I always appreciate the morally gray and bad ass female characters, along with a tense romance, but I sadly just couldn’t quite connect to these characters or their story. The narrative felt a little too formulaic at times for me, without the necessary exciting plot twists or good writing to make up for the places where the action and character motivations were falling flat for me. I just wanted more fleshed out characters and a more nuanced plot. But there were lots of redeeming elements, the snarky exchanges were so entertaining and I loved the fight scenes

This book has a lot of potential, but I feel like the story wasn’t fully hashed out. It’s almost like it needed to breathe more before it went to print.

The world itself I don’t feel had adequate enough building. I couldn’t get lost in it visually. The main characters Ember and Roman were okay but their relationship moved so quickly that I don’t feel like there was enough foundation building for the decision at the end.

I loved the idea and there were some good moments, but I just think that it’s not complete.

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/3 stars.

I had really high hopes for this book, it had all the ingredients to be something I really loved. It had murder, mystery, enemies to lovers ect. however the delivery fell very short for me.

First off let me just add a trigger warning for this book with regards to domestic abuse, torture and drug related abuse.

There were so many inconsistencies with the plot, a lot of information given that characters somehow didn't remember despite there being no real reason for them not to (i.e there was no amnesia ect). The world building didn't feel fully fleshed out, it was confusing to try and immerse yourself fully. And the romance seemed very rushed with no substance at all, it was 0 to 100 in the space of what felt like two chapters at most.

Also, the ending. It was, I don't know. That's how abrupt it was.

I really really wanted to love this book, the idea of it was right up my alley. I loved the themes, I was just disappointed with the storytelling itself. Great potential though.

3.5 Stars
I finished this book relatively quickly (in one day), and I really want to say it was an enjoyable read, but it wasn't quite there yet. First reading the description, I was pulled in and loved the plot idea. An assassin pushed into the world of royalty to help her sector but upon reading it, I loved and disliked many aspects of this novel.

Ember Levin. An assassin looking for justice in her sector. She tries to kill the Empress but gets caught in the midst of it. On her execution day, however, the Empress tasks her to do what Ember claims "a suicide mission" instead of getting executed. She takes on that task in hopes that the Empress would help fix her society in the East Sector. Ember disguises herself as a cousin of Ivelisse, a member of the court and future queen, to find and free the prisoners from the Angeles Prison.

I honestly love Ember as a character. She is witty, cunning, morally grey (my favorite), and doesn't care what others think; however, that only lasts for a few chapters, and throughout the book I find her doubting herself and not at all acting like the murderess she is.

Roman Stone. The crown prince of Angeles that has baggage. His relationship with his father--the king--is strained after losing his mother, and him being pushed to be the perfect prince and future leader in the eyes of his father. Roman meets Ember (Helene at the time) at his brother Ian's gala. Roman brings her on a tour around the palace, and Ember tries killing him, but she gets caught and gets sent to prison. Roman can't help but pity her, so he helps her try to escape. As they continue through the story, Roman battles feelings for Ember whilst dealing with his father.

I don't have much to say for Roman except how Maddyson was able to write the trauma of Roman so wonderfully. I could tell how his childhood experiences affected Roman's ability to make relationships and how he always pushes people away. As for the romance in this book, I couldn't exactly tell what trope it was aiming for due to the lack of growth between Roman and Ember. To me, it felt like one moment Roman has no feelings for her, then the second moment they're kissing because their relationship did not go in deep and was overall very shallow.

I felt like the setting was slightly confusing and very vague. I thought it was set in an older era until random technology and the mention of countries we know today popped out. I wish there were more world-building in this world because it would've made this book much more enjoyable; however, it was not a major issue for me.

I don't have much to comment about Maddyson's writing style other than the consistency was somewhat off. The book wasn't choppy, per se, but at some points, the book moved very slowly, and in other points, it felt rushed. I also noticed that both POVs were written with the same voice, and I got confused many times at who's POV I was on especially when they were together.

Overall I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5. I enjoyed the plot of this book, and I wish I could've been able to give it a higher rating, but I think there were so many ideas in this book that the main ones couldn't be properly conveyed. It almost read like fanfiction. I think this book was good, and I can't wait to see what else Maddyson has in store for us.

