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The Relic Trilogy #1
Queen of Empire
Previously published as Legacy of the Mind by HR Moore.
New adult fantasy romance set in another world that feels almost contemporary. Perfect for fans of Divergent who want more romance, with a unique, energy-based magic system, and political undertones.
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Trigger warnings for a possessive relationship and violence.
Contains sexual content.
New adult fantasy romance set in another world that feels almost contemporary. Perfect for fans of Divergent who want more romance, with a unique, energy-based magic system, and political undertones.
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Trigger warnings for a possessive relationship and violence.
Contains sexual content.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2013
154 people are currently reading
1458 people want to read
About the author
H.R. Moore
20 books161 followersHR Moore writes romantic fantasy, romantasy, fantasy romance, and paranormal romance.
All HR's books contain strong women, high stakes, plot twists, adventure, found family and plenty of romance, with charaters willing to burn down the current order to change things for the better.
She resides in the UK, loves audiobooks, and lives for book club.
All HR's books contain strong women, high stakes, plot twists, adventure, found family and plenty of romance, with charaters willing to burn down the current order to change things for the better.
She resides in the UK, loves audiobooks, and lives for book club.
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May 4, 2025If you're looking for a fantasy romance with plenty of drama Queen of Empire might be worth a try!
I'll be honest, the early part of the book is a bit rough. Character introductions rely more on telling the reader things rather than demonstrating them, we get some excessive descriptions and scenes that aren't always necessary to the plot, and the first third of the book is very heavy on introducing the world rather than sucking you into the plot or really making you care about the characters.
That said, if you can push through about the first 120 pages, things do really pick up and and it gets quite twisty and interesting. The main character is an unusually powerful woman who is inadvertently drawn into political intrigue, and caught between two powerful men who are very into her. It is worth knowing that she has a relationship with a man who is extremely controlling and toxic, with ALL the red flags that should make you run away. She gives him far too much the benefit of the doubt and for survivors of abusive, controlling relationships, use caution. It's also quite a tropey, melodramatic book. If you're into that, you'll probably enjoy this. If you don't like that, it's not going to be the book for you. I ended up enjoying it quite a bit and that cliffhanger ending has me intrigued about what comes next! I received a copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
I'll be honest, the early part of the book is a bit rough. Character introductions rely more on telling the reader things rather than demonstrating them, we get some excessive descriptions and scenes that aren't always necessary to the plot, and the first third of the book is very heavy on introducing the world rather than sucking you into the plot or really making you care about the characters.
That said, if you can push through about the first 120 pages, things do really pick up and and it gets quite twisty and interesting. The main character is an unusually powerful woman who is inadvertently drawn into political intrigue, and caught between two powerful men who are very into her. It is worth knowing that she has a relationship with a man who is extremely controlling and toxic, with ALL the red flags that should make you run away. She gives him far too much the benefit of the doubt and for survivors of abusive, controlling relationships, use caution. It's also quite a tropey, melodramatic book. If you're into that, you'll probably enjoy this. If you don't like that, it's not going to be the book for you. I ended up enjoying it quite a bit and that cliffhanger ending has me intrigued about what comes next! I received a copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
December 19, 2018
* I was sent this for free from the author in exchange for an honest review *
This book was recommended to me by a friend (Elena from Elena Reads Books) as she said it was a bit more of a sexy, fantasy fun story. The author was kind enough to send me the whole series so I actually have the next two on my shelves waiting to be read too and I am very much looking forward to them after this because although it's a little more about relationships than I usually go for, it was fun.
The story follows a woman called Anita who is a Body type. She excels at all things physical and alongside this she is also strong in another type. There are three types of 'magic' in this world and Anita shows an affinity for two of them, but the third she lacks skills in. In fact, she only really aspires to get better at Body because that is her skill and she already seems able to beat anyone at anything to do with physical prowess.
Anita is ourt main character, and she is not a bad main character for the most part as although she does some things in the story that irked me, I could follow her motivations for most things and I admired some of the hard choices she had to make. She is forced into a few tricky situations where she has to choose between two difficult choices and it seems like, if nothing else, she always tries to make the best choice.
Anita's skills were interesting to hear about but it's not until a bit further into the story when Alexander and Marcus get introduced that we learn how rare her abilities are from how much attention they pay her. From this point on she is forced to not reveal the true extent of her power and she is also trying to uncover the truth about the Descendants (Alexander quickly becomes on and Marcus is in training under his father to become one) and her own parentage.
Marcus and Alexander to get viewpoints later in the book and I assume as the series goes on this will probably increase in regularity. I liked being able to hear their side too, and it made some of the scenes interesting and the characters more relatable overall.
In the end the main things that irritated me was the love triangle element which is a pet peeve of mine (although I think the author does a better job here than some authors I have seen) and there were a few typos (e.g. expect instead of except etc.) but in general it was a sexy and fun read.
I think the pacing is good once you get into the book, and I will certainly continue the series to see what will happen next. 3.75*s from me.
This book was recommended to me by a friend (Elena from Elena Reads Books) as she said it was a bit more of a sexy, fantasy fun story. The author was kind enough to send me the whole series so I actually have the next two on my shelves waiting to be read too and I am very much looking forward to them after this because although it's a little more about relationships than I usually go for, it was fun.
The story follows a woman called Anita who is a Body type. She excels at all things physical and alongside this she is also strong in another type. There are three types of 'magic' in this world and Anita shows an affinity for two of them, but the third she lacks skills in. In fact, she only really aspires to get better at Body because that is her skill and she already seems able to beat anyone at anything to do with physical prowess.
Anita is ourt main character, and she is not a bad main character for the most part as although she does some things in the story that irked me, I could follow her motivations for most things and I admired some of the hard choices she had to make. She is forced into a few tricky situations where she has to choose between two difficult choices and it seems like, if nothing else, she always tries to make the best choice.
Anita's skills were interesting to hear about but it's not until a bit further into the story when Alexander and Marcus get introduced that we learn how rare her abilities are from how much attention they pay her. From this point on she is forced to not reveal the true extent of her power and she is also trying to uncover the truth about the Descendants (Alexander quickly becomes on and Marcus is in training under his father to become one) and her own parentage.
