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Rule
Three girls with three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.
The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos.
Or rather, three unexpected options.
Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her band of Travelers. She would do anything to protect the band, her family. But no one can ever find out how far she's already gone.
Akeylah was raised in the Eastern Reach, surrounded by whispers of rebellion and abused by her father. Desperate to escape, she makes a decision that threatens the whole kingdom.
Ren grew up in Kolonya, serving as a lady's maid and scheming her way out of the servants' chambers. But one such plot could get her hung for treason if anyone ever discovers what she's done.
When the king summons the girls, they arrive expecting arrest or even execution. Instead they learn the truth: they are his illegitimate daughters, and one must become his new heir. But someone in Kolonya knows their secrets, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep the sisters from their destiny... to rule.
Magic, mystery, and blackmail abound in this sensational and striking fantasy debut.
The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos.
Or rather, three unexpected options.
Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her band of Travelers. She would do anything to protect the band, her family. But no one can ever find out how far she's already gone.
Akeylah was raised in the Eastern Reach, surrounded by whispers of rebellion and abused by her father. Desperate to escape, she makes a decision that threatens the whole kingdom.
Ren grew up in Kolonya, serving as a lady's maid and scheming her way out of the servants' chambers. But one such plot could get her hung for treason if anyone ever discovers what she's done.
When the king summons the girls, they arrive expecting arrest or even execution. Instead they learn the truth: they are his illegitimate daughters, and one must become his new heir. But someone in Kolonya knows their secrets, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep the sisters from their destiny... to rule.
Magic, mystery, and blackmail abound in this sensational and striking fantasy debut.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2018
239 people are currently reading
11841 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Goodlett
9 books365 followersEllen Goodlett writes because otherwise she would spend her days plotting to take over the world. She figures that the former would benefit humanity ever so slightly more than the latter (which would be disastrous and involve a lot of cats in government positions). Her debut novel, RULE, about three girls competing for the throne in a fantasy world, will publish in fall 2018 with Little Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 755 reviews
November 28, 2021
I feel like I say this all the time, but sometimes you find a story that is so hyped, and has this gorgeous cover, and loads of marketing coverage, and between all of that, people start thinking, It’s got to be good, right? And then, the reviews start rolling in, and the responses are less excitable than we all hoped they would be, and I find myself wondering how many stories were given no marketing at all—better stories, stories that deserved the hype—to make room for one that didn’t.
Sadly, this book is a prime example of that scenario. I almost passed on this one altogether, because my gut feeling was that it would be a disappointment, but when it went up on “read now” status on Netgalley, I decided I’d take a gamble, and man, did I regret that decision. I almost DNFed this so many times, but it was a quick enough read, with enough things that made me downright angry, that I had to finish it (plus, my buddy read partner and I agreed that it was opening up the floor for some hilariously salty rants/conversations, at least).
My single biggest problem with this was the world-building—or the complete lack thereof, I should say. There’s a very important magic system in the story, yet we make it through almost the entire first half of the book before we get even a touch of history or explanation, and what we are given is nothing more than bread crumbs. The only things we learn about the world are vague explanations given through political debates, and the plot holes are absolutely blaring.
There are some interesting aspects to the plot—such as the involvement of the Vulgar Arts, which one of our three ladies has committed herself to despite risk of certain execution—but even these bits weren’t explored nearly enough. I understand that it’s only the first book in the series, but I don’t believe in saving all of your world-building for the second book; to me, that’s not a sign of good writing.
On top of the writing itself, very little of what happens lends to any suspension of disbelief. Characters constantly do big things and receive small consequences, if anything. One character takes on a fight she should realistically never win, and then nearly does win via cheating—which everyone is aware she is doing, yet nobody investigates. Even at the base level of the plot, when the three girls learn the big twist that they’re royalty, none of them are surprised or spend even a second’s thought in denial; they just go along with it without hesitation, which struck me as not only naïve, but also incredibly bizarre. The list goes on, but I won’t keep you here all day.
The biggest things I want to talk about are the content warnings that I’m seeing very few reviews mention. This book deserves a huge content warning for self-mutilation, which is literally the basis of the magic that everyone in the story utilizes. On top of that, there are themes of child abuse, alcoholism, kidnapping, and royalty abusing commoners (including forcing famine on entire masses of people). The rest of these things are challenged, of course, but I wanted to be very clear in that, if you are triggered by depictions of self-harm, please proceed with caution!
The last thing I want to mention (read: rant about) is the romance in the story. Each of the three girls has a love interest, and none of the blossoming relationships are even remotely enjoyable to watch unfold. One character is in love with her childhood best friend, but when we meet him, there’s no chemistry. Another character has a sexual history with a man from a neighboring area, who seems to genuinely care for her, but she spends the entire book acting like a spoiled child who’s been blinded by privilege every time he speaks to her. The third girl’s love interest is a woman, which should be great—yay, sapphic representation!—but falls short thanks to a nasty case of insta-love (as well as the fact that it’s the girl’s step-mother, which is a bit awkward).
I genuinely didn’t mean for this entire review to turn into one massive rant, but I can’t help myself. This book was such a tragedy from start to finish, and while the ideas behind it were interesting at times, it failed terribly for me. When I started writing this review, I thought I would give the book 2 stars, but after working out all of my feelings onto paper, I’m realizing this is a 1.5-star read at most. If you don’t mind mediocre fantasy with a lot of plot holes, go ahead and give it a try, but if you’re someone who reads a lot of fantasy and has come to expect a certain level of depth, I don’t recommend picking up Rule.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Little, Brown for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
You can find this review and more on my blog, or you can follow me on twitter, bookstagram, or facebook!
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Buddy read with the amazing, hilarious, salty Kaleena. ♥
“There are a million shades of gray, especially when dealing with kings.”
Sadly, this book is a prime example of that scenario. I almost passed on this one altogether, because my gut feeling was that it would be a disappointment, but when it went up on “read now” status on Netgalley, I decided I’d take a gamble, and man, did I regret that decision. I almost DNFed this so many times, but it was a quick enough read, with enough things that made me downright angry, that I had to finish it (plus, my buddy read partner and I agreed that it was opening up the floor for some hilariously salty rants/conversations, at least).
All you really needed to know to tithe was the anatomy of your body and the lengths to which you could push it.
My single biggest problem with this was the world-building—or the complete lack thereof, I should say. There’s a very important magic system in the story, yet we make it through almost the entire first half of the book before we get even a touch of history or explanation, and what we are given is nothing more than bread crumbs. The only things we learn about the world are vague explanations given through political debates, and the plot holes are absolutely blaring.
Even if her father killed her, he could not escape this. Do your worst, Father. I’ve already done mine.
There are some interesting aspects to the plot—such as the involvement of the Vulgar Arts, which one of our three ladies has committed herself to despite risk of certain execution—but even these bits weren’t explored nearly enough. I understand that it’s only the first book in the series, but I don’t believe in saving all of your world-building for the second book; to me, that’s not a sign of good writing.
She was going to die. The same way she’d lived. Alone in a family of vultures on a cliff at the edge of the world.
On top of the writing itself, very little of what happens lends to any suspension of disbelief. Characters constantly do big things and receive small consequences, if anything. One character takes on a fight she should realistically never win, and then nearly does win via cheating—which everyone is aware she is doing, yet nobody investigates. Even at the base level of the plot, when the three girls learn the big twist that they’re royalty, none of them are surprised or spend even a second’s thought in denial; they just go along with it without hesitation, which struck me as not only naïve, but also incredibly bizarre. The list goes on, but I won’t keep you here all day.
Mother always said “the gods make jokes of us all,” but this was pushing it, even for them.
The biggest things I want to talk about are the content warnings that I’m seeing very few reviews mention. This book deserves a huge content warning for self-mutilation, which is literally the basis of the magic that everyone in the story utilizes. On top of that, there are themes of child abuse, alcoholism, kidnapping, and royalty abusing commoners (including forcing famine on entire masses of people). The rest of these things are challenged, of course, but I wanted to be very clear in that, if you are triggered by depictions of self-harm, please proceed with caution!
She could not develop feelings. Not for Rozalind. Not for her father’s wife.
The last thing I want to mention (read: rant about) is the romance in the story. Each of the three girls has a love interest, and none of the blossoming relationships are even remotely enjoyable to watch unfold. One character is in love with her childhood best friend, but when we meet him, there’s no chemistry. Another character has a sexual history with a man from a neighboring area, who seems to genuinely care for her, but she spends the entire book acting like a spoiled child who’s been blinded by privilege every time he speaks to her. The third girl’s love interest is a woman, which should be great—yay, sapphic representation!—but falls short thanks to a nasty case of insta-love (as well as the fact that it’s the girl’s step-mother, which is a bit awkward).
I genuinely didn’t mean for this entire review to turn into one massive rant, but I can’t help myself. This book was such a tragedy from start to finish, and while the ideas behind it were interesting at times, it failed terribly for me. When I started writing this review, I thought I would give the book 2 stars, but after working out all of my feelings onto paper, I’m realizing this is a 1.5-star read at most. If you don’t mind mediocre fantasy with a lot of plot holes, go ahead and give it a try, but if you’re someone who reads a lot of fantasy and has come to expect a certain level of depth, I don’t recommend picking up Rule.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Little, Brown for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
You can find this review and more on my blog, or you can follow me on twitter, bookstagram, or facebook!
---
Buddy read with the amazing, hilarious, salty Kaleena. ♥
August 23, 2018
Three girls. Three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.
Three very different girls are called to the capital of Kolonya to find out they are the three illegitimate daughters of King Andros. They lived their whole lives ignorant to who their father was living lives that would be considered lesser than to the citizens of Kolonya and the outer Reaches. Now, King Andros is dying. He recently lost his heir and is in need of choosing a successor to the throne. The plan is to have the girls serve in court with their father and eventually King Andros will select who he thinks will best rule Kolonya.
Zofi is a traveler with no set home besides being with her band of travelers. They move throughout the outer Reaches setting up camp, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. They are somewhat gypsy-like, treated unfairly, and looked down upon by all other people. Zofi hopes to be named heir so that she can change things for travelers.
Akeylah lives in the eastern Reach with her abusive father and not so supportive siblings (they stand by while Akeylah gets beat). There are talks of a growing rebellion in the east. And Akeylah is just desperate to get out from under her father. So desperate, she does something she can never take back. It will change everything.
Ren, short for Florencia, lived her life as a lady's maid in the city of Kolonya. She is constantly looking for ways to move up in life, saving up any information and secrets she stumbles upon by watching nobility from the sidelines. However she reveals the wrong thing to the wrong person leading to a catastrophe that will have consequences for Kolonya.