*Courtesy of Gen Z Publishing via NetGalley
*All opinions are my own

I loved the representation in this book and thought that the pacing was very well done. I loved the world that the author created and couldn't get enough of this story.

I got to say that this one was a bit hard to like. The pacing of the story doesn't sit right with me. It felt off at some point which could have been executed greatly without much information dump. The characters were okay, to say the least. Both Ember and Roman were morally grey to some extent. They did some things recklessly here and there. They got me rooted during the climax. I did not expect what happened at all. It was such a cliffhanger.

With this, I'm going to have to give this a three out of five stars. I'm sure there is more room for improvement in the next installment and I'm all in to see it happen.

Don't Blame the Reckless by Maddyson Wilson is a book that shows great potential, but feels halfway polished. In general, the first 50% of the book felt much more finished and fine-tuned than the second 50%. The writing in the first half had a much better flow and the voices of the two main characters, Ember & Roman, felt more distinct and recognizable. The plot also felt much more tight and controlled for the first half of the story, which allowed me to become invested in the characters and in the world building Wilson was doing. The world building itself was nice and never felt overly explanatory. The characters referenced the world around them in an organic way that allowed the reader to infer and piece together a picture of their own. I very much enjoyed the first 50% of the book and overall I found the general plot and story to be quite fun.

However, after the halfway point, the quality of the book began to decline. First, things began to feel rushed. It became increasingly difficult to get a grasp on the timeline. It was often hard for me to tell how much time had passed without a character directly stating how many days or weeks had gone by. And even then, those statements often left me confused. I could not give a reliable estimate of how much time passed during the events of the book. Second, the characters and their motivations began to feel muddled and wishy-washy. Roman and Ember's voices began to feel much more similar. In the first half of the book, I could have been dropped in the middle of a chapter and easily figured out which character POV I was reading. I can't say the same for the second half of the story. The characters' motivations also gave me whip lash near the end of the story. Ember, Roman, and the King were constantly changing their mind on what path to take, why they wanted to take it, and whether or not it was a good idea. I don't want to include too many details as that would spoil the plot, but in general this made it hard to follow the plot because I couldn't get a firm grasp on anyone's purpose. Lastly, there were some typos and inconsistencies in the second half of the book. The typos were minor and I don't mind them, especially in any sort of ARC. However, the inconsistencies definitely confused me. For example, at one point in the story I believe Roman is driving a car, but later on he tells Ember he can't drive and never has? It was little things like that which made the book feel unpolished and rushed.

I have a few more minor gripes about this book that did not influence my overall rating. This is mostly because of my previous reading history and other books I enjoy, but the cover and the synopsis definitely gave me the impression that the story would take place in a more old-timey fantasy setting. There was little to indicate that this was a post-apocalyptic fantasy set in what used to be the United States. Maybe if the cover featured a gun instead of a dagger there would be a cue that this is more modern? My last little gripe is that the book was tagged by Net Galley as LGBTQIA. I know there were very small hints at this in the text, but the main story featured a heteronormative romance. I'm not sure if Net Galley supplied this tag or if the publisher did, but it felt a little like false advertisement.

This was fun, and the concept was intriguing, but the execution was poor. It was enjoyable enough to keep me reading up to the end, but it was lacking in many qualities.

I read through 50% of this before finally putting it down. I was never drawn in like I usually am with a story. There were some shocking plot twists and moments but the writing overall wasn't helping me want to turn the page. Perhaps a younger person might enjoy this more.

I was really excited to read this book because this is right up my alley. But the book started to confuse me. Roman and Ember were great characters and I loved their personalities and Ms. Wilson had everything to keep the reader intrigued, murder, mystery and adventure. But was this a fictional place or was this somewhere in America? Also, what time period was the author intending here. On one page, we have a fictional world and then on the next page someone is going into an elevator. I was so confused and that made the book less enjoyable for me

Wow is all I can say this book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I do wish there was an epilogue to the story. I want to know what happens to Ty. I do wonder if people corrupt power or if power corrupts people. I would recommend this book lots of action and heart wrenching moments. Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Don’t Blame The Reckless by Maddyson Wilson

What?!?? I say again what??? This book was very intriguing but it had so many different plot lines that it seems like it could have been a very great series but the author didn’t want to take the time and threw everything together. If she would have broke all the stories up and took on a plot at a time it would have been great, now we have no answers and so many questions! What happen to ky, why did Ivelissa set them up like that what happen afterwards! She could have started with a book about ember and the stories why she killed all them people in one book then book on Roman and how they met in the second one and went on with their story on the run in the next then killing the king then what happen at the end!!!

