They don’t tell you this part in the storybooks. They go on and on about true love, even though no one can explain what it is. They don’t tell you where your hands go when Prince Charming just wants to fool around. They don’t tell you that his red, wet, wanting mouth is the ruby fruit, nor whether it’s poison or bliss—or both. You have to nibble to find out.”

Betrayal, hatred, desperate, secret, and forbidden kisses, a cunning main character & the golden prince that infuriates her, a curse, political intrigue…..
are you sold yet? 👀😈

First I want to preface my review by saying that i absolutely ADORE “unlikeable” main characters
Give me the fiery women, the ones who always have a sarcastic response, the selfish ones, the flawed ones- these are my absolute favorite
And Violet certainly fits the mold. She is cunning and clever, she is always one step ahead and is not afraid to hurt your feelings. I absolutely loved her as a main character.
I loved how her and the prince hate each other but are simultaneously drawn towards each other- they had soooooo much chemistry and angst, I was HERE FOR IT.

Now, the storyline was fantastic, I almost devoured this book in a day because I could not put it down and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.
The fairytale vibes were absolutely immaculate- there is a kingdom and enchantments plus little fairies and pixie dust *squeals* this was just so perfect!


Violet is a Seer- there are only a handful of them in the world and she was plucked from the streets as a child after saving the crown prince Cyrus. When the kingdom’s current Seer dies, Violet is thrown into the role and has to face the aftermath of a terrible prophecy- Cyrus is cursed and doom will come to the kingdom. Violet is tasked with helping Cyrus find a bride- if they could only set aside their differences first.
Although they seem to hate each other, they also can’t seem to stay away from each other
With a looming threat in the air, and monsters hidden in the shadows, Violet must decide whether to save herself or leave them all to damnation.

Eeeeeeek I really liked this book! I am a sucker for a dark fairytale and this one was soooo well done! I loved the vibes, the chemistry, the loathing and lusting. The ending was also so well done, I really enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for a sequel!

This anti-heroine perspective tale was a fun, very readable and pretty unique spin on several fairy tales, with strains of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. I thought the blurbs and author intro really oversold the unlikability of main character Violet—her motivations, aims, and actions were very understandable, to me!

Wow! This was such a great mashup of fairy tales. I really enjoyed the setting and I totally got Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and even some Sleeping Beauty vibes. It’s definitely a dark fantasy with an unlikeable main character.

Violet is not the most likeable and often times very cold throughout the book. I felt her circumstances definitely played into her coldness and that in order for her to survive at court she can’t let anyone into her heart. This way of thinking gets messy when it comes to her and Cyrus’s relationship.

Cyrus was a bit pushy in the romance department for me. I did struggle with their connection and I feel like they’re definitely better allies if they can get away from whatever romantic feelings they have for each other.

This was a fast-paced YA fantasy and I am very interested to see how the next book in the series goes! That ending was definitely not what I was very unexpected and I’m totally here for it!

For those who loves to read fairytale with enemies to lovers and antiheroine FMC then you need to pick this one up!

The plot is unique, combining a couple of fairytale element in here like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast which is a nice touch to the story.
The world building is easy to envision with the help of the beautiful map and some description along the story.

I'm really interested reading about the prophecy, the curse and the development of the Seer power which I'm eager to see more about it in the next book!

The characters are likeable, for both main and secondary character who liven up the story as well.
Instead of being a morally gray character, Violet is mostly confuse trying to decide on what to do and who to trust.
Cyrus is also an interesting character to know, behind his charming facade he can be cunning as well.

I really like the love-hate dynamic between Cyrus and Violet, the tension and the bantering reminds me slightly to Cardan and Jude.
Most of the time in this book, they argue and can't stand each other but I'm hoping it'll change in the next book so we'll get more of them being lovers.

Overall, this is a pretty good debut novel with interesting fairytale elements and unexpected twist and turns in the last few chapters.
I'm really looking forward to read the next book to find out some answers and see how Cyrus and Violet relationship will go!

Actual rating: 3.5⭐

A huge thank you Gina Chen, Netgalley and TBR Beyond Tour for giving me this digital copy of the book and for allowing me to be a part of the book tour!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars

Violet Made of Thorns had an almost modern fairytale vibe to it with its sharp and witty writing. Some of the secondary characters were also given sardonic voices that at times made the dialogue feel comedic and modern and I found the style refreshing. This combination made the story a very fast and easy read and once I got past the 50% mark, read the rest in one sitting.

