I Came for a Slow Burn, I Left a Total Fantasy Convert
Let’s make it official: I am no longer just dipping my toes into the fantasy genre—I am fully submerged, and I’m not looking back.
I went into this debut completely blind, and it caught me entirely off guard in the best way. If you aren’t completely burnt out on the “deadly trials” trope that seems to be everywhere lately, this is a remarkably solid read. The pacing behaves a bit like a roller coaster—it kicks off as a very deliberate, slow burn with high and low loops—but it delivers a fantastic foundation for a planned trilogy.
The biggest breath of fresh air for me was Maeve. In a sea of modern fantasy heroines who can lean toward whiny and annoying, Maeve stood out as a brilliant, refreshing female lead. Her dynamic with Wolf is an elite slow-burn, evolving beautifully from enemies to allies to lovers. And while the author drops some incredibly subtle hints at a potential love triangle involving Prince Cash, my gut tells me the plot is going to subvert expectations and steer clear of that drama. Beyond the main pairing, I absolutely adored her guard, Talon, and the fantastic representation brought into the story through them.
Don’t let the “romantasy” marketing label fool you just yet; the romance actually takes a back seat to the dark fantasy world-building in this first installment, though the groundwork is definitely laid for it to take center stage in the future. For a debut novel, the writing style is sharp, confident, and highly impressive.
I’ve already been shouting about this one to my girlies in my book groups, and I am genuinely impatient to see where the sequel heads next!