I think this book could have been absolutely awesome. The first two chapters and the prolouge were incredible and I really wanted to like this book.
Ember seemed to be just the character I could start liking and Roman... I liked Roman from the very beginning.
Like I said, this book sounded like something I could really love - if I would have been able to get my head around the correct setting of this book. It started our as something set in a fantasy world - and next thing I know there is an elevator. It kept going back and forth; I could never quite focus on the characters because the setting was putting me off.
While I really liked Roman at the beginning, he sadly became a pretty stereotypical character And Ember... Well, Ember was a character I could't get a grasp on after the third or fourth chapter. and I really didn't care for her anymore. The side characters were annoying, especially Ky. I felt like I knew nothing about him or any of the other side characters. They didn't feel like "people" to me. Just like Side characters and this is something that shouldn't be happening in a book.
Also, like I already said, the setting simply wasn't for me.

Don’t Blame the Reckless is an interesting book. It isn’t something I really have read before.

Throughout you read from either Ember’s perspective or Roman’s perspective. I really enjoyed this as it set up what was happening really well.

In the opening chapter you see where Ember has landed herself from all the killing she has done. It is here where you learn of a mission she is to achieve to allow her to gain her freedom and change her sector the way she wants to.

The chapter it is from Roman’s perspective. Roman is a prince who is trying to figure out what he really wants and how he wants to be as King. This chapter really shows Roman as a human being and one who doesn’t want to be above anyone.

The plot of Don’t Blame the Reckless I felt was a little over the place. In the first chapters it is about getting the prisoner to then becoming queen then nothing at all. It was the way in which it happened out of nowhere and I didn’t understand how it really came about. I wished there was more chapters in between so it wasn’t so fast paced. I did like the fact there was blackmail, secrets and assassins in the story.

The characters of Ember and Roman I really did enjoy. I loved how strong Ember was and how she wanted the best for her sector and would do anything to see change. Roman had a beautiful arc I felt and loved to see him grow into himself more. I loved the change in relationship between the two but was annoyed how the story ended.

Overall Don’t Blame the Reckless is a fast paced book that did have interesting characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the book

Thank you me and the publisher for an e-copy of this book!!!

Ember is an assassin who has been sent into enemy territory to release a political enemy. If she is successful in for mission, then she will be exonerated and free to live her life.

This book had everything I love. Assassins, royalty, betrayal. I liked Maddyson’s writing style and I wanted to love this book, but something about it just didn’t click for me. I was more interested in Embers backstory than the one that was being told. Roman was kind of boring, but I really liked Ky as a character. I don’t have an major complaints. Hopefully Maddyson writes more because I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future

Did not finish at 30%

This book was so promising! Royals, an assassin with a secret mission, revenge, and murders... I am sad to say that this book was really disappointing. It felt like reading a Fanfiction where the authors had too many ideas that she tried to pack in one book without taking the time to fully explain the ideas.

I thought this story was happening in a fictional world up until the 20% mark when they started to talk about North America, Cuba, and China. But even after that, I couldn't figure out if this was an alternate timeline where there were royals in North America or if this was a post-apocalyptic kind of world because they also mentioned a plague (very briefly so I have no idea what actually happened there). There is also a ''clash'' between technology and really poor and undeveloped cities. The main character obviously grew up without any technology, but they have limos, helicopters, and paparazzi later in the story. It was weird honestly.

Then there are the characters, they are impossibly bland and ordinary. The main character is a teenager who decided to take matters into her own hands and to kill corrupted and powerful men and women in her country until she gets arrested for trying to kill the empress (I assumed so since she remembered the empress screaming as she was holding a knife to her throat)... She then spent 1 year in jail - quick mention of torture and whipping to gain some sympathy from the reader - and she is to be executed until the empress stops it because she needs Ember to go on a suicide mission to retrieve a prisoner in the neighbor country. Ember then learns that her sister died while she was in ail and the empress tells her that she upheld this information so Ember could become stronger and not break while in jail... So the empress planned all along to use Ember?

