Title: Realm Breaker
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Orion
Length: 563 pages
Synopsis: A strange darkness is growing in the Ward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea. Fate knocks on her door, in the form of a mythical immortal and a lethal assassin, who tell Corayne that she is the last of an ancient lineage – with the power to save the world from destruction. Because a man who would burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army unlike any seen before, bent on uprooting the foundations of the world. With poison in his heart and a stolen sword in his hand, he’ll break the realm itself to claim it. And only Corayne can stop him.
Ok, I’m starting this review literally minutes after I’ve just finished the book and all I have to say is AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!I’ve really struggled getting into fantasy over the last couple of years, with a few exceptions, but with Realm Breaker I think I may have found a new all time favourite series. Just a quick warning there will be spoilers in this review.I loved everything about this book. Literally everything. I can’t think of one single thing I didn’t enjoy. I mean what’s not to love? It got great characters, epic action, brilliant world building and some page-turning plot twists. Ok lets start with the characters, I love them all. They all own my heart, yes even Erida. Read the book and you’ll know why I’m saying that! The story is told through five perspectives and each one was just as enjoyable as the other. Victoria has written such strong characters, each one so different, that I slowly grew to love them all. Seriously. Even the supporting characters that didn’t get a perspective, I still really loved. They were just all full of personality and they had such great character development. I really mean it, the seven (even Erida) have a place in my heart.I also loved how the characters relationship developed. The pacing of it was really well done. You can feel them slowly becoming a team whilst still being unsure of each other at times and it’s fantastic to read, Victoria strikes the balance really well. And I lived for the banter, especially between Dom and Sorasa. I’m also really excited to see how the friendship will deepen in book two. Ugh, I just love them. Now, this is a SUPER SPOILER, but I kinda ship Erida and Taristan. I know I shouldn’t because they want to hurt my loves, but I do. I know they’re only married to help each other but I can sort of feel a connection building or maybe its Victoria tricking me, either way I’m excited for more. I feel likes there could be more relationships between some of the seven, and I’ve got my ideas of who but I’ll keep them to myself and just be taken along for the ride. And yes, I need Charlon and Garion to reunite and I need that queer love story. That’s all I have to say.I loved the world Victoria has created. It feels expansive but not overwhelming. It’s called ‘Allward’ and it feels like a fresh universe. I really liked how the characters had connections to the some of places and it just made it feel real to me. The characters went to many different places and each place was different and I never got confused. The world is written beautifully. I loved looking at the map to see where the characters were (sad I know but true). It feels cohesive and I’m looking forward to it being explored more in book two. There’s some magic to this book that I really love. The love the whole idea of Spindles and other realms, it’s so exciting (and scary) to see how this will expand in book two. It’s a unique magical world with wizards, elders, spindleblood and I think Victoria has crafted it really well. Expertly well. It’s my favourite fantasy setting for a long time. I think this is a really well paced book in every sense. It’s Like I before with the character development and relationships, its also applies to the world building and magic. There’s so much more it explore. It just felt exciting to read, even when the characters were just travelling I was excited. It full of action, really well written action. It was so cinematic, I could see it so clearly in my head I loved it. It was full of twists and turns, some of them making my jaw hit the floor. I didn’t see them coming and I’m still shocked now. And don’t talk to me about that last page!! How could you end it like that Victoria!! I’m not sure if you could tell but I loved this book. LOVED IT! It’s one of those books that I took my time reading (even though I wanted to devour it) because I was just loving every page and I didn’t want it to end and I know I was going to miss this world and these characters when I was done! So I’m going to need fan art, special editions, merchandise and a tv series (you know its a good idea). I can’t wait to collect it all. I need book two. I need it now. But I guess I’ll just have to wait…Thank you so much to Orion for my copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review. It’s out May 4th.
Until the next review
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