A princess longs to be a hero, while a bounty hunter fights for his freedom. Will they be each other’s ruin or salvation?
Welcome to the Empire of Pangaea: a land of legends, mutants, technological marvels, and every form of sin you can imagine. Peace should be within reach in a world united under the global empire. But as a new species of superpowered mutants starts to grow in number, so does unrest.
As the world teeters on the edge of war, two enemies must become unlikely allies. Arianne Murray, a forgotten warrior princess, and Blackjack, an infamous bounty hunter, must put aside their differences to survive the growing chaos. Their abilities and humanity is tested as they are thrown into a dystopian journey of survival and forced to grapple with feral mutants, deadly tricksters, and a tyrant who will stop at nothing until he owns the world.
Prepare to take flight in the action-packed first installment of the five-part Legends of Pangaea series concocted in the underground labs of Pangaea. The chemical formula is perfect for sci-fi fans who love comic book superpowers, fast-paced action, and romantic spice.
The Tyrant's Daughter is a wildly inventive and unique take on upper-YA dystopian genres that I found very refreshing. I.D. Marie's blend of fantasy inspirations to spruce up the sci-fi genre is intricately implemented and gives this story a fresh feel. Flying cars, future cartels, and winged mutants; there is a lot to love here and the series promises much more. I particularly loved how the author strayed away from tired tropes and overused stories as a crutch (I've gotten tired of teenagers fighting in arenas to save the world.) The political intrigue is well thought out and exciting, and the characters feel real and thoughtful. The Tyrant's Daughter stands out in a crowded field and I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series!
An exhilarating debut novel and a series I will be keeping an eye on! Anyone who knows me knows I love stories about winged mutants, and this checked a lot of boxes for me. The worldbuilding and characters are ambitious and grew on me as I read. Safe to say, I’m excited to dive into book two. Would recommend!!
What to say about The Tyrant’s Daughter? I was hooked from page one and I LOVED every part of this book! It’s one of my favorite reads of this year!
The story is really refreshing and I loved the mix of science fiction with fantasy elements. The mutants are an integral part of this story and I love them! Such a fresh idea that I think was executed nicely.
I love how real the characters are, living through their struggles, especially the main characters! And I loved their development. I’m trying not to spoil anything, but their relationship in book one evolves in a way that I love! I loved the tension between the main characters. The romantic tension in the story is so good! I went from “I can’t stand him” to “I love him”!
If you love futuristic dystopian worlds that feel like an epic fantasy, adventure, strong characters each with their own insecurities and weaknesses, battles, wars, winged people, people with special abilities, romantic tension, banter, I think this book might be for you!
The plot twists at the end are a roller coaster! So get ready! Can’t wait to read book two!
I’m the cover artist of this book, but all opinions are true and my own!
I read this book in 3 days and that was me trying to take it slow… it was that good! I loved the writing, was totally engaged in the storyline the entire time and fell completely in love with all of the characters!! There was emotion, there was violence, there were twists, I really couldn’t have asked for more. What a debut novel!!!
This was a fast-paced read with blockbuster levels of action but with so much heart added in! I'm a SUCKER for a messy, flawed female MC and Arianne fits the bill. She's impulsive and reckless, but there's a softer, sadder side to here that I.D. Marie isn't afraid to showcase. In fact, despite the break-neck action, Marie never shies away from the darker implications of conflict and handles themes of trauma and grief with a careful precision. It's more than just a fun romp that takes the reader through beaches, heavy forests, casino clubs, and high rise penthouses. It is commentary on how our trials haunt us and how we overcome (and succumb) to them.
I also appreciated the large cast of characters and how nuanced most of them seemed! I think a personal favorite was Jaya, and I've got my fingers crossed that there is something in the future for her and Blue.
I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel as all the other books to come in the series! I'm ready for Arianne to make more bullheaded decisions.
An indie book that will certainly entice Marvel and Hunger Games fans.
This is a difficult review for me to write because I vowed to be more honest while also acknowledging my own shortcomings as a reader. I also always respect my fellow indie authors and encourage them to tell their stories. To be straight up, the latter half of this novel was tough for me to get through despite the rock solid opening chapters.
