Realm Breaker - Victoria Aveyard (transport yourself to the medieval era)

I read this book only for the vibes. And vibes did I get.

This book is fantasy with a medieval setting. Right off the bat, the first thing you see is an absolutely gorgeous in-color map. Do ya hear me? IN COLOR. Unlike other books, I actually wanted to go back as I was reading to check the map for locations. (PETITION FOR MORE MAPS TO BE THIS DETAILED)

"Stand tall and steadfast true. The darkness comes; your choices grow few." - Realm Breaker

Overview:

Realm Breaker is a story of about Corayne an-Amarat finds out that she is from an ancient lineage and holds the power to save the world from an evil villain (more about him later). She bands together with an unlikely group of cast-outs on their journey to save the world. Sounds a bit cringe, but trust me, it's anything but. Even though the story has a pretty straightforward plot in my opinion, with twists and turns here and there, and a fast-paced plot, this felt very much like Throne of Glass meets Six of Crows to me. It was a thrilling experience to read it.

Honest thoughts:

Initially, I was a bit skeptical about picking it up because I had heard it would just be 500+ pages of worldbuilding, but I was wrong. The thing about Victoria Aveyard is that every chapter she writes seems to have a purpose or meaning to it. Unlike several other books with heavy worldbuilding, you won't really find yourself questioning "how is this relevant at all?". Even if it is a small conversation or a walk down a road, every scene in this book has a reason that is evident.

My favorite part:

Another thing I really liked about this book was the villain arc. We get to see from the perspective of one of the villains, and I feel like it really helps to blur that line between who is a villain vs hero. Understanding the motives of both sides sets up a politically bruta, and epic fantasy that I am all here for.

To wrap it all up:

The medieval setting and golden aesthetic of the book really captivated my attention. It was an easy read, which is what I guess I liked the most about it. This book will interest anyone with an interest in fantasy, politics, or a villain romance. I can't wait for the next book and am excited to see how the series progresses.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

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