Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the
Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual
market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted
community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly
anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a
century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense
encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile
coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about
herself to be true.
Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is
brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where
she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's
connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of
magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she
belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning
everything, including her heart.
My Review: Erm... So I'm not sure what the hype is about this book.
I made it about 10 chapters in before I had to put it down and decide if I could pick it back up and finish it or mark it as a DNF.
The story up until then is so boring. The amount of errors makes it really hard to read at times too. Basically up to this point, the book has done nothing but give me a headache.
Kai is the leaders son and is choosing Brynn to be his wife. He wants her, his family is happy about the choice, and they'll lead this place together one day. He is pretty pushy about it and Brynn likes Kai but marriage wasn't on her list of things and the more Kai pushes the more I want to have words with him and they aren't kind ones.
Brynn seems to have the shitty end of the stick here. She was essentially adopted into the Alaha home. Training, excited to visit the market and just really just needs a chance in life. She seems to constantly get in trouble, a lot of them with Kai. Or perhaps trouble just follows her since when they finally get to visit the market she kind of breaks a peace treaty and now they want Alaha to send her back to them.
So far, I'm not impressed nor really care for any of the characters at all. They could use some work on personality traits and more development too.
After sometime, I did pick the book back up and tried to push through it. I did have to skip some chapters until I finally reached a point where the book somewhat redeemed itself. Around the 70% mark is when the book was finally interesting enough for me and started to grab and hold my attention, though I wasn't 100% sold on the story yet. There are still many things to be answered, development could use more work but it was getting there finally.
In the end, I did manage to finish the book. Is it worth all the hype around it? No. Its just another overhyped book that didn't make the cut for me. Not sure if I'll attempt the next book. There are things I want to know more about and get the answers to that hopefully the next book will be able to give and who knows maybe it's the next book that will make the series worth it to me. In the meantime I'll just leave it at this and perhaps I'll take a look at the second book down the line.
The start was slow. Kind of boring and was on the edge of leaving this as a DNF.
However, hang in there. Around chapter 10 is when it starts to finally pick up and I'm so glad I held on.
The story picks up, the pace picks up, things are becoming interesting and pulled me in.
Semiramis first comes off as an orphan taken in but never really fit in or belonged. When she meets Onnes, its as if she finally awakens. More of herself starts to come out.
Semiramis leaves with Onnes after a horrid scene at her home. She will leave with him and on the way he makes his plans to know to want to marry her.
They marry, they have a good home, all seems to be going well. Semiramis is learning from one of the slaves being her eyes and ears. She is eager to wander and explore the area more though. So she asks Onnes to train her, as its a place she finds interesting. He agrees. Onnes is kind and listens and answers all her questions. They are equals and its actually nice to see.
When Semiramis joins them at war, things are going to change for everyone. Her strategy worked, they won. But she has seen things now that will change her. Onne's won't be the same again and the King will start to see her as more than his brothers wife.
As the book moves on, so much happens. The paces keeps you on your toes. Rumors will spread. People will die. Semiramis will rise as Queen and so much more. I'm so glad I stuck it out and now I can't wait to see what the author will come up with next!
Hours after I’m tossed from my latest foster home, a beautiful stranger shows up to claim me. He takes me to a mansion that breathes like a living thing. The halls listen. The portraits watch. Outside, thunder calls my name.
He tells me to stay in my room.
I don’t.
Downstairs I meet his Mick, the big one who growls.Caspian, the quiet one who can’t stop staring.Alister, the grump who brought me here. My “guardian,” or something far more dangerous?
A storm rages outside. The house whispers. The lights die. They tell me I’m the key to whatever’s waking inside these walls…and inside me. I have to complete a ritual before midnight or the thing under my skin will tear me and this town apart. They say it’s simple.
Fight and die.
Yield to it, and to all of them, and live.
But in this house, nothing is what it seems, least of all me, and when the clock strikes twelve, I’ll have to decide whether to resist the monsters at my door or admit they already own my heart.
A wicked, why-choose Halloween romance with crackling chemistry, haunted-house vibes, and a fierce heroine who doesn’t have to pick. High heat. No cheating. HEA.
