Tabea
Entertaining but no novelty 3,5*
If The Selection and The Hunger Games had a magical baby... then it would probably be this book. Which isn't bad by itself but it also wasn't something that swept me of my feet.
Our FMC was fairly cookie-cutter: devoted to save her family, making friends and being kind even to “enemies” (or at least unfriendly competition) in the eyes of adversity, a fighter not easily giving up. Our MMC was also pretty cookie-cutter: brooding fae with muscles, magic and ruthless brutal appearances, but a kind well-hidden heart for his people.
The major plot twist wasn't much of a surprise for me, the breadcrumbs hinted sufficiently for me to smell the twist miles against the wind. And that's something as I'm usually more of a passenger princess, not thinking too critically about theories.
Overall, I wasn't too surprised or invested but still entertained.
Living rent free in my mind and can't wait to read the next book
We start off normal and traditional enough, with our FMC living a secluded and quiet life but probably harnessing immense powers that she doesn't know about and a legacy she has to live up to.
When she is finally pushed into the “real” hard world, in her case university for apothecary, she is faced with people's expectations and assumptions about her and her legacy. The university is a place for all sorts of people, races and cultures that obviously doesn't go without clashing. The FMC's culture feels very superior towards other races deemed not even human and acts accordingly, with a history of feeling oppressed and now on the way to their rightful place in the world. While world politics then turn the lives of other races upside down, the FMC feels the brunt of her legacy in something I cannot call any different than bullying. But through it all, she learns. About other cultures and customs, about history and perspectives, about individual vs group identities.
I loved reading about her growth and opening her mind to other perspectives. The background story feels very much like something we as society have experienced in the past and are currently repeating. It's a story about otherness and learning new foreign things, it's a story about friendship and growth, of leaving stereotypes and fear of otherness. It is a story about small acts of kindness and great acts of revolution - or the other way around.
Overall, quite an entertaining read without overcomplicated plot, but rather known tropes and little surprise of the outcome.
The FMC felt a little too much like a pick me girl and I could not see lots of character development (just of her abilities and generally learning about... life, I guess - exposition for us readers) and the MMC was a cookie-cutter handsome brooding and supposedly grey character. I wasn't really expecting too different.
Now to the things that still irk me:
The first chapter really is like Hunger Games: a girl in the woods hunting to provide food for her family, taking place on a sort of choosing ceremony day to appease a frivolous ruling class, girl worrying about a sibling to be chosen for certain death - only to the herself end up as the chosen one.
The title is “scepter of blood” - why is there a crown on the cover? (Mild spoiler, the title fits the plot, the cover doesn't)
What on earth is up with the graphic representation of names?! German (original language of the book) is already equipped with funny graphemes ä, ö, ü and we theoretically know of other diacritic marks, e.g. in French and Portuguese. But this book mashes all diacritics of multiple languages together and then some. Without providing a pronunciation guide. Think along the lines of “Reighfyl” and you have the gist of this book's naming.
Perplexing premise but flawless execution
Ever heard the saying “Behind every great man is a strong woman” (or something along these lines)? Well, that's about the premise of this book.
There is a secret(-ish) all-women magical order who guide people to fulfil their potential as heroes. The initiates train as girls and finally have test guiding their first hero to heroism in order to become a full fledged immortal and nit humanly strong member of the hero-making order.
We as reader follow one young girl on her path as initiate. She is young, she makes mistakes, she has trauma to unpack, she is full of self-doubt and she has hard decisions to make. But she is determined, she has loyal friends and gains new allies and friends (and more than that), she experiences the real world with emotions and setbacks and just life, she learns a lot and grows a lot. Her decisions are depicted in a way that is understandable even if someone else would not repeat them. Many of the side characters are also very interesting and the saying (or the premise of this book) starts to make a lot of sense when we read it fleshed out.
Overall it was a very fun read. After I got over my initial bewilderment of the premise
I usually have my troubles with second instalments of a series. Not in this case. It was just as great as the first.
When the first book ends, it feels pretty done and over, with only one story arc keeping the door open. In this second book we get to see all the hard work of what happens after a rebellion was successful and the tyrant is dethroned. I really liked the political aspects and the show of how determined the people strive for change. This part is usually just left off but in this case the central element of the story: how to go on and change for the better? We have plenty of different PoVs and attempts on such change, all valid in their own right. At times, it turned quite philosophical.