Each girl has a secret that will threaten her very place in Kolonya as a possible heir. It doesn't take long for a mysterious blackmailer to show up and begin threatening to reveal their secrets. Will the girls find out who is doing the blackmailing and put an end to it? Which girl will be the next ruler of Kolonya? If the blackmailer has a say, it will be none of the three.
On top of all these plot details, there is also some background to Kolonya that sets up more political intrigue. The Reaches won independence from Genal 400 years ago, though they've been at war ever since. Kolonya was set up as the capital in the center of the Reaches. This leaves the Reaches doing the fighting and taking any assault from Genal while Kolonya sits safely, unharmed in the center. Thus the internal political issues arise. And this explains the rebellion in the east. The only happy citizens are the nobility in the city who are ignorant to the goings-ons of the Reaches. Oh, and the king is currently married to a Genalese princess (making her queen) in an attempt to seal the current peace treaty between Genal and Kolonya.
AND there's the magical system - a refreshing addition to this world that sets up some interesting plot lines. It's called the Blood Arts and to access them, one must tithe. Only those born in the Reaches can tap into them. Tithing gives extra boosts like speed, strength, armor, etc. There is a darker side to the Arts called Vulgar Arts that is considered worst than any physical crime.
I was worried this would feel too similar to Three Dark Crowns, but it doesn't at all. And let me just clarify that I really enjoyed Three Dark Crowns....a lot, actually. Rule feels very much like it's own story. The world building sets up an entirely different kind of story - the main similarity being that both are YA fantasies and both have a set up where there are three girls and only one will be queen. Besides that, completely different.
I really enjoyed each of the girls secrets, the blackmailer mystery, the Blood Arts magical system and it's darker side, the set up political/court intrigue, the very complicated relationships, and so very much more. The Diversity in this book is outstanding with the majority of the characters being POC and there's a fantastic f/f romance. There were a great deal of twists throughout helping to keep me on the edge of my seat. And the cliffhanger at the end! Agh, I'm dying to read the sequel and final book of this duology.
Three very different girls are called to the capital of Kolonya to find out they are the three illegitimate daughters of King Andros. They lived their whole lives ignorant to who their father was living lives that would be considered lesser than to the citizens of Kolonya and the outer Reaches. Now, King Andros is dying. He recently lost his heir and is in need of choosing a successor to the throne. The plan is to have the girls serve in court with their father and eventually King Andros will select who he thinks will best rule Kolonya.
Zofi is a traveler with no set home besides being with her band of travelers. They move throughout the outer Reaches setting up camp, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. They are somewhat gypsy-like, treated unfairly, and looked down upon by all other people. Zofi hopes to be named heir so that she can change things for travelers.
Akeylah lives in the eastern Reach with her abusive father and not so supportive siblings (they stand by while Akeylah gets beat). There are talks of a growing rebellion in the east. And Akeylah is just desperate to get out from under her father. So desperate, she does something she can never take back. It will change everything.
Ren, short for Florencia, lived her life as a lady's maid in the city of Kolonya. She is constantly looking for ways to move up in life, saving up any information and secrets she stumbles upon by watching nobility from the sidelines. However she reveals the wrong thing to the wrong person leading to a catastrophe that will have consequences for Kolonya.
Each girl has a secret that will threaten her very place in Kolonya as a possible heir. It doesn't take long for a mysterious blackmailer to show up and begin threatening to reveal their secrets. Will the girls find out who is doing the blackmailing and put an end to it? Which girl will be the next ruler of Kolonya? If the blackmailer has a say, it will be none of the three.
On top of all these plot details, there is also some background to Kolonya that sets up more political intrigue. The Reaches won independence from Genal 400 years ago, though they've been at war ever since. Kolonya was set up as the capital in the center of the Reaches. This leaves the Reaches doing the fighting and taking any assault from Genal while Kolonya sits safely, unharmed in the center. Thus the internal political issues arise. And this explains the rebellion in the east. The only happy citizens are the nobility in the city who are ignorant to the goings-ons of the Reaches. Oh, and the king is currently married to a Genalese princess (making her queen) in an attempt to seal the current peace treaty between Genal and Kolonya.
AND there's the magical system - a refreshing addition to this world that sets up some interesting plot lines. It's called the Blood Arts and to access them, one must tithe. Only those born in the Reaches can tap into them. Tithing gives extra boosts like speed, strength, armor, etc. There is a darker side to the Arts called Vulgar Arts that is considered worst than any physical crime.
I was worried this would feel too similar to Three Dark Crowns, but it doesn't at all. And let me just clarify that I really enjoyed Three Dark Crowns....a lot, actually. Rule feels very much like it's own story. The world building sets up an entirely different kind of story - the main similarity being that both are YA fantasies and both have a set up where there are three girls and only one will be queen. Besides that, completely different.
I really enjoyed each of the girls secrets, the blackmailer mystery, the Blood Arts magical system and it's darker side, the set up political/court intrigue, the very complicated relationships, and so very much more. The Diversity in this book is outstanding with the majority of the characters being POC and there's a fantastic f/f romance. There were a great deal of twists throughout helping to keep me on the edge of my seat. And the cliffhanger at the end! Agh, I'm dying to read the sequel and final book of this duology.
August 11, 2019
4,5 ⭐️ le bajo un poquito la nota por ser el primero de la trilogía. Pero me ha gustado un montón. Me ha enganchado muchísimo. Sus capítulos no son muy cortos y los alterna entre cada protagonista, por lo que vamos conociendo mejor su forma de ser y sus secretos. El final del libro es de los de WTF ahora yo qué hago con mi vida hasta que salga el segundo... RECOMENDADO 100%.
May 29, 2019
OMFG!!!!!
Estoy en shock total con este libro. Lo he amado muchísimo y se mete sin duda en mis mejores lecturas del año. ¡Qué pasada!
Empecé a historia porque me apetecía leer algo de fantasía, y bueno, ya sabéis que me pierden los libros de salseo real, y este tenía todos los ingredientes para que me gustara y ¡no me equivoqué para nada!
Conocemos la historia a través de las tres hermanas protagonistas, Zofi, Akeylah y Ren. Las tres han vivido durante años en la ignorancia y sin saber que son hijas bastardas del rey. Al morir el futuro heredero y enfermar el rey, son llevadas a palacio, poniéndolas al día de la situación y diciéndolas que una de ellas será la elegida para ser la futura reina de Kolonya. Pero en sus anteriores vidas fuera de la realeza, todas han cometido actos terribles por lo que deberían ser ejecutadas y por desgracoa, alguien sabe todos sus secretos y amenaza con revelarlos... Así que como os podéis imaginar, es una historia llena de secretos, mucha magia (que me ha encantado la magia que ha creado la autora tan diferente), chantajes, tramas palaciegas, amor, venganza y amistad.
Sin duda me ha sorprendido mucho lo bien planteada que está la historia y lo bien explicado que está todo desde el principio. Todo el claro y conciso y eso hace que desde el primer momento consigas meterte en la historia.
Las protagonistas son muy diferentes entre sí y todas llegan de distintos mundos, y eso da un contraste genial a la historia. Mi favorita al principio era Akeylah, pero luego empecé a amar mucho a las tres por igual y ahora mismo no puedo elegir a ninguna. Sus historias pasadas son increíbles y me parece fascinante que la autora sepa crear interés por las tres y que ninguna quede descolgada en ningún momento.
La trama es increíblemente adictiva. Hay misterios desde el principio que se hilando poco a poco. Todo está muy bien atado y es muy sorprendente. El final me tiene impactada todavía... en serio, necesito el segundo libro en mi vida YA DE YA.
Si os apetece leer una historia de fantasía con muchísimo salseo... este es vuestro libro sin ninguna duda.
Estoy en shock total con este libro. Lo he amado muchísimo y se mete sin duda en mis mejores lecturas del año. ¡Qué pasada!
Empecé a historia porque me apetecía leer algo de fantasía, y bueno, ya sabéis que me pierden los libros de salseo real, y este tenía todos los ingredientes para que me gustara y ¡no me equivoqué para nada!
Conocemos la historia a través de las tres hermanas protagonistas, Zofi, Akeylah y Ren. Las tres han vivido durante años en la ignorancia y sin saber que son hijas bastardas del rey. Al morir el futuro heredero y enfermar el rey, son llevadas a palacio, poniéndolas al día de la situación y diciéndolas que una de ellas será la elegida para ser la futura reina de Kolonya. Pero en sus anteriores vidas fuera de la realeza, todas han cometido actos terribles por lo que deberían ser ejecutadas y por desgracoa, alguien sabe todos sus secretos y amenaza con revelarlos... Así que como os podéis imaginar, es una historia llena de secretos, mucha magia (que me ha encantado la magia que ha creado la autora tan diferente), chantajes, tramas palaciegas, amor, venganza y amistad.
Sin duda me ha sorprendido mucho lo bien planteada que está la historia y lo bien explicado que está todo desde el principio. Todo el claro y conciso y eso hace que desde el primer momento consigas meterte en la historia.
Las protagonistas son muy diferentes entre sí y todas llegan de distintos mundos, y eso da un contraste genial a la historia. Mi favorita al principio era Akeylah, pero luego empecé a amar mucho a las tres por igual y ahora mismo no puedo elegir a ninguna. Sus historias pasadas son increíbles y me parece fascinante que la autora sepa crear interés por las tres y que ninguna quede descolgada en ningún momento.
La trama es increíblemente adictiva. Hay misterios desde el principio que se hilando poco a poco. Todo está muy bien atado y es muy sorprendente. El final me tiene impactada todavía... en serio, necesito el segundo libro en mi vida YA DE YA.
Si os apetece leer una historia de fantasía con muchísimo salseo... este es vuestro libro sin ninguna duda.
Want to read
January 31, 2018Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars... okay okay okay you got me interested...
June 4, 2019
En realidad 4,5*
«Era el fuego que debías atravesar para poder apreciar realmente el infierno que enfrentas ahora.»
Reseña completa -> https://thewordsofbooks.blogspot.com/...
Tres hermanas, tres secretos y un único destino. Reinar.
Me ha dejado toda loca cuando se empiezan a descubrir los secretos que cada hermana oculta. Vamos, que no me los esperaba así y claro, luego a ver como se soluciona eso, y mas con todos los enredos que se forman en la corte. Es un salseo continuo y engancha mucho :D
Deseando leer el segundo porque madre mía el final... OMG
«Era el fuego que debías atravesar para poder apreciar realmente el infierno que enfrentas ahora.»
Reseña completa -> https://thewordsofbooks.blogspot.com/...
