When I first received this book, I was so excited to start reading it because I love the concept of a beast charmer, magical creatures, and a forbidden romance.
However, the first time I attempted to read this book, I read the first two chapters and put it down because I just didn’t feel a connection to anything in the story. I didn’t want to rule it as a DNF, so I waited a month later to pick it up.
Alright, I’ve made it through eight chapters (over the span of multiple weeks, which really highlights my enthusiasm), and I just can’t wait this story. Leena reminds me of a female Ash from Pokémon who has these beasts that only she can tame, and she’s on the run from her homeland. We met Loc who is the head of a band of assassins and clearly not to be trusted. Seeing as Leena is desperate to get the bounty off of her head, she strikes a deal to hand over some of her coveted beasts to Loc. Seems fair, until he decides that he will accompany her on the exhibition to get the beasts.
Now, at this point, I was really looking for some incredible world building and delving more into this idea of a beast charmer and the creatures that they handle. Instead, there doesn’t seem to be much depth to the plot, and the romance just seems a bit forced.
I know that there are several people who really enjoyed this story, so I think that you should still give it a chance if you like fantasy and romance. I just am done trying to force myself through a story that just isn’t working for me.
Thank you to BookishHQ and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
However, the first time I attempted to read this book, I read the first two chapters and put it down because I just didn’t feel a connection to anything in the story. I didn’t want to rule it as a DNF, so I waited a month later to pick it up.
Alright, I’ve made it through eight chapters (over the span of multiple weeks, which really highlights my enthusiasm), and I just can’t wait this story. Leena reminds me of a female Ash from Pokémon who has these beasts that only she can tame, and she’s on the run from her homeland. We met Loc who is the head of a band of assassins and clearly not to be trusted. Seeing as Leena is desperate to get the bounty off of her head, she strikes a deal to hand over some of her coveted beasts to Loc. Seems fair, until he decides that he will accompany her on the exhibition to get the beasts.
Now, at this point, I was really looking for some incredible world building and delving more into this idea of a beast charmer and the creatures that they handle. Instead, there doesn’t seem to be much depth to the plot, and the romance just seems a bit forced.
I know that there are several people who really enjoyed this story, so I think that you should still give it a chance if you like fantasy and romance. I just am done trying to force myself through a story that just isn’t working for me.
Thank you to BookishHQ and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.