Lin and Jovis have interesting and believable developments, their doubts and dreams feel true. Their POVs were interestingly enough also the only 2 where we experience the story through a 1. person narrator, all the others feel a little more detached in their 3. person narration. Deliberately so, I'd say. In general, the style reads very smoothly.
One last thing I just have to get off my chest: why on earth is Lin an emperor and not an empress?! It has to be deliberate as well but I cannot yet see why.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first instalment, I was utterly lost in this second one. Our FMC has parts of her memories altered or erased so she doesn't remember and trusts the wrong persons. But it is all so convoluted and we have double or even triple agents. Or they just have their very own agenda. I honestly couldn't keep up with all the intrigues and plans and plan B's. It certainly didn't help that the MMC goes by two names of which we as readers are aware but it depends on the involved persons and it is not a nickname; and so the names are just randomly thrown around. Also characters that were present in the first instalment, kind of disappear - only to be name dropped and we're supposed to remember what their story was.
From what I think I understood of the plot, it is a story of finding yourself. That there is good and bad in all of us and we decide on which we act. Of these aspects I approve. It also seems to have put a spin on the traditional archangels set way into a future of our Earth that falls back to somewhat medieval style. I haven't quite decided yet if the spin on the known legends makes it easier or even more complicated
Honestly, this book was a letdown and I'm not sure if I'll continue reading.
Quite unique magic system with rather bland MCs but all the more interesting side kicks
4,5*
My feed was filled with fellow book nerds hyping this book as under-hyped (ignore the irony of that statement). First things first, I really liked it but. But. It was not the take-my-breath-away awesomeness that I went in expecting.
The magic system is not inherent to the persons and there is no way to learn or otherwise achieve magical proficiency. It's passed on via cards. Admitted, I haven't read any books with a similar system. But there is also another way to have magic: the people are infected - and then hunted and executed. There is always a downside to the magic that card or the infection grants so now we're back in familiar territory. And our FMC is infected but hides her abilities well - until she meets the MMC. And her abilities are so much more than it leads on. And the ruler is a tyrants, so obviously there is rebellion brewing.
These parts of the story are not as unique as I was led to believe. Unfortunately.
Both of the MCs were pretty bland and nothing special. Way more interesting were some of the side characters and I find myself wishing for their POV or more development of their story arc. Ione does what suppressed women do to gain a sliver of power and seems to have yet more planned but we don't know more! The nightmare seems to not be such a nightmare after all but rather a tortured soul.
The setting was indeed very gothic with fog everywhere and a nameless evil within this fog. But it did feel like a Theater play where you have limited setting options. Not quite sure what to think of that part.
Now the end has twists and turns that do keep me entertained and I will certainly read the next instalment hoping for a nightmare.
This has the potential to become my new favourite series! A world in which everything has a god (from war over beauty to white lies and broken sandals) and where humanity started a war on those gods.
We follow a godkiller who has a personal vendetta against the gods who left her disabled. Her disability is not mentioned once and then glossed over, but rather every now and then it will be referenced with minor details that factor into her daily life. We follow a disillusioned warrior who now kicks ass as baker and is rowed back into the war on gods. We follow a young woman who is somehow bound to a small god. All those storylines come together nicely, forming a larger picture. The development of all characters was believable and well executed (I think at least). I am very happy that there is further material and can't wait to read how it goes on.
And as a last aspect, I don't think I've seen a cover lately which was not just pretty to look at but also makes incredible sense reading the story and starting to understand the different elements of it.
This book starts out as a murder mystery whodunnit kind of book, granted against an Italian inspired fantasy world backdrop. I didn't quite expect that but was fairly entertained by the Italian-ness. It develops more and more into your usual rebellion against an oppressive upper class with a senseless war and I have to admit that I wasn't too surprised by most of the developments. Characters were interesting in the way that the FMC is very opinionated and strong whereas the MMC seems softer. What I actually really liked was the portrayal of trauma, war-related PTSD and the long lasting effects on all.
So close to giving 5 stars - but where were the dragons?! The cover promises dragons and the book doesn't really deliver dragons.