Tres hermanas, tres secretos y un único destino. Reinar.
Me ha dejado toda loca cuando se empiezan a descubrir los secretos que cada hermana oculta. Vamos, que no me los esperaba así y claro, luego a ver como se soluciona eso, y mas con todos los enredos que se forman en la corte. Es un salseo continuo y engancha mucho :D
Deseando leer el segundo porque madre mía el final... OMG
September 8, 2018
DNF at 39%
I was intrigued by this story, but only picked it up because it came in an email as a “read it now” on NG. I was hoping the tag line of “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars” would pay off.
Right from the start, I was trepidatious from the three POVs. The three girls all sounded the same, even with entirely different backgrounds. With each girl, there’s a different set of characters and for me, it was overwhelming to keep track of who the people were. Annnnnd it only got worse when they got to court.
Plot wise, it was really redundant. Each of the girls is getting blackmailed and how they find out is supposed to be unique, but again, it was too similar. Especially when each reveal came one chapter after the other.
Overall, it was an interesting idea, but the execution wasn’t for me. I just could not get captivated.
FYI: the magic system relies on the person cutting themselves to bleed as a “tithe”. There are countless scenes and descriptions the characters doing that.
**Huge thanks to Little, Brown BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**
I was intrigued by this story, but only picked it up because it came in an email as a “read it now” on NG. I was hoping the tag line of “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars” would pay off.
Right from the start, I was trepidatious from the three POVs. The three girls all sounded the same, even with entirely different backgrounds. With each girl, there’s a different set of characters and for me, it was overwhelming to keep track of who the people were. Annnnnd it only got worse when they got to court.
Plot wise, it was really redundant. Each of the girls is getting blackmailed and how they find out is supposed to be unique, but again, it was too similar. Especially when each reveal came one chapter after the other.
Overall, it was an interesting idea, but the execution wasn’t for me. I just could not get captivated.
FYI: the magic system relies on the person cutting themselves to bleed as a “tithe”. There are countless scenes and descriptions the characters doing that.
**Huge thanks to Little, Brown BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**
June 15, 2019
Rule ha sido una historia que me ha atrapado, y aunque esperaba que resultase más sorprendente e intensa, ha resultado muy entretenida, con protagonistas geniales, y un final que te deja con ganas de más.
Reseña completa: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
Reseña completa: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
June 28, 2018
ARC provided by Little, Brown in exchange for an honest review
My heart is still racing after finishing Rule just moments ago. When Little, Brown said this book is “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars with a dash of King Lear ” — they are NOT kidding. That was one wild ride!
Usually when the synopsis on the back of a book says the characters hold some deadly secrets, I just shrug that off and don’t think too deeply into it. But, this? Wow. I was blown away by how legitimately chilling these secrets were, and how much they seamlessly wove into the plot.
Rule is told in three alternating POV’s and tells the story of three girls who, unbeknownst to them, are the illegitimate children of King Andros. King Andros is dying and he needs an heir to rule Kolonya. Two of the girls, Zofi and Akeylah, come from different regions, while Florencia (Ren) already lives in the palace as a maid. Once the sisters learn about their lineage, they are told that only one will be chosen to rule. Thus, they begin lessons on combat, politics, and honing special powers known as tithes.
Of course, nothing goes smoothly because a mysterious person is blackmailing each girl, threatening to expose their deepest, darkest secrets.
But even though these girls are under so much pressure and scared of what lies ahead for them, they are so strong and fierce. They carry so much weight on their shoulders, have their own demons to deal with, yet not once did they complain or whine. I admired them so much — I can’t choose a favorite sister. All three sisters have traits that speak to my heart.
I also love the cultural diversity rep in this book. The entire cast is POC and there is w/w romance. There is also a tiny bit of insta-love, but it was so swoon-worthy and worked for me. Themes of racism and prejudice are also very prominent throughout the entire book and it reflects so much of what we still have going on today in our world.
And while I felt like there were some loose ends that didn’t get answered, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book so much. It had amazing world building, dark politics, morally grey characters, POC and LGBTQIAP+ rep, strong females, and mysteries that kept me second guessing myself so many times. I am already screaming for the next book!
Thank you so much to Little, Brown/The NOVL for sending me this ARC copy. Rule releases on September 11, 2018!
Happy reading!
My heart is still racing after finishing Rule just moments ago. When Little, Brown said this book is “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars with a dash of King Lear ” — they are NOT kidding. That was one wild ride!
Usually when the synopsis on the back of a book says the characters hold some deadly secrets, I just shrug that off and don’t think too deeply into it. But, this? Wow. I was blown away by how legitimately chilling these secrets were, and how much they seamlessly wove into the plot.
Rule is told in three alternating POV’s and tells the story of three girls who, unbeknownst to them, are the illegitimate children of King Andros. King Andros is dying and he needs an heir to rule Kolonya. Two of the girls, Zofi and Akeylah, come from different regions, while Florencia (Ren) already lives in the palace as a maid. Once the sisters learn about their lineage, they are told that only one will be chosen to rule. Thus, they begin lessons on combat, politics, and honing special powers known as tithes.
Of course, nothing goes smoothly because a mysterious person is blackmailing each girl, threatening to expose their deepest, darkest secrets.
But even though these girls are under so much pressure and scared of what lies ahead for them, they are so strong and fierce. They carry so much weight on their shoulders, have their own demons to deal with, yet not once did they complain or whine. I admired them so much — I can’t choose a favorite sister. All three sisters have traits that speak to my heart.
I also love the cultural diversity rep in this book. The entire cast is POC and there is w/w romance. There is also a tiny bit of insta-love, but it was so swoon-worthy and worked for me. Themes of racism and prejudice are also very prominent throughout the entire book and it reflects so much of what we still have going on today in our world.
And while I felt like there were some loose ends that didn’t get answered, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book so much. It had amazing world building, dark politics, morally grey characters, POC and LGBTQIAP+ rep, strong females, and mysteries that kept me second guessing myself so many times. I am already screaming for the next book!
Thank you so much to Little, Brown/The NOVL for sending me this ARC copy. Rule releases on September 11, 2018!
Happy reading!
November 6, 2019
Patri: Rule ha sido una lectura muy facil y amena, de las que se leen solas. Tiene una trama sencilla pero con un toque de intriga que hace que leas sin parar. Los personajes tienen ciertas peculiaridades y creo que en su segunda parte se vera mas potenciado, ya que no deja de ser un libro introductorio.
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Sara: Me ha gustado mucho este libro, la trama y los personajes. Ese puntito de continua intriga que me ha mantenido enganchada todo el tiempo. Y a pesar de que es un libro introductor está muy entretenido y promete más y mejor en su secuela.
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Sara: Me ha gustado mucho este libro, la trama y los personajes. Ese puntito de continua intriga que me ha mantenido enganchada todo el tiempo. Y a pesar de que es un libro introductor está muy entretenido y promete más y mejor en su secuela.
June 23, 2019
Aunque las tres sean muy diferentes la una de la otra, aunque las tres vengan de diferentes mundos y aunque las tres jamás hubieran pensado que iban a conocerse, una terrible verdad sobre quienes son en realidad las llevarán a un sitio que nunca habían considerado un hogar. Las tres son las hijas del rey. Un rey que se está muriendo. Zofi es una viajante, mal vista entre la sociedad, repudiada y temida por los prejuicios que arrastra su grupo por todo el reino. Lejos de la delincuencia y la falta de educación entre la que tiene que disimular para permanecer con una máscara con la que nadie se acercaría a ella, Zofi guarda en su interior un oscuro secreto que, al llegar a la corte, podría salir a la luz. Por su parte, Akeylah viene del Este, la región donde los rebeldes tienen mayor peso, aquellos dispuestos a devolverle a su territorio el poder y riqueza que Kolonya ha ido conquistando para su propio beneficio, dejando al Este a merced de la pobreza y la hambruna. Para Akeylah, llegar a la corte y estar junto al rey supone la salida que necesita de su abusivo hogar, castigada y marcada desde la muerte de su madre a manos de un hombre que la culpa por ello. Pero Akeylah, al igual que Zofi, tiene un secreto que no debería salir jamás a la luz y que nadie tendría que conoces... salvo la persona que la amenaza con contarlo todo. Por último, Ren es la que más cerca al rey ha vivido. Como criada, entiende todo ese mundo, se ha metido siendo invisible en la vida de esos nobles que, ahora, la miran como la posible futura reina de Kolonya. Pero como hermana de Zofi y Akeylah que es, ella también tiene un pasado que necesita olvidar y que estará en peligro cuando alguien desconocido la amenace también con descubrir su terrible verdad. Asustadas, coaccionadas y en un momento en el que tienen que aprender y entender cómo funciona ser reina y un país que necesita cada vez más atenciones, las tres no deberían de confiar en nadie. Ni en antiguos amigos, ni en ellas mismas, ni en el rey ni en la nobleza. Porque una de ellas podría ser el futuro de Kolonya y, por eso, sus enemigos estarán esperando la mejor oportunidad para retirarlas del juego en el que se van a ver envueltas.
Narrado en tercera persona a través de las tres protagonistas principales, Rule llega como el inicio de una bilogía de fantasía fascinante donde los secretos jugarán un factor importante a la hora de manejar los hilos de la propia historia y donde las intrigas palaciegas serán las piezas que se moverán sobre un tablero en el que el rey, la futura reina y algunos peones conseguirán crear una lectura adictiva y muy enigmática. Así pues, y al ser un primer libro, los primeros capítulos serán únicamente para presentarnos a las tres protagonistas y sus vidas actuales antes de que sepan que el rey es su verdadero padre, teniendo a Zofi, una Viajante con la que, pronto, estaremos ante las primeras escenas con dosis de acción; a Akeylah, una chica con la que empezaremos a descubrir la otra cara de la moneda de esta sociedad y ambientación, un buen giro interesante que nos acerca más a todo ese complejo llamado magia de la sangre; y a Ren, la que nos va a llevar por un laberíntico juego entre nobles, donde los celos, las relaciones y las sorpresas van a estar aseguradas. Con unos primeros compases donde las tres protagonistas van a ser el foco de atención, es normal tener en estos momentos un ritmo más pausado y lento que, aunque si tengan una chispa de emoción, van a dar un inicio introductorio a todo lo que se va a desarrollar más adelante. No obstante, la autora ha sabido cuándo y de qué manera cortar con las estas explicaciones más profundas que podrían haberse comido un buen trozo de novela para, pronto, ponerse en marcha y empezar a mover unos hilos que nos dejarán con las primeras revelaciones, las primeras sorpresas y, sobre todo, con una trama que se vuelve más viva, más adictiva y más revoltosa. Porque será aquí, a través de tres secretos que lo cambiaron todo, cuando comience una caza misteriosa que nos guiará por escenas y momentos en los que dar cualquier paso en falso podría ser lo que ponga la soga alrededor de nuestro cuello. Ellen Goodlett no solo se ha aventurado a contarnos una historia donde el destino de tres chicas está ne juego, se ha animado a jugar con las pistas, las amenazas, el miedo y la desesperación, las sospechas, la peligrosidad, la unión y la fraternidad. Para mí, Rule es de esos libros que van de menos a más, consiguiendo una lectura que engancha por ser como es, un pasatiempo que va creciendo más y más, donde nada es lo que parece, donde dudarás de todo, un libro que esconde muchos recovecos inesperados que te van a dejar con la boca abierta. Porque, cuando coge la velocidad que coge, nada puede parar una historia que va directa hasta un final que sí, puede parecer brusco y un poco anti climático, pero a mí me ha dejado con la pregunta de dónde están las páginas que faltan de lo mucho que las he necesitado. Un final de infarto.
