3.75 stars

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted ARC and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook.

I THINK I LIKED THIS?

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I will say the audiobook production was fantastic. I loved all of the narrators and the seamless switches between characters.

Now, the book itself. Well, I think I’ve decided the bones of the story are good. I loved the historical elements and the combination of religion + politics + war looming scenario. There were many scenes I was all over. And I didn’t mind the characters either. I could get behind them and can see the growth coming for the series (duology?) too.

The pacing is what threw me off. It can’t quite decide if it wants to be quick or slow or somewhere in between. And that kept taking me out of the book. I did enjoy the romance. I liked the snarky star crossed enemies banter. It’s got an edge of insta-love that didn’t bother me all that much.

I do have plans to read book two, which honestly is a statement of its own that I liked it enough to continue.

Overall audience notes:
- NA Historical Romantasy
- Language: mild
- Romance: one fade to black; light innuendo
- Violence: high
- Content warnings: mild blood/gore, self harm (for magic use), loss of loved ones