5 out of 5? Try 10 out of 5. This. Was. So. Damn. Good.
This book did not disappoint at all, and any faults it does have are forgiven so very quickly. As far as fantasy goes, this one is lush, epic, ingenious and utterly gorgeous.
Featuring two strong and kick-ass women as heroines, with a dash of time travel and a whole lot of magic, Legrand has created a story that delivers in romance, action, mystery and sheer fantasy. Even the element of angels was a neat twist. I couldn't tell which MC I loved most, but Legrand is a master-class at suspense and kept me reading through each chapter with a near desperation to find out what happened to either girl. Likewise, the way just enough is revealed in the beginning leaves me with such high levels of curiosity and a burning need to read more of this series! And a round of applause for the secondary characters being just as wonderful. Usually there's just that one that you can't stand, and that was never the case here.
The world-building is spot on too. Some fantasies I've noticed pile so much on at once with little grace or explanation that you find yourself lost throughout the book. Not the case here. The world, the history, the magic, the religions---all of it was easy to understand and stow away in my head.
I have to admit that the book's big plot twist I figured out pretty quickly myself, but it's not in a way that's predictable or ruins the story. If anything, it heightens the magic of the book. As for the minor twists, I was in love. (In case you haven't figured it out yet, this book could literally do no wrong for me.)
As I mentioned, there are a few negatives to it, but the book as a whole is so good that I got over them pretty quick. One was the pace slowed down a bit too much at around the 75% mark, but the ending made up for it. Two, there is a sex scene that is just awko-taco. And I don't mean awkward in a this-is-their-first-time-let's-figure-it-out-together way, but in the way it was written. I found it be a strangely written section with peculiar word choice and description.
Nevertheless, this is a solid start to what I know is going to be a fantastic series. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy, and I definitely can't wait to read more.
This book did not disappoint at all, and any faults it does have are forgiven so very quickly. As far as fantasy goes, this one is lush, epic, ingenious and utterly gorgeous.
Featuring two strong and kick-ass women as heroines, with a dash of time travel and a whole lot of magic, Legrand has created a story that delivers in romance, action, mystery and sheer fantasy. Even the element of angels was a neat twist. I couldn't tell which MC I loved most, but Legrand is a master-class at suspense and kept me reading through each chapter with a near desperation to find out what happened to either girl. Likewise, the way just enough is revealed in the beginning leaves me with such high levels of curiosity and a burning need to read more of this series! And a round of applause for the secondary characters being just as wonderful. Usually there's just that one that you can't stand, and that was never the case here.
The world-building is spot on too. Some fantasies I've noticed pile so much on at once with little grace or explanation that you find yourself lost throughout the book. Not the case here. The world, the history, the magic, the religions---all of it was easy to understand and stow away in my head.
I have to admit that the book's big plot twist I figured out pretty quickly myself, but it's not in a way that's predictable or ruins the story. If anything, it heightens the magic of the book. As for the minor twists, I was in love. (In case you haven't figured it out yet, this book could literally do no wrong for me.)
As I mentioned, there are a few negatives to it, but the book as a whole is so good that I got over them pretty quick. One was the pace slowed down a bit too much at around the 75% mark, but the ending made up for it. Two, there is a sex scene that is just awko-taco. And I don't mean awkward in a this-is-their-first-time-let's-figure-it-out-together way, but in the way it was written. I found it be a strangely written section with peculiar word choice and description.
Nevertheless, this is a solid start to what I know is going to be a fantastic series. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy, and I definitely can't wait to read more.