirsty quest for revenge in this book, but I can’t wait to see more of who she is under the hard exterior. AND SLY! He doesn’t have much page time, but he made such an impression. I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in the rest of the series.
Even though the action is fast paced, the burn is slow. There’s not really romance in this book, but there are definitely feelings to be further explored! Thank goodness for the rapid release schedule; between the action, intrigue, and characters, I know this series will be so easy to binge!
Blog | Instagram
February 16, 2023
Thank you to the author for an eARC.
GREAT START.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Renee Dugan is one of my new indie author fantasy finds and I am so excited to start a new series by her! I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to future installments.
TDA is super fast paced and easy to move through. I thought the world building was handled well in the beginning to get a grasp of the dynamics and religious aspects that hold everything together. There’s a lot of differing opinions on how things should be done and I can’t wait to further see how those unravel and reshape.
I liked the dual POV main characters too. Sharek and Elynor both bring a plenty to the table and Dugan is known for creating amazing character arcs and I know these two are only in the beginning stages. I even see a hint at future romance??? Slow burns are my jam so I will wait it out!
Plot wise I wish a little more *something* occurred but that’s my only small complaint. It’s still engaging and I love the ease of Dugan’s writing.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: none
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, near death experiences, physical and magical altercations, loss of a parent, poisonings
GREAT START.
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Renee Dugan is one of my new indie author fantasy finds and I am so excited to start a new series by her! I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to future installments.
TDA is super fast paced and easy to move through. I thought the world building was handled well in the beginning to get a grasp of the dynamics and religious aspects that hold everything together. There’s a lot of differing opinions on how things should be done and I can’t wait to further see how those unravel and reshape.
I liked the dual POV main characters too. Sharek and Elynor both bring a plenty to the table and Dugan is known for creating amazing character arcs and I know these two are only in the beginning stages. I even see a hint at future romance??? Slow burns are my jam so I will wait it out!
Plot wise I wish a little more *something* occurred but that’s my only small complaint. It’s still engaging and I love the ease of Dugan’s writing.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: none
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, near death experiences, physical and magical altercations, loss of a parent, poisonings
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February 27, 2023An exciting and immersive first installment in a new series, THIS DARK ALLIANCE is a tale of revenge and self-discovery, with two unlikely allies at the center of it all. Elynor of Bast is an heiress on a mission — find and assassinate the man who wronged her. Sharek, a Blessed assassin, is hired by Elynor to do the job.
The world that Dugan created was really interesting and I loved the magic system at play. I also really liked the division of people, and how the Blessed, once revered, have fallen from grace and are just used to fulfill the dreams of others. There are some important themes that play a big role in the overall story arc, mainly prejudice and oppression. Elynor and Sharek really couldn’t have been more different at the start, but through the course of the story it becomes apparent that maybe they aren’t so different after all. There’s a tiny glimpse of a potential romance blossoming, and it’s a slow-burner. I can’t wait to see how that develops in the next installment.
Bottom line — a great first installment that introduces readers to a fantastic world and the people within it. The ending definitely alludes to more to come, and I will definitely be picking up the second one to see what the future holds for these characters.
The world that Dugan created was really interesting and I loved the magic system at play. I also really liked the division of people, and how the Blessed, once revered, have fallen from grace and are just used to fulfill the dreams of others. There are some important themes that play a big role in the overall story arc, mainly prejudice and oppression. Elynor and Sharek really couldn’t have been more different at the start, but through the course of the story it becomes apparent that maybe they aren’t so different after all. There’s a tiny glimpse of a potential romance blossoming, and it’s a slow-burner. I can’t wait to see how that develops in the next installment.
Bottom line — a great first installment that introduces readers to a fantastic world and the people within it. The ending definitely alludes to more to come, and I will definitely be picking up the second one to see what the future holds for these characters.
November 20, 2023
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐.8 /5
I absolutely adore this book. Its full of adventure, magic, suspense, tension and the absolute best slow burn ❤️🔥
Its written in such a way that engages the reader in from the first chapter. All the world building and character arcs are just the best🤌🏻 At times tho it has some metaphorical and poetic sentences that are a little hard to grasp but that was thing that kept in the most.
Elynor is, excuse my language, an absolute bad bitch 💅 the epitome of girl boss 🫡 Her character and her mind schemes reminded me so much of Allesandra Stathos (from The Shadows Between Us) and Aelin Galathynius (from Throne Of Glass Series) and I love those ladies and books.
