nour
A very emotive sequel. It will be a while before I can get over this.
Also, reading this made me realize that I enjoy character-driven fantasy stories. The political intrigues and navigation in this book were so interesting with the focus on Fitz and his dynamic with the characters.
I liked Fitz as a protagonist in the first book, but I came to love him in this sequel. His narration is brilliant, flaws and all. I loved basically every interactions he had with the characters, especially with Burrich or Nighteyes.
Very excited to finish this trilogy! Even though I know I'll be emotionally damaged.
I love this book so much! Joscelin is my favorite in the series and it was delightful to read about his perceptive, especially how endearing his feelings towards Phedre where. I also loved his interactions with other characters such as Hyacinthe. The first part was so immersive, I enjoyed reading about his boyhood and his dynamic with Selwyn.
This book seamlessly mixed all the elements that usually don't appeal to my taste, or even bring me to pick up a book, yet astonishingly managed to captivate and engross me in it. A very unique read.
It's not really a 5 stars since i have some problems with it but my enjoyment for the first and middle parts overweigh these problems.
This book is very captivating! The author has created a unique mythology that draws the reader in from the very beginning. The inclusion of dragons and a magic system based on telling forbidden old stories creates a rich and immersive world that is impossible to resist.
The main heroine's journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, as she discovers her own agency and inner strength. The way the author handles her growth throughout the story is masterfully done, and readers will find themselves completely invested in her character arc.
The writing itself is simply breathtaking. The prose flows effortlessly and the descriptions are vivid and evocative, transporting the reader straight into the heart of the story.
This was my introduction to Olivie Blake's writing, and I can say for sure that I will be checking more of her works, since I found her writing to be exquisite and managed to capture the appeal of this story.
I've read my fair share of retellings and It's not always I find books that follow the original pattern while managing to have their own flair. But this one does that, and more. It is a Romeo & Juliet retelling, so expect family feuds (this time between two witch families, which I found to be cool) and tragic forbidden relationships. My favorite aspect though, was the way the author crafted her characters, I felt they were realistic and made sense to me even when they weren't at their best. The romance was balanced between the family politics and its own angsty, melodramatic themes like I expected it to be but I was pleasantly surprised with one specific pairing and ended up emotionally invested in their doomed love story.
“Why didn't you let me choose you? I would have gone to you, Masha, if you'd asked. You would've only had to ask, and i would have chosen you over everything.”