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The Empire Saga #1
Two Thousand Years
Two thousand years ago, the Prophecy of Fire and Light foretold the coming of the Queen Empress who would lead the Empire into a time of peace and tranquility. But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the Empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions, raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle.
Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago.
Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empire's torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empire's rising conflicts.
Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago.
Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empire's torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empire's rising conflicts.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2018
About the author
M. Dalto
26 books347 followersM. Dalto is a bestselling Young Adult and New Adult author of adventurous romantic fantasy stories. Two Thousand Years, her debut novel from The Parliament House, was one of Wattpad’s 2016 Watty Award winners for excellence in digital storytelling. She has since released its three sequel novels and four companion novellas, as well as numerous other contributions to various published anthologies. She was recruited to participate in Wattpad Paid Stories program for serialized authors in March 2019, has since been invited into the Wattpad Stars program, and since October 2021 has been welcomed as a Wattpad Exclusive Author. She continues to spend her time as both as a freelance editor and as a mentor, as well as WriteHive's Indie Profession-In-Residence, where she hopes to engage, assist, and inspire new writers through their literary journey. Working as a full-time real estate paralegal, she leaves her evenings to pursue her own writing agenda. When she’s not typing furiously at her computer, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing video games, and drinking coffee. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, their daughter, and their hamster named Oreo.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 80 reviews
November 4, 2018
When I first read this blurb, I was like finally an NA book that sounds awesome with a good plot. And let me tell you, the book did live up to the blurb! Plus, yes, plenty of swoon. I mean, swoooooooooooooooooooon!
Dear, Alex—you were pretty badass and also had to put up with some crazy crap! Dear, Treyan—you have my heart! Dear, Reylor—you are a crazy, crazy thing, but I still like you! Does that make me a bad person? The characters were on point! Plus, I got several things that I wasn't suspecting, and when that happens, that makes me a super happy camper!
The world building was wonderfully done, the writing was addicting, and the overall plot was superb! Oh, and yes, there is a cliffhanger and my heart will be asunder until I read book 2!
Dear, Alex—you were pretty badass and also had to put up with some crazy crap! Dear, Treyan—you have my heart! Dear, Reylor—you are a crazy, crazy thing, but I still like you! Does that make me a bad person? The characters were on point! Plus, I got several things that I wasn't suspecting, and when that happens, that makes me a super happy camper!
The world building was wonderfully done, the writing was addicting, and the overall plot was superb! Oh, and yes, there is a cliffhanger and my heart will be asunder until I read book 2!
October 4, 2022
I want to thank everyone who has read TWO THOUSAND YEARS so far, and to those who still have it on our reading lists, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
This story came about in 2014 when I was looking for something to write for NaNoWriMo. I had the ideas kicking around my head for years before this, but it wasn't until the time was right almost five years ago that I was ready to put those thoughts down to paper, so to speak. And thus, The Empire was born.
That being said, TWO THOUSAND YEARS is the start of a saga. When I wrote it, I knew it wasn't going to be a standalone novel. And because of that, it leaves questions unanswered, and characters in need of additional development. And please believe me when I tell you, all will be answered in time. But if I tried to put it all into one book, it would never end~
Alex, the main character, is flawed. She is naive and contradictory and assuming and stubborn... but also caring and headstrong and loyal to those who deserve it.
Treyan is a Prince who only knows one thing- bring the Empress back to the Empire, whatever the cost, for the good of the Empire.
And Reylor, well... his is a story all together.
This story is not all unicorns and rainbows. There are some heavy themes tackled within its pages. But that's also life, isn't it? Whether in this realm or otherwise, everyone has conflict to process, problems to work through, and yes - sometimes there can be happy endings.
So, I hope you enjoy TWO THOUSAND YEARS. I am always available to talk about my story and answer any questions. I'm proud of the work I've done over the years and I'm never ashamed to discuss it :)
This story came about in 2014 when I was looking for something to write for NaNoWriMo. I had the ideas kicking around my head for years before this, but it wasn't until the time was right almost five years ago that I was ready to put those thoughts down to paper, so to speak. And thus, The Empire was born.
That being said, TWO THOUSAND YEARS is the start of a saga. When I wrote it, I knew it wasn't going to be a standalone novel. And because of that, it leaves questions unanswered, and characters in need of additional development. And please believe me when I tell you, all will be answered in time. But if I tried to put it all into one book, it would never end~
Alex, the main character, is flawed. She is naive and contradictory and assuming and stubborn... but also caring and headstrong and loyal to those who deserve it.
Treyan is a Prince who only knows one thing- bring the Empress back to the Empire, whatever the cost, for the good of the Empire.
And Reylor, well... his is a story all together.
This story is not all unicorns and rainbows. There are some heavy themes tackled within its pages. But that's also life, isn't it? Whether in this realm or otherwise, everyone has conflict to process, problems to work through, and yes - sometimes there can be happy endings.
So, I hope you enjoy TWO THOUSAND YEARS. I am always available to talk about my story and answer any questions. I'm proud of the work I've done over the years and I'm never ashamed to discuss it :)
November 12, 2019
I am not an author and can only imagine what truly goes into creating a novel so I tread lightly with reviews like this. I wanted to fall into this story and love every second of it but could not get proper footing. There are numerous grammatical errors that took away from my reading pleasure. For me having to re-read sentences to grasp what is occurring is aggravating. I am not sure if it was the errors or the characters themselves but I could not connect with the MCs. I was expecting a strong, sarcastic heroine figure out of Alex and looked forward to her conquering this new magical land. In the end her personality was almost forced and molded to fit the scene. The insinuated rape scenario ended up defining a large part of the book. I think this could have been removed and replaced with evil sorcery instead.
The premise is a great idea. I believe this could be a captivating series with a little more world building, grammatical correction and more banter to build the character connections to the readers. There is a book 2 and I'm curious to see if there is growth in that direction.
Trigger warning: rape
FYI: This is not like ACOTAR. Two totally different ideas.
The premise is a great idea. I believe this could be a captivating series with a little more world building, grammatical correction and more banter to build the character connections to the readers. There is a book 2 and I'm curious to see if there is growth in that direction.
Trigger warning: rape
FYI: This is not like ACOTAR. Two totally different ideas.
April 9, 2019
The premise of this book was intriguing but we were quickly disappointed by the lead characters. What should have been a finished book read like a draft because of the many grammatical errors. That aside, the characters are diluted versions of more famous (existing) YA characters, so this read like a sort of fanfiction of (bonus points to who finds the name of the book *hint* it's Em's favorite book).
We were going to type up a full review but here is one thing prospective readers should note: THIS BOOK HAS A SCENE WHERE and it's not even to advance the plot. No, my friends - the was seemingly written for shock value.
Em insists on giving the world the tldr: The characters in this book are boring. Nothing happens with them, no growth. They are just taken places and made to do things like good little puppets. There is zero character attachment and the world building is bland (like the soup your aunty gives you when you're sick). This read more like a project than a book, like the writer threw this together and hit publish. My $3.99 deserved better and the girl at school who told me this was like ACOTAR lied. This book does not deserve to exist in the same sentence as ACOTAR.
In short, what to expect reading this book:
No plot *slash* plot holes *slash* plot u here?
A confused MC and 2D characters
RAPE!
Grammar mistakes
A waste of time
Good things?
Cover is kinda cool. Could do without the overlay.
Cool concept.
We were going to type up a full review but here is one thing prospective readers should note: THIS BOOK HAS A SCENE WHERE and it's not even to advance the plot. No, my friends - the was seemingly written for shock value.
Em insists on giving the world the tldr: The characters in this book are boring. Nothing happens with them, no growth. They are just taken places and made to do things like good little puppets. There is zero character attachment and the world building is bland (like the soup your aunty gives you when you're sick). This read more like a project than a book, like the writer threw this together and hit publish. My $3.99 deserved better and the girl at school who told me this was like ACOTAR lied. This book does not deserve to exist in the same sentence as ACOTAR.