Sharek despite being an assassin is such a softie at heart it made me want to just wrap him up bubble wrap and protect him🥺
Sharek and Elynor are connected by their grief, loneliness and struggle. The slowest of slow burn they get is is just so sooo good 🥰 And Sly is quite literally sly 😂
I just cannot wait to continue with this series. Its the absolute best 🫶🏻 I totally recommend it to everyone who likes YA Fantasy 🤝
I absolutely adore this book. Its full of adventure, magic, suspense, tension and the absolute best slow burn ❤️🔥
Its written in such a way that engages the reader in from the first chapter. All the world building and character arcs are just the best🤌🏻 At times tho it has some metaphorical and poetic sentences that are a little hard to grasp but that was thing that kept in the most.
Elynor is, excuse my language, an absolute bad bitch 💅 the epitome of girl boss 🫡 Her character and her mind schemes reminded me so much of Allesandra Stathos (from The Shadows Between Us) and Aelin Galathynius (from Throne Of Glass Series) and I love those ladies and books.
Sharek despite being an assassin is such a softie at heart it made me want to just wrap him up bubble wrap and protect him🥺
Sharek and Elynor are connected by their grief, loneliness and struggle. The slowest of slow burn they get is is just so sooo good 🥰 And Sly is quite literally sly 😂
I just cannot wait to continue with this series. Its the absolute best 🫶🏻 I totally recommend it to everyone who likes YA Fantasy 🤝
January 27, 2023
Another amazing book by Renee Dugan. This one is in a very different setting but the world and idea of the magic and talents of people is astounding. I still cannot understand how she sets up such a rich and detailed world with such ease. Renee's books are perfectly paced and have characters you fall in love with. Elynor and Sharek have such an exciting adventure to continue and I cannot wait to devour these books as they come out. When this book is released make sure you read it!!!
March 1, 2023
I loved this! Exciting and quick, twists and turns that I’m sure will lead to more twists and turns as the trilogy progresses. I love Sharek and Elynor. And I can’t wait to learn more about Sylvester, though I do adore him already. Renee does not disappoint!! I can’t wait for book two!
April 3, 2023
I love Sharek, and believe he deserves the world. That is all.
June 19, 2023
Genre: Adult fantasy (I've seen quite a few other reviewers classifying this as YA, but since the main characters are implied to be 18+, I'm going with adult)
Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)
Content warnings: Violence including murder, implied child and animal death (briefly mentioned).
This is the first book by Renee Dugan that I've read, and I think it served as a great introduction to this author. It made me want to explore more of her work, although I had mixed views on the content of this specific book and probably won't continue this series.
I want to start by saying that Dugan's writing style is absolutely beautiful: it was easily my favorite aspect of the book. In fact, if someone were to ask me for an example of a book that disproves the view of self-published novels all being amateurish, this would probably be the one I'd give them. The writing flows seamlessly, with just the right balance between description, dialogue, and action, and it also had next to no typos or formatting issues, so props to whoever edited it (I think it may have actually been the author herself, which makes it even more impressive.) The pacing, for the most part, was also very good - slightly on the slower side I'd say, but not so much as to be dull - and if you've read any of my other reviews or follow me on Instagram, you'll know I believe pacing to be one of the most difficult yet important aspects of a novel to get right, so again I particularly want to praise Dugan for that.
Another aspect of this book I found impressive was the world-building. The world itself was very original: I went into this book expecting it to be your standard medieval fantasy, and while it was a medieval fantasy at its core (references to taverns, a monarchy, and also I think slight influence from ASOIAF/GOT with references to characters called Nymeria and Samwel and a location called Bracareth's Landing), the finer details of this novel's world are more diverse than just that. There was - at least by my interpretation - a slight Middle Eastern influence (characters called Sharek and Al-Morral), and also a feel of the golden age of piracy, with a large part of the plot revolving around the ownership of a fleet, as well as some of the outfits described being reminiscent of 18th century sailor wear. I felt there was even a slight steampunk vibe in some places. The dominant religion - of literally worshipping the king as a God-like figure - was unlike anything I've read before, and I really liked it: it felt like a natural twist on the medieval trope of an all-powerful monarchy, and worked really well with the other aspects of the world. It was all really refreshing to read, and for that reason I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantasy set in an original world.
