Mairin

A page turn of events that have me in the edge of my seat.


So much happened in this book.

From highs to low Kuang doesn't pull her punches.

Rin progresses further down a mental struggle, fighting battles as numerous people seek to use or kill her. Gods and shamans, the turn of an age, dream are made and sacrifices.

The characters continue to grow and I fell in love with them all over again. Even the bad ones.

This book will leave you utterly horrified, hopeful, and in floods of tears.

Such an amazing end to a brilliant series.

I wanted to love this book as the author is a friend but I just couldn't.

DNF.

I found the characters lacking and too similar to each other. Their reactions to tension and conflict feels a little too rushed and the overall plot on the page does come across rushed as well. I would prefer the author to take her time with the characters and their motivations within each scene to make me as the reader connect with them more.

The dragons was interesting and o feel this could have been explored more as well as the magic system. It wasn't well explained on page.

Thank you for the Arc but this wasn't for me.

DNF at 22%

I tried. I really thought the story was good but alas I couldn't get past the co fusing worldbuilding. Half the time I had to keep flipping to the glossary to know what words mean and to use an example the author chose to change the word for yesr worh Stretch. But it wasn't explained in the text and this was only one issue I had. Please PLEASE stop replacing names we understand it makes the world more Confusing.

The characters were okay at best. I was interested in the religion (faith I think she called it) but it was also confusing. I was unsure if they loved forever (there was mention of them loving centuries) and yet they are human. Once again this went unexplained for too long.

This book does remind me of JLA from blood and ash but told better. Still confusing worldbuilding and someone gets stabbed (badly) but it up and walking within a week and that is just not believable.

I'm sorry but this wasn't my cup Of tea

This book struggled with the muddy middle.
The beginning was good, fast paced enough to keep me hooked on the story, with the two characters being hunted but then it seemed to take them forever to get where they were going with no real change in either of the characters. Ali had more of a storyline through these moments and changed, but I do wish that he had a bit more to his character and he reached the moment that pushed him over the edge sooner

There were times when I rolled my eyes so much they hurt because of the characters' decisions. I know they are young, but no one can be that naive.

The world is interesting.

The ending was good. But I disliked the sudden change in Daras character. RED FLAG but that's a personal opinion not something with the story.

Overall I liked it. writing was smooth and the world Immersive.

Will be continuing the series.

3.5

This is a story that will live with me forever

I'll catch myself thinking about it, mind wondering back to Gallant like I belong. Finding a piece of myself within Olivia Prior. Wishing that I could relive this tale over and over again.

Wonderfully told, the world so frightening and vivid. The two Gallants, each house a character.

Olivia.
How I love Olivia.
Nonverbal and yet so strong. Stubborn. Angry.

I have so many feelings after this book. Emotions that'll keep with me long after I've set the book back on the shelf. V E Schwab writes so perfectly her words flowing onto the page and resonating deep within.

I will be returning to this book often.

This deserves all the stars. Utter Perfection.

This was a fun read.

It had a dash of humor that made this story for me. I loved seeing the knight blunder around the world, not understanding that the times lave changed and Le can't wave a sword to solve problems. The other knights of the round table while horrible characters were interesting. And Merlin! I love the way the author portrayed him.

The other characters were good people with large hearts and while I don't usually like characters life that it worked here.


A entertaining story. I had so much fun reading.

Thank you to Netgally for the arc.

Who would have thought that I would be crying over this book?
Not me

This story holds such a strong voice that I can't help but be sucked in.

It starts off much the same as the other books and I did expect it to be a little more than gang fighting but I also enjoy the gang fights.

The characters and their relationships are well crafted for people who have suffered and aren't the best of people. It's the characters that drive this story, on the decisions however bad they make. I love the messy relationships and the connection Tomas Piety has with his adoptive son Billy.

It's nice to see on page how veterans deal with the war and PTSD or as it's said in this book Battle Shock.
I have never suffered with anything of the sort but it came across off page as real and I feel for Tomas for suffering with it. The understanding of others and also the shame around it too.

The ending held a suspense for me and I almost saw it coming. I knew someone was going to betray someone and things were going to go tits up and I was right. It was still fun to read.

But oh how I cried at the end. A bittersweet ending for Tomas Piety

This has got to be the best sequel I've read since words of radiance.

The characters ! The plot! The world!
I am screaming
I devoured this book and it exceeded my expectations

The characters were off another level. Some were terrifying (looking at you Nayeli) others progressed in a way I didn't like but I know it's going to make for an amazing book three. And Jond. He grew on me until I was rooting for him in this book. His relationship with Sylah is so shattered and yet so deep. I love it.
Don't get me started on Anoor. Making stupid choices but it works for her because she is just such a trusting character.

The world expanded in the most brilliant way. There's more than what I ever thought there would be in this book and I can't wait to see more of it in book three (which I need! Now)

Everything in this book is so thought out from the writing to the world. Sara El-Arifi is becoming one of my favourite authors.

This book was meh. I can see why everyone likes it, but his is my second time trying to read his book and while his time a finished it I was left wanting more from the book.

I think my issue is the revenge part of the story is a bit slow. I enjoyed the fight scenes and some of the character moments, but expected more from Tao than I got.

The magic system is fascinating and l would love to learn more about it.

The ending restored my hope in this book and I wish here was more moments with the same drive or energy throughout the rest of the book.

An okay book, nothing incredible.

Where to begin my thoughts on this book.

Its a mixture of historical and fiction but I do believe parts of this book is based on true events.

The historical parts was nailed. it felt very believable.

The characters. They were fleshed out and well written, but it was hard to read about their story. Women put against women in fear of being labeled a witch. The trials they went through. Especially the SA scene.

