I liked the take on the heroine becoming like the stories she grew up telling. It's a different twist than what's originally done. Not sure I like that she starts to have feelings for one of her captors when they were using her to save their kingdom at the cost of her own. I was a little confused on her sense of justice when she tried to rationalize her killings with them trying to kill her first.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because this is a powerful, compelling story, enchanting you into forgetting about its flaws.

Jillian Kuhlmann is a seductive storyteller - like Scheherezada - and sometimes the book read more like a lyrical ballad than actual prose. The tales within the story also contain some raw, alluring magic, bearing a strong resemblance to those of the 1001 Nights and you feel like King Shahryar, always wanting more.

It is not an action-driven story, rather we are taken to a journey alongside Eiren, the MC, which is both physical and spiritual as she is struggling to come to terms with who she really is, who she is supposed to be and what her future/role would be as an icon - the human incarnation of the goddess of destruction.

At the beginning I felt strangely disconnected from the MC and other characters. It is all very well to be talking in riddles all the time and appear enigmatic to the ignorant heroine to pique her as well as the reader's interest, but it goes on almost too long and draws the attention to the holes in the narrative that is a bit disturbing.

Having said that, by the end some light is shed on motivation / history / myths and all is done in an engaging manner. The story ends with a cliffhanger and I am glad I also have the next book to read on and hopefully find out more.

I truly believe that this is one of the best books I've read this year. Which makes it impossible to review, because FEELINGS.

This book was filled to the brim with emotional stories that took my breath away. Each mini story inside had a reason for the way things were, and the grandness of the scale was impressive. I love the way the author writes.

I am pleased that I got this through NetGalley, as now I know I really have to go out and buy a copy. It's a unique fantasy story that is not to be missed.

Five stars!

What an opening. Got me hooked from the first sentence. I consider myself a fan of fantasy fiction, but how on Earth are more people not taking about this book? How does something this good fly below the radar???? Read this people, or at least bump it to the top of your #tbr pile, cause this needs to be read. And sooner the better. Cause man this book is good.

Imagine a storm brewing on the open seas that gains speed and momentum the closer it gets to the shore. Or imagine a volcano spitting acid and smoke in preparation for the eruption to come. That's what this book is. You feel it coming in every fiber of your being, you feel the acid and the smoke and the trembling of the earth​ as it makes its approach, as it draws near, and you ravel in the explosion when it happens cause it is glorious.

The writing, I can not explain cause the words do not exist...the character development is unlike anything you've ever read before....and the plot leaves you breathless & speechless......read this book people, cause it will probably be the best book you've read in a while