Let's start out with the positives. I.D. Marie definitely has strengths in her descriptions and her prose. There wasn't a single scene in this book that I couldn't vividly picture in my head, and there were some really great lines in the internal monologues. I also really like the concept of a world overtaken by a singular government hunting down the ferras (mutants) of the world while catering to the cartels. This book had some really fun worldbuilding.
Sadly I cannot say the same for the characters. I think what made this book hard for me to get through was the fact that I did not buy Arianne and Blackjack's relationship for one second. They’re the centerpiece of the novel, and their YA Tomfoolery was just too much for me. A lot of their dialogue feels cliche, they speed run the "enemies to lovers" trope, and the drama they face in the third act feels so forced that it's hard not to see right through it.
I’ve seen other reviewers say that it’s basically a superhero summer blockbuster in book form where you turn off your brain and have a grand time. Unfortunately I can’t do that for books. Perhaps I’m also in late-stage superhero fatigue…
This book will definitely satisfy certain niches of readers and superhero fans, but for me it’s a 3.5/5 stars (rounded to 4).
This dystopian sci-fi grew on me as I read it. At first, the FMC was way too immature and I couldn't stand her. However, as the story progressed she grew up and I become more invested in the characters. The mutants (or Ferra) gave it X-Men vibes, which I enjoyed. Though, I did not like the use of "male" and "female" to describe them as that seemed to have the effect of de-humanizing them. Which was ironic because that was what the evil empire wanted yet this is what the Ferra use to refer to themselves as?
The writing style could have used a little more polish, and there were frequent instances of the word at the beginning of a quote not being capitalized when it should have been. However, it was not enough to distract from the story. If you like dystopian but with actual adults (most characters were 21, which made sense because they were soldiers) and X-men, you will like this book.
Disclaimer: I won this copy through Goodreads Giveaways. All opinions are my own.
I really loved this story and getting to know the characters and learn about the world. Arianne was such a badass FMC. I liked her more and more as the book went on and we learned more about her backstory and trauma.
There were several twists I didn’t see coming and I can’t wait to see how everything play out in the next book!
(I also ship multiple side characters so I hope I get to read more about them in the future!)
A wonderfully told tale of love and war and finding yourself. Not everyone is who they appear to be, and some people are as horrible as we think they are. Arianne is forced to leave her tormentors for another land. She is taken in and raised by the President. In his attempt to protect her, she feels sheltered. Once she escapes, she realizes the world isn’t as kind as she was hoping. A young Blackjack steps into her world and it will never be the same. This is the debut novel of I.D Marie and she has done a fantastic job. I read this book twice because I couldn’t get enough. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Arianne and Blackjacks story needs to continue, I can’t wait to see what they get into next!!
This book was so beautifully crafted I felt like I was watching each scene play out without ever being pulled from the story. The characters are complex, the world building is vast and the plot is so satisfying- it will easily leave you wanting more! The banter and relationships of the characters were so well done. I was glued to the page for the whole second half of the book!
If you like enemies to lovers this book is for you. I got interested in this book when I.D. she explained it's a sci-fi book written like a fantasy. Having read it, I'd say it feels more like a fantasy story cosplaying as a Sci-fi. This book has strong, turn your brain off summer superhero blockbuster vibes. Basically, it's got a real world sci-fi/dystopian setting, but reads like a young adult fantasy book with some cursing. I.D. has a unique world full of Fera (people/animal hybrids, heavily inspired by X-Men). The characters and their motivations make sense and I.D. understands stories. The events are fun and ridiculous at times and meant to be read with a solid helping of suspension of disbelief. If you're here to turn your brain off and get some enemies to lovers in a unique world with ANGST you're going to have fun. The characters are consistent, but be warned, the main ones are written to be annoying in their ignorance and attitude which works for the story but may not be for everyone. I have a hard time turning my analytic side off and went in expecting this to be more sci-fi and that wasn't the right way to read this. There is one complaint though that I can't go without mentioning; there are multiple Points in the story where the narrator seems to step onto the page to say “See what I'm doing? Do you get it?” Which really tore me from the story and I feel a developmental editor really could have helped fix. Ultimately though, if you want enemies to lovers, you're going to enjoy this story.