That being said, I immensely enjoyed the story.
Most of the main protagonists are badass women with strong minds and still an openness to change and different thoughts (even if it takes a while to get there). It also doesn't happen that often in fantasy that there are middle-aged protagonists.
If read here and there that pacing was an issue for some; it wasn't for me but I only got around to read a few chapters at a time so I was always looking forward to get back into the story.
Having read the books in plot chronological order, it was nice referencing back to the history that I had read before, like Easter eggs. I can understand why this was first and then some mentioned historical figures got their own and fully fleshed-out story.
But again, where were the dragons? (#0 has way more dragon center-stage so I like that one better!)
Unique magic system and fantastic characters
I've meant to read this book for a while now and am so glad I finally picked it up, I immediately wanted to read the second part.
The world building is done nicely, as the MC learn more, so do we but not in a scholarly or boring way. And as the story continues, we see the characters grow and learn - and find out more about the mysteries. My favourite part was the magic system: everyone gives up a piece of bone shard and the connected life delivers energy for whatever monstrosity the emperor designed, so we have magic, suffering and obviously a rebellion. There is also some sort of “familiar”/ spirit animal that has to be further developed in the next book, pretty please?
The plot had me guessing all the time (in a good way) and new elements kept changing my theories. I was definitely surprised by the ending as it felt a little too closed but then another POV opened the door to the next book wide open.
In this case, I read the German translation and it was a smooth read without linguistic hitches (thumbs up to the translator), I'd guess the English original is also a smooth and easily understood style.
Entertaining and bloody with sprinkles of kindness
At the beginning, I was not sure if I'd like the story. It felt quite a bit like The Hunger Games with vampires and then started to develop into the direction of From Blood and Ash. As I enjoyed FBAA those parallels didn't bother me much.
Was the book a literary masterpiece? F*ck no. Did the characters develop? Grey is a wide colour shade. Was the tension rising between the MCs? Sure, though it honestly had me laughing out loud at a point. Did this book entertain me? Absolutely.
That being said, I will read how the story goes on but I'll have to see if I read further instalments (six books of 3x duologies; let's see about that character switching)
While I'm still somewhat in love with the whole Merlin story (and now sprinkles of Arthur) I realise that Merlin ist pretty manipulative and pulls plenty of puppeteer strings in the back. The scheming was quite entertaining. The character that was the most interesting to me however was Morgause. What she did - knowingly - is beyond appalling. But looking at when and where the Arthurian legend takes place, Society did not take kindly to smart and determined women, and this also includes Merlin. Expressions about other cultures and peoples, just as well as the competencies of women made me queasy.
Cozy background story for the sidekick of one of the most famous European legends
The BBC's series Merlin is one of my all time favourite cozy TV show. And this book had the same vibe, I was constantly reminded of it and in a good way, not copycat like. Admittedly, it must have been the other way round, given the dates of publication.
We learn about Merlin's life, starting in childhood all the way to him becoming a young man and understanding his given powers. At times, Merlin feels a little too self righteous and overly confident, but then again what teen doesn't?
My biggest issue is with the lack of female characters and the portrayal of women; what a surprise for a book that was first published in 1970 and takes place in the European Middle Ages. Im looking forward to more female characters in the next few books!
Mild spoiler for those who have never heard of the Arthurian legend.
* I personally preferred this way of Arthur's conception but knowing what I know of history... the other version is more likely *
You don't have to like the MC to like a book. Sort of
When I say, I don't like the MC, I mean it. He is self-righteous, selfish and calculating; feels superior most of the time and is not really bothered by being knocked off his pedestal; and talking about pedestals: women are either put on pedestals to be worshipped and adored and thought of without flaw - and every other female character is not worthy of being thought of as female.
All of the above would not stop me from liking the story if such a character was the entire point of the story. Well... it's complicated. We as readers only have our MC's POV and lacking at that. There is barely a mention of plans ( and to be fair, a big fun part of rebellion stories is the plans, the failing of said plans and then the subsequent quick thinking). Things happen and then it turns out to have been the plan. Deus ex Machina for the win! Maybe I could understand this IF we had Multi-POV and the plan or rescue or whatnot is part of another POV. I repeat, we only have MC'a thoughts - for my dislike on this, please refer to the beginning of my post. The few occasions where a plan was discussed, it was hinted that it was plan-ception and a bigger plan was hashed out before - and we were not invited to read about that!