In short, what to expect reading this book:
No plot *slash* plot holes *slash* plot u here?
A confused MC and 2D characters
RAPE!
Grammar mistakes
A waste of time
Good things?
Cover is kinda cool. Could do without the overlay.
Cool concept.
October 25, 2018
If you loved the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, you are not going to be able to put this book down.
Before we even get into the book, I wanted to say a few things about the cover. There is so much going on here but not in a distracting or “too-busy” way. We’re able to see both the skyline of the Empire and Boston as well as the clock which ties in to the 2000 year old prophecy. I think it meshes several of the story elements in a very elegant and beautiful fashion. Had I not received the E-Arc, the cover alone would have granted this book “pick up and check the blurb” worthy stance in my opinion.
Alex is just your average twenty two year old barista in Boston until she arrives back at home from a night on the town to find her place ransacked. Worse yet? It seems the intruders are still there. Soon she finds herself caught in a fierce battle between two complete strangers. And they’re calling her Empress Alexstrayna? Confused and a little pissed off Alex demands answers but before she can get any, the one stranger with dangerously beautiful blue eyes who won the battle holds her close and her world falls into darkness.
When she awakes, she finds herself in a mysterious realm. There are two suns, but no electricity (or coffee, GASP) and they’re still calling her that strange name. Soon Alex finds out that this realm is ruled by the prophecy of a magical tome (the annals). There is always twin brothers born to the previous Empress in this land at the exact same time that the eldest child’s future wife (the next empress) is born on earth. The Crown Prince will start to dream of her, build a key to our realm, and retrieve her.
Two thousand years ago (get it?) the Prophecy of Fire and Light spoke of a Queen Empress that would lead this land into a time of peace and tranquility. The history of the realm instead reveals that a forbidden love for the Empress lead to a war that decimated the area and caused a great split in its population.
Now it seems the same thing is happening to Alex as she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a sibling rivalry of epic proportions.
Alex is a “take no crap, but do no harm” kind of girl. She doesn’t just go along with things because they would be easier for her. She has to know the "why", the "how", and the "what would happen if I didn’t". She’s the kind of girl I’d want on my side in a fight. Her stubbornness and insubordination make this book an exciting read. This isn’t your mother’s princess story.
The love interest, Treyan, is just flawed enough to be real and just swoon-worthy enough to understand why Alex would want to stick around for a bit. When things are at their worst, he doesn’t give up on Alex. He is always there giving her the space she needs and it’s absolutely beautiful to see a male love interest who understands and respects boundaries.
The antagonist, Reylor, is brutal in his pursuit of his goal. I hope that we find out more about his motivation later in the book series because there had better be a darn good reason for his actions or else his character has no attempt at redemption. But in a way that’s what we want from villains. Someone whose actions compel us to hate them. I also have a bit of a grudge against Reylor for a particular character death that I will not give away in this review (because, spoilers), even though he doesn’t claim responsibility for it.
It leaves off on a huge cliff hanger and I’m dying to read the next book now, but overall this book has been one of my favorites in a long time. Suddenly, I find myself wishing “I” was Empireborn instead of Alex.
Before we even get into the book, I wanted to say a few things about the cover. There is so much going on here but not in a distracting or “too-busy” way. We’re able to see both the skyline of the Empire and Boston as well as the clock which ties in to the 2000 year old prophecy. I think it meshes several of the story elements in a very elegant and beautiful fashion. Had I not received the E-Arc, the cover alone would have granted this book “pick up and check the blurb” worthy stance in my opinion.
Alex is just your average twenty two year old barista in Boston until she arrives back at home from a night on the town to find her place ransacked. Worse yet? It seems the intruders are still there. Soon she finds herself caught in a fierce battle between two complete strangers. And they’re calling her Empress Alexstrayna? Confused and a little pissed off Alex demands answers but before she can get any, the one stranger with dangerously beautiful blue eyes who won the battle holds her close and her world falls into darkness.
When she awakes, she finds herself in a mysterious realm. There are two suns, but no electricity (or coffee, GASP) and they’re still calling her that strange name. Soon Alex finds out that this realm is ruled by the prophecy of a magical tome (the annals). There is always twin brothers born to the previous Empress in this land at the exact same time that the eldest child’s future wife (the next empress) is born on earth. The Crown Prince will start to dream of her, build a key to our realm, and retrieve her.
Two thousand years ago (get it?) the Prophecy of Fire and Light spoke of a Queen Empress that would lead this land into a time of peace and tranquility. The history of the realm instead reveals that a forbidden love for the Empress lead to a war that decimated the area and caused a great split in its population.
Now it seems the same thing is happening to Alex as she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a sibling rivalry of epic proportions.
Alex is a “take no crap, but do no harm” kind of girl. She doesn’t just go along with things because they would be easier for her. She has to know the "why", the "how", and the "what would happen if I didn’t". She’s the kind of girl I’d want on my side in a fight. Her stubbornness and insubordination make this book an exciting read. This isn’t your mother’s princess story.
The love interest, Treyan, is just flawed enough to be real and just swoon-worthy enough to understand why Alex would want to stick around for a bit. When things are at their worst, he doesn’t give up on Alex. He is always there giving her the space she needs and it’s absolutely beautiful to see a male love interest who understands and respects boundaries.
The antagonist, Reylor, is brutal in his pursuit of his goal. I hope that we find out more about his motivation later in the book series because there had better be a darn good reason for his actions or else his character has no attempt at redemption. But in a way that’s what we want from villains. Someone whose actions compel us to hate them. I also have a bit of a grudge against Reylor for a particular character death that I will not give away in this review (because, spoilers), even though he doesn’t claim responsibility for it.
It leaves off on a huge cliff hanger and I’m dying to read the next book now, but overall this book has been one of my favorites in a long time. Suddenly, I find myself wishing “I” was Empireborn instead of Alex.
December 16, 2018
TW: rape, mention of abortion, general stupid bitch energy.
There was an attempt, but I can't say that it was a very successful one. That is particularly sad because I was enjoying it in the beginning, but it got progressively worse and worse.
Everything about this book was enjoyable at first. I never thought that it was going to be anything groundbreaking, but it had a certain charm that kept me reading. While the writing and the plot wasn't that great, I was certainly hooked with how things were moving along.
I feel like one of the reasons this book didn't work for me is because the insta-love factor was too strong in this story. At first I didn't mind it that much, because I've read worse, but it kept getting worse. Not only did they get into a relationship after knowing each other for like 2 days, but half way through the story they got engaged and the main character got pregnant (it wasn't the love interest's child, but anyway). And the love interest was just a typical YA dude. A smirking, slightly cocky hot dude.
The plot was a big flop, in my opinion. I was confused from page one and nothing actually happened, and if something important happened, the pacing was very weird. Also, some of the characters' decisions were very frustrating and ultimately they made me like this book less. Overall, Two Thousand Years was not for me and I really wish I liked it more.
There was an attempt, but I can't say that it was a very successful one. That is particularly sad because I was enjoying it in the beginning, but it got progressively worse and worse.
Everything about this book was enjoyable at first. I never thought that it was going to be anything groundbreaking, but it had a certain charm that kept me reading. While the writing and the plot wasn't that great, I was certainly hooked with how things were moving along.
I feel like one of the reasons this book didn't work for me is because the insta-love factor was too strong in this story. At first I didn't mind it that much, because I've read worse, but it kept getting worse. Not only did they get into a relationship after knowing each other for like 2 days, but half way through the story they got engaged and the main character got pregnant (it wasn't the love interest's child, but anyway). And the love interest was just a typical YA dude. A smirking, slightly cocky hot dude.
