Date: 2023/04/29-2023/04/30
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ★★★★.25
Spice rating: level 1 (not described)
Age rating (I think): 15+
Publication date: 2023/05/16

TIGGER WARNINGS: death, language, death of parent, death of child, kidnapping, blood

Thanks to the author for the ARC copy so I can honestly review the book.

First, what you can expect from this book:
· morally gray FMC
· friends and enemies
· enemies to lovers
· nobody is what they seem
· unique world structure
· mortals and fairies (who this time also have cool wings)
· played in 3rd person
· 4 POVs (but mainly takes place from the two protagonists)
· fast-paced
· exciting and tense
· ACOTAR vibe
· grumpyxgrumpy

PRELIMINARY:

Well, wow, this book was not average for sure. When I first read the description of the book it scared me a little, I was afraid that we would get a new ACOTAR retelling, but thank the gods and the stars, I was pleasantly disappointed, because it had nothing to do with it.

Basically, I got into the book quite easily and managed to pick up the thread and understand the relationship between the characters and the whole world without any problems.

The characters themselves were lovable in their own way, especially Zeyna, as she not only evoked sympathy from me, but also rekindled the desire to fight in me, something I hadn't seen in a long time.

ATTENTION SPOILER (if you haven't read the book, scroll down at your own risk)

ZEYNA

Zeyna (or Nura by another name) is a real mystery and a huge question mark in me, since she is actually neither good nor bad, she has no alliances to trust and no friends to fight for. But there is that huge desire for revenge and that fire that nothing can put out, that is what animates her, that pushes her again and again towards victory. I somehow believe that she remained human and did not lose the better half of her soul, because she deserves to feel human, I want her to know that she is not a monster, that she never really was. It's hard to tell at first what drives her other than anger, but when we get to know her better, we realize that she's not only trying to protect herself, but also those who are important to her. Throughout the book, she develops and goes to her limits to achieve what she wants, she has a kind of perseverance that you can't read in many places and this is what makes her stand out from the rest. Basically, it's no wonder that she's full of thorns and that she doesn't trust anyone so much, because that's what she's been taught and brought up to do since childhood, doesn't show weakness and always win, but it's still so easy to manipulate her, so, so easy. Once luck helped her, but after a while everyone runs out of it, Zeyna also runs out and, starting from the end, it seems that she started on a slope, after which there is no redemption and I can only hope that dhe will step back into the light before it is too late for her.

DAEMOS

First of all, what a cool name he has, he definitely gives me a Daemon Targaryen vibe, but that could just be me. Well, the point is that Daemos (or Miran) was on a completely different level than Zeyna. More brutal, crueler and much more cunning. I won't say that I loved him from the beginning, because that would be a lie, I started to love him when he had to face to Sam, he showed that his humanity had not completely died out of him and he was still willing to show a little mercy to an innocent soul, even when he knew there was no other way for him and it's just something that breaks my heart. Basically, he differs from Zeyna not only in motivation and personality, but also in position, because he may help Gair, but these two have an agreement and an alliance, he is not his slave like Zeyna is to Cassia, in short, this also complicates the picture. No matter how I try to understand him, I find it difficult to define him, because he looks like a bloodthirsty monster from the outside, but inside he still has a heart and a soul and this confuses me, I want to hate him with a part of me and love him with the other part, but never between the two. I know that he has already overcome many battles and I also know that he will overcome many more battles, but I wish him to find the peace that fate intended for him, preferably together with Zeyna, because he deserves it, they both deserve it with every damned ounce of their being.

THE OTHERS

Cassia, the Lady of the dragon court, is a very difficult and cruel character, not only because her personality demands this from her, but because she treats Zeyna like an object. As a person in power, I understand her, because it is understandable what kind of goals drive her, but as a human being, I cannot understand why anyone would do such a thing, I am not saying that she is inherently guilty, because not only is there blood on her hands, but it is a fact that she crossed a moral boundary. I really don't have a problem with villains, but she stands out even among them, because she can do things that most people stop at. I'm curious to see what will happen to her.