Marcus and Alexander to get viewpoints later in the book and I assume as the series goes on this will probably increase in regularity. I liked being able to hear their side too, and it made some of the scenes interesting and the characters more relatable overall.
In the end the main things that irritated me was the love triangle element which is a pet peeve of mine (although I think the author does a better job here than some authors I have seen) and there were a few typos (e.g. expect instead of except etc.) but in general it was a sexy and fun read.
I think the pacing is good once you get into the book, and I will certainly continue the series to see what will happen next. 3.75*s from me.
March 14, 2021
*3.5 stars*
Summary
Anita is the strongest Body in centuries, and she has won every physical challenge ever presented to her. Not only that, she can read the energy of other people. When the powerful Descendents, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, she immediately catches their eyes. The death of one of the ruling Descendent causes the people distress over the broken bloodline and the hope that they will ever be free from the rule of the Gods and their dependency on the energy of the world. Powerful factions are forming among the elite, and Anita must make a choice between betraying those she loves or saving the greater good.
Review
This is a lush fantasy romance full of sexual tension and great world building. The setting of Empire is a combination of modern and fantasy elements. I enjoyed how the magic system was broken into three types: Body, Mind, Spirit, with each person having a dominant type of magic.
I thought the love triangle in this novel was very well done. The progression with both of the love interests felt very natural. There was a lot of sexual tension between Anita and her two love interests that kept me invested in the story.
The writing style was very straight forward, which was jarring at first, but once I got settled into the story I got used to it. The strength of this book was definitely the creation of the world and the settings.
If you are looking for a fantasy romance full of intrigue, mystery, and great world building this is definitely a novel to check out!
Summary
Anita is the strongest Body in centuries, and she has won every physical challenge ever presented to her. Not only that, she can read the energy of other people. When the powerful Descendents, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, she immediately catches their eyes. The death of one of the ruling Descendent causes the people distress over the broken bloodline and the hope that they will ever be free from the rule of the Gods and their dependency on the energy of the world. Powerful factions are forming among the elite, and Anita must make a choice between betraying those she loves or saving the greater good.
Review
This is a lush fantasy romance full of sexual tension and great world building. The setting of Empire is a combination of modern and fantasy elements. I enjoyed how the magic system was broken into three types: Body, Mind, Spirit, with each person having a dominant type of magic.
I thought the love triangle in this novel was very well done. The progression with both of the love interests felt very natural. There was a lot of sexual tension between Anita and her two love interests that kept me invested in the story.
The writing style was very straight forward, which was jarring at first, but once I got settled into the story I got used to it. The strength of this book was definitely the creation of the world and the settings.
If you are looking for a fantasy romance full of intrigue, mystery, and great world building this is definitely a novel to check out!
March 3, 2021
"I'm powerful, yes, but so are others, and I have no desire to rule in a world where people aren't happy."
*3.5 stars - book received from author for review, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
REVIEW
I was conflicted on how I wanted to rate this book. The first third of this book is an effort to get through because there is a lot of info-dumping on how this world works, the magic system, and the political climate. I found myself very overwhelmed and confused at time. Thankfully, I did get a grasp on it all around half-way through and was able to enjoy the book a lot more because of this.
This is one of the few love-triangles that I actually liked! Too often in a love-triangle, one of the love interests is clearly subpar and not going to have any real romance with the MC. That wasn't the case here. When the book begun I wasn't sure which love interest I was rooting for, then I thought I knew, and then I really knew who I wanted her to be with. It was a really fun progression. That being said, I do want to give a trigger warning. The relationship between the MC and one of the love interest develops into a toxic and controlling relationship. I appreciated the exploration of this and the deeper message that you can fall in-love with someone and not realise until you are in too deep that they are wrong for you.
The book ends on a massive cliffhanger and I found myself staring at the book with incredulity. I immediately needed the sequel. Queen of Empire is a book that gets better as you continue to read it. So while you feel like you won at the end, but making it through a book that leaves you wanting more - that beginning drag does bring the book down ultimately.
There were quite a few errors in the spelling and grammar in the book, and that did hinder my reading experience. Additionally, the word schizophrenic is used as a descriptor for a character and I found this offensive.
Overall, I am excited to continue on with this series!
*3.5 stars - book received from author for review, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
REVIEW
I was conflicted on how I wanted to rate this book. The first third of this book is an effort to get through because there is a lot of info-dumping on how this world works, the magic system, and the political climate. I found myself very overwhelmed and confused at time. Thankfully, I did get a grasp on it all around half-way through and was able to enjoy the book a lot more because of this.
This is one of the few love-triangles that I actually liked! Too often in a love-triangle, one of the love interests is clearly subpar and not going to have any real romance with the MC. That wasn't the case here. When the book begun I wasn't sure which love interest I was rooting for, then I thought I knew, and then I really knew who I wanted her to be with. It was a really fun progression. That being said, I do want to give a trigger warning. The relationship between the MC and one of the love interest develops into a toxic and controlling relationship. I appreciated the exploration of this and the deeper message that you can fall in-love with someone and not realise until you are in too deep that they are wrong for you.
The book ends on a massive cliffhanger and I found myself staring at the book with incredulity. I immediately needed the sequel. Queen of Empire is a book that gets better as you continue to read it. So while you feel like you won at the end, but making it through a book that leaves you wanting more - that beginning drag does bring the book down ultimately.
There were quite a few errors in the spelling and grammar in the book, and that did hinder my reading experience. Additionally, the word schizophrenic is used as a descriptor for a character and I found this offensive.
Overall, I am excited to continue on with this series!
November 19, 2020
Queen of Empire is an epic fantasy romance but set in a contemporary feeling world. It is the recently revamped first book in The Relic Trilogy and the official launch date is December 1st. The author has kindly sent me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a world where every person can control, to an extent, either Body, Mind, or Spirit skills, Anita is a very talented Body. She is known in her city for her skills, as she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered: what people don't know is that she's can also see the energy of others, a rare skill. The sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events: she meets Alexander and Marcus, and she starts questioning her past and who she really is.
What an amazing story! It is a mixture of mystery, adventure and romance. At first, the book just throws the reader into the story, so it took me a while to figure things out: once I figured out how the world works, I found the book easy to read and impossible to put down!
