Author: Carissa Broadbent
Series: The War of Lost Hearts #1
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/New Adult
Publisher: Self-Pub
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Edition: Kindle/Audio
Source: Purchased/Library
Purchase: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Powell's
Synopsis:
Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.
Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.
The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.
But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.
Even if it means wielding death itself.
A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.
Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.
The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.
But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.
Even if it means wielding death itself.
A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.
*************
I initially started this book as an audiobook, but I could not handle the way the narrator changed her voice for when the FMC was talking. She raised the pitch, and it sounded almost "childlike" and I couldn't take it. This is a Romantasy, and while nothing happened yet between the two main characters (he had a different narrator) I didn't want to get to the part when things were happening with an almost child-like voice. After switching to an ebook, I enjoyed this so much more. I did start it over, but it didn't take me long to catch up where I was in the audiobook.
As I said, this is a romantasy, but there is a heavy focus on the world building and the magic system. The world got more attention than the magic did, kind of. It could just be that I missed something when it was explained how magic works. But the romance is very slow-burn, and I love slow-burn romance, it feels more real and lets readers get to know characters as people before they become a couple.
I really liked both MC's. Not quite Grumpy/sunshine, since Tisaanah is still recovering from her PTSD, and CPTSD, as a former slave and what she went through just before escaping and her survivors' guilt. Maxantarius (Max) also has PTSD, but Tisaanah has a more hopeful outlook on life than he does.
A lot happened in this book, it was almost too long and likely could've been two books (or some parts could've been edited down a little). The slower parts didn't feel like fluff, but it felt a little redundant. The big twist in the epilogue, with the reveal of a betrayer, wasn't that shocking. I thought that character was very suspicious from the start, I'm fairly certain they were meant to be seen that way. The extent of their motives is still unknown, besides power.
Honestly, I am shocked I liked this book as much as I did. Her other series, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, hasn't been all that well received by people I have similar book taste to. This book was a nice surprise. I did end up buying the trilogy as ebooks, I want to read the next one soon.
As I said, this is a romantasy, but there is a heavy focus on the world building and the magic system. The world got more attention than the magic did, kind of. It could just be that I missed something when it was explained how magic works. But the romance is very slow-burn, and I love slow-burn romance, it feels more real and lets readers get to know characters as people before they become a couple.
I really liked both MC's. Not quite Grumpy/sunshine, since Tisaanah is still recovering from her PTSD, and CPTSD, as a former slave and what she went through just before escaping and her survivors' guilt. Maxantarius (Max) also has PTSD, but Tisaanah has a more hopeful outlook on life than he does.
A lot happened in this book, it was almost too long and likely could've been two books (or some parts could've been edited down a little). The slower parts didn't feel like fluff, but it felt a little redundant. The big twist in the epilogue, with the reveal of a betrayer, wasn't that shocking. I thought that character was very suspicious from the start, I'm fairly certain they were meant to be seen that way. The extent of their motives is still unknown, besides power.
Honestly, I am shocked I liked this book as much as I did. Her other series, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, hasn't been all that well received by people I have similar book taste to. This book was a nice surprise. I did end up buying the trilogy as ebooks, I want to read the next one soon.
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