Although I didn’t find the world-building particularly unique, it presented the perfect fairytale setting that I love with the dark and mysterious forests, beastly creatures, evil witches and enchanting (albeit drunken) faeries. What was clearest to me in the world-building was the court politics and this was surprisingly politically driven! Aside from the prophecy of the curse, court politics played a big role in pushing the plot forward and while I’m not always a fan of so much politics, I really enjoyed the scheming, especially Violet’s role in all of it.

Even before I picked up the book, I kept hearing about how morally grey Violet and the other characters are and they weren’t wrong! Violet was one of those perfectly flawed characters who are self-serving, ruthless, and who’d basically do anything to maintain her good standing as the Seer in the Kingdom—even if it meant throwing certain people (ie. Prince Cyrus) under the bus. I tend to really dislike characters that are, well, this "unlikeable" but I loved her character! The conflicting emotions she experienced made her all the more human and oddly likeable to me. Cyrus was also a pretty interesting princely character who had so many different faces that it was hard to pin him down at first. I honestly kind of wish that we got his POV too because I can tell there’s so much going on beneath the surface and I wanted to get a better understanding of his motives. Dante and Camilla were secondary characters that I really liked but was simultaneously suspicious of. No one in this story was really free from being morally grey because they all had secrets and motives that made them do terrible things for what they believed was best for their kingdom. I only wished that we got to learn more about them!

What I loved most though was the romance. The caustic and quippy banter was SO GOOD and I kept wanting more of it! Talk about true enemies to lovers because woo, the tension ran hot and deep and I never knew whether they were gonna kiss or kill each other! Even when they crossed the line to being lovers, it most certainly wasn’t gentle but it was biting and sharp and I absolutely LOVED it. Seriously, the chemistry was hot enough to set a room on fire and it absolutely burned up my Kindle something fierce. I wasn't expecting the romance to be so strong but the romance lover in me lived for every moment of it! 🔥

Despite the ending being somewhat "inevitable and foretold", I felt certain parts of it were rushed and not well explained—new information was dropped and then kind of left there which I found confusing. For example, the witch was a perplexing villain who appears at the end but whose origins and motives remain unclear even as she’s “dealt” with. Basically, there’s a lot that happens in a short time frame including several revelations but because it happens so quickly with little processing time before the next scene unfolds, it honestly felt a little underwhelming. The last chapter does set things up very nicely for the next book though and I’m hoping that everything I felt was missing and wanted more of in this first book gets resolved in the next one! I can’t wait to see what happens next and I’m already eagerly anticipating more angsty romance, action and intrigue!

I was drawn in by the “fans of the Cruel Prince.” I would have to agree with that statement. If you enjoyed the series by Holly Black then I think you will love this one too.

I buddy read this with Dini from @Dinipandareads and I was caught up in this story immediately. I don’t know what it is about enemies to lovers that I love?! I’m not sure if this is a problem but I’ve been loving all the enemies to lovers lately.

Violet is a Seer and she’s working closely with the king. The thing is, Cyrus will be taking over soon, and he hates her. They have mutual hate and it’s odd since they were close when they were younger. He doesn’t let her touch him, and you immediately start to wonder why! There’s this prophecy that is all doom and danger. The basis of it has to do with whom Cyrus chooses to marry. No pressure, right?!

Violet is a character who is morally grey. There are times she’s just doing things out of self-preservation. I get it, she had a tough childhood. She hasn’t had the best life either since she’s pretty much at the beck and call of the King. Sometimes prison is fancy and comfortable. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and I loved that. She’s brutally honest and she doesn’t back down. It’s an MC that I love reading about. Even though you question some of her choices, you hope things turn out the best for her.

Cyrus seems like the type of future king that doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s a flirt constantly putting on a front. Although, as we get to know him, he is quite cunning. He’s got a lot more going on under the surface. The chemistry between Cyrus and Violet is off the charts. I loved every minute of it and there are so many intense moments. With the prophecy looming over their heads, there’s been a lot these two have gone through. They have a very complicated past and probably future. I am highly anticipating book two because I need more of these two!