Unfortunately, though, the characters were what let this book down a bit for me. Having read the other reviews here, I think I'm in the minority with this opinion, but they all felt quite two-dimensional to me. Both Elynor and Sharek, while likable enough, were cliches, with Elynor being the somewhat stoic noble raised to resent a certain group (Blesseds in this case) who changes her view once she gets to know a member of said group, whereas Sharek was your classic "good-guy-forced-to-be-a-bad-guy", who kills only because he has to and actually has a heart of gold (even though this wasn't a romance, he reminded me very much of the "tough-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside", swoon-worthy type of male love interests in romance novels, which will definitely appeal to some people, but not to me.) The side characters and main villain, Al-Morral, were similarly generic, perhaps with the exception of Sylvester, who was my favorite character despite only being introduced shortly before the end of the book. Linked to this fact that most of the characters fitted perfectly into classic stereotypes was the issue that they were also all very clearly either good or evil: there was no grey area at all, as all the "bad" things done by the protagonists were clearly justified. I think this novel would've been a lot better if either Elynor or Sharek (or both) had a bit of real darkness to them.
My other reason for knocking a star and a half off this book was the fact that it just didn't hook me like I had expected it to: as I stated above, it definitely wasn't boring and the pacing was pretty good (the slow bits I think can be justified as character/world building, given that this is the first book in a trilogy). The writing was easy to read, so once I started I could binge quite a lot in one go, but I was never super excited to pick it up, and I didn't find myself thinking about it between reading sessions as I will with a 5-star read. I suspect that this again links to my lack of care for the characters.
So to conclude, despite my ending on some negative points, this was a good book overall: the worldbuilding is well done and unique, and the writing style is flawless. The plot is also interesting and something a bit different for a fantasy series (I've come across a few with a roughly similar premise, but it still makes a change from the usual royalty-related power struggle type stories.) I also like the fact that this book was quite tame for adult fantasy - there is a fair bit of violence, but only one or two graphic scenes, and absolutely no swearing, sexual content, or alcohol/drug abuse. That was quite refreshing when compared to series like ASOIAF, and would make it a good option for a younger person wanting an introduction to adult fantasy, or simply someone who wants a decent fantasy that isn't full of gore and SA. I don't think I'll be continuing this series myself, but I will definitely be checking out Renee Dugan's other series, The Starchaser Saga, as her writing style is so good.
Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)
Content warnings: Violence including murder, implied child and animal death (briefly mentioned).
This is the first book by Renee Dugan that I've read, and I think it served as a great introduction to this author. It made me want to explore more of her work, although I had mixed views on the content of this specific book and probably won't continue this series.
I want to start by saying that Dugan's writing style is absolutely beautiful: it was easily my favorite aspect of the book. In fact, if someone were to ask me for an example of a book that disproves the view of self-published novels all being amateurish, this would probably be the one I'd give them. The writing flows seamlessly, with just the right balance between description, dialogue, and action, and it also had next to no typos or formatting issues, so props to whoever edited it (I think it may have actually been the author herself, which makes it even more impressive.) The pacing, for the most part, was also very good - slightly on the slower side I'd say, but not so much as to be dull - and if you've read any of my other reviews or follow me on Instagram, you'll know I believe pacing to be one of the most difficult yet important aspects of a novel to get right, so again I particularly want to praise Dugan for that.
Another aspect of this book I found impressive was the world-building. The world itself was very original: I went into this book expecting it to be your standard medieval fantasy, and while it was a medieval fantasy at its core (references to taverns, a monarchy, and also I think slight influence from ASOIAF/GOT with references to characters called Nymeria and Samwel and a location called Bracareth's Landing), the finer details of this novel's world are more diverse than just that. There was - at least by my interpretation - a slight Middle Eastern influence (characters called Sharek and Al-Morral), and also a feel of the golden age of piracy, with a large part of the plot revolving around the ownership of a fleet, as well as some of the outfits described being reminiscent of 18th century sailor wear. I felt there was even a slight steampunk vibe in some places. The dominant religion - of literally worshipping the king as a God-like figure - was unlike anything I've read before, and I really liked it: it felt like a natural twist on the medieval trope of an all-powerful monarchy, and worked really well with the other aspects of the world. It was all really refreshing to read, and for that reason I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantasy set in an original world.