The plot was a big flop, in my opinion. I was confused from page one and nothing actually happened, and if something important happened, the pacing was very weird. Also, some of the characters' decisions were very frustrating and ultimately they made me like this book less. Overall, Two Thousand Years was not for me and I really wish I liked it more.
December 20, 2018
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Two Thousand Years is the first book in the Empire Saga by author M. Dalto. The Empire Saga is a new adult fantasy romance, my very favorite kind! I really enjoyed two Thousand years and I can already tell that The Empire Saga is going to be a series that I will love! I am already itching to get my hands on the next book! I don't see too many new adult fantasy's but it is one of my very favorite genres, especially when there is romance involved.
Two Thousand Years starts with a setup that I have found I really enjoy. Our main character, Alexandra, is a normal girl living a very normal life, before she gets swept away into a fantasy world. I mean, who doesn't dream of that at least once? I ended up liking Alex, and I think she is the type of character that I will continue to like more and more as the books go on, and the series progresses and grows. But she started out pretty strong. I mean she was dumped into a crazy new world, and once we learned about the prophesy things got even crazier. I do wish we got a little more background on the prophecy itself, but that might be something we learn more about in upcoming books. I have a feeling there are plenty of twists, turns and surprises up M. Dalto's sleeves, and I cannot wait to discover what they are!
As much as I liked Alex as a character, there was one character that completely stole my heart, and what was Treyan! Can you say swoon? I loved him throughout the whole novel, but as a character he also manages to have impressive growth from the start to end of the novel. He just kept getting better and better! I will have more on Treyan and Alex after I read the sequel, so hold tight for my romance thoughts after the next book, but for now, just know that I love Treyan with a serious fierceness. And then we have our villain- Reylor. He is an interesting fellow, and one that I am seriously looking forward to learning more about. I did feel like his character development felt a little flat at times in the book, but I think we will peel back more of his layers as the series progresses. Once we do, I think Reylor might be one of the most interesting characters in the series!
Bottom line: If you are a fan of fantasy romance, and you are looking for a great new adult fantasy novel, you need to check out Two Thousand Years. This book has an excellent world set up and a fantastic plot. It is one of my favorite books of the year, and I can't wait to continue on with this series! I need book 2 in my hands right now. This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Two Thousand Years starts with a setup that I have found I really enjoy. Our main character, Alexandra, is a normal girl living a very normal life, before she gets swept away into a fantasy world. I mean, who doesn't dream of that at least once? I ended up liking Alex, and I think she is the type of character that I will continue to like more and more as the books go on, and the series progresses and grows. But she started out pretty strong. I mean she was dumped into a crazy new world, and once we learned about the prophesy things got even crazier. I do wish we got a little more background on the prophecy itself, but that might be something we learn more about in upcoming books. I have a feeling there are plenty of twists, turns and surprises up M. Dalto's sleeves, and I cannot wait to discover what they are!
As much as I liked Alex as a character, there was one character that completely stole my heart, and what was Treyan! Can you say swoon? I loved him throughout the whole novel, but as a character he also manages to have impressive growth from the start to end of the novel. He just kept getting better and better! I will have more on Treyan and Alex after I read the sequel, so hold tight for my romance thoughts after the next book, but for now, just know that I love Treyan with a serious fierceness. And then we have our villain- Reylor. He is an interesting fellow, and one that I am seriously looking forward to learning more about. I did feel like his character development felt a little flat at times in the book, but I think we will peel back more of his layers as the series progresses. Once we do, I think Reylor might be one of the most interesting characters in the series!
Bottom line: If you are a fan of fantasy romance, and you are looking for a great new adult fantasy novel, you need to check out Two Thousand Years. This book has an excellent world set up and a fantastic plot. It is one of my favorite books of the year, and I can't wait to continue on with this series! I need book 2 in my hands right now. This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
April 11, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Assault, Rape, Abduction, Hostage, Premarital Sex, Adult Sexual Content, Death, Violence, Discussion of Abortion
I've been wanting to read this book for a while, ever since I heard of it back in early 2018. The idea of a Prophesy of Fire and Light definitely intrigued me, but also made me anticipate some sort of romance--what I found was that this was mostly a romance, with a hint of fantasy. I'm fine with that, to a degree. But when romance turns into two brothers battling for the same girl...and it all revolves around to point of getting her in bed, that's where I check out.
Two Thousand Years begins like Black Dawn, Gateway to Fourline, and The Last of the Firedrakes to name a few with similar concepts. I don't mind this set up for a plot. As in, a girl who lives in this world is suddenly spirited off to another world that she had no idea existed and she leaves Earth and everything she knows here behind. Once there, she finds out that she plays some significant roll in the story of the realm...like is actually it's ruler. What I don't like is how the character that makes the transition across worlds almost immediately loses their former-self and seamlessly takes on the more Medieval-like lifestyle that I feel these books mostly land in. I literally can't imagine the majority of people just forgetting about amenities like running water, toilets, a shower, or cell phones. Now, I don't expect these characters to be unable to transition and to remain wallowing in their situations. There just needs to be a period of time allowing for better and more realistic adjustment. Alex actually took a bit longer to make this adjustment in comparison to others. Even so, when she decides to stay in the Empire, there's very little remaining of her former life.
Moving from Boston to the Empire is a massive shift. I've never been to Boston, but I'm familiar with it's setting seeing how its here. The Empire, on the other hand, isn't explained much at all. Going into this foreign world, I really need much more detail across the board. Even the prophesy itself could have used more explanation.
But, why? Seeing how this entire story is built around this prophesy, there needs to be more of a backstory.
The characters themselves were somewhat developed, Reylor being the least and Alex the most. Reylor is angry, spiteful, and cruel, and seems to be wildly incapable of anything else. Oh, and he is very lustful. Insta-love takes place between Alex and Treyan, which is to be expected due to the prophesy itself. Even so, everyone could use more dimension and building between their relationships--okay, interactions, because anything with Reylor isn't a relationship, its a conquering. I will be reading Reylor's Lament and Treyan's Promise to see if more of their stories are divulged.
There were aspects about this story that elicited my curiosity. In particular, Reylor's character is quite a mystery---but a repulsive one at that. What exactly is his motive? If it is only to overthrow the prophesy, then that would be disappointing. I hope there is much more to come from his character, as in, an explanation for the way he is now. I thought that the idea of the Annals--a large, ancient, and magical book which tells of the Empire and prophesy's history--was an interesting inclusion into the plot. It's predictions of the future definitely set the tone for the sequel.
I think overall, this book has an engaging story. A lot of it's content, however, isn't well suited for me. Either way, I really wanted to see a lot more of the Empire as a whole. As I always say in series, I'll wait to see what comes from the next installment, as more is shared with the reader as the plot continues on.
Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: A lot, including graphic sex scenes, assault, and rape.
Violence: Moderate, including murder.
My Rating: ★★1/2
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All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Assault, Rape, Abduction, Hostage, Premarital Sex, Adult Sexual Content, Death, Violence, Discussion of Abortion
She wasn't just a salvation of a people. She was a salvation to him.
I've been wanting to read this book for a while, ever since I heard of it back in early 2018. The idea of a Prophesy of Fire and Light definitely intrigued me, but also made me anticipate some sort of romance--what I found was that this was mostly a romance, with a hint of fantasy. I'm fine with that, to a degree. But when romance turns into two brothers battling for the same girl...and it all revolves around to point of getting her in bed, that's where I check out.