The pacing of this book is quick and flows so well. I was able to read half of this book in one day! I could have kept going but I needed to let my buddy catch up. The world Chen creates is quite vivid, and she’s got some beautiful prose. With that being said, I wished there was more world-building. There are many things I would have liked more clarity on. I am hoping we will get more of that in the second book. There are a lot of things that come into play and there’s a lot of political intrigue. I did think some things overshadowed others when I needed a bit more. For example, the darkness going on with Violet and who she is talking to.

There’s one big aspect I struggled with and that’s the ending. It rushed and kind of confusing. I don’t want to spoil anything but some things didn’t make sense and wrapped up too quickly. The ending was probably the biggest downfall of this one. I think we needed a few more pages. I am hoping things are explained better in the second book.

Overall, I loved this and it was such a great story. There are many fairytale influences like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. The enemies-to-lovers is great, and I loved the characters too! I loved trying to decipher the mystery. I did have some surprises I didn’t see coming. The pacing is so fast that this is a book you will read really quickly! I can’t wait for book two! 🙂

Many thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for providing an e-arc for review.

What a prickly little book. I haven't been sucked into a YA fantasy in a hot minute the way I've been sucked into Violet Made of Thorns. I too relate to Violet in that I also never know what is going on in the minds of other people (cough cough cyrus) and I am only here to protect myself however I can. The plot twist was crazy and I can't wait for book 2 .

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Violet Made of Thorns

Author: Gina Chen

Book Series: Violet Made of Thorns Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Lesbian character, f/f romance alluded to

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, magic, high fantasy

Publication Date: July 26, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Age Relevance: 17+ (death, sexual content, gore, cursing, abelist language, romance, alcohol consumption, war, violence, blood magic)

Explanation of Above: There is some sexual content in this book, but nothing too graphic and what does take place is a little vague. There is death shown and mentioned in the book and there is some gore involving blood and blood magic. War is also mentioned in this book a lot and there is some violence shown. There is some cursing in this book and there are two instances of abelist language being used (mad). This is a romance heavy book and the trope is enemies to lovers. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned as well.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 368

Synopsis: Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.

Review: Overall, I loved this book! It’s tropey and predictable, but it’s very well written and well paced, also sometimes it’s nice to have something that you can predictably understand. The book did well with the tropes and predictability, and even had a bit of an unpredictable ending! The book also mentioned periods and contraceptives, which I thought was very good for young teens. The book definitely has an enemies to lovers trope and a besting each other trope going on. The character development is well done and the world building is good as well.

The only issue I had with the book is that I thought the ending, while good, was a bit confusing especially the epilogue. I’m really confused as to what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue and I hope there’s a sequel in the works cause… I have questions…

Verdict: It’s very well done! I love it!

I love it when the first thought I have after finishing a book is to read it again. I have immense love for this dark fantasy debut and I need everyone to read it asap!

Violet Made of Thorns is a magical, enchanting tale that will, from now on, live in my head rent-free. I love the romance (HOLY WOW, THE ROMANCE). I love, love, love Violet and her ambitious, unapologetically prickly, blunt self. She’s a breath of fresh air. She feels so beautifully real. I never knew what to expect from her and I just love that. She’s exactly the kind of heroine I would root for. I can’t help but adore her! Cyrus in all his Prince Charming glory reminds me a bit of Cardan so it’s no surprise that he stole my heart from the start. Dante and his good, mysterious heart… Camilla and her flair for the dramatic… I love them! And I am absolutely in love with the author’s brilliant storytelling that I never wanted to reach the end.

On vibe alone, Violet Made of Thorns is The Cruel Prince meets Little Thieves meets Gilded meets For the Wolf. (And all of those are some of my favorite reads!)

I don’t know what else to tell you. I’m blown away by Violet Made of Thorns! I love it SO MUCH. I don’t know how many more times I need to say the word ‘love’ to convince you to read this?!

Book two, I need you. Please.

