Review #484
The map in the beginning is beautiful. Unfortunately I didn’t finish a different duology by this author so hopefully this one goes well. I’m reading it for a fantasy romance bookclub in Raleigh that I recently originated.
Warning- spoilers below
Chapter 1 has a lot of world building. I’m sad that it’s third person narrative but am intrigued by the vampires. I’m hoping they’re actually 25ish and not 190 who looks like 25. So the Tea Shop’s landlord has been threatened to sell so Arthie & Jin only have control of their unique shop for 2 more weeks until a different landlord owns the building. Will they have enough time?
We switch from Arthie’s point of view to Jin’s in chapter 2. Are they brother/sister?
I don’t understand the rules of what makes one a half-vampire yet…
Is Arthie a take on Arthur since she needs to pull a pistol from a wall of stone?
Why are vampires disappearing?
How does this captain know she stole the artifacts? Why are the artifacts significant to the story?
There is too much politics with the Ram and the Horned guard and Arthereum
Is Arthie a vampire? I have my suspicions.
Laith Sayaad of Arawiya is quite a mouthful. I assumed Matteo would’ve been a love interest but is it this guy? Or is he the villain?
His flashback was clear and concise which I appreciate. It shows both their personalities from a young age. But what kind of powers does she have and why? Was she born with them? How? It’s not clear if she’s a vampire.
Chapter 8 goes to a 3rd POV of Flick. Have we even met him yet?
I do like a plot with a good heist. But it’s still unclear WHY they need to break in to steal the ledger?
There are too many characters interacting in dialogue in the same scene.
The stakes aren’t high enough or clear enough for why this heist is vital
It’s cool that the pistol changes.
A couple chapters before the halfway point I finally got invested when the action picked up of jumping off balconies and the banter between two couples was more fluid and endearing. Im unsure if Arthie is half vampire
I’m still frustrated by the head hopping. From the way it’s written it all could’ve been from one point of view because individually interior perception isn’t added to the story when POV shifts.
I definitely prefer Jin and Flick as a couple compared to the other.
Balustrade is about the 6th new vocab word I’ve learned during this book.
Act 1 ended with the tension and chemistry increasing with both couples.
It feels a bit like Ocean 11 when it zips between characters trying to enter.
I LOVE Jin’s umbrella.
What is Matteo & Arthie’s history? There have been little to no breadcrumbs to follow.
The White Roaring part confused me the whole time but during the explanation I still don’t fully understand. Is it a place or person?
What does the clove rock do?
The second half of the book was waaaaay better than the first. It ends on a frustrating yet satisfying cliffhanger which is always controversial. There are things I still need to know. Who is the Wolf? How did Flick’s mom disguise herself as the Ram? I thought the Ram was their equivalent of a king so I’m confused.
If her father loves Arthie so much then what was the point of breaking into the vampire event if he could’ve gotten them in?
Will Jin hate Dli I for turning him into a (half?) vampire?
What is Laith’z true story?
I loved how their friendships turned into more than I expected but wished the first half was written more clearly and concise.
My favorite line- “… a handful of chapters of her life bottled into a scent.”