The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

It's has only been two days since I finished Crier's War and I still don't have enough words to describe it. Also, I don't think any of the words I have would do this book the ounce of justice it deserves. An #Ownvoices story by debut author Nina Valera, has been pitched to fans of Game of Thrones and Westworld and is a beautifully written novel about the love between two girls can fuel a revolution.

I am a sucker for a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Then I learned that this was a fantasy novel with humans who are organic and those who have been made. Let's just say I was super excited to read this book. Crier is made, her father, The Sovereign, created blue prints for Crier's build and from those Crier was made. She looks human, feels like human and mostly acts human but she isn't. But Crier's life is turned upside down when she learns that she is flawed, that instead of having four pillars that mimic humanity she has a fifth: passion. Ayla is a human servant who works for The Sovereign, it isn't the best choice of work but it will get her close to Crier. When Ayla's family was murdered years earlier she swore revenge, and that revenge wouldn't be completed until Crier was bleeding and dead beneath her. But when Ayla becomes Crier's new handmaid things become a lot more trickier then they were. Crier isn't the monster that her father is. Soon secrets are unfolded, sides are chosen and a love that will cause a revolution is revealed.

"Richly imagined" doesn't even do this book any justice. Nina's writing made me feel like I was right next to her characters, living in their world as their story unfolded in front of me. Nina's writing is rich in description and illusion. Nina used certain instances and events to expand to her world, rather then giving that initial info dump that causes heads to spin. Though I have several questions regarding this world, I am sure they will be answered in the next book. I enjoyed seeing how the "made" were put at a high stature then the humans. How in a world that humans become the lesser beings and servants to machines that are "superior" to them in no other aspect then the fact they aren't artificially made. It's an issue that is addressed in many science fiction novels and movies and something that is talked about in the real world as well. But it was interesting seeing this instance in a fantasy novel. I am really excited to see where Nina is going to take this into the next book, because I need more. I need to know how this revolution is going to end.

Want to talk about a slow burn romance that makes you want to smash two character's face together? Look no further. The enemies to love arc this book has was amazing and absolutely well done. Through the story you can see the girls gradual shift towards one another. Their fondness, their thoughts, the small touches and how their feelings change and evolve over the course of the novel. It wasn't simply one moment they hate each other and the next they are in love. You didn't realize it until the characters themselves realized it.

Overall I can't say much more about this book because I don't want to spoil it. But it is easily one of my favorite novels I have read this year. Nina Valera's writing is something fresh in YA and an author I will be on the lookout for, for now on. I am excited to see where she is going to take Crier and Ayla in the next installment of their journey!