Book: Blood of the Priestess: Kingdom of Shadows Realm by Zivah Rose
Reviewed by Your_bookish_fantasy
Rating: 4/5
4.5*
Tropes: forced proximity, one bed, Forbidden love, cursed lands, shape shifters, witches, talks to animals, quest, hidden secrets
TW: war, children taken from families as babies, mention of past child abuse, mention of parent death and parent death, willing forced nudity breifly, fire, willing forced sexual relations, sexual scenes and nudity, mentions of girls servicing the elderly, unwilling and willing sacrifice and murder, scenes in a cemetary/graveyard.
Ending- cliff hanger but not a huge one and second book is out.
Med-fast pacing throughout the book, mainly character driven.
Really great book with an unusual plot that I truly enjoyed reading!
She was forced to choose, forced to leave home, forced to mate someone she had never met (or someone's...) she was in forced proximity with a lovely one bed trope thrown In, and left to combat a curse her own elders brought about.
she had to fight her sisters, fight her family, fight with her man, fight her way to a castle of gods, fight a dragon, fight her fear, and fight the urge to run!
There's witches and magic, gods and demons, rituals and sacrifices, and a whole lot more going on in these pages!
I found the world building to be brilliant. The writing style is what sets it apart though - what an author! I was genuinely on the edge of my seat and looked forward to turning every page!
The main characters were strong, with great personalities, individuality, and independent goals. The side characters were memorable and just as wonderful! I loved and hated characters from the start, I wanted a future for them, I was invested in their story, and I really enjoyed the whole read.
We met witches and high priestess, elders and knightbloods. we learned the main points of a high priestess, her role, and what was expected of her. We then learned a little about knightbloods, but we didn't get much from them. they were almost just a means to an end- we do need them in the story- very much so, but we don't get to learn about them as people or get any history on them as a whole or individually which is all I can say without spoilers. When they do- what they're told to do- I understand why, but I feel like we never got enough of them as they're so mysterious and interesting! Hopefully, in the next book, we get more of them.
I also loved and wanted sooooo much more of everything about the Inn scenes, I can't say anything more, but again, hopefully, book 2 gives us more of it ALL! Amazing and scary stuff.
As a fantasy lover, I'm used to the info dump, but this book was the opposite. It was easy to read and again just enjoyable. I actually wanted more info!