Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
The war is over.
The curse is lifted.
Malakai is gone.
It’s been two years since Ophelia has seen the boy she loves. When a treaty was signed ending the war and lifting the curse on Mystique Warriors, Malakai left to attempt the sacred ritual known as the Undertaking.
He never returned, and the Undertaking was forbidden. Ophelia’s world crumbled around her.
Since then, she has pursued a fruitless search for answers. When the deadly curse resurfaces only on her, Ophelia finds solace in the idea that when she dies, she may finally be reunited with her lost love. Then, a messenger appears, telling her that she alone may be the one to save her people.
With her closest friends by her side, Ophelia embarks on a race against death—one that will not only challenge her physically, but make her question the Mystique leaders, the Angels, and her belief in love.
Can she win the fight against fate before the curse takes her life, or will the betrayals exposed along the way kill her first?
With influence from Greek Mythology, this debut is the first in a New Adult Fantasy Romance series full of heart-wrenching love, shattering betrayals, and fighting for what you believe in. Fans of Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, and The Bridge Kingdom will love it.
GREAT STARTER.
I have been waiting to read this since hearing about it and I was not disappointed. I thought it was a good start to a series. Had everything I needed to want to keep going and find out what happens next.
You know in contemporaries with a meddling grandma? I don’t usually love those. But you know what I DO love? Meddling gods. And I can’t wait to see how this crew causes some chaos. I liked the world building alongside getting to meet a few of them. It was a good balance of understanding who was who and also their place in the world.
I looove warrior type FMC’s and Ophelia easily embodies that. I loved her and the whole found family crew!! I love found families. I easily fall in love with everybody and I need everyone to be happy in the end okay?! I loved getting to know all of these characters too.
The romance was very different from anything I’ve read in romantasy. It had a unique set-up that I was curious to see play out and now I just feel even more excited to see how that goes. It did take me a little bit to be interested with the reversal of storyline BUT they had me in the feels by the reunion.
Personally, I struggle with road trip type plots so for me there was a bit too much traveling. Otherwise though, I think this was a fantastic debut. Easily recommend for any fantasy romance lovers and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: some
- Romance: one open door; + fade to black
- Violence: high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved one, torture, animal attacks, physical and weapons violence, murder, near death experiences
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