Two Thousand Years begins like Black Dawn, Gateway to Fourline, and The Last of the Firedrakes to name a few with similar concepts. I don't mind this set up for a plot. As in, a girl who lives in this world is suddenly spirited off to another world that she had no idea existed and she leaves Earth and everything she knows here behind. Once there, she finds out that she plays some significant roll in the story of the realm...like is actually it's ruler. What I don't like is how the character that makes the transition across worlds almost immediately loses their former-self and seamlessly takes on the more Medieval-like lifestyle that I feel these books mostly land in. I literally can't imagine the majority of people just forgetting about amenities like running water, toilets, a shower, or cell phones. Now, I don't expect these characters to be unable to transition and to remain wallowing in their situations. There just needs to be a period of time allowing for better and more realistic adjustment. Alex actually took a bit longer to make this adjustment in comparison to others. Even so, when she decides to stay in the Empire, there's very little remaining of her former life.
Moving from Boston to the Empire is a massive shift. I've never been to Boston, but I'm familiar with it's setting seeing how its here. The Empire, on the other hand, isn't explained much at all. Going into this foreign world, I really need much more detail across the board. Even the prophesy itself could have used more explanation.
The birth of the Queen Empress within the Otherrealm triggers the birth of the Twin Princes within the Empire. Once the Dream of the Empress is revealed, the Crown Prince travels to the Otherrealm to retrieve the Queen Empress. Upon coronation, it is the Crown Prince's sworn duty to ensure the continuance of the Empire's royal line, and upon the birth of the next generation, the Prophesy is reborn.
But, why? Seeing how this entire story is built around this prophesy, there needs to be more of a backstory.
The characters themselves were somewhat developed, Reylor being the least and Alex the most. Reylor is angry, spiteful, and cruel, and seems to be wildly incapable of anything else. Oh, and he is very lustful. Insta-love takes place between Alex and Treyan, which is to be expected due to the prophesy itself. Even so, everyone could use more dimension and building between their relationships--okay, interactions, because anything with Reylor isn't a relationship, its a conquering. I will be reading Reylor's Lament and Treyan's Promise to see if more of their stories are divulged.
There were aspects about this story that elicited my curiosity. In particular, Reylor's character is quite a mystery---but a repulsive one at that. What exactly is his motive? If it is only to overthrow the prophesy, then that would be disappointing. I hope there is much more to come from his character, as in, an explanation for the way he is now. I thought that the idea of the Annals--a large, ancient, and magical book which tells of the Empire and prophesy's history--was an interesting inclusion into the plot. It's predictions of the future definitely set the tone for the sequel.
I think overall, this book has an engaging story. A lot of it's content, however, isn't well suited for me. Either way, I really wanted to see a lot more of the Empire as a whole. As I always say in series, I'll wait to see what comes from the next installment, as more is shared with the reader as the plot continues on.
Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: A lot, including graphic sex scenes, assault, and rape.
Violence: Moderate, including murder.
My Rating: ★★1/2
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January 10, 2021
3,8
3,8 stars A girl on her birthday meets strange handsome boy from different world who was looking for her since he dreamt of her. However he is not the only one looking for her. Fight between brothers , over the girl ,Empire and the first born.
Slow, too simple and romantic at the beginning , Happy story , and you start asking yourself "is that all , everything it's going too well " ....but then ,The second half very twisted unexpected ( sexual abuse too ).
The plot is great and the characters , however sometimes the decisions they made are poorly explained and silly.
I think I am going to read the second book apparently it's better than the first one.
3,8 stars A girl on her birthday meets strange handsome boy from different world who was looking for her since he dreamt of her. However he is not the only one looking for her. Fight between brothers , over the girl ,Empire and the first born.
Slow, too simple and romantic at the beginning , Happy story , and you start asking yourself "is that all , everything it's going too well " ....but then ,The second half very twisted unexpected ( sexual abuse too ).
The plot is great and the characters , however sometimes the decisions they made are poorly explained and silly.
I think I am going to read the second book apparently it's better than the first one.
December 13, 2018
** Beforehand: I was granted a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion by The Parliament House **
First of all, I’ve been surprised by how intriguing the story is and even more how much I developed to feel for the characters. That attachment especially to one character came 100% unexpected and I’m still not sure where it came from, not entirely at least. Summed up, this definitely is a 4-star read and it actually had potential to get 5 stars. There were two reasons which made me refrain, though. No.1: I simply leave some room to increase because I mostly was overwhelmed by the end, therefore I’ll see what the continuation has it store (whenever it will be released...) And No.2: While reading chapter 1, I quickly noticed the amount of typos and grammar and spelling issues. It seems as if there wasn’t a proof-reader and if there was, I’m sorry to say, they made a poor job. It’s quite a shame, tbh. Anyways, now let’s dive deeper into the story and it’s characters.The plot itself wasn’t what I would call unique or original. There’s the main protagonist and heroine-to-be who is dragged to an unknown empire which she is to rule along-side with the crown prince whom she is to marry and to give children. Outside of the empire, there — of course — is the realm of the villain of the story. The antagonist who has his own story to tell and this is where Two Thousand Years differs from other ya books. In this series we are introduced to the Prophecy and the Annals of the empire. In this empire everything is predestined, everything is already determined, there’s no alternation from the course of the Annals and their Prophecy must be fulfilled. I liked this idea very much which is comparable to the structure of some religious ideas I would say. It’s amazing how much devotion and faith the citizens and the empire’s rulers put into that book without questioning it and (though I am a religious person), I totally understand why someone would go against the Prophecy to have a free life and set their own course. Something like that.
Within this setting, the heroine-to-be Alex is brought to the empire, she meets the crown prince and ...well, things happen as they ought to happen. There were moments when I wondered how easily everything played out but then there was the villain who never failed to surprise and entertain me. He really was the perfect addition to put the stakes higher. No spoilers, though.
The characters were special in their own ways. As it might already be obvious, I liked the villain very much. His name is Reylor and I couldn’t help but adore how he always seemed to be kind of in control of everything, although the Annals should have been. His ultimate goal is reasonable which I think is very important to accept such an antagonist. I still wish for more about his past to be revealed in the next book or so. More of his thoughts and mind-setting to truly understand him. I crave for more insight. Nonetheless, don’t get me wrong, though I understand his reasoning, he commits some terrible crimes throughout the book and I feel I should take a minute to state I don’t support those crimes because they were of the cruelest nature. Luckily, this is only fiction, so I can love him as a character. And the end of the book, his performance and especially what he took leave me with so many headcanons, I honestly loooooved that development!The other two main protagonists were Alex and her crown prince Treyan and oooooh, the author, or the Annals, truly wanted me to ship them. Get yourself a Treyan and you’ll be the happiest of girls! He’s so lovely and charming and good-looking. There really are at least two thousand reasons to love him. There also were moments when I loathed him, though, but that is another story to tell. As crown prince he did a proper job and as Alex’s beloved as well. I enjoyed this pairing a lot and I’m curious to see what challenges they’ll face together. Actually, I could marvel about Treyan endlessly but this is supposed to be spoiler-free, soooooo.... read the book!
Next, taking a look at Alex, for me it’s hard to link with female characters but that’s a personal issue of mine. Her behavior and actions in general were extremely realistic for someone in her position and this truly surprised me. I think the author did an excellent job when displaying her character and letting her grow. Since the story was mostly told from her point of view, I got a lot of insight and this maybe made her feel so authentic. I can’t say anything bad about her.
Sadly, aside of those three main protagonists, there weren’t much other side characters. There was the counsellor who actually played an important part but there wasn’t much info about him. All other characters but the three mains were introduced and sometimes interacted with the mains but I always felt like only touching the surface. I think this could have been better. Treyan’s connection to his leading guard Jamison seemed promising and Alex and her maids should have been depicted with more care, too. This could have really sold out for happenings that occur later in the book... To be honest, I believe, the author here missed great opportunities.