Quiero destacar varias cosas de este libro y creo que voy a comentar que no, este no es un libro hecho para presentarnos un mundo espectacular, llenos de matices, de muchos detalles y demás. Y, bueno, quizás sí que he echado algo en falta una profundidad en ello, sobre todo para comprender mejor todo esto de la magia de sangre, que me ha parecido también una idea que le da a la historia y al libro un toque original pero que, sin embargo, no consigue acaparar o adoptar un gran protagonismo. Pero también he entendido que la autora ha querido crear más una historia de personajes, sus secretos, su oscuridad, su evolución y su lucha. Y no precisamente una lucha por y para conseguir el trono. Es una idea que está ahí, pero creo que prima antes las intrigas palaciegas y ese juego de amenazas y de descubrir quién se esconde tras la persona que manda mensajes peligrosos que otra cosa. Y, personalmente, me ha gustado mucho. Con ello, ha conseguido romper con la monotonía de meternos en una historia más de cortes, nobles y más cosas características de este mundo para presentarnos a unas protagonistas con sus matices, una personalidad deslumbrante y tres secretos que van a colisionar en lo que hace que la historia sea la lectura tan apasionante que es. Ese misterio en el que nos vamos a envolver es firme y sólido, para nada predecible, de esos en los que existen pistas pero no señalan de manera obvia hacia una dirección. Hay muchas vueltas de cabeza, cuando pareces que puedes haberte acercado aparece otra cosa nueva y te desequilibra totalmente. Y, como comento, las protagonistas han sido un punto muy a favor que han sabido estar a la altura. Muy bien diferenciadas, Zoya ha sido mi preferida. Pero es que las demás han estado igual: perspicaces, luchadoras, siempre buscando la mejor solución para todo, destacando también a Akeylah, el personaje que da representación al colectivo LGTB. Todas ellas con sus demonios personales, con ganas de cambiar el mundo en el que viven.
Y, hablando de mundo, puede que haya dicho que me hubiera gustado tener una visión más cercana a esta ambientación, pero creo que los datos e información que la autora da es suficiente para comprender cómo se mueven, viven y se relacionan los habitantes del reino de Kolonya y los demás territorios. Vemos los prejuicios con los que juzgan a los Viajantes como Zofi, conocemos que Kolonya se está enriqueciendo mientras que los demás territorios empobrecen, y vemos que los rebeldes necesitan darle a esos habitantes los derechos, salud y estilo de vida digno que merecen. Gracias al ir y venir entre las tres narradoras principales, sus vidas y su procedencia, así como conocidos, conoceremos de primera mano todo esto, teniendo una visión que consigue emular bien cada una de estas cosas. En cuanto a esto de la magia de la sangre, ya he dicho que no consigue sobresalir demasiado al tener más peso algo muy diferente, pero lo que enseña me ha dejado buenas sensaciones. Ver la manera en la que consiguen aumentar sus habilidades todas las personas que se diezman, tal y como lo llaman en el libro, usando su propia sangre para ser más veloces, más fuertes o conseguir cosas inimaginables como hacerse invisible.
En definitiva, Rule es un libro de fantasía que no se centra en una aventura épica plagada de batallas, sino que se adentra en el mundo de la nobleza para crear una trama adictiva donde el misterio, el peligro, las alianzas y la lucha de sus tres protagonistas será primordial en este juego palaciego que vamos a vivir. A pesar de que algunos aspectos de la trama podrían haberse sentido con más intensidad, es un libro que engancha y que se lee con bastante rapidez que no querrás acabar nunca.
September 25, 2018
Many thanks to the Publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
Buddy Reading With: Melanie from Meltotheany
Julie from Pages and Pens
PLOT
” Family is the bond that holds the Reaches together. but to be a part of my family is as much a curse as it is a blessing”
Early reviewers have pegged RULE as a blend of Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars, I can only speak on the latter to say that it absolutely has the PLL feel. RULE tells the story of a dying King who has just lost his only son & heir to what is believed to be a murderous act by Travelers. He has three illegitimate daughters walking different paths of life that he calls to the Kingdom. None of them know why they are being summoned or their relation to the King. All three have had tough lives but have the wits & cunning to get by. It is the Kings hope to have all three trained & that by the end of their training, he will have chosen one to rule the people of Kolonya. The problem is, the King isn’t the only one to have harbored a secret. Each one of his daughters carries within, dark secrets that in some way or another trace back to the King/Kingdom. Once they are made aware of their lineage and purpose, the daughters all have very different feelings about what is expected of them. With their identities revealed all of their secrets are in danger of being exposed. The sisters soon learn there is someone with knowledge of what they have hidden, set on blackmailing them.
We also learn that in this world there is blood magic aka The Blood Arts that a person can access within themselves by “Tithing.” The process of tithing requires that one cut themselves and in a rather vague/unexplained way, get in tune with the blood running through their veins. Those that can achieve this can heighten their senses and magical abilities. The concept & secrets the sisters were keeping were hella intriguing & dark! The magic system however was very undefined and the rules briefly mentioned to an extent. I ended up having more questions than answers with regards to who or if everyone had access to blood magic. We got some clarification on the darker parts of the magic system with regards to The Vulgar Arts aka the act of Titheing into someone in your own lineage/relative with dark intentions. In this world, The Vulgar Arts is considered the worse of crimes punishable by death. Besides the vague magic system breakdown, I wasn’t comfortable with the imagery I got of seeing one cut into themselves to tap into their abilities.
The books is told in multiple POV, each sister alternates telling their story from the point they get summoned to the castle. All have lived very different lives & I did end up really enjoying one more than the others…
Content Warnings: Self harm, abduction, death, murder, physical & verbal abuse
CHARACTERS
“Bloody seed beget bloody crops, What you curse comes back to haunt, And if the family blood you taint, You seal your own bloody fate”
Akeylah This character is very introverted & IMO carries the darkest secret between the three. She’s had to deal with the verbal & physical abuse from a father who blames her for the death of her mother at childbirth. Akeylah finds love (possibly lust #jussayin) in the castle but I can’t say I was with that ship…I’m all for f/f romance but there it just felt odd having it be between Akeylah & her stepmother aka the Queen.
Zofi Started off being. my favorite of the three, she’s a Traveler and that means she pretty much lives a Gypsy-like lifestyle. She’s very protective of her people & would like nothing more than return to them and forget all this business that ties her to the Kingdom. Zofi is a bit rough around the edges but eventually comes around & sees the benefits of her position and how best to wield it to help her people. Zofi is also the only one of the three who has able to tap into her magical abilities. She actively tithes and uses her abilities whenever necessary. Her secret also traces back to the Kingdom, similar to Akhelyas.
Ren a maid in the Kingdom who one day learns her fortune has turned for the better. Ren is savy & is basically this kingdom’s Varys (Game of Thrones reference), she’s not the one to be mistreated based on her position in life. Ren knows who is sleeping with who in the Kingdom, there isn’t anything that happens in the castle that she is unaware of. I LOVE how Ren’s mind works, she knows the elite like the back of her hand and being able to stand above them now puts her at an advantage. She may be in competition with her siblings for the position as heir but that doesn’t sop her from telling them they need to accept their new roles & shape up. Ren has been vulnerable in the past for a love that used her, the secret she carries weighs heavy on her shoulders.
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
I won’t deny how fast this book had me flipping pages, a part of that was me hoping against all that this wouldn’t lead me on in the same fashion as Pretty Little Liars. I felt like the mouse chasing the cheese but nonetheless I went for the ride after all, secrets as dark as these I haven’t come across in any YA books I’ve read. Ultimately, I really wished the world building was more fleshed out & better constructed. Fantasy is my genre of preference & so it’s no surprise that I wanted to understand the magic system better, it’s rules & consequences as well as (if any) the various abilities. Lastly, I wasn’t a fan of being led till the very end by the blackmailer plot line. I understand setting up the story arc for the next book, it just felt like for the climax being built that we should’ve had some sort of resolution for act I. RULE is a very entertaining read but possibly may not have been the read for me. If you’re a fan of Pretty Little Liars or Three Dark Crowns, this may be the book for you 🖤👑🖤
Buddy Reading With: Melanie from Meltotheany
Julie from Pages and Pens
PLOT
” Family is the bond that holds the Reaches together. but to be a part of my family is as much a curse as it is a blessing”
Early reviewers have pegged RULE as a blend of Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars, I can only speak on the latter to say that it absolutely has the PLL feel. RULE tells the story of a dying King who has just lost his only son & heir to what is believed to be a murderous act by Travelers. He has three illegitimate daughters walking different paths of life that he calls to the Kingdom. None of them know why they are being summoned or their relation to the King. All three have had tough lives but have the wits & cunning to get by. It is the Kings hope to have all three trained & that by the end of their training, he will have chosen one to rule the people of Kolonya. The problem is, the King isn’t the only one to have harbored a secret. Each one of his daughters carries within, dark secrets that in some way or another trace back to the King/Kingdom. Once they are made aware of their lineage and purpose, the daughters all have very different feelings about what is expected of them. With their identities revealed all of their secrets are in danger of being exposed. The sisters soon learn there is someone with knowledge of what they have hidden, set on blackmailing them.