The fantasy world that the author has built is great and the characters are dynamic and so realistic you immediately connect with them. I really liked how well-crafted the characters are: their strengths are well balanced by their weaknesses.
The romance is everything! Anita is torn between to guys, as her energy has an affinity with both Marcus and Alexander. There is definitely a love triangle and a very well written one!
The book ended with a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the sequel to get some answers. I highly recommend Queen of Empire to all NA fantasy lovers!
In a world where every person can control, to an extent, either Body, Mind, or Spirit skills, Anita is a very talented Body. She is known in her city for her skills, as she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered: what people don't know is that she's can also see the energy of others, a rare skill. The sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events: she meets Alexander and Marcus, and she starts questioning her past and who she really is.
What an amazing story! It is a mixture of mystery, adventure and romance. At first, the book just throws the reader into the story, so it took me a while to figure things out: once I figured out how the world works, I found the book easy to read and impossible to put down!
The fantasy world that the author has built is great and the characters are dynamic and so realistic you immediately connect with them. I really liked how well-crafted the characters are: their strengths are well balanced by their weaknesses.
The romance is everything! Anita is torn between to guys, as her energy has an affinity with both Marcus and Alexander. There is definitely a love triangle and a very well written one!
The book ended with a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the sequel to get some answers. I highly recommend Queen of Empire to all NA fantasy lovers!
August 8, 2021
Well this was interesting. I liked the story line with all the twists at the end. I like the idea of body, spirit and Mind. I didn't like Marcus or his father. I was shocked with the ending and I can't wait to read more. It'll be interesting to see what other secrets are out there and I really want to see her and Alex together.
April 21, 2021
There were a few things that I found frustrating - the love triangle, the controlling love interest, and a few typos/edits needed.
Overall I thought the world and the characters were interesting and I will continue with the series to see what happens because the ending was a serious cliff hanger.
Overall I thought the world and the characters were interesting and I will continue with the series to see what happens because the ending was a serious cliff hanger.
February 8, 2021
I'm sorry to say this book didn't quite work for me. That is not to say that it was bad, and I think other people might like it. It was fun and fast-paced from the beginning and the world that the author created was very interesting. However, there were a few things that bothered me. First of all, in my opinion, there was too much tell and too little show, and there were many plot conveniences. Everything seemed to happen at the right time for our protagonists. Next, the villain was quite one-dimensional and his villainous plots and behaviours were too obvious, so I would get annoyed when other characters didn't get it. Finally, I didn't get the allure of Marcus. I didn't understand why Anita was with him from the beginning, and especially when he turned possessive and controlling. I get that later she had her own reasons but even before that it seemed that even she was annoyed with him.
I think I will still continue with the series because I'm intrigued.
I think I will still continue with the series because I'm intrigued.
January 13, 2023
As a fan of epic fantasy I throughly enjoyed this book.
I found the world building to be very well crafted and thought out - detailed but not overwhelming. Also unique! I feel that that is hard to find these days but this world was truly something I have never read before.
The characters are well developed and complex. There were a few times I couldn’t believe what was happening but then sitting back and thinking about it- totally makes sense. I liked that complexity.
The plot was also well crafted without being over or underwhelming. I find so many fantasy books to be so much doom and gloom- what I really liked here was yes there was strife and challenges to face - but it was not all darkness. The romance spiced things up quite a bit and it was a breath of fresh air to not all be so “the sky is falling”
No spoilers here so you can all go enjoy it for yourselves!
I found the world building to be very well crafted and thought out - detailed but not overwhelming. Also unique! I feel that that is hard to find these days but this world was truly something I have never read before.
The characters are well developed and complex. There were a few times I couldn’t believe what was happening but then sitting back and thinking about it- totally makes sense. I liked that complexity.
The plot was also well crafted without being over or underwhelming. I find so many fantasy books to be so much doom and gloom- what I really liked here was yes there was strife and challenges to face - but it was not all darkness. The romance spiced things up quite a bit and it was a breath of fresh air to not all be so “the sky is falling”
No spoilers here so you can all go enjoy it for yourselves!
December 7, 2020
I couldn’t put this book down! I really enjoyed how the story was paced and the setting. Right out of the gate the world building made sense without being tedious and we knew who the main characters were. There’s nothing I like better than a book I can pick up and dive right into instead of wading through background to get to the good stuff!
I like Anita as the protagonist. She’s quick witted, strong, and doesn’t fall into traps set by other characters. I’m anxious to see where her character development takes her in the next book.
The world this story takes place in is similar to ours with a few exceptions. It’s makes it easy to follow along with, but exciting to see how everything unravels.
Overall I enjoyed reading Queen of Empire and am looking forward to the next installment, but I would really enjoy some more descriptiveness through out and some diversity.
I was sent an ARC of this book for a review.
I like Anita as the protagonist. She’s quick witted, strong, and doesn’t fall into traps set by other characters. I’m anxious to see where her character development takes her in the next book.
The world this story takes place in is similar to ours with a few exceptions. It’s makes it easy to follow along with, but exciting to see how everything unravels.
Overall I enjoyed reading Queen of Empire and am looking forward to the next installment, but I would really enjoy some more descriptiveness through out and some diversity.
I was sent an ARC of this book for a review.
February 12, 2021
I read this in one sitting, I found it to be really easy to read with great pacing.
We are following Anita who is able to win every competition she takes part in. Then one day she meets two of the Decendents and gets pulled into a world of politics and intrigue, where one wrong move could end in disaster.
The characters and world building were really well done. I loved the magic system, it is built on energy of mind body and spirit which I really liked. The energy is what keeps the world in harmony and we are at a point where energy is dipping dangerously low.
The romance was well done, though I will say there was a very possessive romance in this, though I think it was well handled and written.
The ending has me needing to know what happens next.
Overall a very good read.
We are following Anita who is able to win every competition she takes part in. Then one day she meets two of the Decendents and gets pulled into a world of politics and intrigue, where one wrong move could end in disaster.
The characters and world building were really well done. I loved the magic system, it is built on energy of mind body and spirit which I really liked. The energy is what keeps the world in harmony and we are at a point where energy is dipping dangerously low.
