the-dowry-blade

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars

This book was very difficult and frustrating to read. In fact, if I hadn’t promised to review it, I would have stopped reading after about 75-100 pages.

I don’t even know where to start. There is zero worldbuilding. I spent a lot of time wondering who is that? Where are they from? Why do they hate that girl? Why are they trying to kill that guy? What does that mean? Why is that a big deal? WHAT.IS.GOING.ON????

I don’t know if there is one kingdom or multiple kingdoms. The green army hates the red army and is trying to kill them. Who are they? I don’t know. Why are they trying to kill each other? I’m not sure. Apparently an Aunt is Queen because her sister was killed by someone, but the Aunt’s nephew wants to be King, but really, only girls are supposed to rule. And oh yeah, he can’t rule without a crown and a sword. HUH?

And then there are the plains people who are good with horses. Everyone wants to kill and/or make them slaves. Why? I don’t know. There are also marsh people. They don’t like strangers. Where do they fit in? I don’t know.

Then there are the multitude of romances. WHAT?
I like you. I like you, too. I shouldn’t like you. I know, but like me anyway. No, I can’t. I don’t like you anymore.

Now I like you. I like you too. Liking you is scary. I know, like me anyway. No, I can’t. I don’t like you anymore.

Rinse and repeat, with different people at different times, all through the book. Seriously, I could not keep up with who liked who and why. People fell in and out of “love” like 12 year old school girls and changed loyalties just as easily.

There was so much conversation in the book, but I still had no idea what the heck was going on. The conversations didn’t seem to mean anything. Too much was left to assumption and innuendo, but not enough information was given for the reader to figure it out on their own. I felt like the author was a teenage girl making me read her mind to find out why she’s mad. Exhausting, and totally not worth the effort.