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A review by jmcclelland17
The Empress by Kristin Cast
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
📚The Empress by Kristin Cast📚
Overall rating: ⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Oh boy. I was so incredibly excited to read this book, the concept sounded so fascinating. Unfortunately, it was not. This was bad. I really don’t say that lightly and I haven’t said that about many books in my lifetime. I always try to find the positive. I genuinely couldn’t with this book. To say this book is not for me is putting it mildly.
The FMC, Hannah, is not likable. Like at all. There are no redeeming qualities about Hannah. She’s immature, whiny, and not at all well rounded. I have loved many FMCs who don’t have their life together in the beginning, but figure it out along the way. Hannah’s (already one dimensional) character doesn’t evolve at all. The MMC, Kane, also fell extremely flat. He had no real personality and no real purpose except for protector of the land. Remember Ken in the Barbie movie where his job is just Beach? Kane is Ken. He’s “protector.” Whatever that means. I read this book in its entirety and I still don’t know. Hannah and Kane have zero chemistry (how would they, that would require any sort of character development) and the only real thing that brings them together is one bed.
The pacing of the story is completely off, no one is likable, the dialogue is cringey as hell. The relentless attempts at humor and relatable, modern day jokes were having me physically cringe. There are too many examples of this, but one that especially got me early on in the book is when Hannah calls Kane “Sulky Sulkerton” and Kane (who is not at all familiar with modern day slang) doesn’t bat an eye. Hannah is supposed to be in her mid 20s. She acts and speaks like a teenager.
I think there will be people who will read and actually enjoy this book. I’m not one of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the gifted copy of this book.
Overall rating: ⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Oh boy. I was so incredibly excited to read this book, the concept sounded so fascinating. Unfortunately, it was not. This was bad. I really don’t say that lightly and I haven’t said that about many books in my lifetime. I always try to find the positive. I genuinely couldn’t with this book. To say this book is not for me is putting it mildly.
The FMC, Hannah, is not likable. Like at all. There are no redeeming qualities about Hannah. She’s immature, whiny, and not at all well rounded. I have loved many FMCs who don’t have their life together in the beginning, but figure it out along the way. Hannah’s (already one dimensional) character doesn’t evolve at all. The MMC, Kane, also fell extremely flat. He had no real personality and no real purpose except for protector of the land. Remember Ken in the Barbie movie where his job is just Beach? Kane is Ken. He’s “protector.” Whatever that means. I read this book in its entirety and I still don’t know. Hannah and Kane have zero chemistry (how would they, that would require any sort of character development) and the only real thing that brings them together is one bed.
The pacing of the story is completely off, no one is likable, the dialogue is cringey as hell. The relentless attempts at humor and relatable, modern day jokes were having me physically cringe. There are too many examples of this, but one that especially got me early on in the book is when Hannah calls Kane “Sulky Sulkerton” and Kane (who is not at all familiar with modern day slang) doesn’t bat an eye. Hannah is supposed to be in her mid 20s. She acts and speaks like a teenager.
I think there will be people who will read and actually enjoy this book. I’m not one of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the gifted copy of this book.