The romance was well done, though I will say there was a very possessive romance in this, though I think it was well handled and written.
The ending has me needing to know what happens next.
Overall a very good read.
January 6, 2021
Many thanks to Indie Blog Hop and the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
It's official; I can no longer claim that I'm not a fan of romance.... Sure, not all romance stories, but I totally enjoyed this one. I still feel, though, that this is more a fantasy than a romance.
Strong characters, unique "magic/ability" system, cheeky dialogue, fast-paced & action-packed. The story is original, the world is similar to ours and the writing style is quite enchanting.
If you don't get SJM vibes reading this book, then I'm a monkey's uncle.
PS. Can I get book 2 now, please...?
It's official; I can no longer claim that I'm not a fan of romance.... Sure, not all romance stories, but I totally enjoyed this one. I still feel, though, that this is more a fantasy than a romance.
Strong characters, unique "magic/ability" system, cheeky dialogue, fast-paced & action-packed. The story is original, the world is similar to ours and the writing style is quite enchanting.
If you don't get SJM vibes reading this book, then I'm a monkey's uncle.
PS. Can I get book 2 now, please...?
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August 12, 2025[2017] 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. Thank you to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
FULL REVIEW:
Firstly, thank you to the author, H. R. Moore, and YA Bound Book Tours for providing me with a review copy of this book. Then, I want to say that I really, really liked this book and will definitely (at some point) continue on with the series. I waited too long to write this review to gush, so this will perhaps be a bit stale, but nevertheless, these are my thoughts on Legacy of the Mind by H. R. Moore, a New Adult Fantasy novel. (It is pretty much clean though, people seem to always think NA is sexual and not necessarily. I recommend this post by Cristina @My Tiny Obsessions.)
Next order of business is to address something that might put people off of the book. A commonly loathed trope: the love shape (no, it’s not a triangle, that would imply each loving someone else and besides there are more than three people in it). The love shape in this book works. It works because its realistic, no one is led on, there are no dramatic misunderstandings and any shift in the relationships happen for a realistic, justifiable and understandable reason, not just because some guy took his shirt off and the protagonist thought he was hotter or some other such nonsense. I also like certain parts about each of the love interests, although I do definitely have a favourite which remained the same from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Which brings me to my next point: this book gives a good perspective on how to deal with an emotionally abusive or toxic relationship. It does not deal with physical abuse, or even direct abuse, but it does deal with a relationship that is not good for either partner and has issues and flaws; it deals with the concept beautifully, again realistically and although things might move a little quickly afterwards (trying not to spoil anything here), it is overall a really good representation of dealing with something before it gets too big even if its not inherently obvious to outsiders that something is wrong.
Finishing up my talking about the characters, I really liked the friendship between Anita (the main character) and Cleo (her best friend). I’m always one for some good platonic relationships in a book. I also enjoyed the relationship Anita has with her Grandmother and her Trainer amongst other people in the complex and other friendships; I look forward to watching them develop as they add a lot of depth to the story as a whole.
Away from characters and on to the world: on this front, I was very deceived by the synopsis… but not in a bad way. I thought that when the synopsis talked about ‘Body Challenges’ etc. that it would be something like a beauty pageant etc. but that was very much not the case and I’m very happy about it: Body is more about athleticism than anything else.
The whole ‘body, mind, spirit’ thing along with the other fundamental rules of then world were very interesting and I look forward to exploring more of it in the future. At first, the book just throws you into the story and it takes awhile to figure out what things are and how the world works, but you do get their eventually and it isn’t too confusing.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this to lovers of clean NA Fantasy with intriguing worlds and quite a bit of romance… you should probably steer clear if you don’t like romance though, you won’t enjoy it as much! Overall I gave this book 4.5 stars and am very glad that I managed to get a hold of a copy.
FULL REVIEW:
Firstly, thank you to the author, H. R. Moore, and YA Bound Book Tours for providing me with a review copy of this book. Then, I want to say that I really, really liked this book and will definitely (at some point) continue on with the series. I waited too long to write this review to gush, so this will perhaps be a bit stale, but nevertheless, these are my thoughts on Legacy of the Mind by H. R. Moore, a New Adult Fantasy novel. (It is pretty much clean though, people seem to always think NA is sexual and not necessarily. I recommend this post by Cristina @My Tiny Obsessions.)
Next order of business is to address something that might put people off of the book. A commonly loathed trope: the love shape (no, it’s not a triangle, that would imply each loving someone else and besides there are more than three people in it). The love shape in this book works. It works because its realistic, no one is led on, there are no dramatic misunderstandings and any shift in the relationships happen for a realistic, justifiable and understandable reason, not just because some guy took his shirt off and the protagonist thought he was hotter or some other such nonsense. I also like certain parts about each of the love interests, although I do definitely have a favourite which remained the same from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Which brings me to my next point: this book gives a good perspective on how to deal with an emotionally abusive or toxic relationship. It does not deal with physical abuse, or even direct abuse, but it does deal with a relationship that is not good for either partner and has issues and flaws; it deals with the concept beautifully, again realistically and although things might move a little quickly afterwards (trying not to spoil anything here), it is overall a really good representation of dealing with something before it gets too big even if its not inherently obvious to outsiders that something is wrong.
Finishing up my talking about the characters, I really liked the friendship between Anita (the main character) and Cleo (her best friend). I’m always one for some good platonic relationships in a book. I also enjoyed the relationship Anita has with her Grandmother and her Trainer amongst other people in the complex and other friendships; I look forward to watching them develop as they add a lot of depth to the story as a whole.
Away from characters and on to the world: on this front, I was very deceived by the synopsis… but not in a bad way. I thought that when the synopsis talked about ‘Body Challenges’ etc. that it would be something like a beauty pageant etc. but that was very much not the case and I’m very happy about it: Body is more about athleticism than anything else.
The whole ‘body, mind, spirit’ thing along with the other fundamental rules of then world were very interesting and I look forward to exploring more of it in the future. At first, the book just throws you into the story and it takes awhile to figure out what things are and how the world works, but you do get their eventually and it isn’t too confusing.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this to lovers of clean NA Fantasy with intriguing worlds and quite a bit of romance… you should probably steer clear if you don’t like romance though, you won’t enjoy it as much! Overall I gave this book 4.5 stars and am very glad that I managed to get a hold of a copy.
