🌸BOOK REVIEW 🌸
When Briony is captured during the fall of her kingdom, things get dark.
The enemy has plans for her people and their magic, selling and tethering them to themselves. But hope blossoms even in the darkest of places and unresolved feelings come to the surface.
Will Briony find peace in her new situation or die fighting? Will her heart find answers to questions left out in the open?
Thos was such a fun read. It feels like a magical Victorian Harry Potter-esque fantasy. We have magicians and heart magic and mind magic and war! But dont let that fool you. There's also themes much darker in this story with off-page mentions off rape and torture. We also do see trafficking in this book.
But despite the dark themes, I found our MMC, Toven, so enjoyable. Honestly, he made the story for me. I know that he's modeled after Draco Malfoy but he's also his own character.
Briony was a bit insufferable for me. She did redeem herself toward the end of the story though.
The plot was plotting. The twists were immaculate. The slowburn was slowww!
Will I read book 2? Hell yes! This was easily a 4 star read for me!
#romancebooks #bookrevieweroflemon8 #BookReview #bookish #fantasy
Reading this book felt like stepping into a richly woven world where magic intertwines with complex emotions and dark realities. The portrayal of heart magic and mind magic added a unique twist to the Victorian-inspired fantasy setting that reminded me of classic tales but with a fresher take. The character arcs, especially the slow development of Toven, brought depth and charm to the story, balancing the darker themes such as trafficking and torture effectively. What stood out most was the author's ability to blend joy and darkness seamlessly, making the narrative engaging without becoming overwhelming. Despite the serious subject matter hinted at off-page, the story maintained a sense of hope and resilience. As someone who appreciates fantasy with layered storytelling and morally grey characters, I found the slowburn romance and intricate plotting particularly rewarding. For readers interested in magical realism mixed with intense emotional and social themes, this novel offers a compelling journey. The slow unveiling of secrets and twists kept me guessing and invested throughout. If you enjoy characters with complex motivations and stories that challenge the norms of fantasy romance, this book will likely resonate with you. I’m eagerly awaiting the second installment to see how Briony’s story and the magic world evolve.
