Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13/14+
Over All: 4.25 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
A Rapunzel-inspired dark fantasy set in the world of Alexandra Christo’s bestselling To Kill a Kingdom. Um, yes please!
I adored TKaK, but was unable to get through Christo’s sophomore novel (I believe I DNFed it at about 20%), so I was a little apprehensive about this one, but I was excited to see that it was in first person. I think that’s where her strengths lie.
This book started off so strong. It had a phenomenal hook, and the first quarter of the book was fast paced, twisted and dark, and so unique. Those things together made it un-put-down-able. Though I continued to enjoy the book, and never felt the desire to DNF, after that 25% mark, the book started to slow down. There were always moments of tension, and I adored the characters throughout, but the thread of the plot started to feel a little lost. In the end (let’s say the last 10%), the pace picked up again and I started to get wholly invested again, however, with the shift in the plot and the weaker middle section, the beginning to the ending didn’t quite feel cohesive.
I think the “Rapunzel” comparison did the book a disservice. The book has basically none of the requisite Rapunzel plotlines. The main character is a pseudo prisoner who has long hair (but not that long. Like, waistlength), who leaves her “tower” with a guy. There is no Rapunzel flower/herb, there is no kidnappping (Selestra’s mom is evil, but she’s her actual mom), there’s no tall secluded tower. Selestra isn’t allowed to leave the castle, true, but she is able to interact with anyone who lives in or visits the palace.
The only part of the books that ever made me think about Rapunzel were the far too numerous “tongue in cheek” jokes from the love interest. I’m pretty sure he made the “If your hair was just a little longer, we could use it to climb down!” joke a half dozen times. No, I’m not exaggerating.
The main selling point of this novel was, in my opinion, the characters. I was expecting Selestra to be very morally gray FMC with dark powers, and I was almost apprehensive when she wasn’t. I feel like, most of the time when you have a character (especially a girl) with dark, evil powers, there are only two personality options: badass morally gray girl who will do whatever it takes with no remorse (a la Jude Duarte) or someone who is so afraid of their own power that they spend all their time whining about it and refusing to use it. I like the first one (so long as she is more than just that 2-D archetype); I hate the second one.
Selestra is more the second girl, but I really liked Alexandra Christo’s take on it. Selestra hates her powers, the innate evil that is stealing someone’s soul to give someone immortality. However, she is willing to do what it takes when necessary. Her internal conflict surrounding her powers felt so 3 dimensional and realistic. I think it is probably the most relatable take on “what if I had sorta evil powers” in comparison to how I, personally, think I would react to that scenario.
Nox, conversely, is a man with a mission. Yes, it’s a noble one, but he’s a little more morally gray in terms of the lengths he’d go to accomplish it. And also I loved him (except for his horrid Rapunzel jokes).
The side characters were fun and loveable, though I wish they’d had a little more development.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Much better than the author’s sophomore novel and it’s sequel, though not quite as amazing as her debut. I highly highly recommend this one if you liked To Kill a Kingdom, or even if you didn’t, since the story and characters are unique.
Age Rating: 13/14+
Over All: 4.25 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
A Rapunzel-inspired dark fantasy set in the world of Alexandra Christo’s bestselling To Kill a Kingdom. Um, yes please!
I adored TKaK, but was unable to get through Christo’s sophomore novel (I believe I DNFed it at about 20%), so I was a little apprehensive about this one, but I was excited to see that it was in first person. I think that’s where her strengths lie.
This book started off so strong. It had a phenomenal hook, and the first quarter of the book was fast paced, twisted and dark, and so unique. Those things together made it un-put-down-able. Though I continued to enjoy the book, and never felt the desire to DNF, after that 25% mark, the book started to slow down. There were always moments of tension, and I adored the characters throughout, but the thread of the plot started to feel a little lost. In the end (let’s say the last 10%), the pace picked up again and I started to get wholly invested again, however, with the shift in the plot and the weaker middle section, the beginning to the ending didn’t quite feel cohesive.
I think the “Rapunzel” comparison did the book a disservice. The book has basically none of the requisite Rapunzel plotlines. The main character is a pseudo prisoner who has long hair (but not that long. Like, waistlength), who leaves her “tower” with a guy. There is no Rapunzel flower/herb, there is no kidnappping (Selestra’s mom is evil, but she’s her actual mom), there’s no tall secluded tower. Selestra isn’t allowed to leave the castle, true, but she is able to interact with anyone who lives in or visits the palace.
The only part of the books that ever made me think about Rapunzel were the far too numerous “tongue in cheek” jokes from the love interest. I’m pretty sure he made the “If your hair was just a little longer, we could use it to climb down!” joke a half dozen times. No, I’m not exaggerating.
The main selling point of this novel was, in my opinion, the characters. I was expecting Selestra to be very morally gray FMC with dark powers, and I was almost apprehensive when she wasn’t. I feel like, most of the time when you have a character (especially a girl) with dark, evil powers, there are only two personality options: badass morally gray girl who will do whatever it takes with no remorse (a la Jude Duarte) or someone who is so afraid of their own power that they spend all their time whining about it and refusing to use it. I like the first one (so long as she is more than just that 2-D archetype); I hate the second one.
Selestra is more the second girl, but I really liked Alexandra Christo’s take on it. Selestra hates her powers, the innate evil that is stealing someone’s soul to give someone immortality. However, she is willing to do what it takes when necessary. Her internal conflict surrounding her powers felt so 3 dimensional and realistic. I think it is probably the most relatable take on “what if I had sorta evil powers” in comparison to how I, personally, think I would react to that scenario.
Nox, conversely, is a man with a mission. Yes, it’s a noble one, but he’s a little more morally gray in terms of the lengths he’d go to accomplish it. And also I loved him (except for his horrid Rapunzel jokes).
The side characters were fun and loveable, though I wish they’d had a little more development.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Much better than the author’s sophomore novel and it’s sequel, though not quite as amazing as her debut. I highly highly recommend this one if you liked To Kill a Kingdom, or even if you didn’t, since the story and characters are unique.