April 27, 2017
In Legacy there are different factions where people have different powers of the mind, body and spirit. A young girl Anita wins everybody challenge she enters but there are a few things about Anita that most don’t know and that is that Anita is talented in more areas than one. Anita also has the ability to read people but she tries to keep that one under her hat so to speak.
But when the Descendants show up in her home town letting her ability to read people be known could have a few people wanting to take Anita out of the equation. One of the Descendants in particular Alexander warns Anita over and over about keeping her ability to read people a secret but she just won’t listen to what he has to say she thinks she can explain it all away.
One of the other Descendants takes a liking to Anita and her to him. Anita likes Marcus and wants to spend time with him and be his friend but after spending time with Alexander as well she soon figures out that she and Alexander have chemistry where she and Marcus don’t. But Anita has very big heart and doesn’t want to hurt Marcus so she has a hard time dealing with who she wants to be with.
A friend of Anita’s who knew her parents and has been a lot of help to Anita over the years shows up one day asking for Anita’s help but in order for Anita to help her she will have to betray the one she loves but if she doesn’t help her then it could be bad for a lot of people. Now Anita is stuck between a rock and a hard place. What will she do?
When I read the summary of Legacy of the Mind I knew I had to read it. Although the summary did not do the book justice no it was way better than the summary portrayed. I really enjoyed the world that the author created in Legacy of the Mind. I also like that Anita could read people and their energy. I also liked how she dealt with having two people that she cared about and not wanting to hurt either one.
I would like to recommend Legacy of the Mind to anyone who loves reading about special powers and abilities and who just loves a good mystery and a little romance.
But when the Descendants show up in her home town letting her ability to read people be known could have a few people wanting to take Anita out of the equation. One of the Descendants in particular Alexander warns Anita over and over about keeping her ability to read people a secret but she just won’t listen to what he has to say she thinks she can explain it all away.
One of the other Descendants takes a liking to Anita and her to him. Anita likes Marcus and wants to spend time with him and be his friend but after spending time with Alexander as well she soon figures out that she and Alexander have chemistry where she and Marcus don’t. But Anita has very big heart and doesn’t want to hurt Marcus so she has a hard time dealing with who she wants to be with.
A friend of Anita’s who knew her parents and has been a lot of help to Anita over the years shows up one day asking for Anita’s help but in order for Anita to help her she will have to betray the one she loves but if she doesn’t help her then it could be bad for a lot of people. Now Anita is stuck between a rock and a hard place. What will she do?
When I read the summary of Legacy of the Mind I knew I had to read it. Although the summary did not do the book justice no it was way better than the summary portrayed. I really enjoyed the world that the author created in Legacy of the Mind. I also like that Anita could read people and their energy. I also liked how she dealt with having two people that she cared about and not wanting to hurt either one.
I would like to recommend Legacy of the Mind to anyone who loves reading about special powers and abilities and who just loves a good mystery and a little romance.
October 7, 2014
I loved this book! The world H.R. Moore has created is fabulous, the characters are likable and the plot kept me turning the pages all night long! I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment of the series!
September 23, 2015
Love these books!
October 18, 2018
Bristling with action and aching with intensity, Legacy of the Mind is in line to thrill fans across the fantasy spectrum from Canavan and Miller to Meyer and Rowling
January 16, 2019
Intriguing world building...can’t wait to read book 2!
April 8, 2021
Queen of Empire by H R Moore
3.5 🌟🌟🌟
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Trigger warnings for a possessive relationship and violence.
Contains sexual content.
EN: Since I really want to read more fantasy romance this year, I discovered this book and here we are. The author's writing style was easy to read and the story is easy to get through. In addition, it is told in the third perspective and we accompany different characters but we focus around Anita. I have to say the book surprised me, sometimes it went too fast for me, especially the story and the love story. I didn't expect that it would be like that right at the beginning, that you would find out everything right away, but then there are scenes that make it exciting. And you just want to know more, especially I found the idea of how everything was built around Empire and the meanings with 3 different ones (Mind, Spirt, Body). I'm not a fan of Love Triangle, but it worked here even if I knew from the start who would run for me. All in all it was good and even if it was going too fast I was still very curious about the story and couldn't stop reading. I am curious what awaits me and how it will continue.
DE: Da ich dieses Jahr unbedingt mehr Fantasy Romance lesen will habe ich dieses Buch entdeckt und hier sind wir. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war leicht zu lesen und man kommt schnell in der Geschichte. Außerdem wird es in der dritten Perspektive erzählt und wir begleiten verschiedene Charakter aber wir Fokussieren uns rund um Anita. Ich muss sagen das Buch hat mich überrascht teil weise ging es mir zu schnell ins besondere die Geschichte und die Liebesgeschichte. Ich hatte nicht erwartet das es gleich zu beginn so ist das man gleich alles erfährt aber dann sind da doch Szenen dabei die es spannend machen. Und man einfach mehr wissen will insbesondere fand ich die Idee gut wie alles aufgebaut wurde rund um denn Empire und die Bedeutungen mit denn 3 Verschiedenen (Mind, Spirt,Body). Ich bin kein Fan von Love Triangel aber hier ging es auch wenn ich schon von Anfang wusste wer für mich das rennen macht. Im ganzen war es gut und auch wenn es mir zu schnell ging war ich dennoch sehr neugierig auf die Geschichte und konnte gar nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen. Ich bin gespannt was mich noch erwartet und wie es weiter geht.
3.5 🌟🌟🌟
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Trigger warnings for a possessive relationship and violence.
Contains sexual content.
EN: Since I really want to read more fantasy romance this year, I discovered this book and here we are. The author's writing style was easy to read and the story is easy to get through. In addition, it is told in the third perspective and we accompany different characters but we focus around Anita. I have to say the book surprised me, sometimes it went too fast for me, especially the story and the love story. I didn't expect that it would be like that right at the beginning, that you would find out everything right away, but then there are scenes that make it exciting. And you just want to know more, especially I found the idea of how everything was built around Empire and the meanings with 3 different ones (Mind, Spirt, Body). I'm not a fan of Love Triangle, but it worked here even if I knew from the start who would run for me. All in all it was good and even if it was going too fast I was still very curious about the story and couldn't stop reading. I am curious what awaits me and how it will continue.
