Jennie's Reads

“For what is written in snow, thus reveled in thaw, born with a crown of ash and star, so he shall be the one to save them all.”

⭐️ 4
🌶 1
✨ Morally Grey MMC
✨ Found Family
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Elemental Magic
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Trauma Representation

Thank you, Victoria K Taylor for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this book!

This was definitely a fun read and an interesting take on elemental magic. I’ve got to be honest though, it was slow to start, but when things finally started taking off- it TOOK OFF. It’s a little on the slower of the burn sides, and not very spicy- itty bitty spice. The world building is not too heavy – it’s more focused on the FMC and MMC, and how their characters interact with one another and their worlds as it comes falling down around their feet (along with how they go about rebuild and repair). If Physical Trauma/Grief Trauma triggers you, you may want to take caution in reading this.

“Revenge is always a heavy motivator,” he said, and nodded to her. “We will make Praiton pay.”

First of all, I’m not entirely sure I like our Morally Grey MMC – Caelum. I’m still kind of on the fence about how he is as a fae by his interactions with Deya and the crew. I mean, I do understand he spent most of his time wasting away and being tortured in a foreign prison and agonizing over his family- but, the way he ping pongs with his emotions and his language… I need to learn more and read more. I’m interested in his character development.

Deya, our unrelenting and determined FMC however, has an amazing character development arc. She goes from meek and subtle to firey and independent. Her trauma plays a very big part in her development, and her need to feel like she belongs and have love from friends or a partner is understandable. (Victoria, you broke my heart with Oswalt!)

I did enjoy reading our Main’s slow burn though. So many ups and downs, and denials and acceptances (that’s probably why I don’t really trust Caelum still though…). And I did like reading about how they found acceptance in each other – being two characters that need this, whether it is known or not.

“Pain manifests in strange ways, Deya,” he said. “We may be out of Ironbalt, but you and I are both far from being free of what imprisons us.”

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book- even if it was slower to start. It took me a couple breaths at points to get back into the book, but nonetheless I was happy to have finished it. I love Val; but I love me a feisty/dirty talking/empowering/bad ass bestie any day.

*note, this book is available on Kindle Unlimited for your reading pleasure
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