Unfortunately, though, the characters were what let this book down a bit for me. Having read the other reviews here, I think I'm in the minority with this opinion, but they all felt quite two-dimensional to me. Both Elynor and Sharek, while likable enough, were cliches, with Elynor being the somewhat stoic noble raised to resent a certain group (Blesseds in this case) who changes her view once she gets to know a member of said group, whereas Sharek was your classic "good-guy-forced-to-be-a-bad-guy", who kills only because he has to and actually has a heart of gold (even though this wasn't a romance, he reminded me very much of the "tough-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside", swoon-worthy type of male love interests in romance novels, which will definitely appeal to some people, but not to me.) The side characters and main villain, Al-Morral, were similarly generic, perhaps with the exception of Sylvester, who was my favorite character despite only being introduced shortly before the end of the book. Linked to this fact that most of the characters fitted perfectly into classic stereotypes was the issue that they were also all very clearly either good or evil: there was no grey area at all, as all the "bad" things done by the protagonists were clearly justified. I think this novel would've been a lot better if either Elynor or Sharek (or both) had a bit of real darkness to them.
My other reason for knocking a star and a half off this book was the fact that it just didn't hook me like I had expected it to: as I stated above, it definitely wasn't boring and the pacing was pretty good (the slow bits I think can be justified as character/world building, given that this is the first book in a trilogy). The writing was easy to read, so once I started I could binge quite a lot in one go, but I was never super excited to pick it up, and I didn't find myself thinking about it between reading sessions as I will with a 5-star read. I suspect that this again links to my lack of care for the characters.
So to conclude, despite my ending on some negative points, this was a good book overall: the worldbuilding is well done and unique, and the writing style is flawless. The plot is also interesting and something a bit different for a fantasy series (I've come across a few with a roughly similar premise, but it still makes a change from the usual royalty-related power struggle type stories.) I also like the fact that this book was quite tame for adult fantasy - there is a fair bit of violence, but only one or two graphic scenes, and absolutely no swearing, sexual content, or alcohol/drug abuse. That was quite refreshing when compared to series like ASOIAF, and would make it a good option for a younger person wanting an introduction to adult fantasy, or simply someone who wants a decent fantasy that isn't full of gore and SA. I don't think I'll be continuing this series myself, but I will definitely be checking out Renee Dugan's other series, The Starchaser Saga, as her writing style is so good.
February 17, 2023
I had the privilege of reading this book as a critique partner back in 2018, but after finishing my reread of the final version last night, I am even more blown away than when I was five years ago.
Dugan has an incomparable talent for writing characters and relationships that transcend the page. Sharek and Elynor, the MCs of this tale, are both wonderfully human and real. Sharek is allowed to exist in mutliplicity (something we unfortunately don't see frequently for love interests in the genre right now); he's kind and gentle while also being brutal and an efficient killer, and he has thoughts and complex feelings outside of just what he thinks of Elynor. His guilt and shame are painful and palpable. He stole my heart from the moment we met him in the hovel of the prison, and his growth was masterfully done. Elynor, as well, is a a strong female character that doesn't solely rely on sass to get by. She is wickedly smart, and morally gray in a way we don't see often--her grief and vengeance are relatable, even if they aren't 'good' characteristics. She's an heiress with privilege, but she's also capable in her own right, giving her depth. This main duo, accompanied by the absolutely delightful healer and bard, Sly, makes for one of the best small casts I've read in ages. Dugan really brings the reader on an emotional journey with these characters, and I found parts of myself in every one of them--sometimes dark parts I didn't want to acknowledge, but needed to feel.
Character's aside, this book also featured tons of Dugan's signature twists and turns, and the action had me on the edge of my seat. Despite being introspective and thoughtful, the plot didn't slow for anyone, and there were several 'gasp' moments for me. And the world building and magic system were so original. Sharek's killing power being tied to sound and music was a total subversion of the 'dark magic' trope I see all too often, and the result is an intriguing system I can't wait to see more of in the next installment.
If you enjoy complex character dynamics, incredibly rich world building, inventive plots that don't solely rely on overused tropes, and a story with a heartbeat that is felt in every line...
Then this should be your next read.