Margaret, well, I could only write one sentence here that is perfect for her and that is "as mother is, so is daughter", because if nothing else it reflects her faithfully. I really believed that Zeyna had found in her an innocent and somewhat naive friend whom she could trust, but I had to be disappointed, because she had no intention of letting them to escape. At the end of the day, she remains just a fae for whom lives don't matter. Despite everything she's done, I understand why she feels so betrayed and I understand that she's angry at Zeyna, but I really hope she can forgive her one day.

Then everyone's (or my personal) favorite Asherian, well he plays his cards very well, that's a fact and I liked him for that, I feel like he's the only one who understands the essence of the game they play. Even though he's outcast and alone, I think he's a bigger threat than Gair or Cassia herself. I know and feel that he has and will manipulate Zeyna to achieve his goals, but at this point I really appreciate his cunning and learning. I really really hope we get more of him in the future, because he's an incredibly interesting character.

Harlow is an idiot and a survivor, but even I can't decide if he deserved what he got or not. I'm really used to his presence and his masterfully planned scenarios, but I don't feel sorry for him, maybe I would have at the beginning, because he was an old man and dying, but knowing what he did to stay alive - which I honestly can't blame - he lost that grace .

Gair is a strange figure, basically his motivation is to gain power (like all villains) but somehow he is not so determined because he depends on Daemos, who I feel will not support him very much after this. However, he has a charismatic aura that captivates you.

Apart from Cassia, I don't want to highlight the other rulers because they weren't featured enough for me to say anything meaningful about them, but Morlina was interesting to me. I honestly believe that she is the one of them all who strives for actual peace, but I have very mixed feelings about her being able to sacrifice a child (I mean, I understand the logic behind it, but not where her heart went).

THE LOVE STORY

When I say enemies to lovers (though very strictly speaking its rather childhood friends to lovers) I mean this, when they actually try to kill the other and not just throw around words and they are actually bleeding. Basically, I liked that they teased each other and kept crossing the line drawn by the other. Although they didn't know it, they knew each other from another life and somehow this made their relationship even more painful. And the fact that he trained with her was simply ahh, he really did everything to ensure that everything was given to her to win in the arena (even if she had unbroken success so far). I don't like pet names, but "little dragon" just melted my heart.

ACT PACE/CONCEPT/ETC

The plot itself was fine, although there were parts that I felt were a bit illogical and just filled the space, because why not. Nevertheless, the story started very quickly and brought the action and adventures that I was expecting. There was always something that had to be dealt with or another obstacle rolled in front of the characters that they had to solve in order to continue their journey.
The phrasing was also fine, but not outstanding, despite that there were sentences that moved my soul and I was really amazed by their beauty.
So I want to touch on the world building, which I think was unique and creative; there were five fairy courts and each one represented a creature (dragon, basilisk, siren, kraken, chimera) which is interesting not because they are all supernatural beings, but because these creatures are there in the courts, frozen as prisoners of time, it's simply so cool. And then there are the rules made by Mother (a kind of goddess) that no one can shed fairy blood, so they have to settle things between themselves through champions and each champion has to wear a mask specific to their own court. And oh my god, fairies had wings, I mean wooow, I haven't read anything like this before, it was terribly interesting and I really liked it, because finally the word "fairy" has returned a little to the original being.
Maybe a map wouldn't have hurt the book (it's possible it will be in print) because it was a bit complicated to remember and imagine all the places, but I'm not complaining.
The cover is something beautiful; the sword represents Zeyna, and the wings at the hilt represent the fairies, and then there is the cursed ribbon (it just kills me to see it after the end), which broke my heart. It's just perfect.

FINAL WORDS

So this book was a whole new journey and definitely in the best way and I definitely want to return to the world of Morwsen because it is an incredibly unique and wonderfully (and dangerous) place that is not to be missed.

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend it to those who want something different after ACOTAR, but still similar, and to those who like fantasy books, spiced up with a little enemies to lovers and morally gray characters who try to become the forge of their own destiny.