Unlikely by Frances Pauli

**Nota Bene: Possible spoilers may or may not be present in this review.
Read at your own risk**

Links for Book Descriptions: Goodreads & Library Things

I read this across the span of three lunches, somewhere less than three hours in total, as it is a fairly quick read.

 

The protagonists are well developed and I enjoyed the snarky remarks that Hadja would make at times (I love sassy old ladies). However, the villain, Vane, was rather flat in terms of character. I liked him but he could have been so much more. I wanted him to have a motive or cause for his actions beyond simple greed.

 

I liked how the romance between Marten and Satina was slow, they didn't fall instantly in love, and their relationship built up over time.

 

The story is nice and interesting, leaving me anxious in turning to the next page, but the book could have provided some more background information for the Final War that is constantly mentioned and having explanations for terms like Granter, Starlight, Shade, and etc appear earlier so the reader is not as confused. I figured the terms out later but I wish I had a clue from the start.

 

Also, I was shocked by Maera's betrayal of telling Satina's plans to Vane. I didn't expect that one coming.

My Verdict: Four stars out of Five.