Story wise a lot of back and forth between parties and loyalties happens and I have to admit, I lost track. If you liked the first one for its gory violence, this one will not disappoint in that regard. Admittedly, the relation between Darrow and Mustang evolves (not necessarily meaning the romantic aspect) and we finally get more information on Ares.
The 2 last chapters (no kidding) saved my rating on this, finally some planning, finally an actual goal where it's going. While not liking the MC, some ideas are interesting with regard to philosophy, politics and the state of our planet; and I would have loved to like this book more because of those aspects. They are few and sparse and the other IMO negative aspects put a heavy damper on me while reading. I will hesitantly continue, at least I now know what to expect.
Surprisingly good. We follow an independent yet insecure young woman and a newly chosen king with a less than clean record. There was sufficient world building to get the overall picture and I assume it will delve into more depths in the next instalment. Obviously there is a romance sub-plot developing but there was actually no real romance scene (refreshing!). Instead we also have friendship and a growing support between powerful women. There was a POV storyline that I simply cannot place but it is set up to be of importance. Will continue to read.
Something in Asian stories gets me, in a positive way. It feels whimsical and different enough to make me forget dull reality, without being whacky.
We (only) have Shiori's POV but she sees quite a character development, especially in acceptance of her role in life. When the story started out in book one, I wouldn't have liked her as the spoiled little princess of the beginning - but she grows and becomes more mature while not being perfect.
I especially liked her love sub-story with Takkan. He is not just a fighter with buff muscles and simply there for thirst and pining and drama. He supports her while giving his honest thoughts, cares for her without being doting or patronising, and most importantly they learn to build their relationship on trust and talking with one another. This kind of relationship seems to me to not be popular in the Romantasy/Fantasy genre which I think a shame.
I won't give this story a full 5 star rating because: as far as I know it is a duology but it feels like it was supposed to be a trilogy. Somehow second and third instalment didn't have too much of a plot or would be too drawn out and boring, so some parts were edited out and the shortened plot parts mashed together in one book. To me there was a distinct disconnect between the parts of the travels and no smooth transition. However I had to return the book to the library shortly after starting the next leg of travel, so in the end this might have been the real reason and it reads just fine while zooming through in one go.
Revenge porn with little plot
It is supposed to be a retelling of the Greek king Midas whose touch turned everything to gold. I liked the premise but was aware that this book was supposed to contain smut.
I understand that quite a large following in the book community likes spicy books. Personally, I don't care for them but wouldn't want to miss out on a good book simply because of smut. Oh boy, but this was not the one.
The book starts off without much exposition as to characters, places, setting, legends etc. Not necessarily bad. Anything is first mentioned directly as a major element without previous hints to it. Instead, after their first naming, we have sort of a hindsight story. Maybe this was a conscious choice and thus stylistic device, I don't know but I was certainly taken out of the little story that did evolve in those moments.
The thing is, that this happens maybe a total of three times - because nothing happens in this book! (I'm not kidding, actual plot only starts at about 80%)
Most of the plot is just sex scenes, including straight up sexual assault and rape so heed the trigger warning in the beginning (without page numbers, then again most of it is a giant swinger rape party or thinking of them).
At times, the story tries to paint sex work as a feministic thing and fails miserably to actually get this message across. Any character relation (also between female characters) at which is hinted feels unhealthy or stereotypical with no character development.
I'm not quite sure if I even want to continue reading the next books. What little plot did happen, has potential for a modernised Midas retelling. I could get behind the idea that the book wanted to paint. Just not sure if I can stomach through another book of the same style.
Captivating fantasy of good an evil and all the grey in between
While the first instalment was a pretty good story with some new and unknown elements, the second instalment is fantastic. It deals with heavy topics in a captivating world, to the backdrop of sacrifice, love and responsibility.