The empress also mentions being aware of Ivelisse because she might suspect Ember, but then Ember goes to live with Ivelisse's family for the time of her mission and Ivelisse clearly knows who Ember is when she greets her... As I said, it felt like reading a Fanfiction, with lots of ideas that were not well explained, and that sometimes did not make any sense (for me).

Don't Blame The Reckless by Maddyson Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Maddyson Wilson wrote a fantasy book that felt more dystopian than the normal medieval route people tend to take. Tech was included in the book where others would have left it out. I have to say, it totally paid off.


We follow Ember, an assassin badass who's fighting for the good of her people.
And Roman, a prince in a rival Nation who just wants change and to get out from under his father.

The plot twists in this book left my head spinning.

I finished Dont Blame The Reckless in one sitting.

AND THAT ENDING.

I need the next book asap.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved having a somewhat morally gray main character, she was one of my favorite parts of this book. When I finished it, I immediately needed the next book because of the way it ended!

Don't Blame the Reckless follows Ember, the so called Bloodhound of the East Sector. A vigilante assassin, she kills in hopes of gaining a better life for her people. After being caught trying to kill the Empress, she is sent on a mission to free a prison of war from the rival nation. During her mission, she meets Prince Roman, and discovers that they may be just what the world needs.

Let's start this by skipping straight to the end of the book! Ummm, cliffhanger!!! That was absolutely shocking, I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. It left me desperate for the next book. I do have to say that there were a few conflicts that were left completely unanswered, but I'm depending on the next book to answer those.

The world building in Don't Blame the Reckless was decent, it was a pretty basic fantasy kingdom setup, but I liked it. I loved having the inclusion of tech, so many fantasies leave out tech and go medieval, but having phones added a whole new element. It allowed the plot to move faster, because less time was needed for communication.

I really liked the characters. They all felt somewhat realistic, they both had inner demons you were hoping they could conquer. I liked them before they got together, which says a lot. I've read a lot of books that have assassins as main characters, and it's one of my favorite things to read. That being said, I want to see Ember actually being an assassin in the next book, not just failing to kill people.

The romance in this book was not my favorite, but I still liked it. I was sooo happy that it wasn't a love triangle, I've gotten so tired of those in fantasy books. Although it was insta love, it felt slightly more realistic because it took a bit longer to happen.

The plot was pretty entertaining, but it mainly focused on killing the king. I'm super excited to see where the next book takes it, there's a lot of potential for character development.

As soon as I saw the cover, I needed the book. Its simplicity drew me in, and the color scheme was beautiful. I loved the quote that gave this book the title, it was immediately added to my wall of favorite book quotes. I want the next book now, this book kept me hooked the entire time!

"I guess you can't blame the reckless, though. They never stop to care about who they are hurting, do they?

Thanks to Netgalley and Maddyson Wilson for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

1.75/5

*Thank you to Netgalley and GenZ Publshing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Yeah, this book was not my favorite. I feel like the author has a lot of potential, but for me, this book falls flat.

My main problems are..

Worldbuilding: I was a bit confused by the world this story is meant to take place in. I thought that it was supposed to be a more sort of "medival" world at first, but then they kept throwing in more modern characteristics such as different technologies. I think that I really would have enjoyed this book if it were in more of a steampunk world (especially because that was the vibe I got from this book)

Pacing: Pacing is a common dislike of mine that I read in books. As a whole this book was just slow for me, I think that this could be a part of me not really connected to the characters, but I found my mind wandering off at times.

Character: Okay this is a problem that I have noticed in fiction, especially YA fiction lately, but.... MAKE YOUR ASSASSIN CHARACTERS MORE GRITTY. I never really felt like she was this great assassin character and he came across kind of flat to me.

Instalove: I did not really see this great romantic connection between the characters.

Overall this was not one of my favorite books, BUT I would keep an eye out for this author (I expect some really good things from her in the future because this has a lot of the makings of a good book).

The blurb sounded great, and I really wanted to love it, but it fell flat for me. I enjoyed the story, but felt it was bland and forced in places. The romance especially felt forced and her assassin role felt more for show, and less like she really owned it. It needed a better backstory and more details to really set up the world-building and make it believable, and the pacing needed some work as it dragged with little detail or actual events through much of the story.

The concept and 'bare-bones' of the story was great and could have been something special, but this version felt rough and unpolished.I can see this story being something special, but didn't quite feel it has reached potential yet.