Merle
4🌟 Okay, can I just say that the English covers for both Nemesis and Ally are hideous? The one for Nemesis looks cheap af, and the one for Ally doesn't match. However, the German covers are gorgeous, and portray Sepora and Tarik exactly how I imagined them. Probs to whoever designed them! Plot: Princess Sepora runs away from her kingdom, after her father found a way to use her gift as a Forger as a weapon. To prevent a war, she tries to hide in Theoria, but is captured and taken into servitude. When the king of Theoria passes away from a new and mysterious illness, his son Tarik becomes king. He doesn't have time for an annoying servant called Sepora... or maybe he does? Sepora's gift could save Tarik's people. But can she risk exposing herself? The first three chapters left me completely confused. So many new names and places and things... But after I understood how the country and the five kingdoms worked, I was really invested in the story. I loved the parts with egyptian culture - I love egypt and the Pyramids and their gods, so that was really something I enjoyed. And the magic in this world was very unique. Anna Banks did an amazing job at worldbuilding, that's for sure! Even if the pages lacked action in the beginning, the understanding of the kingdoms and their beliefs are so important for the overall story, believe me. I saw so many people saying the name Sepora reminded them of Sephora (= makeup brand), but I was actually thinking of Zipporah (= the wife of Moses from the Bible). We will never know why Anna Banks chose that name... This book is a slow burn, but the last 50 pages are filled with action and twists I didn't see coming. While this isn't my favorite "enemy to lover" and "magic kingdoms at war" book, it provides original ideas and kingdoms I would love to travel to.
