This is the first of a new series; who knows when the next book will be released (she’s finishing another series first). I went into it not knowing just how spicy it was going to be and just how integrated that spiciness would be in the story. I don’t have an issue with spice in books, because normally I can skip it and not really miss anything. But, not so with this one. It went way into being smut-tastic scenes that you couldn’t avoid because their conversations and their information (necessary to the plot/series) are interwoven with the R-rated moments. It was extra frustrating for me. Despite really being interested in the plot and this world, I almost DNF’d it at 61% because there was yet another smutty scene – at the dinner table no less. Only the promise of things shifting gears in the last 100 pages kept me going.
That said, while reviewing this book, I’ll probably reference the spice, so if it’s going to make you struggle, stop reading now. Interesting world, so-so characters, lots of mysteries still to uncover in the next book. A 3.5 out of 5.
Our story is told from the perspective of Lis (Calista). Lis remembers little before arriving at the orphanage where she lives with her best friend, Grady. Things kick off with the hyhborn (immortals with magic who rule the land) unexpectedly arriving at the orphanage. Lis has a bad feeling about it (she’s been gifted with intuition, foresight and telepathy) and Grady hides her. The hyhborn are looking for someone. Who it is, they don’t say, but they demand to see everyone’s eyes. They compel Grady not to move so he can’t stop them from seeing Lis’s eyes. Luckily her eyes are the wrong color so they move on, but not before the hyhborn lord notes her bruises and soundly thrashes the pervy head of the orphanage for his sadism. Lis thinks of him over the years as *her* hyhborn lord – which will become important later, of course.