We also learn that in this world there is blood magic aka The Blood Arts that a person can access within themselves by “Tithing.” The process of tithing requires that one cut themselves and in a rather vague/unexplained way, get in tune with the blood running through their veins. Those that can achieve this can heighten their senses and magical abilities. The concept & secrets the sisters were keeping were hella intriguing & dark! The magic system however was very undefined and the rules briefly mentioned to an extent. I ended up having more questions than answers with regards to who or if everyone had access to blood magic. We got some clarification on the darker parts of the magic system with regards to The Vulgar Arts aka the act of Titheing into someone in your own lineage/relative with dark intentions. In this world, The Vulgar Arts is considered the worse of crimes punishable by death. Besides the vague magic system breakdown, I wasn’t comfortable with the imagery I got of seeing one cut into themselves to tap into their abilities.
The books is told in multiple POV, each sister alternates telling their story from the point they get summoned to the castle. All have lived very different lives & I did end up really enjoying one more than the others…
Content Warnings: Self harm, abduction, death, murder, physical & verbal abuse
CHARACTERS
“Bloody seed beget bloody crops, What you curse comes back to haunt, And if the family blood you taint, You seal your own bloody fate”
Akeylah This character is very introverted & IMO carries the darkest secret between the three. She’s had to deal with the verbal & physical abuse from a father who blames her for the death of her mother at childbirth. Akeylah finds love (possibly lust #jussayin) in the castle but I can’t say I was with that ship…I’m all for f/f romance but there it just felt odd having it be between Akeylah & her stepmother aka the Queen.
Zofi Started off being. my favorite of the three, she’s a Traveler and that means she pretty much lives a Gypsy-like lifestyle. She’s very protective of her people & would like nothing more than return to them and forget all this business that ties her to the Kingdom. Zofi is a bit rough around the edges but eventually comes around & sees the benefits of her position and how best to wield it to help her people. Zofi is also the only one of the three who has able to tap into her magical abilities. She actively tithes and uses her abilities whenever necessary. Her secret also traces back to the Kingdom, similar to Akhelyas.
Ren a maid in the Kingdom who one day learns her fortune has turned for the better. Ren is savy & is basically this kingdom’s Varys (Game of Thrones reference), she’s not the one to be mistreated based on her position in life. Ren knows who is sleeping with who in the Kingdom, there isn’t anything that happens in the castle that she is unaware of. I LOVE how Ren’s mind works, she knows the elite like the back of her hand and being able to stand above them now puts her at an advantage. She may be in competition with her siblings for the position as heir but that doesn’t sop her from telling them they need to accept their new roles & shape up. Ren has been vulnerable in the past for a love that used her, the secret she carries weighs heavy on her shoulders.
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
I won’t deny how fast this book had me flipping pages, a part of that was me hoping against all that this wouldn’t lead me on in the same fashion as Pretty Little Liars. I felt like the mouse chasing the cheese but nonetheless I went for the ride after all, secrets as dark as these I haven’t come across in any YA books I’ve read. Ultimately, I really wished the world building was more fleshed out & better constructed. Fantasy is my genre of preference & so it’s no surprise that I wanted to understand the magic system better, it’s rules & consequences as well as (if any) the various abilities. Lastly, I wasn’t a fan of being led till the very end by the blackmailer plot line. I understand setting up the story arc for the next book, it just felt like for the climax being built that we should’ve had some sort of resolution for act I. RULE is a very entertaining read but possibly may not have been the read for me. If you’re a fan of Pretty Little Liars or Three Dark Crowns, this may be the book for you 🖤👑🖤
June 29, 2018
View review on my blog, Library in the Country
Review copy generously provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and theNOVL.
Rule is a case of whodunit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with a dash of the fantastical, that will have you guessing up to the very end. If you are looking for a new fantasy series to obsess over, Rule has all of the key ingredients.
Goodlett was born to write and this is a fantasy debut you need to add to your shelves! With her enchantingly descriptive writing, Goodlett has created a richly colorful fantasy world, with nods toward Oceanic cultures. Within that fantasy world are Zofi, Akeylah and Florencia – three girls who have only just discovered they are half sisters and the only remaining heirs to a dying king.
Thrust into a world of court politics, each girl hides a secret that holds her life in the balance, should it be discovered. Bound by their shared blood but clearly dissimilar from each other and the picturesque heir, their differences to not go unnoticed. As each sister fights to prove herself a worthy heir to the throne, it is a struggle to keep their secrets close amongst the vipers at court and somebody has discovered what they hide.
From there the story keeps the reader guessing at every page turn. Who can be trusted? Who is the blackmailer? What secrets are the other courtiers hiding? Rule has an intriguing cast of supporting characters, including a fine dash of romance and the moment you begin to root for someone is also the moment you begin to question their motives.
In addition to the mystery at hand, Rule’s tithing based magic system was refreshing and meticulously fleshed out – with a fine balance between the positive and negative impacts of using such magic.
Additionally, Rule has a strong representation of cultural diversity with a cast made wholly of POC characters, plus some LGBT romance. There are themes of bigotry and oppression present, something each of the girls has tasted firsthand.
Overall, this is a new fantasy series I am pumped to continue! It has been compared to Three Dark Crowns and Pretty Little Liars, with a dash of King Lear and boy does that hit the nail on the head! If you’re looking for something exciting and twisty for your next read, this is it!
Review copy generously provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and theNOVL.
Rule is a case of whodunit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with a dash of the fantastical, that will have you guessing up to the very end. If you are looking for a new fantasy series to obsess over, Rule has all of the key ingredients.
Goodlett was born to write and this is a fantasy debut you need to add to your shelves! With her enchantingly descriptive writing, Goodlett has created a richly colorful fantasy world, with nods toward Oceanic cultures. Within that fantasy world are Zofi, Akeylah and Florencia – three girls who have only just discovered they are half sisters and the only remaining heirs to a dying king.
Thrust into a world of court politics, each girl hides a secret that holds her life in the balance, should it be discovered. Bound by their shared blood but clearly dissimilar from each other and the picturesque heir, their differences to not go unnoticed. As each sister fights to prove herself a worthy heir to the throne, it is a struggle to keep their secrets close amongst the vipers at court and somebody has discovered what they hide.
From there the story keeps the reader guessing at every page turn. Who can be trusted? Who is the blackmailer? What secrets are the other courtiers hiding? Rule has an intriguing cast of supporting characters, including a fine dash of romance and the moment you begin to root for someone is also the moment you begin to question their motives.
In addition to the mystery at hand, Rule’s tithing based magic system was refreshing and meticulously fleshed out – with a fine balance between the positive and negative impacts of using such magic.
Additionally, Rule has a strong representation of cultural diversity with a cast made wholly of POC characters, plus some LGBT romance. There are themes of bigotry and oppression present, something each of the girls has tasted firsthand.
Overall, this is a new fantasy series I am pumped to continue! It has been compared to Three Dark Crowns and Pretty Little Liars, with a dash of King Lear and boy does that hit the nail on the head! If you’re looking for something exciting and twisty for your next read, this is it!
October 4, 2018
The King is dying. His heir has been murdered. Three girls find themselves in the middle of political intrigue and danger when it is revealed that they are the king's illegitimate daughters. Someone doesn't want them to rule. Someone knows the terrible secrets each one hides and wants to destroy them. One of the girls will be the king's new heir...if any of them survive.
I enjoyed this book. Lots of action, political intrigue, treachery, manipulation....the basic plot built up a lot of suspense. The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The three girls are all so different. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, making the characters seem more realistic. And each girl had to learn to strengthen themselves, brave the challenges of their new life, and survive. All in all, this is a very creative and great start to a fantasy duology. The book is well-written. The characters are nicely developed. And, the story moves at a good pace. Not too fast....but not agonizingly slow either.
There is a bit of a abuse and some adult themes in this book, plus violence. Some parental guidance is required. I would say it's PG13. Parents might want to read the book first to be sure it's appropriate for their child under 13.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger...I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, Rise. Rise is scheduled to come out in June 2019.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Little Brown Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I enjoyed this book. Lots of action, political intrigue, treachery, manipulation....the basic plot built up a lot of suspense. The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The three girls are all so different. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, making the characters seem more realistic. And each girl had to learn to strengthen themselves, brave the challenges of their new life, and survive. All in all, this is a very creative and great start to a fantasy duology. The book is well-written. The characters are nicely developed. And, the story moves at a good pace. Not too fast....but not agonizingly slow either.
There is a bit of a abuse and some adult themes in this book, plus violence. Some parental guidance is required. I would say it's PG13. Parents might want to read the book first to be sure it's appropriate for their child under 13.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger...I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, Rise. Rise is scheduled to come out in June 2019.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Little Brown Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
dnf
September 11, 2018ARC from publisher for a fair review.
Despite not finishing this book, I have posted review for the 50% that can be found here.
Blog | Bookstagram | Instagram | Twitter
Despite not finishing this book, I have posted review for the 50% that can be found here.
Blog | Bookstagram | Instagram | Twitter
Want to read
April 17, 2018UMMMMM THREE DARK CROWNS? SIGN ME UP
Want to read
April 18, 2018I'm so intrigued by the premise of this book. I love a good royal court drama!
October 5, 2018
Rule is an absolute wonder! I fell in love with this book right from the beginning. Its perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Three Dark Crowns.
Three girls that have never met, and have nothing in common are brought before the King. The rest of the kingdom doesn't know this yet, but the King is slowly dying and since his son was murdered, he must call on his bastard daughters and train them so that one of them could be his successor. Zofi, Ren and Akeylah are complete opposites, not only in their looks but also in their background and personalities. But when all three girls start receiving threats, and are told to leave the kingdom unless they want their darkest secrets revealed, the sisters decide to stick together and track down the person that wants to get rid of them for good.
This book had such amazing and diverse characters. I absolutely loved them all. The sisters were all is different, yet I truly loved all of them equally. Zofi is definitely the badass warrior, that has a hidden softer side. Akeylah is a shy and kind girl, but throughout the novel she definitely opens up and explores her more passionate side. Ren is a great leader, she's cunning and is able to make amazing connections with people. All three sisters have their strengths and weaknesses, but it honestly made them even more likeable. I absolutely loved the part of the story when all three of them started working together.
The world that Ellen created is absolutely fantastic. The world is really creative and there are so many details that Ellen put into the story about the setting and each part of the kingdom, I am truly amazed at how well this world came together. Having said that, I was slightly confused about the layout of the land, so I think if a map of the world was included in the beginning of the novel then it would have just made the experience even better.