DE: Da ich dieses Jahr unbedingt mehr Fantasy Romance lesen will habe ich dieses Buch entdeckt und hier sind wir. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war leicht zu lesen und man kommt schnell in der Geschichte. Außerdem wird es in der dritten Perspektive erzählt und wir begleiten verschiedene Charakter aber wir Fokussieren uns rund um Anita. Ich muss sagen das Buch hat mich überrascht teil weise ging es mir zu schnell ins besondere die Geschichte und die Liebesgeschichte. Ich hatte nicht erwartet das es gleich zu beginn so ist das man gleich alles erfährt aber dann sind da doch Szenen dabei die es spannend machen. Und man einfach mehr wissen will insbesondere fand ich die Idee gut wie alles aufgebaut wurde rund um denn Empire und die Bedeutungen mit denn 3 Verschiedenen (Mind, Spirt,Body). Ich bin kein Fan von Love Triangel aber hier ging es auch wenn ich schon von Anfang wusste wer für mich das rennen macht. Im ganzen war es gut und auch wenn es mir zu schnell ging war ich dennoch sehr neugierig auf die Geschichte und konnte gar nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen. Ich bin gespannt was mich noch erwartet und wie es weiter geht.
December 25, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Queen of Empire
Author: H.R. Moore
Book Series: The Relic Trilogy
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers, fantasy lovers
Publication Date: August 17, 2013
Genre: Romance Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content, slight violence and gore)
Publisher: Harriet Moore
Pages: 358
Synopsis: A fantasy romance trilogy perfect for fans of Crescent City.
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Review: For the most part this book was really interesting. I loved the aspect of the book and the pacing was really well done for a romance heavy book. The world building was also fairly well detailed and I loved how the book was not all about the romance, but had a lot of heavy fantasy moments in it as well.
The only issue I really had was the character development. I felt like the development of the main character was a little dependent on the romance and that there could have been more character development.
Verdict: Recommend if you’re looking for some fantasy in your romance!
October 4, 2018
3.5 stars
Let me start by explaining why this one didn’t quite hit 4 stars for me. From the beginning, I found the story a little difficult to grasp (which I expected due to the fantasy nature). Knowing it would require a more detailed explanation to understand the setting and elements, I kept with it and tried to take it all in (making character notes to remind myself who was who). Halfway through I still wasn’t fully engrossed in the story but then at 70% the drama really picked up and I found the remainder of the book a lot more riveting and exciting. This book would have been a definite 4 star if I could have been gripped just a little bit sooner!
I thought most of the characters were well-crafted, each possessing a weakness that contributed well to the story. For example, Austin was powerful and his weakness was greed which meant that he could persuade the other Descendants/Councillors that the low energy would likely rise again in the coming weeks which would enable him to continue reigning and have power over everyone. His son Marcus was in love with Anita but he was controlling which not only saved Anita but also pushed her away. Peter (though not mentioned too often) was a coward who wouldn't stand up to Austin despite his disagreements with Austin's views. And Anita's biggest flaw for me was her immaturity. Because of this, I honestly can’t say that I connected with her at all – for a girl in her twenties, I found her behaviour childish when it came to choosing between two men that she had feelings for. Her feelings often got in the way of her rationality and sometimes I would be irritated by her flirting where she should have been taking the situation more seriously. That said, she did in the end need to keep both men close for her own safety but I thought the flirting/stringing them along could have been toned down a little, especially in the beginning.
I thought the ending left a good cliffhanger and has left me wondering what will happen in the following books. I think now that I understand the fantasy world and elements, the following books will be easier to read and flow better.
Thank you to H.R. Moore for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by explaining why this one didn’t quite hit 4 stars for me. From the beginning, I found the story a little difficult to grasp (which I expected due to the fantasy nature). Knowing it would require a more detailed explanation to understand the setting and elements, I kept with it and tried to take it all in (making character notes to remind myself who was who). Halfway through I still wasn’t fully engrossed in the story but then at 70% the drama really picked up and I found the remainder of the book a lot more riveting and exciting. This book would have been a definite 4 star if I could have been gripped just a little bit sooner!
I thought most of the characters were well-crafted, each possessing a weakness that contributed well to the story. For example, Austin was powerful and his weakness was greed which meant that he could persuade the other Descendants/Councillors that the low energy would likely rise again in the coming weeks which would enable him to continue reigning and have power over everyone. His son Marcus was in love with Anita but he was controlling which not only saved Anita but also pushed her away. Peter (though not mentioned too often) was a coward who wouldn't stand up to Austin despite his disagreements with Austin's views. And Anita's biggest flaw for me was her immaturity. Because of this, I honestly can’t say that I connected with her at all – for a girl in her twenties, I found her behaviour childish when it came to choosing between two men that she had feelings for. Her feelings often got in the way of her rationality and sometimes I would be irritated by her flirting where she should have been taking the situation more seriously. That said, she did in the end need to keep both men close for her own safety but I thought the flirting/stringing them along could have been toned down a little, especially in the beginning.
I thought the ending left a good cliffhanger and has left me wondering what will happen in the following books. I think now that I understand the fantasy world and elements, the following books will be easier to read and flow better.
Thank you to H.R. Moore for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2018
**Thank you to the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting going in, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit! The fantasy world that the author has created focuses on the energy that feeds every aspect of their world and which every person can control to an extent, either with Body, Mind, or Spirit skills. Anita is a very talented Body, known in her city for her skills. What people don't know, however, is that she also possesses extremely strong Spirit skills. When the Descendants, monarchs who rule on behalf of the gods, arrive in the city, they immediately see that Anita is different, and the tug of war to save or destroy her begins.
While this is definitely a fantasy novel, there was a lot more romance to it than I was expecting. It took me a little while to get into the novel, particularly because romance isn't a genre I'd normally seek out. But once the suspense and action really got going, I was hooked. I do wish there was a bit more background on the world, but I'm guessing the other books in the trilogy will continue to build on the intriguing foundation laid here. The end of the novel caught me totally off guard and I NEED to know what happens next, so I'll definitely be continuing with this series!