Characters had huge developments, not always a positive growth but learning and reflecting and getting to know themselves and the world. I especially loved how the MMC is no chisel-jaw, muscular and tall, brooding, confident jackass. Instead, he carries a heavy burden of trauma expressed in panic attacks, self-harm, doubt and even suicidal tendencies (beware of the trigger warnings). It makes him so much more human IMO, to follow him in good and bad decisions, understanding his motifs and cheering any bit of healing.
The writing style was easy to read and painted colourful mental images. Coming back to the MMC, I think that the writing and style devices did justice to his internal turmoil and to make the readers understand more of him.
Setting backdrop was African mythology inspired and thus fascinated me. We finally get to see more of deserts and rainforests after the first part in the city. Admittedly, the story has no inherently new concept: powers of the magic system and deities, a fight between cultures with one oppressing and looking down on the other, star-crossed lovers, betrayal. However it was well executed and tied up nicely. I personally think that the ending makes sense in the open way it is written but I can see how others might be a little disappointed.
Hunger Games in Space with even more bloodshed
Coming from a long stretch of reading just fantasy, I had trouble at the beginning of getting in the story. Once in the flow, I was shocked at the described violence and abyss of humanity. A society divided not by blood or skin colour but by birth caste. Throw in some well established slavery, injustice by the ruling parties and terrible death, you have yourself the beginning of a revolution at hand. But to understand the enemy and to get close, you have to become the enemy? The “school” to become the highest Golds does teach survival and victory by all brutal means necessary. It reminds of an even more bloody version of the Hunger Games, complete with allies and “allies”, weapons, butchering, betrayal, determination and cheating. Our MMC feels holier-than-thou and everything roots back in an event I in the end call hypocrisies. Overall however, I did get sucked in his portrayal and depiction of human error and psychological missteps (way too tame an expression) and am intrigued in seeing this self-deceiving mess further in his story. Obviously I root for the caste society to crumble and I will gladly read how it burns.
I started my reading year 2024 with a little gem that I did not expect. The story features a neat magical and political system (intervowen) and you have your usual beloved suppressed people rebelling against their suppressors - who happen to literally be their next younger sibling; a chosen special heroine and relationship complications of both romantic and other nature.
What I really liked about this book was the character development of Navien from a loyal obedient and unquestioning puppet to find herself.
There is also a very important emphasis in several scenes about consent (not being talked into something and freely deciding by yourself whom to show what or to do what with).
Nice little plot twists I thought I saw coming but still had a twist to the twist polish it off.
Dark Academia with developments I did NOT see coming. (Would be 4,5 stars if I could)
The entire writing has a feeling of scientific study to it; even feelings are carefully dissected and analysed and probed. The content however is some wild mind f*ck games of philosophy I couldn't think of (and I'm honestly not sure if I understood everything). This weird combination is half the fun IMO. I read Babel only a couple of months before and was reminded of it often but not in a negative copycat-like way; it would probably be the same the other way around.
Especially in the beginning, I had trouble distinguishing the powers of our main characters, always forgot one to only come up with different five MCs each time and the story drags on and on with philosophical blablabla. There is a lot of talking and nothing really happens. For a long time. And then some more. Until...
Still not sure about how I like the characters, some feel human with their flaws, some are just... vile, even in their own POV. And I get that this is essential for the story - but I don't have to like the MCs as persons to like the story.
The plot seems to lay out tropes and I was a little smug to already have guessed some of the things that seemed to be happening, thinking to see the trope a mile away. Maybe I was even close to disappointed that it was all so obvious? Let me tell you how wrong I was. About every theory. Every. Only one of my theories was sort of there but not even close to how I thought of it.
In summary: you have to power through a little scientific and philosophical bore at the beginning to receive the curveballs. The slow development is my only reason for not giving 5 stars. My bad.
Finding your strength, betrayal, family (blood and found), desaster, forgiveness; it's got it all. One drama followed after the other, with lots of heartbreak and personal trauma. Most importantly, overcoming said trauma.
The twist that landed us where the final instalment picks up might have been a surprise but most of the following plot lines were tried successes. Was it at times somewhat... predictable? Yeah, probably. Was I still immensely entertained and soaked it right up? You bet.
Overall, there are plenty of typical tropes and turns and while I could see them miles away (without my glasses), I really really enjoyed reading the story coming to an end. If you've already started, it's worth completing the series.