By:Carissa Broadbent
“Fear is just a collection of physical responses.”
On my first reread I can still say I give this book 4 stars. I absolutely love this book and the world building.
Oraya our FMC is a stone cold killer WHOOP WHOOP but we get to experience her inner turmoil which I adore! I love when an FMC makes me feel like I could be bad ass too. Our homegirl is an absolute mess of anxiety on the inside, but she is freaking BAD ASS externally!! GIRL I WANNA BE YOU.
“If I was going to let myself be a spectacle, at least I’d be one that fucking meant something. …And I’d still find somewhere to put my daggers.”
The Kejari, the competition where this book is set, is absolutely brutal. So much death and lots of killing by our FMC, again she is a bad ass. Further on we meet our MMC Raihn and our lovely ray of sunshine Mische. I cannot wait to learn more about Mische and Raihn in book 2. Raihn really helped Oraya see that she can be who she is rather than turning into someone, or something else. The banter is endless between these two and I am here for it all the way!
“I’ve lived through some injustices in the last couple of centuries. Seen some fucking travesties. But one of the biggest, Oraya, is that anyone taught you that you should become anything other than exactly what you are.”
““I figured your stomach is probably as strong as your will.” I craned my neck to eye him. “And how strong is that?” He grinned and leaned close as he said into my ear, “Pure fucking steel. Obviously.” Obviously.”
I think my favorite thing about this book is Oraya’s relationship with her adoptive father Vincent. She is a human, raised by a vampire, taught to fear vampires but also to be stronger than them. I love how much she questions her upbringing when Raihn starts to point out certain things. I think the part of this book that absolutely broke my heart is that Oraya loves Vincent the father, but HATES Vincent the king. She has always split her father into two parts, and when others only get to see the King she is the only one left with the half that was loving.
December 16, 2024