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting going in, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit! The fantasy world that the author has created focuses on the energy that feeds every aspect of their world and which every person can control to an extent, either with Body, Mind, or Spirit skills. Anita is a very talented Body, known in her city for her skills. What people don't know, however, is that she also possesses extremely strong Spirit skills. When the Descendants, monarchs who rule on behalf of the gods, arrive in the city, they immediately see that Anita is different, and the tug of war to save or destroy her begins.
While this is definitely a fantasy novel, there was a lot more romance to it than I was expecting. It took me a little while to get into the novel, particularly because romance isn't a genre I'd normally seek out. But once the suspense and action really got going, I was hooked. I do wish there was a bit more background on the world, but I'm guessing the other books in the trilogy will continue to build on the intriguing foundation laid here. The end of the novel caught me totally off guard and I NEED to know what happens next, so I'll definitely be continuing with this series!
January 22, 2021
Thank you to the author for reaching out and giving me an eArc for an honest opinion of Queen of Empire, which is the first book of The Relic Trilogy.
In short, Queen of Empire is at a 3rd person’s perspective (which normally, I’m not often very fond of) about Anita, a kick ass heroine with the rare ability of ‘energy’ reading, an eventual love triangle that occurs and eventually, as the story progresses, what she decides to do next will impact her world as she knows it.
Although I’ll admit, that it was sligghtttly cookie cutter fantasy romance, (ahem: heroine with rare abilities that’s better than everyone else’s + the 2 hot guys pinning after her because she’s “special and unique and unlike any other girl they’ve ever met” + the choice of betrayal or doom kinda scenario)
BUT. I did actually thoroughly enjoyed the novel, despite the aforementioned and despite it being in 3rd person perspective, as it did help the story progress a little better in terms of understanding each character and their little quirks as well as introducing us readers to the world around them. The dialogue banters were enjoyable, it had its yummy romance moments and it’s cool fantasy aspects of the book with an intriguing plot.
Overall, it’s a good read (heh heh), and I do recommend it for anyone looking to add a New Adult Fantasy Romance book into their next TBR!
In short, Queen of Empire is at a 3rd person’s perspective (which normally, I’m not often very fond of) about Anita, a kick ass heroine with the rare ability of ‘energy’ reading, an eventual love triangle that occurs and eventually, as the story progresses, what she decides to do next will impact her world as she knows it.
Although I’ll admit, that it was sligghtttly cookie cutter fantasy romance, (ahem: heroine with rare abilities that’s better than everyone else’s + the 2 hot guys pinning after her because she’s “special and unique and unlike any other girl they’ve ever met” + the choice of betrayal or doom kinda scenario)
BUT. I did actually thoroughly enjoyed the novel, despite the aforementioned and despite it being in 3rd person perspective, as it did help the story progress a little better in terms of understanding each character and their little quirks as well as introducing us readers to the world around them. The dialogue banters were enjoyable, it had its yummy romance moments and it’s cool fantasy aspects of the book with an intriguing plot.
Overall, it’s a good read (heh heh), and I do recommend it for anyone looking to add a New Adult Fantasy Romance book into their next TBR!
February 1, 2021
3.5 stars
I received a copy of Queen of Empire form the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantasy romance with a stem punk/old temples, woodlands kind of vibe.
It took me a minute to get hooked on the story I was a bit confused during the beginning since a lot about the world wasn't explained I was kinda just thrown right in. But around the middle I caught on enough that I wanted to know more. There is a love triangle in here which was made to be a bit predictable in my opinion, due to certain toxicity traits that were talked about and mentioned throughout the book. I just never really believed it or felt the love for one of the love interest...there other though 😏 I loved when Antia was showing off her body abilities and I'm interested to know what she becomes. I am also interested to see how the world develops in the second book because I think it has a lot of potential.
(Also side note the author has a Pinterest board for the book and it's amazing! I loved getting to see her inspiration, it helped me picture the world a lot better)
**********
Minor spoilers:
I do wish there hasn't been cheating in this book. It was kinda brushed off because it didn't happen physically (you'll understand if you read it) but I didn't think it was necessary I think the tension in and of itself would have been amazing.
I received a copy of Queen of Empire form the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantasy romance with a stem punk/old temples, woodlands kind of vibe.
It took me a minute to get hooked on the story I was a bit confused during the beginning since a lot about the world wasn't explained I was kinda just thrown right in. But around the middle I caught on enough that I wanted to know more. There is a love triangle in here which was made to be a bit predictable in my opinion, due to certain toxicity traits that were talked about and mentioned throughout the book. I just never really believed it or felt the love for one of the love interest...there other though 😏 I loved when Antia was showing off her body abilities and I'm interested to know what she becomes. I am also interested to see how the world develops in the second book because I think it has a lot of potential.
(Also side note the author has a Pinterest board for the book and it's amazing! I loved getting to see her inspiration, it helped me picture the world a lot better)
**********
Minor spoilers:
I do wish there hasn't been cheating in this book. It was kinda brushed off because it didn't happen physically (you'll understand if you read it) but I didn't think it was necessary I think the tension in and of itself would have been amazing.
May 10, 2017
Legacy of the Mind (The Legacy Trilogy, #1)
by H.R. Moore
I did not expect the depth and diversity within this book it took me by total surprise. The title does not give the reader a hint at the rich world that H R Moore has created. The characters are dynamic and so realistic you immediately connect with them. The mystery and problems are so ominous and difficult for the characters the reader will long to read the entire series in hopes that they get resolution. Anita is a young Body adherent who seems to be more adept and capable than her Empire population, she stands out from the crowd. It seems there is more to her past than indicated in this opening story. Alexander is a descendant who inherited his title role in the pages of this book, only to question if they are doing what the descendants are required to do. Marcus another descendant has been waiting in the wings as his father plays a devious role in changing the overall goal of this governmental society, and how they respond to the gifts and power inherent in their positions. I hope I get a chance to read the rest of the story and find the resolution that is itching beneath my skin. Kudos to H R Moore for an addictive and enduring story.
by H.R. Moore
I did not expect the depth and diversity within this book it took me by total surprise. The title does not give the reader a hint at the rich world that H R Moore has created. The characters are dynamic and so realistic you immediately connect with them. The mystery and problems are so ominous and difficult for the characters the reader will long to read the entire series in hopes that they get resolution. Anita is a young Body adherent who seems to be more adept and capable than her Empire population, she stands out from the crowd. It seems there is more to her past than indicated in this opening story. Alexander is a descendant who inherited his title role in the pages of this book, only to question if they are doing what the descendants are required to do. Marcus another descendant has been waiting in the wings as his father plays a devious role in changing the overall goal of this governmental society, and how they respond to the gifts and power inherent in their positions. I hope I get a chance to read the rest of the story and find the resolution that is itching beneath my skin. Kudos to H R Moore for an addictive and enduring story.