Talking about opportunities, let’s take a look at the pacing. Sometime later in the book, after certain events, things felt a bit rushed and actually after finishing this first installment it appears as if this alone could have been a trilogy, if there had been more emphasis on the side characters, their bonds to the mains. Some moments were a great opportunity to dwell in but it didn’t happen. I am not really complaining about this but I think it should handled with a bit more care.
Finally, let’s take a look at the world-building. At first, I always crackle up at the thought the empire is called The Empire because why even accept there could another one? It’s funny and I appreciate and praise their self-awareness and confidence. The other place was called the Borderlands, not very creative but well... they’re the lands at the border, so what else would the rulers and citizens of The Empire call the other territory? It’s not like they’re very creative at giving names! However, the Borderlands were adequately depicted. At least, for me it was enough to have an image in my head. But the Empire, I think this could have been portrayed with more details. I barely learnt about the towns and the citizens feelings towards their royals, for example. And I wasn’t sure how richly I ought to paint the environment in my mind. Is everything in prosperity? There were moments when was convinced the answer is yes, in others I thought the time of prosperity is still to come. Hm.
To sum it up, as you can see, I missed details and further bonds. Everything was so very focused on the three main protagonists. But taking them into my focus, there’s very much to enjoy about this book and the last chapters definitely did blow me away. What can I say? I’m sold. Especially because of Reylor. Don’t judge me if you happen to despise him.
April 22, 2020
audio with a focal point for getting lost
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Audio was the way to go with this. I was able to get lost within the worlds of the story and a times of confusion. Just a button or two would take me back and allow for me to revisit. I was excited by the blurb that I read. It pulled me in to wanting to see what a fantasy based with a barista and another realm would have to offer.
I had my moments when I was asking myself. Is she really going to just take this? Where would things go if this happened? Why did that take place? Wait a minute, did that just really happen? There was a lot going on with this one. I had a new world to get familiar with. I had new characters to like or not like. I was trying to grab hold of the general to forge forward for a better outcome.
There was much here that had me listening all the way to the end. There were also things that had me repeating sections to make sure what I heard was really what I heard. Overall, I did enjoy the story, but need more to make it all feel completed.
Amanda Abeillan gave me a focus point to hold on to throughout the entire audio. I found her comforting. The words were there. The story was there. There connection was spotty.
********
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobook
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Audio was the way to go with this. I was able to get lost within the worlds of the story and a times of confusion. Just a button or two would take me back and allow for me to revisit. I was excited by the blurb that I read. It pulled me in to wanting to see what a fantasy based with a barista and another realm would have to offer.
I had my moments when I was asking myself. Is she really going to just take this? Where would things go if this happened? Why did that take place? Wait a minute, did that just really happen? There was a lot going on with this one. I had a new world to get familiar with. I had new characters to like or not like. I was trying to grab hold of the general to forge forward for a better outcome.
There was much here that had me listening all the way to the end. There were also things that had me repeating sections to make sure what I heard was really what I heard. Overall, I did enjoy the story, but need more to make it all feel completed.
Amanda Abeillan gave me a focus point to hold on to throughout the entire audio. I found her comforting. The words were there. The story was there. There connection was spotty.
********
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobook
December 9, 2018
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, for the arc of this wonderful book!
I loved it!
What a great story, it held me from the get go, a strong female lead, with Alex, with a little love story with Treylan, nice to have the love without the smut!
And of course an evil villain, (there needs to be a bad guy!)
I can’t wait to see where this series goes, hopefully the wait won’t be too long.
Did I mention that I loved this book?❤️🤣
I loved it!
What a great story, it held me from the get go, a strong female lead, with Alex, with a little love story with Treylan, nice to have the love without the smut!
And of course an evil villain, (there needs to be a bad guy!)
I can’t wait to see where this series goes, hopefully the wait won’t be too long.
Did I mention that I loved this book?❤️🤣
January 11, 2019
I received a free copy of this book through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This book had such an interesting premise but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Sadly I was bored throughout the whole story and was thinking to dnf it.
So what went wrong? It was very underdeveloped in my opinion, the characters, the world, the story line itself.
Main character Alex is 22 years old, yet she behaves worse than a 16 year old. She gets taken to this world where she is the Empress (for some reason) She is taken against her will, knocked unconscious several times (with magic, not physical force, but still, not good) and yet she's not even trying to run away, safe herself, she forgets about her other life and friends and family. Her only focus is her kidnapper who is of course so handsome and mysterious and in just one day they're in love. I don't know if it's just me but this is the worst trope in literature. No, just no, you don't fall in love with your captor because he's hot! I know there is this prophecy and they are destined for each other. But there was no development in their relationship it just happened. Plus Treyan (the kidnapper) never tells her anything, also he was stalking her for over a year before taking her to this other world (Which other world I don't know, 40% in to the story and I still have no clue). How is that ok? Why is this behavior glorified in books? He then admits to watching her at work and following her around and she thinks that's cute?
I'm writing this review as I'm reaidng this book and after this scene I don't want to read it anymore. It just makes me angry to see this kind of "relationships".
This book had such an interesting premise but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Sadly I was bored throughout the whole story and was thinking to dnf it.
So what went wrong? It was very underdeveloped in my opinion, the characters, the world, the story line itself.
Main character Alex is 22 years old, yet she behaves worse than a 16 year old. She gets taken to this world where she is the Empress (for some reason) She is taken against her will, knocked unconscious several times (with magic, not physical force, but still, not good) and yet she's not even trying to run away, safe herself, she forgets about her other life and friends and family. Her only focus is her kidnapper who is of course so handsome and mysterious and in just one day they're in love. I don't know if it's just me but this is the worst trope in literature. No, just no, you don't fall in love with your captor because he's hot! I know there is this prophecy and they are destined for each other. But there was no development in their relationship it just happened. Plus Treyan (the kidnapper) never tells her anything, also he was stalking her for over a year before taking her to this other world (Which other world I don't know, 40% in to the story and I still have no clue). How is that ok? Why is this behavior glorified in books? He then admits to watching her at work and following her around and she thinks that's cute?
I'm writing this review as I'm reaidng this book and after this scene I don't want to read it anymore. It just makes me angry to see this kind of "relationships".
April 5, 2019
I was given an e-book copy of this book by The Parliament House in exchange for an honest review.
I don't really know what to think about Two Thousand Years. Few things I liked and lot of things I disliked. I thought the entire book was very undeveloped, the characters don't have much depth and I found it hard to get attached to them. Also the relationship between the two main characters was so rushed! Right away they feel pulled towards each other and right after being kidnapped by this cocky man who won't give her any answers " for her own safety " she still manages to grow attached to him and feel comfortable in his arms. Stockholm syndrome much? After that, things evolve very quickly but it still takes so much time to get answers to the questions we're all asking ourselves. The antagonist wasn't so bad but still very annoying. This - again - cocky man with a penchant for rape. In my opinion this character was just way too horny and I don't feel like it was necessary. The end was also a letdown to me as it didn't feel like an ending but more like the end of a chapter. Overall a lot of things about this story rubbed me the wrong way and so for this reason I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I was hoping to.
I don't really know what to think about Two Thousand Years. Few things I liked and lot of things I disliked. I thought the entire book was very undeveloped, the characters don't have much depth and I found it hard to get attached to them. Also the relationship between the two main characters was so rushed! Right away they feel pulled towards each other and right after being kidnapped by this cocky man who won't give her any answers " for her own safety " she still manages to grow attached to him and feel comfortable in his arms. Stockholm syndrome much? After that, things evolve very quickly but it still takes so much time to get answers to the questions we're all asking ourselves. The antagonist wasn't so bad but still very annoying. This - again - cocky man with a penchant for rape. In my opinion this character was just way too horny and I don't feel like it was necessary. The end was also a letdown to me as it didn't feel like an ending but more like the end of a chapter. Overall a lot of things about this story rubbed me the wrong way and so for this reason I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I was hoping to.