Dugan has an incomparable talent for writing characters and relationships that transcend the page. Sharek and Elynor, the MCs of this tale, are both wonderfully human and real. Sharek is allowed to exist in mutliplicity (something we unfortunately don't see frequently for love interests in the genre right now); he's kind and gentle while also being brutal and an efficient killer, and he has thoughts and complex feelings outside of just what he thinks of Elynor. His guilt and shame are painful and palpable. He stole my heart from the moment we met him in the hovel of the prison, and his growth was masterfully done. Elynor, as well, is a a strong female character that doesn't solely rely on sass to get by. She is wickedly smart, and morally gray in a way we don't see often--her grief and vengeance are relatable, even if they aren't 'good' characteristics. She's an heiress with privilege, but she's also capable in her own right, giving her depth. This main duo, accompanied by the absolutely delightful healer and bard, Sly, makes for one of the best small casts I've read in ages. Dugan really brings the reader on an emotional journey with these characters, and I found parts of myself in every one of them--sometimes dark parts I didn't want to acknowledge, but needed to feel.
Character's aside, this book also featured tons of Dugan's signature twists and turns, and the action had me on the edge of my seat. Despite being introspective and thoughtful, the plot didn't slow for anyone, and there were several 'gasp' moments for me. And the world building and magic system were so original. Sharek's killing power being tied to sound and music was a total subversion of the 'dark magic' trope I see all too often, and the result is an intriguing system I can't wait to see more of in the next installment.
If you enjoy complex character dynamics, incredibly rich world building, inventive plots that don't solely rely on overused tropes, and a story with a heartbeat that is felt in every line...
Then this should be your next read.
January 23, 2023
As soon as I received the ARC of This Dark Alliance I couldn't resist dropping everything else I was reading in favour of this!
I always have incredibly high expectations of Renee Dugan's writing based on the Starchaser saga which quickly became my all time favourite series, so this new release had a lot to live up to.
And it did not disappoint! Everything I love about Dugan's writing: the rich world descriptions, the fast paced action scenes and if course the troubled and tortured tales of each character she creates, was prominent in this book.
In such a short story I felt so connected to the characters, one of whom we only met in the last few chapters, and yet he quickly became a firm favourite.
To summarise the story, in a world where the Blessed are gifted with specific skills, Elyna seeks a Blessed assassin to take revenge on her father's killer. But it's never so simple, is it? And instead of a simple mission, it unravels secrets from her own life and a devious plan that will only end badly.
I loved this story, and can't wait to read more from this world, the only reason I dropped a star is because I wanted a little more interaction between the characters, but for such a day placed and short book, I understand the action took precedent!
I always have incredibly high expectations of Renee Dugan's writing based on the Starchaser saga which quickly became my all time favourite series, so this new release had a lot to live up to.
And it did not disappoint! Everything I love about Dugan's writing: the rich world descriptions, the fast paced action scenes and if course the troubled and tortured tales of each character she creates, was prominent in this book.
In such a short story I felt so connected to the characters, one of whom we only met in the last few chapters, and yet he quickly became a firm favourite.
To summarise the story, in a world where the Blessed are gifted with specific skills, Elyna seeks a Blessed assassin to take revenge on her father's killer. But it's never so simple, is it? And instead of a simple mission, it unravels secrets from her own life and a devious plan that will only end badly.
I loved this story, and can't wait to read more from this world, the only reason I dropped a star is because I wanted a little more interaction between the characters, but for such a day placed and short book, I understand the action took precedent!
April 26, 2023
I loved this book! Renee Dugan has done it again with this new world. Elynor and Sharek's story captivated me from the very beginning, and I love all of the mysteries and secrets that slowly unfolded throughout the book. The basis of the Blessed is intriguing, and I can't wait to delve deeper into the storyline! Dugan has such a way with words that you feel as though you are right beside each character, feeling their emotions. I especially connected with Elynor, because she lost the parent she was closest to tragically. Her and I have a lot of the same emotions that come in waves, and we both have strong ties to the ocean. I can't wait to join her as she journeys to Orleth.
April 24, 2023
This book had me at an assassin and a quest for vengeance.
Elynor after the death of her father, hires a Blessed assassin to take out the man who is trying to take everything from her. The Blessed assassin is Sharek, who has his own agenda once his task is complete. It doesn't go quite how they planned.
The Dark Alliance is suspenseful with a lot of action, twists and turns. The world the author has built was easy to visualize. It was also easy to invest in the characters. I can't wait for book two in this triology.
*Full discussion of The Dark Alliance over at https://bit.ly/3KMa3oR.
Elynor after the death of her father, hires a Blessed assassin to take out the man who is trying to take everything from her. The Blessed assassin is Sharek, who has his own agenda once his task is complete. It doesn't go quite how they planned.
The Dark Alliance is suspenseful with a lot of action, twists and turns. The world the author has built was easy to visualize. It was also easy to invest in the characters. I can't wait for book two in this triology.