The plot was also very well written. There is action right from the beginning as the sisters are taken in to the palace, and it continues throughout the whole novel. The climax was also very well written and very engaging. The only comment I would make is that this story was slightly predictable, you could tell right away that the three sisters will most likely end up working together, and the person they suspect to be blackmailing them isn't who they think it is, and a bunch of other little things like that. There was only one part of the story that really took me by surprised, and that was right at the end so I wont be telling you guys what it was.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and all the characters in it. I think that if there were some minor changes in this book, it could have been absolutely perfect. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out, because I can't wait to read what happens next. Ellen Goodlett is definitely going on my automatic read authors list.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Three girls that have never met, and have nothing in common are brought before the King. The rest of the kingdom doesn't know this yet, but the King is slowly dying and since his son was murdered, he must call on his bastard daughters and train them so that one of them could be his successor. Zofi, Ren and Akeylah are complete opposites, not only in their looks but also in their background and personalities. But when all three girls start receiving threats, and are told to leave the kingdom unless they want their darkest secrets revealed, the sisters decide to stick together and track down the person that wants to get rid of them for good.
This book had such amazing and diverse characters. I absolutely loved them all. The sisters were all is different, yet I truly loved all of them equally. Zofi is definitely the badass warrior, that has a hidden softer side. Akeylah is a shy and kind girl, but throughout the novel she definitely opens up and explores her more passionate side. Ren is a great leader, she's cunning and is able to make amazing connections with people. All three sisters have their strengths and weaknesses, but it honestly made them even more likeable. I absolutely loved the part of the story when all three of them started working together.
The world that Ellen created is absolutely fantastic. The world is really creative and there are so many details that Ellen put into the story about the setting and each part of the kingdom, I am truly amazed at how well this world came together. Having said that, I was slightly confused about the layout of the land, so I think if a map of the world was included in the beginning of the novel then it would have just made the experience even better.
The plot was also very well written. There is action right from the beginning as the sisters are taken in to the palace, and it continues throughout the whole novel. The climax was also very well written and very engaging. The only comment I would make is that this story was slightly predictable, you could tell right away that the three sisters will most likely end up working together, and the person they suspect to be blackmailing them isn't who they think it is, and a bunch of other little things like that. There was only one part of the story that really took me by surprised, and that was right at the end so I wont be telling you guys what it was.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and all the characters in it. I think that if there were some minor changes in this book, it could have been absolutely perfect. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out, because I can't wait to read what happens next. Ellen Goodlett is definitely going on my automatic read authors list.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
August 13, 2020
Un univers original, des personnages attachants, une intrigue bien menée et un suspens jusqu’au bout ... une très bonne lecture !
August 16, 2018
cw: self-mutilation (the magic system is essentially cutting onseself and it is described in detail), abusive family
The King is dying and with his only heir dead he's forced to bring his three illegitimate daughters to Court. Whomever can learn and perform the best will earn the right to rule.
One of my biggest pet peeves is conflict for the sake of conflict that could easily be solved by the characters talking to one another, and this plot device is used a lot here. From the Talons not telling Zofi from the beginning where she was going to the sisters not talking to one another sooner (although when they finally did it felt... off?). This may not be an issue for every reader, but I think that plot device and the narrative style worked in concert against the story here. This is a case where I think the third-person omniscient narrative style did this story a disservice because it kills all suspense for the reader. The sisters are all being blackmailed and are obviously distrusting of everyone around them, but because we know what we do the inner monologues suspecting everyone comes across as annoying instead of "WHO COULD IT BE?!?!!?" I feel like by the time the characters caught up to what I had already pieced together I was forced to rehash that information for 1-2 pages, which I didn't really enjoy. Honestly I would have probably liked the story a lot better if it had all been told from Akeylah's POV (or if each book centered on a different sister's POV).
Some of the character conversations were a damn hilarious blessing though, and I really enjoyed those glimpses of character peeking through: "Though Sun knows you're doing a good enough job in that getup." "At least I can move. You look like a lobster trussed up for the cooking pot." For those that enjoy romance, each sister has a budding relationship, one of which is an insta-love f/f relationship (forbidden not for sexuality but for other reasons). I have to say that the side character Vidal is wonderful and I adore him.
It is no secret that I adore worldbuilding, and it is the main thing that can make or break my enjoyment of a book. The only worldbuilding here is really recounting the political history of the region and the wars, which only tells part of the story of this world. There are so many things that I would love to have seen explained more to immerse me into the world, the biggest gap being religion. The characters have an exclamation synonymous with how some say "god" in our world that points to different religious beliefs - sands, seas, sun. I find that beliefs offer a lot of insight into cultural differences and a description into what the practices are between the Reaches would have been an excellent way to create more depth and further point out how different the lives were for people around the Kingdom beyond the color of their skin or whether they were a Traveler.
The magic system was not explained well at all: people that are from Reaches can tithe, which appears to be bloodletting? essentially cut themselves to gain temporary boosts to speed, or invisibility. Apparently the stories go that the gods blessed the people of Kolonya with tithe and that is the reason for their being Superior. There is no explanation as to who can do it, how one learns to do it, or if it is closely regulated. The King insinuates that skills are kept as a close secret for the Talons to have an advantage, yet the Travelers also tithe, and it seems that anyone can? I DON'T KNOW OKAY.
The most enjoyable part of this book was reading it with Destiny; our banter and discussions are what kept me reading to the end more than anything else. If I am being honest, the story felt underdeveloped to me and read more like an early draft, but I read an ARC and I am hoping that some changes were made to polish the story prior to publication. This is a fast-paced read with a lot of political machinations. While this book wasn't for me, I do hope it is for you and I think that those who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars will enjoy this book.
Buddy read with Destiny from Howling Libraries!
Many thanks to Little, Brown for providing me an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Quotations were taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication.
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Three girls with three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.Reading this book brought back memories of watching Pretty Little Liars; if you enjoyed the tv show I would recommend this to you! This is a book full of deadly secrets, political intrigue, and a fantasy world where the ruling class is out of touch with the people over whom they rule. While these are ingredients that I love to read, I unfortunately found the execution for Rule to be a bit lacking: the characters were one-dimensional, character relationships to have little to no development to justify their actions, and I was left wanting more worldbuilding. The base ideas are interesting and intriguing, but in my opinion need more development.
The King is dying and with his only heir dead he's forced to bring his three illegitimate daughters to Court. Whomever can learn and perform the best will earn the right to rule.
➡️ Zofi is a Traveler, part of a nomadic band of people, skilled in the art of tithe and a warrior.I found the whole premise of the Blood Ceremony and succession wasn't explained well. I understand the sense of urgency and why timelines were sped up; however, I was very confused as to why the King's twin couldn't assume the throne - something that wasn't explained until like 85% into the book. That simple omission of explanation until very late made it difficult for me to believe the sequence of events at all as it all seemed 'convenient' to move the story along.
➡️ Akeylah's family hates her because her mother died during childbirth, and her father is so abusive that he nearly kills her. My heart breaks for her so much and she is honestly the only character that I don't hate.
➡️ Florencia or "Ren" is a servant, essentially a handmaid within the castle with aspirations of elevating her station through a strategic marriage. Little did she know that she was royalty. She's lived her life on the outskirts of Court and is kind of an insufferable jerk.
One of my biggest pet peeves is conflict for the sake of conflict that could easily be solved by the characters talking to one another, and this plot device is used a lot here. From the Talons not telling Zofi from the beginning where she was going to the sisters not talking to one another sooner (although when they finally did it felt... off?). This may not be an issue for every reader, but I think that plot device and the narrative style worked in concert against the story here. This is a case where I think the third-person omniscient narrative style did this story a disservice because it kills all suspense for the reader. The sisters are all being blackmailed and are obviously distrusting of everyone around them, but because we know what we do the inner monologues suspecting everyone comes across as annoying instead of "WHO COULD IT BE?!?!!?" I feel like by the time the characters caught up to what I had already pieced together I was forced to rehash that information for 1-2 pages, which I didn't really enjoy. Honestly I would have probably liked the story a lot better if it had all been told from Akeylah's POV (or if each book centered on a different sister's POV).
Some of the character conversations were a damn hilarious blessing though, and I really enjoyed those glimpses of character peeking through: "Though Sun knows you're doing a good enough job in that getup." "At least I can move. You look like a lobster trussed up for the cooking pot." For those that enjoy romance, each sister has a budding relationship, one of which is an insta-love f/f relationship (forbidden not for sexuality but for other reasons). I have to say that the side character Vidal is wonderful and I adore him.
It is no secret that I adore worldbuilding, and it is the main thing that can make or break my enjoyment of a book. The only worldbuilding here is really recounting the political history of the region and the wars, which only tells part of the story of this world. There are so many things that I would love to have seen explained more to immerse me into the world, the biggest gap being religion. The characters have an exclamation synonymous with how some say "god" in our world that points to different religious beliefs - sands, seas, sun. I find that beliefs offer a lot of insight into cultural differences and a description into what the practices are between the Reaches would have been an excellent way to create more depth and further point out how different the lives were for people around the Kingdom beyond the color of their skin or whether they were a Traveler.
The magic system was not explained well at all: people that are from Reaches can tithe, which appears to be bloodletting? essentially cut themselves to gain temporary boosts to speed, or invisibility. Apparently the stories go that the gods blessed the people of Kolonya with tithe and that is the reason for their being Superior. There is no explanation as to who can do it, how one learns to do it, or if it is closely regulated. The King insinuates that skills are kept as a close secret for the Talons to have an advantage, yet the Travelers also tithe, and it seems that anyone can? I DON'T KNOW OKAY.
You cannot control your destiny, Mama always said. Only the way you face it.All of the events of this book are happening as the result of three secrets: actions that each of the daughters made that set things in motion. It is almost poetic and points to perhaps their being manipulated into action - but that doesn't jive with the whole blackmailer thing, it would be interesting though!
The most enjoyable part of this book was reading it with Destiny; our banter and discussions are what kept me reading to the end more than anything else. If I am being honest, the story felt underdeveloped to me and read more like an early draft, but I read an ARC and I am hoping that some changes were made to polish the story prior to publication. This is a fast-paced read with a lot of political machinations. While this book wasn't for me, I do hope it is for you and I think that those who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars will enjoy this book.
Buddy read with Destiny from Howling Libraries!
Many thanks to Little, Brown for providing me an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Quotations were taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication.
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January 30, 2020
No le doy más por mala JAJAJAJA
November 2, 2018
Whoever their blackmailer was, they were still out there.
I haven't felt this frustrated in quite a while. It's not necessarily a bad thing since cliffhangers are meant to make people feel this way: annoyed yet excited to read the sequel. Nonetheless, gleaning from the novel's blurb, I thought that I could attain closure (learn the identity of the blackmailer) this early. Ugh. Apparently not. 370 pages weren't enough to drag the suspense.