It's been about half a year since I first read VMoT, and I just finished rereading it for Stan Asian Authors 2022 so here is my attempt to corral my thoughts into a relatively readable review:

We can’t talk about Violet Made of Thorns without talking about its eponymous character. Violet is the fairy tale heroine(?) I never knew I wanted, but she’s exactly what I love in a protagonist—sometimes sassy, sometimes snarky, always sharp. Last year, I realized the reason I like the grumpy x sunshine trope so much is because I might be a grump (I definitely am,) so when I read about all these starry-eyed princesses or Strong Female Protagonists, I'm like that's nice but I can't really relate. And it can get kind of boring after a while.

Violet is anything but boring.

She's blunt and irreverent and not very nice, but she's certainly not boring.

She's prickly.

Acerbic.

Cunning.

She's Not Like Other Girls™ in YA Fantasy. She doesn't waltz through life all doe-eyed and sweet, and she doesn't barrel her way through life set on revenge and revolution. She's just a scrappy young orphan scamming her way around a court in a country that barely tolerates her and is fiercely and unapologetically loyal to herself and only herself.

So it's true, Violet is Not Like Other Fictional Girls, but she sure is like the rest of us: messy, flawed, human.

I love Violet as a character. She’s definitely not a role model and probably not even someone you’d want to be friends with, but Gina tells us that before the story even begins. As a person, she’s not that great. She's selfish and surly. She's brusque and brash, and there's a bitter edge to everything she says. She makes some questionable decisions and is so bent on surviving she won't allow herself the luxury of softening her rough edges to win the affection of others. So yeah, as a person, she's not the greatest. But as a protagonist, she’s interesting and complex and compelling. The story doesn't shy away from her flaws and neither does Violet. She's a flawed character who knows she's flawed which is a refreshing reprieve from all the other heroines in YA fantasy. I personally like characters who are a little rough around the edges, so I loved Violet in all her prickly splendor.

As for the fairytale aspect, Gina absolutely nails it. She very explicitly tells us it's not a retelling, but there are so many clever nods to the original stories we all know and love. As someone who loves fairy tales and clever things, I thought it was the perfect combination of originality and nostalgia. It's not a book to read if you're looking for hardcore fairytale vibes, but the overall tone captures the spirit and mood of the original stories (think less magical mouse and more German siblings.) I personally think subtly is criminally underrated in the YA world and love how Gina snuck in nods to the original tales. She just weaves fairytale elements into the story so skillfully. I love it so much. I was seriously squealing so much every time I caught a fairytale reference.

As much as I love VMoT (and I do, a lot,) I have to point out a few aspects of the story that I think are less than stellar. I’m not sure if I was too busy speeding through the story that I missed things, but the worldbuilding left me a bit confused. After two read-throughs, I still don't really understand the role of magic in the world. The Fates are kind of introduced but never expounded on. Granted, they're mystery to Violet, too, but there's just something about the world and its magic that feels incomplete rather than mysterious.

My other complaint is that the romance escalated way too quickly for me. As someone who’s both a (secret) hopeless romantic and a skeptical cynic, I love the way Violet and Cyrus' dynamic started out. Childhood friends-to-rivals-to-lovers is quite possibly my favorite trope of all time (thank you L. M. Montgomery,) but Violet and Cyrus go from being at each other's throats to shoving their tongues down each other's throat real fast. I was willing to roll with it initially. Like okay, you've got all this tension built up and just realized that maybe all the antagonism between you and the other person is actually poorly disguised passion, not hate. But then it gets a little insta-lusty which is really not my thing. I wish the "it's-still-complicated" piece were explored and developed more, but it was really more of a no-strings-attached, love-hate situation. I wanted more messy moments and less kissy time. or at the very least more messiness before getting back to the kissing.

I do hope we get to see a whole lot more of Cyrus in the sequel because he has the potential to be a really interesting character, and I feel like we're just starting to scratch the surface with him when we reach the end of Violet.

Still, in spite of these quibbles, Violet Made of Thorns is an absolutely enchanting read. It has everything I want from a fantasy and reads like a brand-new fairy tale. I'm so happy Gina Chen's debut is part of a duology because that means more Violet! I can't get enough of this book and can't wait to see what's Gina has in store for us in book 2.

Give me more masked masquerades with gorgeous gowns. Give me beasts and briars and even some blood. Give me princes and paupers and prickly prophetess who don't know when to shut up. I want it all!