*Full discussion of The Dark Alliance over at https://bit.ly/3KMa3oR.
September 20, 2023
Loved the characters. Interesting plot. Good, slow romance building. Friendship. Clean.
September 16, 2023
An intriguing concept and plot combined with great character chemistry. You couldn't ask for more!
October 23, 2023
Renee Dugan has slipped into my world as silently as Sharek and left just as much a lasting impression! I really love and appreciate how she writes her female leads in books and Elynor is a prime example. I’ll love strong fighting female leads always, but having female leads be strong in wit and planning like Elynor or strong in grace and words like Cistine really adds new layers to the trope. The lore and world building is perfectly easy to follow, and the side characters likewise worm their way into your heart just as much as the leads do. Sly has the potential to be a favorite of mine and in the few chapters he’s in he makes a lasting impression. Sharek’s tragedy and weight of his past makes for a lovely foil to Elynore’s extroverted personality, and I hope to see him shine even more in book two!
February 2, 2023
I received this book as an ARC copy from the author and loved it (all opinions are my own)
I was first introduced to R Dugan from her starchaser series, so as soon as the opportunity came to read another one of her works I took it by both hands lol!
We are first introduced to Elynor an heiress who is seeking out the services of one of the ‘Blessed’, Sharek. It’s from there we follow their journey to seeking out Elynor’s goal, and they might have stumbled across some pretty important information a long the way 👀
It took me a while to get into the book but once I reached the 25% marked I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. The writing was in third person, which generally I do find it difficult keeping my attention with that writing style, but I had no problem with this book. You can always count of R Dugan to invent a super unique story, which is refreshing in the realm of fantasy!!!
The world building and “magic system” was super easy to follow, and watching the development of the characters and how they interacted with each other was lovely too (insert swoon here).
I would say book 1 gives me more YA rather than NA feel, but if you love a good slow burn romance with an amazing story behind it too, then this is your book! I didn’t find the ending to be like a cliffhanger, but more of leaving you feeling excited to see what happens next!
I was first introduced to R Dugan from her starchaser series, so as soon as the opportunity came to read another one of her works I took it by both hands lol!
We are first introduced to Elynor an heiress who is seeking out the services of one of the ‘Blessed’, Sharek. It’s from there we follow their journey to seeking out Elynor’s goal, and they might have stumbled across some pretty important information a long the way 👀
It took me a while to get into the book but once I reached the 25% marked I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. The writing was in third person, which generally I do find it difficult keeping my attention with that writing style, but I had no problem with this book. You can always count of R Dugan to invent a super unique story, which is refreshing in the realm of fantasy!!!
The world building and “magic system” was super easy to follow, and watching the development of the characters and how they interacted with each other was lovely too (insert swoon here).
I would say book 1 gives me more YA rather than NA feel, but if you love a good slow burn romance with an amazing story behind it too, then this is your book! I didn’t find the ending to be like a cliffhanger, but more of leaving you feeling excited to see what happens next!
September 24, 2023
Rating 4.5/5
I just love Renee’s writing and loved this book! Such a great start to the Curse of the Blessed Trilogy. Lots of great world building, explanations about the Blessed and their history—overall just a solid foundation.
Elynor is determined and feisty, wielding her grief into a weapon to obtain revenge and secure her birthright. I loved Elynor’s character growth throughout the book and how she starts to open her eyes more to the world around herself.
And SHAREK. Immediately fell in love with his character. He has so many layers and I am excited to keep learning more about him.
There are hints of romance and I am here for the slow burn! Renee always does romance so well.
I just love Renee’s writing and loved this book! Such a great start to the Curse of the Blessed Trilogy. Lots of great world building, explanations about the Blessed and their history—overall just a solid foundation.
Elynor is determined and feisty, wielding her grief into a weapon to obtain revenge and secure her birthright. I loved Elynor’s character growth throughout the book and how she starts to open her eyes more to the world around herself.
And SHAREK. Immediately fell in love with his character. He has so many layers and I am excited to keep learning more about him.
There are hints of romance and I am here for the slow burn! Renee always does romance so well.
September 7, 2023
This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last!
I really liked this book. The plot was well paced, the characters were likeable and relatable, the slow burn was real, and the world building was there. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
I really liked this book. The plot was well paced, the characters were likeable and relatable, the slow burn was real, and the world building was there. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
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