In Rule, three illegitimate princesses "compete" to be the rightful heir to the throne of Kolonya, a kingdom surrounded by four colonies a.k.a. Reaches. Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren want the crown for various reasons. However, they have a common enemy. Someone knows their dirty-and-not-so-little secrets and wants them to leave court. As the half-sisters strive to catch the culprit, the king draws closer to death, putting the stability of the kingdom at risk.
If the premise sounds exciting to you, go ahead and read this book. But be warned that I found it very character-driven, if not uneventful. Throughout the novel, the mysterious villain, whom I hoped would hasten the plot, was more tell than show. He/she threatened the girls through ominous paintings, letters, and even hallucinations. This made the plot a bit repetitive. The heroines would receive a message from the blackmailer, feel scared, and then conduct research (through spying, gossip, and manipulation). If my memory serves me right, there were three messages all in all, which means that the latter cycle happened three times.
At first, I was excited and created a list of possible culprits. My primary suspect was Rozalind, the king's wife who also happened to be from an enemy nation. Her behavior toward Akeylah was particularly fishy, so I had a hunch that she had malicious intentions. Sadly, I was wrong, and the narrative presented more suspects. It even came to the point that the sisters doubted each other. And of course, I was annoyed as much as them. In my mind, I was screaming "Can we stop going in circles?" I just couldn't wait for the big reveal!
So when the ending came...all hell broke loose. Just kidding! Because guess what? It was ANOTHER FREAKIN' VISION. Of death, this time. The girls' realized that they had caught the wrong mouse, signalling the start of another FBI investigation. Hurrah!!!! What fun!!! Give me a break, ladies! Or at least some definitive answers.
With all that said, I still didn't give this book a lower rating because it did have some good parts. The magic system of "tithing" was pretty unique. By sacrificing some blood, the characters could temporarily gain powers, like super speed, strength, and more. Er, but to be honest, the act of bloodletting was triggering. I bet this aspect of the book would trigger readers with self-harm issues.
The real virtue was the bond between the three protagonists. I liked how they gradually overcame their prejudices and learned to rely on each other. Their different statuses as Traveler, Easterner, and Kolonyan became insignificant in light of their newfound sisterhood. Also, it was nice that although they were in a competition, they didn't sabotage each other to win the crown. I'm sure that haters of that phenomenon called Girl Hate will agree with me.
Ultimately, Rule was predominantly frustrating because of its circular plot. Did the author delay the big reveal just to warrant a sequel? You tell me. Knowing me, I'm still gonna read the next book just because the cover's beautiful. LOL. Nah, I shall keep my hopes up and wait for legit answers.
I haven't felt this frustrated in quite a while. It's not necessarily a bad thing since cliffhangers are meant to make people feel this way: annoyed yet excited to read the sequel. Nonetheless, gleaning from the novel's blurb, I thought that I could attain closure (learn the identity of the blackmailer) this early. Ugh. Apparently not. 370 pages weren't enough to drag the suspense.
In Rule, three illegitimate princesses "compete" to be the rightful heir to the throne of Kolonya, a kingdom surrounded by four colonies a.k.a. Reaches. Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren want the crown for various reasons. However, they have a common enemy. Someone knows their dirty-and-not-so-little secrets and wants them to leave court. As the half-sisters strive to catch the culprit, the king draws closer to death, putting the stability of the kingdom at risk.
If the premise sounds exciting to you, go ahead and read this book. But be warned that I found it very character-driven, if not uneventful. Throughout the novel, the mysterious villain, whom I hoped would hasten the plot, was more tell than show. He/she threatened the girls through ominous paintings, letters, and even hallucinations. This made the plot a bit repetitive. The heroines would receive a message from the blackmailer, feel scared, and then conduct research (through spying, gossip, and manipulation). If my memory serves me right, there were three messages all in all, which means that the latter cycle happened three times.
At first, I was excited and created a list of possible culprits. My primary suspect was Rozalind, the king's wife who also happened to be from an enemy nation. Her behavior toward Akeylah was particularly fishy, so I had a hunch that she had malicious intentions. Sadly, I was wrong, and the narrative presented more suspects. It even came to the point that the sisters doubted each other. And of course, I was annoyed as much as them. In my mind, I was screaming "Can we stop going in circles?" I just couldn't wait for the big reveal!
So when the ending came...all hell broke loose. Just kidding! Because guess what? It was ANOTHER FREAKIN' VISION. Of death, this time. The girls' realized that they had caught the wrong mouse, signalling the start of another FBI investigation. Hurrah!!!! What fun!!! Give me a break, ladies! Or at least some definitive answers.
With all that said, I still didn't give this book a lower rating because it did have some good parts. The magic system of "tithing" was pretty unique. By sacrificing some blood, the characters could temporarily gain powers, like super speed, strength, and more. Er, but to be honest, the act of bloodletting was triggering. I bet this aspect of the book would trigger readers with self-harm issues.
The real virtue was the bond between the three protagonists. I liked how they gradually overcame their prejudices and learned to rely on each other. Their different statuses as Traveler, Easterner, and Kolonyan became insignificant in light of their newfound sisterhood. Also, it was nice that although they were in a competition, they didn't sabotage each other to win the crown. I'm sure that haters of that phenomenon called Girl Hate will agree with me.
Ultimately, Rule was predominantly frustrating because of its circular plot. Did the author delay the big reveal just to warrant a sequel? You tell me. Knowing me, I'm still gonna read the next book just because the cover's beautiful. LOL. Nah, I shall keep my hopes up and wait for legit answers.
May 23, 2019
Me ha gustado mucho, desde luego ha conseguido que me mantenga muy enganchada desde el principio, y desde cierta parte es que ya era imposible parar. Además me ha gustado que la autora nos meta intriga en la trama, no sé sabe quien amenaza a las protagonistas pero sospechas de todos los personajes. El final es de esos que te dan muchas ganas de tener ya el segundo, pero tengo que esperar a que la editorial lo traduzca.
June 11, 2019
Rule, primera parte de la saga "Rule" escrita por Ellen Goodlett. Una historia de fantasía juvenil con muchos secretos por desentrañar. Las tres protagonistas Akeylah, Zofi y Florencia son tan diferentes unas de otras que cuando se juntan se complementan a la perfección. La trama en sí atrapa desde el primer capítulo, con una gran variedad de personajes secundarios que serán clave para el transcurso de la novela. El desenlace te deja sin respiración por todo lo que sucede en tan pocas páginas, creando al lector unas ganas inmensas por leer el siguiente libro.
March 6, 2019
No spoilers in this rapid review of Rule. I liked it and give it 3.5 stars. Rule’s average Goodreads rating is on the lower side of the books I usually read. YA readers tend to rate good books over 4 stars and great above 4.3 stars. So I was worried about a rating of 3.63 stars. But the story sounded fascinating to me, and I wanted to give it a chance. I ended up pleasantly surprised overall!
In Rule, three girls discover they’re the long-lost daughters of the Kolonyan king. When the heir Nicolen is killed, the king brings these half sisters to Koloyna City to vie for the throne. The girls have been raised in vastly different environments. Nevertheless, they settle in (at least somewhat) to their new surroundings as the king begins to teach them what it takes to rule Koloyna. But the sisters each have a dark secret from their past, and these secrets begin to haunt them.
This sounds like a great set-up, right? It was! Goodlett threw in a little romance here and there, but for the most part, the story centered on the sisters competing for the throne, learning to navigate high society, and trying to keep their dark secrets hidden. Each sister had a unique voice and a unique skill set, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Additionally, Goodlett created an interesting magical system centered on the Blood Arts.
A mystery runs the full course of the story, and this intrigue pulled me along quickly as I tried to figure out who was behind the strange incidents. But I think Goodlett should’ve dropped a few more hints before she wrapped up book one. I have a guess or two about what’s going on, but too much was left open to interpretation. Even though another book is on its way, I wish a little more was revealed before the end of Rule.
Also, the description of the setting was lacking. I couldn’t see Kolonya City or the castle—the two places where we spend the majority of the book—very well in my mind. And even though I liked what I learned, I wish the Blood Arts system would’ve been explored a little more. I feel like Goodlett only scratched the surface of how it works. Hopefully both of these aspects of world building will be explored further in the next installment.
My biggest complaint, however, is that one love stories rubbed me the wrong way. It’s an affair in which stepfamily members were involved. In my opinion, the story would be better without this aspect, which felt a bit icky to me.
The story’s theme was similar to that of the Three Dark Crowns series, but I liked Rule better. I thought both the storytelling and prose were superior. So if you like that series, I suggest giving Rule a try! I will definitely be picking up a copy of Rise when it comes out. I want to see if my theories are correct and find out what’s next for these sisters.
Read all of our reviews here.
Check out our full book recaps here.
In Rule, three girls discover they’re the long-lost daughters of the Kolonyan king. When the heir Nicolen is killed, the king brings these half sisters to Koloyna City to vie for the throne. The girls have been raised in vastly different environments. Nevertheless, they settle in (at least somewhat) to their new surroundings as the king begins to teach them what it takes to rule Koloyna. But the sisters each have a dark secret from their past, and these secrets begin to haunt them.
This sounds like a great set-up, right? It was! Goodlett threw in a little romance here and there, but for the most part, the story centered on the sisters competing for the throne, learning to navigate high society, and trying to keep their dark secrets hidden. Each sister had a unique voice and a unique skill set, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Additionally, Goodlett created an interesting magical system centered on the Blood Arts.
A mystery runs the full course of the story, and this intrigue pulled me along quickly as I tried to figure out who was behind the strange incidents. But I think Goodlett should’ve dropped a few more hints before she wrapped up book one. I have a guess or two about what’s going on, but too much was left open to interpretation. Even though another book is on its way, I wish a little more was revealed before the end of Rule.
Also, the description of the setting was lacking. I couldn’t see Kolonya City or the castle—the two places where we spend the majority of the book—very well in my mind. And even though I liked what I learned, I wish the Blood Arts system would’ve been explored a little more. I feel like Goodlett only scratched the surface of how it works. Hopefully both of these aspects of world building will be explored further in the next installment.
My biggest complaint, however, is that one love stories rubbed me the wrong way. It’s an affair in which stepfamily members were involved. In my opinion, the story would be better without this aspect, which felt a bit icky to me.
The story’s theme was similar to that of the Three Dark Crowns series, but I liked Rule better. I thought both the storytelling and prose were superior. So if you like that series, I suggest giving Rule a try! I will definitely be picking up a copy of Rise when it comes out. I want to see if my theories are correct and find out what’s next for these sisters.
Read all of our reviews here.
Check out our full book recaps here.