January 1, 2020
DNF at 13% because we're not doing this with the mediocre YA writing. Within the first brief chapters, homegirl too readily accepts that Boston is the Matrix and the Matrix isn't real, but rather she's the prophesied Chosen One. Not buying anything about that story exposition and how it was handled.
May 22, 2021
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
1.5 stars.
The cover is stunning.
But, the book wasn`t for me. The characters were flatt and did not have much of character development. I really wanted to like it, but just nope. sadly.
1.5 stars.
The cover is stunning.
But, the book wasn`t for me. The characters were flatt and did not have much of character development. I really wanted to like it, but just nope. sadly.
February 8, 2019
I have a more concise review on my blog: https://morramor.wordpress.com/2019/0...
I DNF'd this one at about 60%. So all of my thoughts and opinions are based on the 60% that I read, so keep that in mind. More on why I DNF'd later on in the review under spoilers.
This was a book I had on my TBR for a while ever since I saw the cover float around on twitter. I was excited to read it, and I was given the opportunity to read a free copy in exchange for a review. However, I was unfortunately a bit disappointed.
I won't say that I don't think this book has potential. I think it very much could be a really amazing fantasy series, but it's missing key information in at least the 60% of the book. Essentially what happens in this book, is that this crown prince of either an alternate dimension or world (which is not made clear) goes into "our" world and rescues/kidnaps Alex, who coincidentally is the Empress of their Realm. Sounds interesting right?
It is. But...we never get any information AT ALL. About this realm. What's it called? How does it exist? Why does it exist? What is the history behind this world? Basically the only scrap of info we are given is a prophecy that this world follows. Twin boys are born to the empress (always twin boys, to note). One becomes crown prince, the other his advisor of sorts. When the time comes, the crown prince has visions of his empress and when needed, he goes into the "real world" and brings her to their world. They marry and bring peace and prosperity or something. It doesn't really make much sense because we're never really explained why this prophecy exists. Basically it's given to us with no history no explanation. There's also some kind of magic system, but, again. We're not given any information. The world building lacks, very badly, and the only thing really driving the plot is the character interactions. So if you're looking for character driven plot with not much background, here you go.
The rest of this review will be put in spoilers because they ARE spoilers for the plot. Proceed at your own risk. Also TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT! Please if you're sensitive to rape/sexual assault stop reading the review now or just don't read the spoiler below. I also think that the whole book itself should have TW for rape/sexual assault and my explanation is below (AGAIN. It's a spoiler).
Yeah so. The book has potential, lacks world building, is a character driven story, and I definitely would advise TW for rape and sexual assault because there is a scene that can be taken that way and it definitely wasn't okay in my opinion. I thank the author for providing me with a free copy for review.
I DNF'd this one at about 60%. So all of my thoughts and opinions are based on the 60% that I read, so keep that in mind. More on why I DNF'd later on in the review under spoilers.
This was a book I had on my TBR for a while ever since I saw the cover float around on twitter. I was excited to read it, and I was given the opportunity to read a free copy in exchange for a review. However, I was unfortunately a bit disappointed.
I won't say that I don't think this book has potential. I think it very much could be a really amazing fantasy series, but it's missing key information in at least the 60% of the book. Essentially what happens in this book, is that this crown prince of either an alternate dimension or world (which is not made clear) goes into "our" world and rescues/kidnaps Alex, who coincidentally is the Empress of their Realm. Sounds interesting right?
It is. But...we never get any information AT ALL. About this realm. What's it called? How does it exist? Why does it exist? What is the history behind this world? Basically the only scrap of info we are given is a prophecy that this world follows. Twin boys are born to the empress (always twin boys, to note). One becomes crown prince, the other his advisor of sorts. When the time comes, the crown prince has visions of his empress and when needed, he goes into the "real world" and brings her to their world. They marry and bring peace and prosperity or something. It doesn't really make much sense because we're never really explained why this prophecy exists. Basically it's given to us with no history no explanation. There's also some kind of magic system, but, again. We're not given any information. The world building lacks, very badly, and the only thing really driving the plot is the character interactions. So if you're looking for character driven plot with not much background, here you go.
The rest of this review will be put in spoilers because they ARE spoilers for the plot. Proceed at your own risk. Also TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT! Please if you're sensitive to rape/sexual assault stop reading the review now or just don't read the spoiler below. I also think that the whole book itself should have TW for rape/sexual assault and my explanation is below (AGAIN. It's a spoiler).
Yeah so. The book has potential, lacks world building, is a character driven story, and I definitely would advise TW for rape and sexual assault because there is a scene that can be taken that way and it definitely wasn't okay in my opinion. I thank the author for providing me with a free copy for review.
May 24, 2019
I had a lot of problems with this book, one of them was with the main character; Alex. She is transported to this foreign world, essentially kidnapped by this guy yet her first instinct is not to run, it’s to have a conversation with the guy who kidnapped her. He repeatedly knocks her and then declares that they are too marry - this time she freaks out. But when he catches her again, she’s all ‘confused’ about why he makes her feel ‘safe’.
Just to top it off, when said guy is shaking her about and physically holding her down, she’s too concentrated about how he smells. Normally I would overlook these things and continue to read - see if the story in some way picks up and I had every intention to. but then, Alex kidnapper apologies to her and the first worlds out of her mouth are “what for?”
There are a lot of technical errors,missing words and extra words that shouldn’t be there. It does take away from the storyline especially when these errors appear in the middle of a really intense scene and you have to slow down to read it.
This book had such promise. The plot was interesting and started to deliver in terms of climax and action, but on character development, backstory and story progression it flopped. There was so icy that was left out and should have been included to add more depth. I was more often then not confused about what was going on and it didn’t make for an enjoyable read.
Just to top it off, when said guy is shaking her about and physically holding her down, she’s too concentrated about how he smells. Normally I would overlook these things and continue to read - see if the story in some way picks up and I had every intention to. but then, Alex kidnapper apologies to her and the first worlds out of her mouth are “what for?”
There are a lot of technical errors,missing words and extra words that shouldn’t be there. It does take away from the storyline especially when these errors appear in the middle of a really intense scene and you have to slow down to read it.
This book had such promise. The plot was interesting and started to deliver in terms of climax and action, but on character development, backstory and story progression it flopped. There was so icy that was left out and should have been included to add more depth. I was more often then not confused about what was going on and it didn’t make for an enjoyable read.
November 3, 2021
*TRIGGER WARNING* This book does contain a rape scene.
For anyone that has triggers, this book may not be for you. There is a mildly graphic rape scene about halfway through. If you do have triggers and still find you want to read this book, read it with a friend, have someone on standby to talk too, reach out. You are not alone.
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to The Parliament House and M. Dalto for giving me access.
Where do I begin? This book was absolutely amazing and I am so happy that I don’t have to wait for the next book!
Dalto does an amazing job at world building, balancing the story, and keeping you interested to the very end.
And speaking of the end…WHAT JUST HAPPENED??? Are they just….Is he really…what is going to happen?!! I need answers and I need them now.
It is a fast paced read, but in a way that you aren’t confused as to what’s going on. The only complaint I have is how quickly the lovers trope happened.
“Oh I hate you for —” Turn page, “Get in my pants.”
But hey, it honestly works for this story.
For anyone that has triggers, this book may not be for you. There is a mildly graphic rape scene about halfway through. If you do have triggers and still find you want to read this book, read it with a friend, have someone on standby to talk too, reach out. You are not alone.
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to The Parliament House and M. Dalto for giving me access.
Where do I begin? This book was absolutely amazing and I am so happy that I don’t have to wait for the next book!
Dalto does an amazing job at world building, balancing the story, and keeping you interested to the very end.
And speaking of the end…WHAT JUST HAPPENED??? Are they just….Is he really…what is going to happen?!! I need answers and I need them now.