3.5 isn't an option unfortunately as that would more fairly place this for me. Not a bad book at all, and I think people who like these elements will love it.
This is such a fun read! From the very first page, the story hooks you with its fast-paced narrative and a cast of compelling characters. For me, the characters in this novel are a standout feature, each bringing a unique personality to the story. The witty banter and well-crafted friendships add depth and complexity to the narrative, making it really fun to move through the plot. Unexpected twists and turns contribute to the overall excitement, and the vivid world-building provides a colorful backdrop to the characters' escapades.
While the story is undeniably fun and the characters are memorable, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in certain aspects of the plot. Despite this, the novel successfully balances moments of excitement with genuine emotion, creating a well-rounded reading experience. As I closed the book, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The ending sets the stage for future developments, leaving room for further exploration of the intriguing world that is created here. If you're a fan of adventure with a touch of magic and political intrigue, "The Tyrant's Daughter" is a solid choice. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the next book.
Where to start? Blackjack rules! No, not the game but the man himself. His POV chapters were my favorite and I'm very glad that I'll get to see more of him come book 2 which I can't wait for. Ms. Marie crafted an engaging universe full of creative old school fantasy tropes made fresh with a modern twist. There's even some splashes of sci-fi in there. While I usually don't tend to care about main characters... well... usually... this time was different. Arianne was a well crafted character with rich backstory. I enjoyed the romance in the book as well. It was tasteful and not overdone. While many arcs in this book deserve credit I have to say that my favorite was the tournament with Ace. I refuse to give spoilers so read the book to find out. The humor was also well done. I laughed out loud a few times. This book gave me vibes of X-Men, Avatar (Cameron verse) and the princeess bride with a couple parts having some Tron and Star Wars esk vibes. If you need a good refreshing read then come on over and give this awesome book a shot. 5 ⭐.
The opening of the book was eye catching and intense. The characters developed were so well executed. The abilities in the world are so cool and brutal. There a light heartedness that’s in here is contrasted by the true brutality of the world. There are few places where I felt like the plot dragged to a bit too long. But overall, great story and it looks like it’s going to be interesting in the next book.
As someone who doesn't usually read sci-fi I went into The Tyrant's Daughter with relatively low expectations but this book blew me away. With it's amazing world building and it's complex, well-developed characters, The Tyrant's Daughter was definitely one of my favourite reads of the month and I'm so excited for the rest of the Legends of Pangea series to come out!!
Get ready for this sci-fi loaded with twist and turns through the story. I enjoyed reading this book and the characters were real treat for me. The settings and plot were established along with the characters incredibly well. A must read for any and all book lovers everywhere.
This was such a pleasant read. The characters jump to life on the page, the dialogue doesn’t feel stilted or dislodged, and I could picture each setting as easily as if I was there with Arianne and Blackjack, walking alongside them.
This book is so good! I was constantly trying to figure out what the next twist was going to be and the portion of the riddles and games was just amazing. Can’t wait for book 2!
Update after re-reading (in 2025): 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!
Oh my, what a great book! It very much gives me X-Men vibes, and I'm here for it. The gorgeous cover and the premise of the story drew me in. I have a physical copy, but I decided to listen to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narration a lot.
You can expect winged characters, action, violence and characters that feel effortlessly real. Fantasy which is kind of intertwined with sci-fi, which I think is such a fun and unique concept!
The writing style is easy to follow, world building that isn't difficult to follow. This is a story that's heavy on emotions (angst in particular), and the opinion below is entirely on me and not a reflection on the author's writing, but I'm more of a 'grimdark' kind of girlie where angst isn't really prominent in the books I read. I enjoy a good cup of angst, but maybe it's because I'm a lot older than the FMC, so I couldn't always connect with the feeling of angst the same way another person would (or maybe I'm just dead on the inside these days, haha). This doesn't take away from the story for me, though.
I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and I can't wait to read the next one.
Oh my goodness! At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book as I tend to be more of a fantasy nerd than sci-fi, but once I started this book I couldn't put it down! The Tyrants Daughter has a perfect balance of action, adventure, romance, and loveable characters. I will definitely be on the look out for the second book!