Jennie's Reads

“It was funny, she thought, how one could be two sides of the same coin. A hero to some, and a villain to others.”

⭐️ 5
🌶 1
🗡 Found Family
🗡 Enemies to Lovers
🗡 Elemental Magic
🗡 High Stakes Quests
🗡 Forced Proximity
🗡 No Spice

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VB, MY GIRL — a Romantasy with helluva beautiful world building and relatable characters plus doesn’t have spice, yet still gots your core heating up and yearning for more? I applaud you! I’m in it for Kai + Aiden and Sebastian, if I’m being totally honest. I can’t wait to read Forever Reign.

Blurb/Synopsis

Isla Belthare lives an ordinary life in her small village of Lockhurt. Since losing both her mother and the man she loved two years ago, all she wants is stability and peace. But her world is forever changed when her family is attacked on a journey away from home and she must travel to the Aataran mountain range to find them.

Across the realm, four ancient beings who control the elements of nature are awakening.

After a civil war that tore the humans apart, the elementals entered a thousand year slumber. Now, they are being summoned to prevent a dark force that is greedy for power and threatening to overturn the balance of nature.

When Isla’s path crosses with one of these elementals, she finds her fate is more entangled with theirs than she had ever imagined. As she risks it all to follow the elementals on their journey to defeat the unknown foe, she discovers that not everything may be as it seems. Isla is torn between protecting her loved ones or following her heart down a dangerous path of power and magic, of truth and lies.

What will they sacrifice to stop the coming storm?

What I Enjoyed

The Multiple POV’s: Usually, I’m the first one to cross my eyes and DNF a book if it’s too hard to follow and has too much going on, but Long Live balances the numerous POV’s SO. WELL. It flows, adds to the story, makes sense, and gives such beautiful insight into each of the characters in the book. You really were given a insider feel into Kai’s head, and I felt like I was able to relate to her and feel her pain. Then when we got Aidan’s POV? My heart HURT for him. It was just wonderful.

Kai & Aidan’s Relationship : Just in general, this relationship is one for the books. I can’t wait to see how it develops in the next book. We get tossed into the middle of the Kai & Aidan stalemate, and experience their road to repair. “Sweetheart, you are never a burden to me. I would burn the world down with you, if that’s what you needed.” Honestly, it humanized the Elementals a little more, and I’m here for that. (Well, the entire book does a great job at humanizing them all, and it’s refreshing to see!)

Sebastian: At first I was like, no fool- don’t you dare. Then by the end, I ship our boy Sebbie and Isla. “I can think of much worse ways to meet my end than on my knees before you.” I hope he has a redemption arc, because I really want to see how he is when he’s “good”. He’s also got some great quotes which make him *swoon* worthy!

Isla & Bri’s Friendship: These two’s friendship is one that is the definition of a friendship that stands the test of time and trials. Everyone needs a Bri in their lives, such a strong, empowering, and independent individual! — Note, if you need me to be your Bri, DM me, I got you, friend!

No Spice: This one – simply because the typical idea of a ‘Romantasy’ novel nowadays has some form of 🌽/🌶. Long Live has some steamy dialogue and some core heating moments, don’t get me wrong — but I think it’s extremely tasteful not having the spice.

What I Didn’t Like

Slow To Start: I definitely did feel like Long Live took a little bit to take off. It makes sense though, introducing Isla, Arwen, her situation, and then all 4 elementals, Sebastian, and all the in between? There was a lot of world building that needed to happen.

The Cliffhanger: Lol, but for real.

Notable Quotes

“My little Isla,” she would say while brushing her daughter’s copper hair, “the fiercest huntress in the land. Never let them stop you. When the world tries to take this out of your hands,” she’d nod to the bow and arrow in Isla’s lap, “you pull it back and drag them behind you.”

“It made Aidan’s blood boil, thinking about the monsters who would do that to their wives and children. It took a lesser man indeed to raise a hand to those he should be cherishing and protecting.”

“And the man who did this to you?” He nodded to her injury. “I ripped the air from his lungs and watched him choke on his own tongue and dying prayers.”

“Beautiful, vicious girl. I like it when you show your teeth.”

“This story was nothing new; she knew he loved her. Irrevocably. The way the tide loves the shore, the way fire craves the air. Love had never been their problem.”

“As ash turns to ash and dust to dust, raw power must be returned and honed to sustain the realm for which it was created. Beware the lure of the dagger. Power conquers all.”

Theme Song

Over All Thoughts

Overall, even with the slower start, I give Long Live 5 ⭐️’s. It was an breezy, entertaining read – I throughly enjoyed getting to view the story through many different lenses and eyes. I’m so intrigued by Isla and Sebastian, and wonder how Rynn’s going to fit into the equation. Long Live is action-packed and not one to miss!

*Note- Long Live is available on Kindle Unlimited for your reading pleasure!
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