If you think Violet Made of Thorn's release means I'll finally shut up about it, I regret to inform

The tag line that the beginning of the synopsis being, "darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies" is so on point. This story is absolutely incredible. Anything with royalty in it I easily am intrigued by, and the fact that this fantasy has it was a big selling point. Then the rest of the story blew me away time after time, page after page. I couldn't get enough of this story, and the characters. it seems like there will be more than just one book so I am excited to see where the story will go next. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this story.

This was an amazing book! '
I really liked the tension in this book. Like the romance in this book was good, the characters were well written, I really loved Violet and her badassery. This was just so fun to read and I'm excited for the series to continue.

I absolutely loved Violet Made of Thorns. It has everything I enjoy in a book; a morally grey anti-heroine, a good system of magic, a believable enemies to lovers plot, and an intriguing story line that kept me interested and theorizing until the end. Violet is a Seer who grew up poor on the streets before saving the prince and becoming the royal seer. She has no problem lying or embellishing her visions in order to keep the King on her side, even if the Prince hates her for it, until she realizes that her lies may have triggered a curse that could end them all. I really hope there is a sequel to this, and I hope it is coming soon.

* I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Ms. Chen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I didn’t see all the advertising comparing this book so notable other YA titles but I could see the resemblance…maybe…if I squint.

Violet is a “seer”, sort of a clairvoyant/prophet, whose serves herself first and the royal family second. She is unapologetic about looking out for herself, and is willing to lie, cheat, manipulate, and use every tactic and wile in her playbook to achieve her ends. Most people are quote-morally grey-unquote but Violet is darker grey than most protagonists (especially female ones). I was mildly surprised that Violet actually HAS clairvoyant powers of some sort; I was pretty much expecting that to be yet another tactic. She has a solid enemies -to - lovers relationship, heavy emphasis on ENEMIES, with crown prince Cyrus. Their relationship (along with Violet’s characterization) is where the book really shines. I found myself flipping toward the pages with their interactions just for that spiky, bitter squabbling.

I wish there had been more, or more detailed, worldbuilding. I had a few questions and I’m not sure I completely understood the powers, the Fairywood magic, or the prophecies. Perhaps book #2 will clear things up.

3.5 solid stars, rounding up for GR because someone earned their money on that beautiful cover.

This book was so enchanting! There were so many magical elements! They used the glamour of the fairies but there were also witches and seers with dreams and curses.

But can I say this forbidden attraction between the prince and seer was everything. Two people that couldn't hate eachother more but actually it was the fact they couldn't be together which was causing all the aggression.

A girl that was just doing as she was told cause she could see visions but most of the time she was fed a narrative and as long as she had her cushy spot all was good. But this darn curse over the prince!

I loved the fairytale aspect of this book and the voice in Violets head that she couldn't tell if it was the bad witch or the prophecy. How can you tell if the voice in your head is the angel or the devil? Your conscience or your personal demons? Good lesson in using your gut and sussing everything out before you just blindly go along with what you hear.

This book didn't end on a cliffhanger so I'm not sure which direction we are headed but I do have questions😂I always do.

Cyrus was the best! The synopsis said it was like Cruel Prince and Serpent and Dove. I was getting Cardan vibes from him for sure with his fancy charming handsome everyone wants him but acts like he doesn't care attitude. And Violet with some badass Jude vibes starting off as nothing and fighting her way to the top.

❓ What is your favorite fruit?
My daughters summer camp walked to a farmers market and she brought home strawberries.
I love any stonefruit and berries!

Read if you enjoy:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Opposites attract
✨ Cursed Princes and Prophecies
✨ Political intrigue and court drama

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Thank you turnthepagetours, actualgina, and delacortepress for the gifted copy.

I loved this book! It was interesting to see the enemies to lovers dynamic with two characters who wanted the same thing, but insisted on doing it their own way.

I loved having a prickly main character. She wasn’t necessarily likeable, but you like her anyway.

The push-pull between the two main characters was well done and made the story that much more enjoyable.

The plot was compelling with a great ending that wasn’t quite a cliffhanger, but didn’t wrap up the story. I cannot wait for the next book!

It’s book review time! This month, I wasn’t really in the mood for a cozy, so I went for a fantasy story instead. Violet Made of Thorns is the first in a duology by Gina Chen. It was released yesterday (the 26th) from Delacorte Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it!

