About The Book
Princess Amora spent her life training to become the High Animancer, the only one capable of wielding soul magic. However, when she fails to properly demonstrate her powers, she flees her kingdom and joins forces with the rogue pirate Bastian. Together they must restore Bastian’s magic and prove Amora’s worth. But dangerous creatures and dark magic threaten Amora’s crown and kingdom.
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My Rating
If you’re a fan of YA fantasy with magic and mermaids, then this might be the book for you. This is the first book in a YA fantasy duology where we follow Princess Amora, a powerful and determined female lead who is destined to be the master of souls. When she fails to prove to her people that she can control her dangerous magic, she sets off on an epic adventure with Bastian, a pirate, and Ferrick, a healer and her fiancé.
This book is filled with magic, curses, and plenty of twists. I didn’t love Amora’s character, but I didn’t dislike her either. There were times when I liked her, and other times when she came across as a little too harsh, especially toward Ferrick. Since their engagement wasn’t by choice, it felt like she didn’t care much about him or his feelings, which I didn’t love, given that they were supposed to be friends. That said, their argument ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book.
Bastian was definitely a favorite character. I love a good pirate bad boy, and he had that charm and edge that kept things interesting. He and Amora had obvious chemistry that added a touch of romance to the story. I also really enjoyed the addition of Vataea, a mermaid with siren-like magic. She was interesting, likable, and a strong addition to the group. I hope the sequel gives her more development because I want to know more about her.
“I am a monster, and if you stand in my way, I will destroy you.”
The beginning of the story was a little hard to get into. The world and the magic system could be confusing, and it took some time to understand everything. But around the 40% mark, things really picked up. From that point on, the plot moved quickly, the stakes kept rising, and I felt fully hooked. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I’m a big fan of Adalyn Grace’s writing, and I thought this book was well written. She does a great job bringing the story to life, and I appreciated that the characters didn’t feel overly young or immature. The cliffhanger at the end was amazing. It didn’t make me want to pick up the sequel right away, but I’m definitely curious to see how everything wraps up.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I would recommend it to other readers, especially those who enjoyed the Daughter of the Pirate King series. While there is a romance element, it is not the main focus. I would not call this true romantasy, and it is completely closed door, which I know some readers will prefer.
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Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny