Q U I C K S T A T S
Characters: ⭐
Setting: ⭐⭐⭐
Writing style: ⭐⭐
Overall rating: ⭐⭐
T H E B O O K
// Content Warning: Attempted rape / Blood / Child death (mentioned) / Death / Murder / Physical abuse / Poisoning / Self harm / Suicide / War //
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age rating: 14+
Genre(s): Fantasy
Pub date: 01/03/2016
P R E M I S E
Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.
Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.
As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.
M Y R E V I E W
↬ PRE-THOUGHTS
The cover gives me A Dress for the Wicked vibes but the premise gives me a Carry On but makes it The Queen's Rising.
OKAY I JUST CHECKED THE PUBLICATION DATE AND ITS 2016?! I JUST PRAY TO THE GODS THAT THERE AREN'T ANY VAMPIRES.
↬ PLOT
Like I stated earlier, this book was set in a magical academy/ institute but here's the deal: the protagonist is POORLY trained and has come to label her powers as a 'curse' (like the protagonist of The Glass Spare except that girl's powers could actually make her rich). At some point in the beginning, she's overwhelmed by the emotions of other people (it's empathy if you couldn't guess) and 1) loses control and manages to set A LOT of people on fire and 2) if things couldn't get worse, the last auraseerer was just sacked and she is the oldest.
The brother of the king comes to collect her and realises they were all going to be fucked up. Takes the girl anyways and uh love triangle *shudders*
↬ WRITING AND SETTING
There was nothing particularly fascinating about the writing to set it apart from others but I suppose it had its occasional humorous moments (including it would be a spoiler so I steered clear of it).
The world building was quite alright? The only place that I would have loved to see more of would be the academy. I don't know what it is about old buildings with gothic architecture but being obsessed with them is an understatement
↬ CHARACTERS
This is going to sound harsh but I hated the main character. I despised her existence and am glad I don't know her IRL because there would have been a fistfight. Imagine being with one brother but thinking about the other (the same vice versa) and ma'am I don't know what sweet home Alabama stuff was going on in your head but seriously, cut it out.
Prince A (his name wasn't too important to remember) was the family disappointment like Elias from An Ember in the Ashes and Corwin from Onyx and Ivory and even Elian from To Kill a Kingdom. But this guy could literally step on my throat and I'd thank him. Is being hot his only redeemable feature? yes. But I like them dumb so honestly, I don't care (jk).
The villain was so uh dumb? Imagine, IMAGINE trying to seduce a girl with your weak ass biceps and she fucking falls for it but ends up going with the other guy you've had a whole history of rivalry with and is also your brother. Who wouldn't be furious really?
↬ CONCLUSION
Pros: It has a magical academy mentioned in the first few pages
Cons: Everything else
Overall rating: 2/5
T R O P E S
Chosen one
Love triangle
B O O K S M E N T I O N E D
A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause
Carry on by Rainbow Rowell
The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
A D D I T I O N A L R E S O U R C E S
F I N D M E
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