Violet Made of Thorns follows Violet Lune, the Seer of the Sun Capital, as she tries to navigate politics and romance and the annoyances of a love/hate relationship with the crown prince, Cyrus. She’s cynical and a liar and everything she does is to make herself irreplaceable. But between a prophecy, the appearance of a witch and beasts, and the inevitability of war, Violet is forced to confront her own selfishness and the perceived limits of her power before she can truly discover her abilities. The world is on the brink of destruction. Cyrus is the key. Can she manipulate him and save everything or will her meddling push everything over the edge?

Okay, I’m just going to preface this review by saying that the pacing was absolutely awful and it made me hate everything about this book. It was so repetitive. The first two thirds of the book are basically Violet assuring the reader that she’s a manipulative, ice hearted bitch who’s only looking out for herself. When she’s not doing that, she’s having some stupid argument with Cyrus that will just end in groping and kissing. Like, dude. Just screw each other already. And most of the action was squeezed into the last third of the book and given no room to breathe. It could’ve been great, but everything is so rushed by that point and I was so annoyed at the slog to get to it that I couldn’t enjoy it.

The characters… meh. Violet acts like she has what it takes to be a big bad, but she’s kind of a wuss. She lets herself get conned repeatedly (and she knows it), but keeps making the same idiotic decisions. I’m very much reminded of those dipwads who act like they have fighting skills and crumple into a crying mess the first time they get popped in the face. That’s Violet. Cyrus isn’t much better. He knows he’s being used by literally everyone, but he just lets it happen. At least he tries to make things happen even if he goes about it the wrong way. But all he really seems to want to do is get in Violet’s pants, so to speak. The rest of the characters are pretty standard for a fantasy and unremarkable. Meh.

There’s not really much more to say about this one. It has potential, but needs so much work. The relationship development is super inconsistent. The plot is fine, but the execution is horrible.

Ultimately, I just didn’t like Violet Made of Thorns. If I randomly come across the second book, I might pick it up, but nothing about the first one makes me want to seek it out.

Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Mostly because I can’t do one and a half on most sites. There are better fantasy books out there, so I don’t suggest this one.

The heroine is an influential character of the royal court. Through the use of clever divinations, the heroine is tasked with prophesizing the hero's love interest, which awakens a dreaded curse. And as the relationship between the heroine and the hero changes, the two must journey a treacherous path towards a future that will be determine the kingdom's future.

This wasn't a bad book with a nice fantasy premise. I liked the fantasy setting and there were some memorable characters in the story. I liked the heroine better than the hero as both of them have complex personalities, but I found her flaws a bit more relatable. I would like more details throughout the book since there were certain areas in the story that needed them. Overall, this is a nice start to the series.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

BEAUTIFUL fairy tale!! I loved Violet, especially after reading the author’s note about not filing away her edges and wanting people who are a bit more cold and sharp to feel represented in a dynamic MC. I’ll admit, I felt a bit let down after seeing this marketed as the next Serpent & Dove or Cruel Prince (two of my absolute favorite YA series); the comparison definitely impacted my enjoyment of the series because I had very high expectations. HOWEVER, I did still really like it and am looking forward to the rest of the story!! 3.5 rounded up. Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC!

If you love morally gray characters and being in their heads than this book is perfect for you! I think I realized that while reading this book, that morally gray characters are not my favorite especially if I have to be in their head. I think I struggled with this book being in First POV and I would prefer if it had been in third. This is my personal preference and I think that many people would very much enjoy being in Violet's head, but I struggled to empathize with her sometimes and mostly just wanted to yell at her throughout the book and tell her she is wrong and to stop being so frustrating.

That being said there were soooooooo many amazing aspects of this book. The world building was magical and it truly felt like being immersed in a fairytale. Gina Chen writes amazing romance scenes. I loved when our two protagonists came together. It was full of steam and hate, loathing and longing. I think the build up to these moments could have used some more tension and secret moments instead of just suddenly happening, but when they did happen it was glorious. I'm quite intrigued to see where the rest of the series goes. Based on the ending of this book there are so many possible threads for the characters to take and I'm eager to see how they navigate this new era in their kingdom.