Julia M > Recent Status Updates

I accidentally read almost half of this book by mistake in between the others so hopefully it will make more send this time

After so many dnfs lately I’m so glad I grabbed this one from my shelf.
In my vampire era after watching twilights saga with my daughter and I am loving this story.
It’s fun, exciting and easy to read. Glad I have the whole series.

Started off good and entertaining, all the scenes on the ship were good. What Baldyr did to Zelie seemed odd almost like something like that doesn’t fit the story.

I have wanted to read this book for long because of the raving reviews about it.
Yet here I am, at the end of chapter 2, incredibly bored.

“Aren knew his wife well enough to know when she was pissed off”

They have barely had more than 3 full conversations!!!

Not convinced on their chemistry.

I don't love all these plotholes, will continue in the hope it gets better
Trained assassin but doesn’t notice anything around her while bandaging the supposed enemies arm?
Movement sickness just disappears after spending a bit of time in a canoe, because there is no mention of time, only seemed like a day?
Being flustered already and wanting him to kiss her
Why is the kingdom being attacked so much??

Unfortunately this book so far doesn't have outstanding side characters to fall in love with. Aren's sister had personality but she is barely in it.
Author also seems to be very snake obsessed..

My thoughts so far are conflicted, it's a fun read but very conversation heavy. Not much world building/fantasy elements. I do wonder why KING Aren is so trusting of Lara, he doesnt seem to care too much that he is bringing the daughter of an enemy into his kingdom, barely questions her about her past, it doesn't seem believable. And Lara who's a trained assassin, seems like she is falling for him much too quickly.

1 chapter in and I can see that one will be a romance between Safire and Eris. If there is something Ciccareli didn’t do well, is the focus of the storyline along with the new romances. A series that handles it perfectly is the Luminere Chronicles. I don’t see why we need 1 book per romance? This romance in particular could have been a side story to the storyline. *sigh* unsure if I will continue 😞

Audio’ing

Chapter 5
Chade hugging Fitz 😭 and the pay off at the end of this chapter is 👌🏼

1 chapter in and I am already so completely immersed into Fitz's world! Phenomenal writing!

Going to scream, I do not have the patience to wait for more of Ella’s POV!!!! 🫣

Feeling like this is a bit like HoF where we meet new characters, I’m just not sure I’m ready for it yet so I may read something else then come back to this one. I also don’t think that from here on, the books will be as easy to follow as the first.

When you go in blind because Maddie Fisher highly recommends it and you binge 200 pages..... LOVE!!

If at 100 pages I still have no idea what’s going on or if I’ve even connected to the characters, it’s a dnf

I am having the hardest time getting into this book, it is so unlike the Bardugo writing that I love (S&B) I potentially should have learnt a lesson as I didn’t rate Six of Crowd as highly as others but I just had such high hopes for this series!

I have no idea what’s going on and I don’t feel anything for any of the characters.

up to chapter 19 on audio now which is where I left the paperback...i am not sure if I understand it any more than i originally did TBH. I loved these characters SO much in the first book I am so disappointed that i just can't love this. Will keep going with audio for a little longer.

Also need to mention there is some very clever writing here, I’ve only known SJM so far to write a character that doesn’t tell you everything they have done in certain scenes and you find out afterwards what actually went down

3 POV’s - Laia, Elias and Shrike

Shrike’s chapters are the most interesting, she’s torn by her emotions, it feels as though she was worn down and tired of it all until a couple of chapters ago when she put someone in their place. However, the current situation she is in with Nightbringer and Marcus is not a good one. I don’t think she will be alive at the end of this series I just have a bad feeling.

The writing is just…I’m going to say, superior - comparing to recent debuts I’ve read
I’ve been drawing this out because I don’t actually want the story to end

Stopped at chapter 19 - DNF.
Picked it up again and now trying audible from the beginning. The Narrator is great and making a difference, up to chapter 13 now.
There is A LOT to unpack with this series either way.

The improvement in writing style is evident in this book, with more chapters from different POV's which is creating such a great atmosphere although I really really want a Solmir POV because I may be in love with him.

Solid start to the book!! Unique storyline and magic, I really like Redara and Neve’s fierceness and I’m invested in Eammon and his crew

Forgot to mention, even though this is YA - it got dark REALLY quickly! A particular scene reminded me of a very similar scene in The Handmaids Tale and if you've watched or read that, you know it can be quite disturbing at times.

Really enjoyable story, likeable characters - and some not so likeable *cough Marcus cough*
Reminding me of The Hunger Games and These Hollow Vows
Laia and Elias crossing paths is everything, every single time.

Jesper & Wylan own my heart 🖤

So good! Book 3 on the way