DNF December Review Blitz — Day 7: I’m sharing my thoughts on some book series that I have marked as incomplete as I have never finished the first novel in the series. Find out why these weren’t for me:
Synopsis for Legacy (from Goodreads):
I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.
In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father’s choice of suitor fills her with despair.
When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom’s greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.
In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won’t be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.
Series: Legacy
Author: Cayla Kluver
# of Books: 3 (Legacy, Allegiance, Sacrifice)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single; Alternating (Sacrifice)
Publication Dates: August 2009 – October 2012
Source & Format: Own–eBook
Disclaimer: I stopped reading Legacy (Book #1) at 22% (Start of Chapter 9). Find out why below…
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
Legacy was one of first eBooks I purchased for my Kobo when I first got it. I love a good historical-fantasy novel and this one sounded like it had potential. Conspiracies; forbidden love; the opportunity for a heroine to find her own strength? I love that in my historical fantasy novels.
What I Liked:
Honestly, I didn’t find much I liked…
Oh wait! I did like her bodyguard London. He was one of the only characters with substance.
What I Didn’t Like:
–World-Building Dumped In the Prologue–
We basically get a summary of the history of the world in the prologue and then are left to our own devices (or waiting for Alera to learn more) to put together the rest. It’s not like this world is particularly complex, it’s just trying to navigate all the different terms and how they apply to Alera’s current life was difficult. I’m sure it becomes a focus later on when the actual plot starts but it was a weird shift from prologue to chapters as a result.
–Detailed and Descriptive Writing–
I don’t enjoy books that are overly descriptive. I mean, I like descriptions of lush buffets as much as the next person but only a paragraph or two please. However, with this book you get Alera’s life described to you sentence by detailed sentence. It was the most mundane things and contributed nothing to the plot.
–Slow Plot–
I’m 80% sure that the next chapter I would have read introduced our forbidden love interest and the emergence of the main plot line. But the other chapters had been so dry that I wasn’t even intrigued by the prospect.
Will I Finish It?
No, I don’t plan on it. I even read the synopsis for the next two novels and they don’t interest me at all.
Series Rating: DNF
Legacy DNF | Allegiance N/A| Sacrifice N/A
For those who enjoy slower stories and detailed writing, perhaps you will enjoy it. Otherwise, I think you can find more compelling stories out there.
Read if You Like: detailed/descriptive writing
Avoid if You: want a faster plot, want a more intriguing heroine
- Aurelia by Anne Osterlund (Aurelia Series #1)
- The Gathering Storm by Robyn Bridges (Katerina Trilogy #1)
- Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (Snow Like Ashes Series #1)
- The Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
Have you read this? Should I return to this series? Leave a comment!
