Actual rating: 2,5

Epic fantasy. Pirates. Assassins. A quest in order to save the word. A band of misfits. One really wouldn't need more than that to lose themselves in an adventure. Unfortunately, Realm Breaker was not holding up to the expectations.

Like most reviewers I as well have a complicated past with Victoria Aveyard. I really liked [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449778912l/22328546._SY75_.jpg|25037051], but then lost my interest in keeping up with the series after [b:Glass Sword|23174274|Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2)|Victoria Aveyard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436460934l/23174274._SX50_.jpg|42720997]. The story didn't captivate me enough, and maybe if all the books were out at that time, I would have finished the books, but the longer I waited for the third book to come out, the more I felt indifferent to the story and its characters. I do think she wrote a solid series, but it was my lack of interest in why I didn't care to continue with the books. Therefore, I didn't have any hard feelings about Aveyard, and was rather excited to see where she will take us with this epic fantasy series. And she did take us to places. Many, many places.

What Aveyard did with Realm Breaker is to step into the footprints of what can be considered the classic fantasy quest type of books, especially in the sense of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. We have the doom of the realm looming over the world, a group of individuals banding together, a relict that is needed to save the world, and of course, the chosen one. Those are tropes and themes that have been used in fantasy plenty of times, and it isn't something I had an issue with to begin with. I can read several books with similiar themes as long as the execution is done well and adds an unique twist to them. This isn't the case with Realm Breaker, and therefore couldn't convince me at all as a story.

Aveyard took care to build this world and think of the tiniest detail, and was able to transport us to the cities and places right through the pages. As a reader, you can see the various places clearly in front of your eyes, understand the geographical and cultural aspects of it, and not mistake one for another. Which is very important as this is a quest story, and the characters cover quite a distance in Realm Breaker. However, this is the strongest and probably only aspect I liked of this book. And as much as I adore worldbuilding, especially since that is what drew me to this genre in the first place, just good worldbuilding doesn't cut it for me.

As a lot of quest adventures, the majority of the book we follow the characters on the run, looking for a way to save the realm. But that's all we do. We follow the characters on their quest to save the world. Nothing else happens. No twists, no turns to keep me on the edge of the seat. Of course, they have to run and hide, as it is expected to happen. But do I feel the risk? Do I ever fear for the characters? Do I ever see the risk ... as a risk? Not in the slightest. Most of the times, I just watch them discuss where they are headed next. Only to watch them just going to that place. Barely any conflicts happen, and if there is something it's some bickering between the characters that I rarely enjoyed. One could argue that that's what quest adventures are about. Moving from one place to another, in search of the item, person or place that will save them all. Normally, I would agree. Just as much as I wouldn't be bothered by it. Even if nothing happens, something happens, right? But that's usually the characters' place to own the stage. Show us more of themselves, throw up some conflict, go through development. In Realm Breaker, when nothing happens, nothing happens.

Which leads to the part that I didn't like the most: the characters. Now that's a harsh way of putting it, because I didn't hate them. I didn't not like them. I just felt very indifferent about each and every single one of them which is worse. Corayne who is our chosen one in this story had an interesting start. As the daughter of an infamous pirate with special skills, I felt we will get a very self-reliant, smart, and strong protagonist. However, as soon as it is known that she is the chose one, she becomes the weak girl who needs protection at all cost and only exists as the remaining hope of the realm. I don't dislike the chosen one trope. What I dislike is that characters lack of any characteristics, of any strength (and I don't necessarily mean physical strength) when they get to be the chosen one. I had high hopes that Corayne would bring in her own expertise to the quest. But unfortunately, she was just a bland character I couldn't care for. She isn't the only character that disappointed me mostly because the characters didn't offer anything deeper than the stereotypes they represent. Dom as the immortal warrior and mortal compass doesn't offer more than that. Andry, the loyal squire with a soft heart, doesn't offer more than this. Even Sorasa who I ended up liking the most towards the end of the novel, is just that badass assassin, but not offering any glimpses that make her stand out. And let me not mention the other characters because those didn't even have a chance to disappoint me because their mere purpose was to exist and make the group bigger. Just as much as I don't have an issue with using the over-used theme of quests in order to save the world when done properly, I don't feel bothered by stereotypical characters. But at least give me more than their stereotypes. What's their story? What struggles do they have beyond the obvious? What passions? The characters don't go beyond their stereotypes, don't go deeper. And unfortunately, don't go through any development as we spend pages after pages following them from one place to another.

Beside Sorasa, who I only liked a little, there was one character who I actually was very interested in: Erida. Yet again, we could be discussing that she serves a stereotype, but not in the sense of the other characters. We are able to see her motivations, the inner conflict, the fight she is going through. We are able to understand her, and she made me feel things. Her storyline seemed to be the only one that was breaking with stereotypes, and put an interesting twist to the story over all. Unfortunately, I was able to see that plottwist coming way ahead, and even if she remained the most interesting character, not much was happening in those chapters either.

If you think, that's it, then I have to tell you that you need to stay a little bit longer with me. We have two more characters. Taristan, the villain, who seems to already be loved by many readers, and Rhida, whose existence is even questioned by many who liked the book. Just as with the other characters, I didn't have any real feelings for them, but I do have to admit I was interested in their storylines. Taristan has a lot of potential to grow to a villain deserving of love by the readers, and I did enjoy parts of him towards the end of the book. Rhida, on the other hand, didn't offer too much, but there is potential in her storyline which is already more than I can say about the main cast of the book.

I understand that Aveyard wanted to create a retelling of a story such as The Lord of the Rings and add a more diverse cast and leading female characters, and I respect that. But the problem with taking books like Tolkien's masterpiece as inspiration is that ... you're not the only one. There have been plenty of others who did it, plenty other quest stories in the style of the Fellowship, plenty other worlds crafted to the tiniest detail. And there's no fault in that. But you need to give the readers something unique. Add some twists. Add something unexpected. Make your story stand out compared to all the other that have done one in similiar style. Convince me why I should stick to your own version of this type of book instead of just going back to the original, or choosing another version. And this is what I just couldn't find in Realm Breaker.

Overall, this book's strength is in the writing and care put into the worldbuilding. Something I truly appreciate, and enjoyed. However, the story lacked of offering an interesting plot and characters that were able to pull me into their adventure (except for one or two). I understand that as the first installement of a series, the book had a lot of ground to cover such as establishing the world, the characters and their roles, and the story. However, when I reached the last page, I wasn't exicted to think of what could come next, I was just happy to be done with it. There is clearly room for improvement, and I can see many issues I had being resolved in the upcoming sequels, but at this point, I just couldn't care less about finding it out.

A little side note: I don't know why the publisher went with marketing this as a YA book. (Okay, I could think of enough reasons as to why, but ... I don't agree with them) The German publisher, on the other hand, clearly stated this to be an Adult Fantasy book which is more fitting for the story and writing. Also, the e-book suprisingly didn't come with a map, but there exists one in the physical copies which I found out later, and it was an enormous help in understanding where the characters are being located.