It is a fast paced read, but in a way that you aren’t confused as to what’s going on. The only complaint I have is how quickly the lovers trope happened.
“Oh I hate you for —” Turn page, “Get in my pants.”
But hey, it honestly works for this story.
September 22, 2018
This story took my heart & stomped on it. And, still, I say "thank you, may I have some more?"
February 8, 2019
And I didn't want that to happen. I wanted to like this book, really I did. I read it first on Wattpad and though it had some serious flaws, the author seemed very determined and willing to work hard to really make the manuscript shine and grow as a writer. There were mild improvements, such as how she modified the opening to make it more cohesive than it had been in the first draft and she also foreshadowed a betrayal a tiny bit more and I actually remembered the name of the chick who got murdered this time. The prose (just like draft one) was fairly solid and deft use of third person limited. It wasn't awful at all, not purple or anything super cringe inducing. However, those changes are small while the larger errors went unchecked, hence why my rating for the published version of 'Two Thousand Years' is one star, rather than the two stars I gave the first draft. I'm more willing to accept flaws in a first draft that I'm just reading online. I'm not putting my money up for those, but when it's published, I'm going to expect more. I'm going to expect that the book has undergone series edits to fix major flaws and such but this didn't really happen in M. Dalto's Two Thousand Years.
What was wrong? Let me break it down. First problem that was presented in draft one but was not resolved in the published novel? The character development.
See in the first draft outside of being "destined" to be the Empress, Crown Prince and love each other, both primary leads, Alex and Treyan did not have any defining character traits. When I read the very first draft, they cute together sure, but not compelling as individuals. This was one major error that I had hoped editing and rewrites would fix, but this did not happen.
The rule of characterization is to show, don't tell. But all we are is told things. Alex is frequently described as "not one to sit idle after injury, not one to take things laying down, not one to do X or Y" but guess what? None of this ever actually happens. We're told Alex is strong, stubborn, inspirational and smart but we're never shown this. We're told she loves to read for pleasure, but she never does that either. She decides she wants to be the Empress because she's always been searching for "something" but she only dwells on that for like ten seconds as she decides that she wants to stay in the Empire. She has no agenda, no tangible qualities that make her feel real or interesting to me as a reader.
Treyan is supposed to be very savvy with a sword, but we never see him fight. He's also supposed to be completely okay with his predestined role of Crown Prince because reasons. His sole purpose in the story is to be Alex's sexy love interest/soul mate. Other than being completely okay with following his predestined path, this guy has no agenda whatsoever. Put together, these two made it very hard to get invested in the story or their relationship. Nothing about them or their struggles felt real or worth caring about. Sure, they had some sweet moments such as their first kiss, first date and the night after the coronation, but overall when it came to actual points that were relevant to the plot, they failed to stir any level of emotion or investment in me at all.
Then, if I could ignore the lack of development of the main characters themselves, there was also an issue with the supporting cast. There was literally NO DIALOGUE between Alex and her supporting cast, like say for example, her maid, Mallina (I think that's how you spell her name). This side character was supposed to be a close friend of Alex who cared about her and vice versa, but I never got a sense of their closeness. And so
March 2, 2019
This novel is hard for me to rate. There were many things that I enjoyed about this story but also things that I felt either didn't fit well into the plot or just happened too fast?
I guess the pacing was weird for me. A lot happened but at the same time a lot didn't happen. I'm sure that doesn't make sense at all.
What I enjoyed was the prophecy and girl being swept away into another world and a destiny. I enjoyed the dynamics of twin brothers; being at the heart of the story as well...one destined to rule and one looking for his own path to greatness.
However, some of Alex's reactions to situations just do not makes sense. When I read a novel I try and put myself in that position and gauge if that is something I would do or anyone else. When she is first kidnapped to the Empire, she is more concerned about how the Crown Prince smells...than like trying to escape. There are more examples that could be provided.
I felt The Crown Prince, didn't get flushed out enough as a character. Yes, he is bound to duty and his upbringing and belief in the prophecy...but overall who is. What makes him Alex love him. What makes the people of the Empire look up to him. What makes him tick. That is what I wanted more of. I wanted more of his actual character besides his good looks and sexy smirk.
Am I terrible for kinda digging Reylor? I mean not his evil sadistic side that was shown most of the novel. But the idea of him trying to create his own future and being punished for it. The idea of being the Lord Stewart and how that affected his entire childhood, being second to Treyan. I am hoping we see more character growth for him in the following novels. I don't think he is as evil as this novel portrayed him to be. However, most if not all of his actions within this novel were completely disgusting and I felt really didn't need to be taken to where they went.
I will definitely continue with this series because I want to see what is going to happen to Lexan. I want each of the character to go and really just learn more about them. I am excited to learn more about the Empire too, and see more of it than just the Palace. Oh and more of the Borderlands...where Reylor created his own Empire. I think his series has a lot of potential, and I am excited to see it grow!
I guess the pacing was weird for me. A lot happened but at the same time a lot didn't happen. I'm sure that doesn't make sense at all.
What I enjoyed was the prophecy and girl being swept away into another world and a destiny. I enjoyed the dynamics of twin brothers; being at the heart of the story as well...one destined to rule and one looking for his own path to greatness.
However, some of Alex's reactions to situations just do not makes sense. When I read a novel I try and put myself in that position and gauge if that is something I would do or anyone else. When she is first kidnapped to the Empire, she is more concerned about how the Crown Prince smells...than like trying to escape. There are more examples that could be provided.
I felt The Crown Prince, didn't get flushed out enough as a character. Yes, he is bound to duty and his upbringing and belief in the prophecy...but overall who is. What makes him Alex love him. What makes the people of the Empire look up to him. What makes him tick. That is what I wanted more of. I wanted more of his actual character besides his good looks and sexy smirk.
Am I terrible for kinda digging Reylor? I mean not his evil sadistic side that was shown most of the novel. But the idea of him trying to create his own future and being punished for it. The idea of being the Lord Stewart and how that affected his entire childhood, being second to Treyan. I am hoping we see more character growth for him in the following novels. I don't think he is as evil as this novel portrayed him to be. However, most if not all of his actions within this novel were completely disgusting and I felt really didn't need to be taken to where they went.
I will definitely continue with this series because I want to see what is going to happen to Lexan. I want each of the character to go and really just learn more about them. I am excited to learn more about the Empire too, and see more of it than just the Palace. Oh and more of the Borderlands...where Reylor created his own Empire. I think his series has a lot of potential, and I am excited to see it grow!
December 12, 2018
I did um and ah a little before requesting Two Thousand Years on NetGalley. The premise sounded good, but I was on the fence. In the end the good reviews decided me, but sadly I didn't feel the book in the way those readers did. First off, the good points. I really enjoyed the set up of the story, with a normal young woman swept out of her life and taken to another realm to fulfill a prophecy. It had all the makings of a great tale. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to care much about the characters. I didn't hate them, but they didn't thrill me, and I found the progression of the story pretty predictable, so it struggled to hold my attention. Mostly, I disliked Reylor. I wanted to understand him and his motives more. He came across a little two-dimensional. He did some truly awful things, but I didn't feel I ever understood why, except that they made him 'the villain'. I would have liked to have understood the world of the Empire and the Prophecy more than I did. Often when things happened it seemed only to be because it served the plot and what the author wanted to have occur next. There were also a few grammatically niggles, with incorrect tense cropping up here and there.