July 25, 2018
3.5 out of 5.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The concept is really cool and I loved the different boosts they got from tithing (the magic in the book) and would love to learn about more of the Vulgar Arts. The characters were interesting, but I had a hard time distinguishing them from each other at times and would have to flip back to check what POV I was on. I loved that we learned each girl's secret early on without being teased with hints the full book. If I had to choose Ren was my favorite, with Zofi a close second. The relationship the three sisters developed over time was definitely not what I expected - in a good way. I also loved how each sister seemed to have a certain strength to assist them in ruling and their decisions.
While I really enjoyed this book there were a few things that kept it from being a 5 star for me:
I feel like there wasn't enough interaction with their father considering he was an incredibly important character and what brought them together. I also feel like I needed more Yasmin and Andros interactions.
My other main problem was that fir some reason it wasn't a book I couldn't stop reading. I don't know if it was because it was clunky and needed smoothing over. Or if it's because I felt like their just wasn't enough conflict.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will continue the series as it releases.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The concept is really cool and I loved the different boosts they got from tithing (the magic in the book) and would love to learn about more of the Vulgar Arts. The characters were interesting, but I had a hard time distinguishing them from each other at times and would have to flip back to check what POV I was on. I loved that we learned each girl's secret early on without being teased with hints the full book. If I had to choose Ren was my favorite, with Zofi a close second. The relationship the three sisters developed over time was definitely not what I expected - in a good way. I also loved how each sister seemed to have a certain strength to assist them in ruling and their decisions.
While I really enjoyed this book there were a few things that kept it from being a 5 star for me:
I feel like there wasn't enough interaction with their father considering he was an incredibly important character and what brought them together. I also feel like I needed more Yasmin and Andros interactions.
My other main problem was that fir some reason it wasn't a book I couldn't stop reading. I don't know if it was because it was clunky and needed smoothing over. Or if it's because I felt like their just wasn't enough conflict.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will continue the series as it releases.
May 27, 2019
3,5/5
Me costó bastante engancharme, pero aun así la lectura se me hizo muy rápida, y eso que las descripciones a veces se me hacían pesadas. De todos modos, es un libro con el que he disfrutado y cuya historia es entretenida, además de que el final te deja con muchísimas ganas de leer la continuación.
Me costó bastante engancharme, pero aun así la lectura se me hizo muy rápida, y eso que las descripciones a veces se me hacían pesadas. De todos modos, es un libro con el que he disfrutado y cuya historia es entretenida, además de que el final te deja con muchísimas ganas de leer la continuación.
October 22, 2020
Overall Rating : B-
Who gives authors the right to go and leave cliffhangers like this?!?! And I don't even have the second book to calm myself its so unfair!!😭
Who gives authors the right to go and leave cliffhangers like this?!?! And I don't even have the second book to calm myself its so unfair!!😭
February 27, 2019
Thank you once again to TheNovl for sending an ARC for a review
Okay, I'm just going to start off by saying that this book was freaking amazing, and epic and I cannot wait for the sequel! Especially after that last chapter, and the last page, like WHAT!!?? I don't know how I'll be able to wait when this book isn't technically out until September, haha! If you're looking for an amazing high fantasy with incredible world building, fantastic characters, and a stellar plot, look know further! If you love mystery and lots of political intrigue, you'll love Rule. Also can we talk about how almost all of these characters are described as people of color and we also have a queer main character!
Okay, like I mentioned above, one of my favorite things about this book is the world building! As a writer myself and knowing how hard it is to create such a vastly different world from my own, I feel it's something I appreciate even more. This was such a refreshingly unique world and I loved learning about it. From the religion, to the politics, to how things are run, etc, etc. I do wish we could have seen a little more of it, more so then just hearing about it, but I completely understand that doing so wouldn't really serve the plot in this book. Nevertheless I do hope, maybe we can see more of it in book two.
Of course the plot and story itself was amazing and truly kept me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked from chapter one and this constantly kept me wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of twist and turns that were revealed that just kept adding to my love for this book. I'm going to be honest, as the book kept creeping closer to the end, I thought it was going to disappoint me. I had thought I already guessed who was behind everything, and nothing too crazy was happening and nothing would shock me how I love to be in books. But, I was totally wrong! Those last few chapters completely turned my opinion around and like I said before I just loved that last chapter especially. I just have so many questions now!
I also loved the characters in this book, especially, the three sisters of course! They are all so vastly different from each other which I just loved seeing. I think Ellen Goodlette did a pretty good job on weaving three very different stories together in a way that makes sense and just telling the story of three completely different girls, raised in completely different ways. If I had to pick a favorite character I think I would probably have to choose Akeylah! I think she was the one I related to the most, and the one I would be if I was thrust into this world and situation. I think Zofi is a close second though! I just adore how fierce and strong she is. I also loved Vidal and Rozalind, like a lot! I hope we get to see way more of both of them because both of their stories interest me so much.
I think the only reason I'm knocking of half a star is because sometimes the narratives for each sister could sometimes feel a bit repetitive. This wasn't obviously a huge problem and didn't happen at all that often. I just felt like similar things happened to all three of the girls so it could feel that way in some parts of the book. Also I'm an impatient person sometimes and some chapters would be left on a cliff hanger from one girl's POV and then we would jump into another completely different POV and we would have to wait a few chapters to come back to the other POV. Which of course is important to the story but I just want to know what's happening like instantly, haha! Though these couple of things did bother me a little, it really wasn't like a super huge deal and obviously didn't effect my enjoyment of the book that much at all.
Basically in short, this book was so, so good and I HIGHLY recommend picking it up when it's released in September! And of course I'm way too excited about the sequel because I must know what's going to happen!
Okay, I'm just going to start off by saying that this book was freaking amazing, and epic and I cannot wait for the sequel! Especially after that last chapter, and the last page, like WHAT!!?? I don't know how I'll be able to wait when this book isn't technically out until September, haha! If you're looking for an amazing high fantasy with incredible world building, fantastic characters, and a stellar plot, look know further! If you love mystery and lots of political intrigue, you'll love Rule. Also can we talk about how almost all of these characters are described as people of color and we also have a queer main character!
Okay, like I mentioned above, one of my favorite things about this book is the world building! As a writer myself and knowing how hard it is to create such a vastly different world from my own, I feel it's something I appreciate even more. This was such a refreshingly unique world and I loved learning about it. From the religion, to the politics, to how things are run, etc, etc. I do wish we could have seen a little more of it, more so then just hearing about it, but I completely understand that doing so wouldn't really serve the plot in this book. Nevertheless I do hope, maybe we can see more of it in book two.
Of course the plot and story itself was amazing and truly kept me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked from chapter one and this constantly kept me wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of twist and turns that were revealed that just kept adding to my love for this book. I'm going to be honest, as the book kept creeping closer to the end, I thought it was going to disappoint me. I had thought I already guessed who was behind everything, and nothing too crazy was happening and nothing would shock me how I love to be in books. But, I was totally wrong! Those last few chapters completely turned my opinion around and like I said before I just loved that last chapter especially. I just have so many questions now!
I also loved the characters in this book, especially, the three sisters of course! They are all so vastly different from each other which I just loved seeing. I think Ellen Goodlette did a pretty good job on weaving three very different stories together in a way that makes sense and just telling the story of three completely different girls, raised in completely different ways. If I had to pick a favorite character I think I would probably have to choose Akeylah! I think she was the one I related to the most, and the one I would be if I was thrust into this world and situation. I think Zofi is a close second though! I just adore how fierce and strong she is. I also loved Vidal and Rozalind, like a lot! I hope we get to see way more of both of them because both of their stories interest me so much.
I think the only reason I'm knocking of half a star is because sometimes the narratives for each sister could sometimes feel a bit repetitive. This wasn't obviously a huge problem and didn't happen at all that often. I just felt like similar things happened to all three of the girls so it could feel that way in some parts of the book. Also I'm an impatient person sometimes and some chapters would be left on a cliff hanger from one girl's POV and then we would jump into another completely different POV and we would have to wait a few chapters to come back to the other POV. Which of course is important to the story but I just want to know what's happening like instantly, haha! Though these couple of things did bother me a little, it really wasn't like a super huge deal and obviously didn't effect my enjoyment of the book that much at all.
Basically in short, this book was so, so good and I HIGHLY recommend picking it up when it's released in September! And of course I'm way too excited about the sequel because I must know what's going to happen!
December 13, 2019
I stayed up until 3 am to finish this, which I guess isn't saying much since I'm usually awake at that time anyway. But! I don't usually just lie in bed listening to an audiobook, which I did last night because I got home from work and had half an hour of the story left.
I really, really liked this. I was apprehensive because I guess I'm picky about my fantasy without intending to be. This book, though, had a lot for me to like. What I liked most was that this focuses on three female characters--Ren, Zofi, and Akeylah--all of whom are different people. More importantly, they're allowed to be different people. None of the half-sisters is portrayed as better than the others. All three of them have good points and bad points about them. That's so refreshing to read about. And even though they start out distrusting each other, they form sweet, poignant bonds by the end of the book.
I also liked that even though all three main characters have love interests, those side stories are kept exactly that--to the side. None of the women's relationships overshadows their character growth. That's usually my biggest gripe in books because I'm not, like, super into romance unless I'm reading a straight-up romance, haha.
My biggest complaint is that this doesn't feel like book one. It feels more like part one, like you're meant to read the story all at once. Luckily, the second book was available at my library right away, so I'll probably start listening this weekend.
Yeah, gonna stop this abruptly because I'm tired. Oh, well!
TL;DR: Very much enjoyed. Gonna read #2 right away. Might talk about it on my podcast.
I really, really liked this. I was apprehensive because I guess I'm picky about my fantasy without intending to be. This book, though, had a lot for me to like. What I liked most was that this focuses on three female characters--Ren, Zofi, and Akeylah--all of whom are different people. More importantly, they're allowed to be different people. None of the half-sisters is portrayed as better than the others. All three of them have good points and bad points about them. That's so refreshing to read about. And even though they start out distrusting each other, they form sweet, poignant bonds by the end of the book.
I also liked that even though all three main characters have love interests, those side stories are kept exactly that--to the side. None of the women's relationships overshadows their character growth. That's usually my biggest gripe in books because I'm not, like, super into romance unless I'm reading a straight-up romance, haha.
My biggest complaint is that this doesn't feel like book one. It feels more like part one, like you're meant to read the story all at once. Luckily, the second book was available at my library right away, so I'll probably start listening this weekend.
Yeah, gonna stop this abruptly because I'm tired. Oh, well!
TL;DR: Very much enjoyed. Gonna read #2 right away. Might talk about it on my podcast.
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