I am not really into sci-fi but I do love the stars, constellations, and astrology so as much as I battled to get into it I enjoyed enough of it to keep going. A lot of this didn't make the best amount of sense for me and some of the world (or worlds) building could of used more fleshing out imo. Zellie as our FMC, I struggled to like her especially in the beginning but she grew on me quite a bit in the end. The trials she endures not only inside the games but outside was an interesting, empowering, and devastating journey to witness. This isn't my favorite read and almost DNF'd it at about 30% but am glad I didn't as the story definitely got a lot more interesting. I was a little annoyed at the end though as I don't feel I was on a cliff (cliffhanger) but more just pushed into a void of being left with nothing and think the writing could of used a bit more information to actually feel more like a cliffhanger than a void dangler but that is just me personally and I am interested to see what happens in the next book.

Wow... this Codex/Novella was extremely well done! I absolutely enjoyed reading it. The Codex being written from mainly one of the characters in the connected series (as well as some entries supplied by the others) gave us the chance to get a taste of the characters mindsets and personalities as well as the world building and background to things within the world the connected series takes place. The author did a fabulous job at creating the cultures, creatures, terrain, and additional facets to the world they created in such detail that it really came alive for me and i could full immerse into everything and it made me care about it all! The conflict of the realms was also very well explained and even though our characters are on the side of rebellion the POV that the codex was written in really wanted to explain in full truth and search for and delve deep into what the corrupt ruling caste was trying to hide in propaganda, and the author did AMAZING laying it all out. The novella... OMG!!! I loved it so much, it shattered me so deeply. I feel the novella really got me into my emotions of the lore of the world to get me extremely invested it what is going to happen in the connected series. I loved Malakor and Lyra!! They deserved so much... I love the complexity but also simplicity of the story and conflict. I am very very very invested to know more of the world and see what happens to our codex characters going forward. I NEED more of this NOW!

This story was both well and complexly written but vulgar and raunchy as heck! Definitely a full blown pirates life of debauchery and mayhem story. Sadie's growth and finding herself was wild and interesting to see. Not my standard type of book to read but I feel anyone looking for the vile, filthy, chaotic portrayal of pirates would definitely like this style of story. I also enjoyed that this story was set historically and brought linguistics of the time back to life as well as a whole different set of words for the language of the 'vampire' aspect of the story. 3.5 star for me personally as it wasn't really for me but round up to 4 stars as I did like how well it was written and found it interesting. I do recommend for anyone REALLY into pirate stories!

DNF! Got thru 60% and could care less about the characters.. I don't care about the plot and sounds like a bunch of adults that plot devised as REALLY immature when needed for really no reason and all of them have dark unredeemable qualities that to me signals they should stay right where they found themselves... also book has triggering/devaluing language to victims/survivors of SA and misconstrued understandings of mental health.. because I got so far with it TRYING to give it the chance I did I am marking this as a book I read where normal DNFs I remove because I do so early. I REALLY wanted to like this book because of the edition I bought but will now be unhauling this author from my Library and I just don't think they are for me.