Daughter of no Worlds - Book review
Daughter of no Worlds by Carissa Broadbent is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series titled The War of Lost Hearts and was published in 2020.
How else would it be? I got the book as an audiobook copy from my library via Libby and was able to listen to all 16 hours of the story. Thus, making this another big back book I have finished. This is also your reminder to check out and support your local libraries!
In the next sections I will dive into what Daughter of no Worlds is about, my thoughts, and my final verdict. In case there are any spoilers, you will be warned ahead so you’ll get to decide whether you’d like to continue reading this blog post or come back after you’ve read the book. ;)
You can also refer to my book rating guide that will be attached at the bottom.
The blurb
A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.
Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.
Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.
The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.
But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.
Even if it means wielding death itself.
(source: Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent | Goodreads)
Thoughts on the book
First of all, we have to take a second to appreciate the gorgeous cover! But don’t let the pretty picture fool you - the contents of the book are rather dark. Back to the topic:
Now this is very specific to the audiobook, but after listening to the narrator for the first two hours, I have come to realize that the execution and voice just weren’t my favorite. However, I also was not invested and hooked enough by the story to switch to an e-book versions and thus, I stuck with it.
Speaking of, unfortunately, this story just didn’t catch me enough to want to read the next books in the series. The magic system felt a bit messy as magic had not always existed in this world, and in some parts I found myself missing the context to understand what was happening. What I do want to praise though is that this heroine and female main character (FMC), Tisaanah felt believable. She was not a damsel in distress, witnessed and held trauma, and worked hard on getting stronger while never forgetting her cause any what she was fighting for.
Something I found surprising was with how much detail the punishments of slaves were described, albeit making sense contextually. If you are not a fan of explicit brutality in books, this series may not be the right fit for you. In that sense I recommend checking out trigger warnings for Daughter of no Worlds.
I also saw that the book has received lovely reviews on Goodreads and I am here to tell you: I love that for those who enjoyed the book! I am sad I didn’t like it as much as I hoped and if you happen to love The War of Lost Hearts, it is absolutely valid!
Pacing and plot
Daughter of no Worlds depicts slavery, mentions sexual assault and grooming, among many other very dark topics. Don’t be like me, going into this book blindly, allowing for the cover to deceive me. This is the one time where I ask you to read the blurb carefully.
I would describe the pacing of the book to be on the slower end. If you are a fan of instant love, you’ll be disappointed reading this story. The plot is unique and filled with a big cast with equally unique names. There is not one single villain but a collective group of villains working on their own twisted agendas and the main characters are morally grey, though I would say that this was a consequence of what had happened to them individually.
The introduction to a new Fantasy series with a magic system and peculiar names always takes a bit of time to get used to, and though the introduction was straight to the point, it was the second third for me that felt endlessly long. So much so that I unfortunately was not excited anymore for the last part of the first book.
This section will include spoilers of the book. You have been warned :)
I found it refreshing to listen to a character having to learn a new language and having the language barrier be an active part of sometimes awkward conversations. It made it all the more frustrating having a peek inside Tisaanah’s mind and knowing that she had lacked the proper vocabulary to express herself. She was a true fighter in each and every way!
Characters and character development
This section will include spoilers of the book. You have been warned :)
Maxantarius “Max”
What a name! I liked that this broody man was never cruel to Tisaanah. Cold perhaps, yes - but never mean. Max and Tisaanah both suffered and went through traumatic experiences that shaped them in different ways. In that way it made sense for the both of them to bond over pain. Nonetheless, I would have also been okay if Max stayed to be Tisaanah’s mentor instead of turned-lover.
For me the both of them did not have enough chemistry to work as a couple, I just couldn’t see it, but that may also just be me. I respect him for coming back even after a blood pact has technically freed him for the Order’s responsibilities.
Tisaanah
After facing one hardship after another, I would have totally understood if this FMC just decided to give up, run away, start over just for herself and leave her past behind. It takes courage to pick yourself up again and fight again and again. Tisaanah was stubborn in the sense of not accepting unfairness and defeat as long as her friends were held captive. She knew that the way people treated her was far away from kind nor was it fair, yet she also accepted that she was safer using exactly that as her advantage. She wanted people to keep underestimating her and her strength and to me, that shows how versatile this character was.
A chunk of the book deals with Tisaanah’s training and though it felt really slow to listen to that part of the book, I am also content that the author didn’t just make her ultra strong out of the blue. She had to learn how to harness her power and as readers we learned it all with her.
Memorable parts of the book
This section will include spoilers of the book. You have been warned :)
27 whip lashes
Tisaanah asking Max why he hated her so much
the blood pact
Tisanaah meeting her friend again and seeing his mutilated face
Verdict
2.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
This book was good, but just not my taste! I can appreciate how refreshing the plot was and how well the FMC was written, but I will not continue reading this series.
Thank you for making it this far and reading through my review! I would love to read about your thoughts or feedback :)
Lead your dreams,
Soso