August 13, 2017
I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book and I wasn’t disappointed when I started to read
I instantly warmed to misfit Anita and her friends and instantly hated Austin!
I loved how she fought against the norm and had a who cares kind of attitude but deep down she had the same insecurities about what people thought and about drawing attention to herself. It made her immediately easier to relate to!
The only thing I thought that would put me off was the romance factor but actually it was more true to life than you sometimes find in any romance book.
The world building in the book is good and the author is talented at drawing out the readers imagination and I’m pretty sure everyone will have the same image of the impressive temples in there minds eye!
I’m really interested to carry on with this series! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own
I instantly warmed to misfit Anita and her friends and instantly hated Austin!
I loved how she fought against the norm and had a who cares kind of attitude but deep down she had the same insecurities about what people thought and about drawing attention to herself. It made her immediately easier to relate to!
The only thing I thought that would put me off was the romance factor but actually it was more true to life than you sometimes find in any romance book.
The world building in the book is good and the author is talented at drawing out the readers imagination and I’m pretty sure everyone will have the same image of the impressive temples in there minds eye!
I’m really interested to carry on with this series! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own
October 16, 2022
I was intrigued from the first chapter because the plot line had so much potential I was almost waiting with bated breath to see where the book would go. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. It felt like the author had a brilliant idea with the book but it seemed to have been lost in translation. The pace and writing felt off and a lot of the times the book seemed rushed. From the get go you know that Anita and Alexander would be end game yet the chemistry felt so forced. The author couldn’t decide if they wanted Marcus to be the bad guy to ease Anita’s wavering mind or if they wanted the love angle to play out. All the other characters were hastily introduced and the world building wasn’t done enough to reel you in.
Also side note but the author came off as slightly misogynistic when introducing a lot of the female side characters. Body shaming, bitchy just because, unnecessarily calling women “plain”..
Sigh. It sucks because I can totally see the potential for this to be a 4 star. I will power through the series because I need to know what happens but i’m not as excited as I was when I started book 1.
Also side note but the author came off as slightly misogynistic when introducing a lot of the female side characters. Body shaming, bitchy just because, unnecessarily calling women “plain”..
Sigh. It sucks because I can totally see the potential for this to be a 4 star. I will power through the series because I need to know what happens but i’m not as excited as I was when I started book 1.
November 3, 2022
I knew pretty soon, that I will not continue with this series.
There are two major points I did not like.
First, the author did not seem to be sure, what this book is, either a urban fantasy or a normal fantasy. And of course it could be both, but in this case it just did not fuse together well. Sometimes I had the strong feeling of urban fantasy with the cars and the security guys and such. But then again, the castles, the carriage in the beginning, the setting with Empire and Kingdom. It just made me feel lost.
But more importantly I started the book and I had to check a couple of times, that I really was reading the first in the series and I had not missed other books before. We jumped right in and I felt lost, because I did not know what was going on. The plot took off after a while but the back story and the world building was not there. And it never really came.
So, there were good ideas about the magic, but the execution was very poorly done.
There are two major points I did not like.
First, the author did not seem to be sure, what this book is, either a urban fantasy or a normal fantasy. And of course it could be both, but in this case it just did not fuse together well. Sometimes I had the strong feeling of urban fantasy with the cars and the security guys and such. But then again, the castles, the carriage in the beginning, the setting with Empire and Kingdom. It just made me feel lost.
But more importantly I started the book and I had to check a couple of times, that I really was reading the first in the series and I had not missed other books before. We jumped right in and I felt lost, because I did not know what was going on. The plot took off after a while but the back story and the world building was not there. And it never really came.
So, there were good ideas about the magic, but the execution was very poorly done.
January 8, 2021
This story instantly intrigued me with the creative world building and unique factions. Energy plays an important part in the world and when tragedy strikes with loss of two rulings beings and powers change it causes a dangerous dip in the energy that can cause chaos across the world. Anita is special but she isn't aware of how much but she knows something is different when she starts to feel other people's energy. However, she's kept that little secret until she gains unwanted notice and attention from two Descendants. While her and her friends try to solve the energy problem, contend with growing romances,try balancing the lines of romance and friendship, Anita is forced to make a choice that could have devastating consequences in her relationships but not helping can have devastating consequences for the world
February 11, 2021
I really enjoyed the magic system and the world building in this book. I'd still like more detail about this, but I feel like this will come in the next 2 books.
2 things held me back from giving this 5 stars:
Anita was quite a frustrating main character for me personally at the beginning. While I do feel that the author stayed true to her character, and the decisions being made by Anita were logical, they were very frustrating to read about knowing the whole picture.
It was quite confusing at the beginning (not unexpected from a fantasy book with a fairly complex magic system), which made me struggle to get into the story at first. However, around 40% into the book everything seemed to slot into place and I sped through the last 60%!
Overall I really enjoyed the story and am very much anticipating the next 2 books!
2 things held me back from giving this 5 stars:
Anita was quite a frustrating main character for me personally at the beginning. While I do feel that the author stayed true to her character, and the decisions being made by Anita were logical, they were very frustrating to read about knowing the whole picture.
It was quite confusing at the beginning (not unexpected from a fantasy book with a fairly complex magic system), which made me struggle to get into the story at first. However, around 40% into the book everything seemed to slot into place and I sped through the last 60%!
Overall I really enjoyed the story and am very much anticipating the next 2 books!
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