Daughter of the Drowned Empire

Product Information

The plot felt stretched & the moments of impact lost. It felt like I was reading a prequel novel (nothing wrong with prequel novels) but I just kept on being a bit disappointed with the decisions of the FMC & the obvious set up for later books - without providing the BANG I needed in THIS book.

The Imperator as the villain was also done really well! He is cruel, vindictive and flaunts his power and prestige to just make you hate him. I could understand why he was awful but could also see why so many people followed him…. Really well written character! There was so much foreign lore thrown at the reader, so much of it that made little to no sense, so many names of people and places and beasts and creatures just randomly there, I considered taking notes at some point. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide.Faced with death in exile, and leaving her sisters behind, Lyr has no choice but to accept a deadly contract. She has seven months to train as a warrior and pass the Emperor’s brutal test of strength—all without magic. Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Librarians Group is the official group for requesting additions or updates to the catalog, including: This book had me on the edge of my seat for the entire ride. I was panting from the suspense. The story was beautifully written, and it made an absolutely amazing start to what I know will be an amazing series. The character development and the plot are so intense that it will leave you breathless begging for more.

The world-building is very messy and the lore undeniably confusing; again, this is costructive criticism, not plain critique. There are some really interesting storyline’s to do with guilt & pressure & I loved seeing how that can manifest with feeling tied to someone (Tristan) & look forward to seeing how this will all play out. Doesn't end on an exciting cliffhanger, but more of a "to be continued." it's like pausing the Mulan movie right before her personal-growth/training montage It did take me a minute to try to pronounce some of the titles and to get used to the methods of travel, but I was in heaven from the first chapter! Lyr would also get on my nerves a bit; despite her selflessness towards her sisters and cousin, she just kept making such entitled moves. If I were Marak, maybe I’d be fed up with her too, lol. BUT, I believe she’s starting to evolve into a stronger character and I’ve enjoyed seeing those changes happen throughout. So I think there’s definitely some character growth underway!This story is about Lyriana who is an Heir to the Arkasva and third in line in the Ruling Ka (yes it’s confusing just bear with me…). Two years prior, on her birthday and her cousin’s Revelation Ceremony; her cousin is arrested and killed for being in possession of one of the three Vorakh, taboo powers after the Drowning of the empire - visions, mind-reading and teleportation. Lyr’s father protects her eldest sister from discovery as she is also in possession of one of these forbidden powers (Visions). A year later Lyr’s middle sister also has to be protected as she possesses Mind Reading. Lyr does everything for her sisters as it’s a death sentence for the whole family if their secret is ever discovered. On Lyr’s Revelation Ceremony she is sure that she is going to be revealed as Vorakh. However events transpire and to stop herself from being banished from the Empire she has seven months to train as a brutal warrior and pass a test of strength. Did I mention that her main trainer is Lord Rhyan Hart, the man she has been in love with since she was seven… I think this book might just become one of my soft and fuzzy comfort books. Rhyan’s tenderness is catchy. The story follows the heartbreaking trials of the Lady Lyriana Batavia, third in line to rule the nation of Bamaria, part of the Lumerian Empire. The book opens with 17-year-old Lyr, as she known in the books, going to a ceremony where her sister, cousin, and other 19-year-olds will have their birth magic unbound and they will choose to become mage or magic-enhanced warrior. She is about to be engaged formally to Tristan, of Ka (House) Grey, a mage who also is trained to hunt down those who use one of the three forms of illicit magic. The world is her oyster. Until it isn’t. Lyriana was so likeable it made it very enjoyable to take on the story from her POV. The girl is smart, strong, and fiercely protective of the people she loves. We see 2 conflicting love interests for Lady Lyr, and it just pulls you even further into the story, as she continues to find herself and what she really wants - which you can see beginning to develop with how she approaches these relationships.

Frankie Mallis is a maestro at building tension and constantly throwing her main character into hot water. Every time I thought I could take a breath and see Lyr overcome something, a particularly nasty plot twist happened. The world building was phenomenal with hints of both Egyptian and Roman influences as well as a well-defined and thought-out history, mythology, and magic system. There are libraries, magical beings and half-beings, political intrigue, heart-pounding action scenes, and lots and lots of lore (which I feel we have only just dipped our toes into) all skillfully woven into a narrative that won’t let you go. year-old mage Lady Lyriana Batavia is third in line to the Seat of Power in Bamaria: a position of wealth and privilege, but not safety. Bamaria falls under the rule of the Lumerian Empire, survivors of a celestial war whose island sank in the Drowning. Now all Lumerians submit to the Emperor and his strict laws about magic. He decides what magic can be practiced and what powers remain forbidden. He decides who will die for possession of forbidden magic.Rhyan: stop I love him so much. Caring and protective, he hides his kind side under a cold exterior. but honestly I love him so much ahhhhhhh I want to start this with I had the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review and I am so thankful because this book is life changing. I strangled rumours, covered missteps, and danced day and night to keep everyone’s eyes on me and not my sisters.” Faced with death in exile, and leaving her sisters behind, Lyr has no choice but to accept a deadly contract. She has seven months to train as a warrior and pass the Emperor’s brutal test of strength, without magic.

The second thing that sort of bothered me and kept me from giving this 5 stars, was the fact that the main character is a little too much YA coded and sometimes, unfortunately, feels too much of a Mary Sue for her own good, not too mention she was the epitome of TSTL. I wanted to strangle her a couple times during some scenes, but then she finally redeemed herself and I understood that her being unsufferable was probably part of her character's arc. Plotwise speaking, I was impressed by how likeable this is and how fast-paced a book like this can be. FDM's writing is very good and easily quotable, even if some action scenes could use more work, in my opinion. If you are a fan of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas for its strong, intelligent female main character and political intrigue or The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson for its intense worldbuilding and mythology, this series is for you. I really, REALLY liked this! I loved Lyr so much, and she reminded me of Feyre and Jude a little (high praise from me). I loved her relationship with her sisters and how protective she is of them—that was the bit that reminded me of Feyre the most. My ebook has some sort of almanac at the end, so I recommend studying it a little before reading the book or, even better, during the book. Had I known it was there, it would have made things way easier for me.

See a Problem?

I struggled to like most of the characters because they are stereotypically YA to a fault. The MC is a special snowflake in the making; her current boyfriend is ~nice~ but not that nice and she keeps making excuses for him; the actual love interest is everything she needs but can’t have (or won’t have bc she’s dumb); the bad guy(s?) is/are pure scheming evil for no apparent reason and like, no one stops him/them; and so on. The one group of people that stand to become more interesting is her family and yet we barely spend any time with them. This is the kind of book that I can definitely see conquering the heart of many and being the next surprise hit. The elements are there and the world building is unique and original and tells a beautiful but heartbreaking story.