Book: Ledger of Souls by Olena Nikitin
Reviewed by IvI
Rating: 5/5
OMG, this is just the beginning of another extraordinary series by Olena Nikitin. I loved reading Bloodrite Queen , the prequel to this story, and it was an amazing addition to Ledger of Souls . It explains so many things.
This new series is set in the same world as The Cursed Bond and Secrets of Dacome trilogies, and I'm so happy to keep reading about this incredible world and magic system, along with all its new and intriguing characters. Vida reminds me so much of Sana, with her fierce personality and determination. She has endured so much (her and her mother's story was heartbreaking), and her current life wasn't great either (the bastard prince's fault, of course), but she was able to build a home for herself and her "little brother," Tomko, and they were happy together despite their struggles to make ends meet.
As always, the side characters were incredibly lovable. They're full of life, and their relationships with the main characters are always impeccable. Tomko was so sweet and earnest. He loved Vida so much and wanted to help her so badly. He's like the most loyal puppy. And then there was Armin, the bastard prince's aegis, with his complex personality, endless banter, and unwavering loyalty. He's funny, terrifying, and kind all at the same time. He was one of my favorite characters, and I'm hoping we get to see more of him in the next book! His friendship with Tomko was also really sweet.
Obviously, I loved Zoran and truly enjoyed reading his POV. I mean, could he be any more perfect? Even with all his red flags, he's such a sweetheart and so devoted to his kingdom and to helping Vida. He deserved a second chance, especially because none of it was truly his fault. Their banter and relationship were fantastic, going from true hatred (at least on her side) to... something more.
One of my favorite things was Vida's curses! She's the most creatively profane character I've ever read, and her insults were so, so funny! I actually wrote them down on my phone so I'd have them ready, just in case I ever need to use one of them (or all of them!).
Of course, there was some impressive emotional damage at the end of the book. We couldn't leave with our hearts intact, could we? I sobbed, then I cursed, and now I'm raging because I'll have to wait for the sequel to see them again.
Thank you, Olena, for trusting me with yet another incredible advance copy. As always, I absolutely loved your writing style.