I am hovered between two and three stars on this one, but in the end I have gone with three, simply because I did like the idea even if the book didn't quite come together overall for me. Plus, there are plenty of positive reviews on this one, so just because it didn't suit me, it doesn't mean other readers won't find something to enjoy here.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am hovered between two and three stars on this one, but in the end I have gone with three, simply because I did like the idea even if the book didn't quite come together overall for me. Plus, there are plenty of positive reviews on this one, so just because it didn't suit me, it doesn't mean other readers won't find something to enjoy here.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2019
I have *feelings* about this book. First off, I couldn't put it down. And when I had to in order to do productive things that adults have to do, it was all I could think about. It kept me up until 3:30 in the morning the other night because I simply couldn't leave it. One more chapter, indeed.
This book felt like coming home to a well-loved friend. It felt familiar in the best way, like a warm hug. It was an easy read, it was fast paced and action packed, and it had amazing characters at the forefront of the story to keep you engaged. There was never a dull moment with this book or a time where I thought to myself that there was something I wish the author would have done differently. It was well-rounded and wholly immersive. Two Thousand Years is everything I look for in fantasy without all of the non-necessities.
The world building was VERY well done. It was given in sections rather than rambling on in an information dump and bogging down the story as a whole.
Alex, Treyan, and Reylor have my heart. As heroine, love interest, and antagonist, they made a pyramid of swoon worthy adventure as you follow them through their journey. And oh, was it a journey from page 1 to the end of the book. Everything was perfect, and I can't wait for book two.
This book felt like coming home to a well-loved friend. It felt familiar in the best way, like a warm hug. It was an easy read, it was fast paced and action packed, and it had amazing characters at the forefront of the story to keep you engaged. There was never a dull moment with this book or a time where I thought to myself that there was something I wish the author would have done differently. It was well-rounded and wholly immersive. Two Thousand Years is everything I look for in fantasy without all of the non-necessities.
The world building was VERY well done. It was given in sections rather than rambling on in an information dump and bogging down the story as a whole.
Alex, Treyan, and Reylor have my heart. As heroine, love interest, and antagonist, they made a pyramid of swoon worthy adventure as you follow them through their journey. And oh, was it a journey from page 1 to the end of the book. Everything was perfect, and I can't wait for book two.
December 7, 2018
Two Thousand Years is the kind of book that you pick up and binge read all at once. This is a dark fantasy full of romance, adventure, and heartbreak. It's New Adult - but I do think that mature YA readers would enjoy it as well!
The Empire is a beautifully crafted world - M. Dalto gives us enough world building to see the beauty (and the darkness) of this alternate universe, without using excessive detail.
The characters are phenomenal, and the villain is one of those that you probably won't be on the side of (or maybe you will), but you will definitely see what makes him tick.
Two Thousand Years was one of my FAVORITE books on Wattpad, and it totally deserved to be picked up by a publisher! I'm so glad that it did, because the published, polished version is even better.
The Empire is a beautifully crafted world - M. Dalto gives us enough world building to see the beauty (and the darkness) of this alternate universe, without using excessive detail.
The characters are phenomenal, and the villain is one of those that you probably won't be on the side of (or maybe you will), but you will definitely see what makes him tick.
Two Thousand Years was one of my FAVORITE books on Wattpad, and it totally deserved to be picked up by a publisher! I'm so glad that it did, because the published, polished version is even better.
December 18, 2018
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I liked the setting and premise of this book — I like the idea of a seemingly regular girl actually belonging to another world, and the whole idea of fulfilling a prophecy. It's a well-established idea but it has so many possible endings that could go along with it. However, I felt that the relationship between Alex and Treyan developed too quickly; it felt like a case of insta-love, which I disliked. It made me feel disconnected from them as characters. Treyan just sort of felt a bit bland as a character to me because it felt like he was primarily set up as a love interest. I was also disappointed with Reylor's characterisation; he just felt a bit two dimensional, as other readers have pointed out. I didn't feel like I understood his motivations, which would have made him more of a nuanced character. Hopefully that will improve later in the series.
In summary, I think that this book had a lot of good potential, given its promising premise, but unfortunately I was disappointed with its execution.
I liked the setting and premise of this book — I like the idea of a seemingly regular girl actually belonging to another world, and the whole idea of fulfilling a prophecy. It's a well-established idea but it has so many possible endings that could go along with it. However, I felt that the relationship between Alex and Treyan developed too quickly; it felt like a case of insta-love, which I disliked. It made me feel disconnected from them as characters. Treyan just sort of felt a bit bland as a character to me because it felt like he was primarily set up as a love interest. I was also disappointed with Reylor's characterisation; he just felt a bit two dimensional, as other readers have pointed out. I didn't feel like I understood his motivations, which would have made him more of a nuanced character. Hopefully that will improve later in the series.
In summary, I think that this book had a lot of good potential, given its promising premise, but unfortunately I was disappointed with its execution.
January 2, 2019
I’d been on a fantasy/YA kick this year, having read through a couple of promising titles (A Court of Thorns and Roses, Three Dark Crowns) without connecting with them very much and Two Thousand Years absolutely astonished me by how much it stood out from the others.
TTY started out lightly, with a kidnapping and the lead character’s hyper-speed acceptance of her new reality, but once you get about a good third of the way in the story takes off and really blew me away. It’s filled with nuance and what seems like only light character-building on the surface, but as you get deeper into the narrative you realize there is more than meets the eye maybe for ALL of the main characters. The story gets D A R K and goes to places I did not expect it to, and I love how courageous the writing is in the second half. It gets very real and very raw concerning things that happen to the heroine, and her sense of betrayal and horror are very real.
I can’t wait to see what happens next and though I didn’t plan on picking up book 2 or ACOTAR or of TDC sadly, I cannot wait for the novellas and book 2 of the Empire saga.
TTY started out lightly, with a kidnapping and the lead character’s hyper-speed acceptance of her new reality, but once you get about a good third of the way in the story takes off and really blew me away. It’s filled with nuance and what seems like only light character-building on the surface, but as you get deeper into the narrative you realize there is more than meets the eye maybe for ALL of the main characters. The story gets D A R K and goes to places I did not expect it to, and I love how courageous the writing is in the second half. It gets very real and very raw concerning things that happen to the heroine, and her sense of betrayal and horror are very real.
I can’t wait to see what happens next and though I didn’t plan on picking up book 2 or ACOTAR or of TDC sadly, I cannot wait for the novellas and book 2 of the Empire saga.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2019
Wow this book! The synopsis doesn’t give it any justice. I was sucked in from the very first page and even after i closed the book saying finished.
There is so much suspense in this book that you can’t help but turn each page to find out more. The details in the book are done so well you feel like you are really there following the story with your own eyes.
I loved Treyan. I definitely think there are things we haven’t found out about him but i feel deep in my core that he is good no matter what.
Alex annoyed me at times with her actions but I also can’t blame her either. Heck, I would probably do the same things if I was her. She has a good head on her shoulders and I can’t wait to find out more.
The author keeps you guessing as you get all the twists and turns and she makes them delicious along the way. I can’t wait for the next book!
There is so much suspense in this book that you can’t help but turn each page to find out more. The details in the book are done so well you feel like you are really there following the story with your own eyes.
I loved Treyan. I definitely think there are things we haven’t found out about him but i feel deep in my core that he is good no matter what.
Alex annoyed me at times with her actions but I also can’t blame her either. Heck, I would probably do the same things if I was her. She has a good head on her shoulders and I can’t wait to find out more.
The author keeps you guessing as you get all the twists and turns and she makes them delicious along the way. I can’t wait for the next book!
April 1, 2019
I felt some mixed opinions about this book. The pacing of the book seemed a bit off. There were some moments that were very well-explained and detailed, and others that happened so quickly I didn't even notice it. I couldn't connect to the beginning of the story at ALL until I reached about halfway through. Fortunately, then the plot begin to pick up a bit more and I was hooked. I did really enjoy the characters and was interested to continue reading about them to find out what happened next. I enjoyed that they were all flawed characters as well. The cliffhanger at the end definitely left me wanting to read the next book to find out what happens next!
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