What a brilliant storyteller this author is. While the story is fantasy it is told in a way that makes sense which made me feel like it was a true story. The characters are fabulous and I like how they are deceptive. The ending is a cliffhanger and left me gasping for more. I honestly just wanted to keep reading through the day and night.

Another academy romantasy book that I had a great time with. People subjugated by fae, a military academy setting, romance, new friends, royal intrigue and mystery of the disappearance of human students.

The narrative was addictive, I liked the characters and how author Sabira Kadi slowly raised my suspicions about several characters, alleviated them and PAM brought them back stronger for some.

I expect interesting twists from the continuation of the series. The narrative could have been a little more concise and the repetition less, otherwise my reading experience was almost perfect 4.5⭐️.

Thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have a rational person judging the FMC in the main story, then this is it. Bonus points for the fact that she is an eagle.

The story follows Tamiris Auean, a mortal girl from the steppes who dreams of joining the prestigious War Academy of the fae. After risking everything to save another mortal candidate during the trials, Tamiris narrowly misses her chance to advance. Refusing to accept defeat, she boldly interrupts the royal bridal games in a bid to win an audience with Frost Court Prince Varelion. As Tamiris navigates the politics and treacheries of the academy, she must use her wit and courage to carve out a place for herself—and to survive in a world where mortals are seen as little more than pawns.

Reasons why you should read it:
* Absolutely witty characters and a storytelling that makes seven hundred pages blow by
* An FMC that fucks up greatly and owns up to it
* Intrigue and mystery - things aren’t what they seem

Is this the new dark academia fantasy series that will take the book world by storm? I sure hope so.

Loved every second of this book! Lost sleep because I could not put it down! I loved following Tomiris (iris) and Varelion (Val) as their relationship blossomed. Love the court politics, trials, academy setting, secrets, lies, betrayals, found friends and family, fated mates, magic, humans and fae and the world building.
All Tomiris wants is to save her grandfather, but the only way that she thinks she can do that is by entering trials to get into the frost court war academy or through seeing if she is the prices fated mate. She makes it to the war academy but little does she know her life and everything she thought she knew about the history of the realm is not as it seems. There was so much that happened in this book and I am wishing I could get the second installment right now!

This was probably one of the books in this group that felt the most like my kind of fantasy. Magic, court intrigue, danger, complicated relationships—YES.

I really enjoyed discovering the world and its magic as the story unfolded. There was enough going on to keep me interested without making the world-building feel like homework. I also became genuinely invested in the characters and their relationships. By the end, I wasn't ready to leave the world behind, which is always one of the biggest compliments I can give a fantasy book.

The storytelling and the characters were amazing. My favourite parts about this whole story was their strong friendship bond, how they always take care of each other and this book had an very important message. The FMC made so many bad choices, but it was fun and refreshing to read because she always fixed it later in her own chaotic way. Sometimes the beginning of the story was a bit too slow for me. The second half of the book was incredible.

This is a fantasy romance told from the POV of Tomiris, a strong female lead that is determined to be admitted to a fae War Academy, as part of a plan to save her grandfather - and figure out the danger he is trying to warn her about. She is very capable and smart and has trained hard, but she is also young and naive. The plot and the romance subverted my expectations in a good way. I found myself yelling at this book / the main character several times, ha!

It jumps into the action quickly, and the characters also develop quickly - I was immediately rooting for Tomiris, her companion eagle Saya, and her horse Sultan. Although most of the book I spent second guessing who I trusted, I enjoyed all the side characters and want to know more about them. The world and politics/history feels well developed but wasn’t overly done - it didn’t bog down the pacing at all. There’s court politics and political intrigue, empires and rebels, magic, mysteries, an academy setting, oracles and prophecies, fated mates, and a found family of outcasts/misfits.

It is the first in a series and I am definitely invested in reading the next book to see how things develop. I want answers and I want to see people get what they deserve… whether that’s good or bad for them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

AHHHHHH WTF MAN!!!!!!!! I genuinely could not put this down. And that damn ending, what the actual frick man??!!!! I NEED book two like yesterday!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book.

I was captivated by this book from the beginning to the end. And that ending was crazy. To be honest, I was questioning everything for the last 150 pages and I was confused but in a good way meaning I wanted to read more and more to learn the real truth. The main character Tomiris is flawed but she embraces those flaws and acknowledges them and I appreciate that. I like how she is desperate to help her grandfather and that this thought sticks through her mind throughout the book. But my favorite character is Saya and all I have to say is that Tomiris I need you to trust Saya pleasseeeeeeeee. Overall, this book had everything I am looking for in a 5 star read and I 10000% recommend that you read this book ASAP.