And the men in this book. Knowing this is how they most likely were in real life, abusive, threating to put the skull on women is horrifying and makes me so angry.

This book was hard for me to read because of the themes it covers, how angry it made me on behalf of the characters. it was beautifully written and a story everyone needs to read.

A bittersweet ending but worked for the story. I was so happy to what happened to certain characters.

A great story that had me thinking about women history and about how many were wrongly accused of being a witch and what happened to them.

I was lucky enough to be gifted this for a review

I like to always give indie books a try and this had a strong premise. However the execution was poor. The writing brushed over a lot of deeper moments between characters, the world felt a bit shallow (nothing they usually bothers me too much) but it was the short scenes that got me. Where there were moments to delve deep into the characters and friendships and motivations they were brushed across. I was told the MC could do this instead of going through the trials with him. It left me wanting. It made it hard for me to suspend my disbelief.

The story idea is strong and I have no doubt that this book has its readers. But for me I like more depth to my books therefore I had to call it quits in this.

If you love the idea of someone going to seek to become a wizard then this is for you

This book had me in a chokehold! Grouch, doing anything to achieve her goal, I could hardly put this down.

A political story woven so acutely, balanced with compelling characters (if not very nice characters). While not something I usually go for, this pulled me along with Grouch as she tried and failed and tried again to achieve her goal.

Macbethad! Oh how I want a man like Mecbethad.

I'm left confused...

this book is the Bi-polar of the Fantasy Genre. one moment it's dull and boring, then next there a bit more interest, then it falls flat and boring again. Honestly, It was like I was riding a roller coaster with no emotional investment.

first off, the book could have done without half the cast of characters, some who appeared only to die a scene later. it provided nothing to the story. second, the fluff at the beginning could have been shortened by 300 pages. it would have made a better book.

the story was okay. as a debut, it wasn't John Gwynne blow-your-mind debut, but it was fine. okay.
it did feel like a slog most of the way through. and I read a lot of high fantasy, so it's not the genre or the length of the book.

the characters fell a bit flat. Victor, Malichai and Anastasia were fleshed out enough, but to the point that I didn't really care if they lived or died. Kurkas on the other hand, I loved. I didn't mind Calenne, but I don't think we needed a POV from her. or half the others. I think that was one of the major problems with this book. The author took on too big a cast than he could handle.

one of the good things from this story, is Joseri's arc and Melenna's story. now SHE was an interesting character. and I loved Malitriant. I know I shouldn't, but as it always happens in a lot of stories, the villain's are better characters and it was true here.

some people have said this is like game of thrones and I don't find that at all. apart from the multi POV and the politics, its nothing like game of thrones. there's no real big war, no high stakes.


I can't put a finger on it, but it didn't engage me.


the ending was one of the good bits and I read the last 200 pages in one stint. and the confusion throughout the book, when I finally decided on what this book was actually about, as the small war between the southshires and the Hadri didn't feel like the ‘real' plot, but a cover up, fell so far down the cliff it's still rolling.


like. WHAT?


I'm left with more questions than I have answers. it seemed the author has tried to accomplish a plot twist, but failed as I don't understand what the twist is. some of his descriptions and way of explaining things just didn't sink into my brain, but, maybe I'm just an odd one.

Will I read the next instalment? maybe. but, I suggest the Author works a little more on his next book, and tries not to make it such a big cast with useless characters, and shortens the book.

I was going to give this a 3.5 but, on more thought, it's a 3*

If the dude bros Wrote a book.

DNF at 56%.

This doesn't have enough women for me. Meaning any!
Yes you heard me right, there is no women. And what two that show up are a housemaid mother type figure and a healer that sounds so much like a robot its insulting.

I really want to give the author the benefit of the doubt. This is a book about fighting. It's male centered. Yes women can fight but not really against men. The world the author has set up is full of fighting slaves, a fighting hiarchary and corrupted people in power. Yet no women. I feel that the author has simply forgotten, in the society he's created, to think what role women would play. And it shows. To me, it feels like a shallow world.

The two main characters have the potential to be really interesting but it fails to deliver. The plot of the book moves rather fast too fast for any real character deveoplment or connection. Yes its a book about fighting, but it lacked the quiet moments between that makes me care for the characters.

It is clear that the author knows how to fight, but he's forgotten that the story is fiction and not a lesson. The fight scenes lack any emotion or anything interesting. To put it plain, they were boring.

Aside from the lack of women, I was bored throughout this book. And it had such a good premise.

This book had me loving it, rolling my eyes, to finding it a decent book.
There were moments I found myself enjoying the book quite a bit but also moments that I was bored. Mainly Reginn storyline. Her story started out good, but as a character she was pretty stupid. Her story did pick up toward the end and became engaging.

The other POV was Eiric and his story was the most interesting to start. I love his sister Liv.

The story while long and winding in places it concludes in a way that makes me want to read the next instalment. it took a turn that I did not expect but loved.

A tale of heroes, villains, gods and magic with a dash of Secrets. I enjoyed it. I can't wait to see where book 2 takes me.

This god damned book!

Islington dove into my heart, carved out what I most like in and a book, spit out the will of the many,

This book is incredible! I can find no faults with this book. I was put under a spell and couldn't put it down.

I love Vis as a mc, he is comeplling, reminds me a lot of fitzchilarly Farseer,

The plot look some turns I loved and didn't always expect. The friendships in this l adored! Its not quite found family but close!

And the magic system! People can take will from others.
everything about this book is fascinating and perfect. Need book 2!


This has elements of the farseer trilogy, critical role calamity triwizad tournament, and Brandon Sanderson

A definite must read!