* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I wond up really enjoying the concept of this novel. I also really liked the characters and found the main character to be super fun. I really liked the setting and the elements of adventure that was the foundation of this novel. While I liked all the characters, i did not always feel connected to them and that was challenging part of this novel. I also thought the world building was unclear and could have been a bit clearer and and the pacing was was choppy. I am excited for book 2 in the future. ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I wond up really enjoying the concept of this novel. I also really liked the characters and found the main character to be super fun. I really liked the setting and the elements of adventure that was the foundation of this novel. While I liked all the characters, i did not always feel connected to them and that was challenging part of this novel. I also thought the world building was unclear and could have been a bit clearer and and the pacing was was choppy. I am excited for book 2 in the future. ( )

I enjoyed this book and loved it! I can't wait for the next book. I keep thinking about the whole storyline and the characters and it's a great read.
It's about this girl, who wants to go see the palace and her friend dresses her up so that she and her friend can sneak into this event that happens before starting The Crossing.
Then, of course, things go wrong and they see her as a contestant/participant and she's suddenly torn/stuck in between two brothers and a sister as they all go compete in the Crossing vying to be the next ruler. There's romance, sibling rivalry, political intrigue, stories and so much in this story as they go across the dessert participating in The Crossing.
And at first, before they leave to go participate in The Crossing, Zahru is only a participant, but then something happens and she finds herself as the human sacrifice to be cared for and escorted along the way so that her death can bring the magic and success of gaining the throne to one of the brothers or the sister. She continually tries to escape and find a way out of being the human sacrifice and discern her feelings for the brothers and figuring out who she'd help to become the next ruler if she could.
I enjoyed it a lot - so much that I wish I could read it again already. I'm jealous of others who get to read and discover this gem for the first time. ( )

Well I think I missed the memo on this one so here it is for others:

Memo - This isn't an exciting action adventure fantasy.

This is more of a story about relationships, that happens to be set in a fantasy world, in which people need to get from A to B, and do lots of arguing, self reflection, falling in and out of 'like', lamenting about their relationships with their parents, and more arguing. There are a couple of scuffles, a few magicky wee moments and some good old sibling rivalry. I think it is an interesting world with a solid magical system but for me the lack of action meant we didn't get to see these elements realise their potential. Maybe more will happen in book two? Judging by the reviews this is another case of "just not for me". ( )

I really liked it, but hated the romance.

Let me tell you, this would've been a solid 5-stars had it not been for the romance. And other people might have liked this book for that very reason, but I'm not other people.

Other people, are people who like love triangles. And like them between two brothers.

And let me tell you something about me: I hate love triangles, with very few books making the 5-star cut for me. And between brothers? Absolutely hate them. And if the girl keeps changing her mind every time she's away from one and near the other? (I don't think there's a superlative for hate)

All within a single week.

It's one thing to break someone's heart because you're actually in love with someone else, but it's a completely different thing if it's the brother of the guy you're in love with. And it is a really, really other-wordly thing, if it happens within the span of a single week. It's a big no-no for me, and I only make exceptions if I didn't actually know it was going to happen, or if I liked the other plot devices advertised to me more.

This book would be perfect without the romance. That's my opinion.

Now, other than the romance, this book was just awesome!! The was really good world-building, the plot was really interesting, you were constantly being forced to change your opinions of the characters depending on what new disaster came about, learning all kinds of secrets that made you doubt yourself so much; I just really loved it!

I'm really intrigued about what happens next, since that was one hell of a cliff-hanger we were left with, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!(when will you be here 2021?)

So, I really liked it overall, and I recommend it to people who like love triangles( between brothers), or can ignore the aforementioned love triangle; awesome world-building, characters with cool powers (even though they don't make sense sometimes), books set in deserts (I was really surprised by this revelation, but I actually have not read a lot of books set in deserts), and cases of mistaken identity. ( )