Daggermouth

⭐ Overall:♾️📖 Plot: 5/5👥 Character Development: 5/5⏩ Pace: 5/5🌎 World Building: 5/5🌶️ Spice: 2/5First, this is one of those rare books where I finished reading and wanted to throw my device across the room… but obviously couldn't because I still need it. 😂Lastly: ⚠️ WARNINGS! ⚠️You will be emotionally damaged and thank HM Wolfe for it while simultaneously asking for more.You will read viscerally descriptive scenes that are wholly powerful. ❤️‍🔥After meeting HM Wolfe on her book tour and understanding why Daggermouth was written, I felt the RAGE jump off the page, through her characters, and into the world she created.I absolutely loved the character development and world building. There are so many layers to this story, but the information is carefully dripped throughout the book, making the complexity of the world easy to absorb without ever feeling overwhelming.And Shadera Kael and Greyson Serel? 👏🏼Their relationship is a true enemies-to-lovers. Not “we mildly dislike each other.” Not “we bicker but secretly want each other.” These two genuinely come from opposing sides, with actual violence between them, while also discovering that they share a common enemy.Watching them slowly lower their walls, take off their masks, and allow themselves to become vulnerable with each other was SO well done.And the tension? PALPABLE—every slow-burn moment building between them only made each interaction hit harder, sharper, and more intense. 👀🔥The slow burn was chef's kiss. 👩🏻‍🍳💋The side characters were also SO interesting. There are so many characters I want to know more about, but...OMG CALLUM. 👀 IYKYK.And lastly… THAT ENDING.I felt so validated because while I didn't call every twist and turn, I DID catch the identity reveal at the end—and it felt SO GOOD. 😂Now I need Python in my hands immediately because I have approximately one million questions and absolutely no patience.This book is dark, layered, political, emotional, rage-filled, and beautifully written. If you love dystopian romantasy with a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced political marriage, slow-burn tension, morally complicated characters, and betrayals stacked on betrayals…READ. THIS. BOOK.Tropes & Vibes:🖤True enemies to lovers (with actual violence)🗡️Forced political marriage🖤Masked elite dystopia🗡️Slow-burn tension edging🖤Devotion-heavy secondary romance🗡️“I want to unalive you” energy🖤Touch-her-and-die devotion🗡️Ritualised loyalty horror🖤Betrayal on betrayal on betrayal🗡️Generational rebellion🖤Female rage (controlled, strategic)🗡️Multiple POV political intrigue🖤Psychological warfare🗡️Revolution ignition ending🖤Cliffhanger that punches you in the throat

Wow. This book. This one, I’ll admit, did take me a little bit to get into. I blame that entirely on the fact that it is written in third person and those just tend to take a bit for me. With that being said, it HAD to be third person. Just had to.This is a dark, dystopian romance. My first actually. I’ve read tons of dystopian. Tons of romance. And this is the best of both worth with a much darker, heavier and more sinister feel. The Heart is city of luxury and privilege while The Cardinal works and provides and The Boundary sits in the shadows hoping to get the food, medicine or other essentials to even live.Shadera is an unapologetic badass. I loved her as a character. Greyson is one of the best morally gray characters ever. And the two of them together was a TRUE enemies to lovers treat!This book was a solid 4 all the way until the last 10% where the twists had more twists and any theory I had concocted was burned to ash. I was left with my jaw on the floor and devastation in my heart knowing now I had to wait for book 2! Python cannot come fast enough.*please check triggers prior to reading

I have no words. I finished this book last night and it was absolutely amazing. Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Angel Pean, I devoured this! I had heard so many great things about this book so I was both exited and scared to read this book, but I can, I was not disappointed. This true enemies to lovers dystopian gave us multiple point of views, which I loved, will have you in a chokehold from start to end. We have three rings, the Heart, which is the elite, rich and do what they please. Then we have The Cardinal. This is the working/middle class. They get the work done. Then we have The Boundary. The poor and forgotten but also the ones with nothing to lose.Shadera Kael is an assassin from The Boundary, has known, loss, fear, hunger and now determination. Her goal is to destroy the heart of The Heart. When she is given a contract to kill the Executioner, the heir to the presidency, she takes it. But this decision changes everything. I loved Shadera She was so strong, determined, feisty and full of sass. But she was also human. Then we have Greyson Serel, the heir and executioner, of The Heart. But not is as it seems. He is ruthless, controlled, protective of those he loves and hides so many secrets.When her assassination attempt does not go as planned, they are forced to marry and unite the rings. But they hate each and hae the reason to do so. But the more time they spend together, the more they come to learn about the other. We also get other point of views which allows us to see all three rings, the rebellion and the villain. I loved this about this story. I have to say, the plot, theme, characters and all of the twists and turns had me captivated. I absolutely devoured and loved this book. I highly recommend it!Happy listening!

honestly, i straight up loved this book. i don't even know how to properly explain it tbh. it just completely sucked me in. the story is dark, intense, emotional and non stop. there's forced marriage for the purpose of propaganda and a constantly growing rebellion. the romance is there and its really solid, but it isn't the entire premise of the book and it works perfectly. the characters come across as so real, i felt like i was in the pages with them. i am not a huge fan of third person POV, so i do think this could have benefited from being told in first person POV, as it did get a bit confusing jumping from different characters perspectives. but i am so excited for book 2!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5Daggermouth book was a nice little break from my usually romantasy. This was action packed. The FMC Shadera is a battle hardened fierce individual scared by the loss of her parents. MMC suffering the cruelty of the monster of a father. Together they found common ground. I did feel like the speed in which their connection grew was a bit premature (reason for the 4.5 ⭐️) but definitely on its way to be something great. Otherwise, love the banter....the yearning and desire. Plot was pretty damn good. By the time you get to Chapter 30, it one revelation after the next. The twists! OMG! This was a great book! Read it fairly quickly. The audio is AMAZING!! Highly recommend. I listened a bit while doing chores.