Daughter of No Worlds

For a series it was very easy to get into 🩵

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.25


First Impressions
Daughter of No Worlds is the first book in the "War of Lost Hearts" trilogy. This is also my first Carissa Broadbent and I am seeing why she is so well loved and while this wasn't my favorite fantasy romance....its definitely one that I felt deeply in parts. Its one that deeply impacts you and I am recognizing what is so truly beautiful about this book. This is a story that starts out very slowly though so I actually recommend your first time reading it, read the first book at least in audio. This won't be the easiest for everyone especially if you don't read fantasy too often. The romance especially is super slow burn. We actually don't really see it truly develop until about 60%. While I don't mind a slow burn, I did feel like it dragged a bit too much in the first half of the story.

First Line
Evaluate. Judge. Act.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Maxantarius
The Heroine: Tisaanah

Summary
Tisaanah was sold as a slave when she was only a girl. She grew up as a slave and dancer and when she had saved enough to buy her freedom, she was brutally whipped and beaten and on the run for killing the man who owned her in self defense. She was forced to leave those she called family in order to protect them from harm. She finds refuge with the Orders, and joins an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a reclusive fire wielder and warrior who has a hate for the Orders but has no choice but to assist her. Through the mentoring, Max and Tisaanah finds common ground and something deeper that grows from some more than just teacher and student.....but true partners against the chaotic world of magic they live in. But there is so much uncertainty in their future but can they overcome the challenges ahead?

What I Loved
Daughter of No Worlds was vibrant and rich in many respects. I really respected what this author implemented within this story. I think if you are a romance reader, this book you will enjoy if you are patient with the love story that slowly develops. There is great strength and mystery behind both of our characters. I love how well connected these two come together. There is also great focus on handling of past trauma and learning to deal with the cards you are dealt and it has its layers within this story that really digs deep into the soul of the story and hits the reader hard at the same time. The world building is fascinating and super complex. I still don't fully understand it all, I would probably need to read this book again to truly understand more of it. The love story that develops in this one was fascinating. I loved their connection, how it slowly connects Max and Tisaanah together, the magical hints and the hues of mystery and darkness that sweeps within the story in such a majestic manner. The third act is one that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and captivate your attention. It ends in such a fabulous way, just a teaser for book two but won't kill your heart with a wild cliffhanger. Which I greatly appreciated.

What I Struggled With
The first half is SUPER slow. It really drags, and while I now understand why it was written this way, its very world building heavy and there is no romance in the first half hardly. This is not a quick relationship that builds.....it takes like 300 pages lol That was my biggest struggle. I think if I had read it physically it might have been a DNF with how slowly it builds.

Narration
Truly wonderful. I got thrown off by some of the accents at times, but its one you can easily have at 1.75x without it taking away from the moments of the story.

Overall View
Daughter of No Worlds was a enriching stunningly detailed fantasy that isn't always easy but delivered in a worthwhile way....a story that brightens up to life in vivid details and a heart stopping romance that is the true pinnacle of the tale.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Character Types: Warrior, Teacher, Dancer
Themes: Mutual Pining, Heart/Emotionally Touching, One True Pairing
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Grumpy Sunshine

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Jeffe Kennedy
Grace Draven
Sarah J. Maas

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Dan Calley, Esther Wane

One of my top reads of 2024.

i would pay money to never have to listen to another second of this

I don't care what anybody else says. I LOVED this, it was so refreshing and new that I want more of it. I liked the action and fast pase of it and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Amazing characters, plot, writing, no notes. Scratched the throne of glass itch and couldn't put it down.

I am a daughter of no worlds and all worlds. And I am not done yet.

I looooved this book. Definitely recommend ♥️

Carissa Broadbent, I just want to talk.

“Daughter of No Words” was a truly fascinating read. The magic system in this was fresh and new, and I felt that the protagonist, Tisaanah, was easy to invest in. While bold, and sometimes bordering on brash, her bone-deep desire to rescue the friends she left behind in servitude was moving. I rooted for her almost immediately.

The MMC, Maxantarius, was just as compelling. While I’m a little disappointed that the slow burn wasn’t all that slow, I genuinely love their relationship and felt like it moved along very organically.

They are, in some way, mirrors of each other. Two sides of the same coin, if you would.

Now onto why I could only give this book 3.5 stars.

This book was incredibly long. I think there was quite a bit of “fat” that could have been trimmed here. This is a trilogy, but if the following two books are as lengthy as this one, perhaps they should have gone with a series. I would have preferred to see the more technical side of the magical system explored, but maybe that’s just the nerd in me.

Things moved very quickly at the end of this novel. Without spoiling, Tisaanah set out to undertake a huge task. Something that should have been almost impossible. And yet, it was over in what felt like a moment. It came off a little rushed. Like Broadbent was in a hurry to move on to the next hurdle. However, there were some really enjoyable moments in this.

And lastly, the EPILOGUE. The epilogue frustrated me beyond belief. It took away any remaining mystery on who the enemy was before going into the rest of the trilogy. It felt very trite and I was very disappointed to see things laid out like that. Where’s the mystery? Not here.

All of this said, I’m still planning to move on with the trilogy! The things I liked about this book and this world do outweigh what didn’t spark joy with me.

Unique plot.

Solid book - love Max

Mind blowing!!

I only put this book down to sleep and even then I stayed up way later than I should have. I can already 100% tell that this series is going to absolutely shatter me before it's over wow

I really like the characters and world in this. I think there was some heavy exposition dump at times and room for more substance at other times, but I think it’s setting the tone great for the next one! Really enjoyed some of the final scenes in this one as well.

What an incredibly boring book. It’s a feat of heroism that I managed to get as far as I did. Possibly one of the reasons I hated it so much was the fact that my library only offered it as an audiobook, and the narrator’s voice was awful. But still - this book lacked anything exciting for me. Felt like a ToG knockoff almost. Ehhhhhhh

UR KIDDING ME this was so freaking good. I love powerful women and men who fall at their feet. This is up there for fantasy series for me, I do however wish the magic system was touched up more and went into more detail.

maybe it will in the next 2 books? we’ll see BUT I’m so excited.

Carissa Broadbent really put her whole carussy into this book wow i can’t believe i’m saying this but her writing blew sjm outta the water i could read her books for the rest of my life i instantly love her and this book everyone needs to read it!

the tropes in this book were so good so spot on so creative. the grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, slow burn, touch her and die like come on i was living for it all.

not to mention the fmc was inspiring and amazing and bad ass. i recommend to everyone.

This book was AMAZING

Most of booktok says that this is a must read and that the series reminds them of ACOTAR. I can't say I particularly agree with that. I liked the plot, the twists that develop, and the characters, but I didn't feel a very strong attachment to the characters. That being said, I will still be reading the next book (because maybe it is like ACOTAR in that ACOMAF was way better and because I want to see Reshaye through to its end). But I seriously hope it is easier to get into.

I really, really enjoyed this book. And I’m hoping the next one keeps speed. I love Max. A genuine sweet man. And Tisannah is straight up a bad bitch.

Addicted to them

Definitely one of the better indie fantasies I’ve read in awhile. Things this book does right: the main characters are easy to root for and endear themselves to you easily. The romance is great, definitely a subplot but it’s enough. The pacing of time - as in there actually was a passage of time. There’s nothing I hate more than have a action packed 500 pages only to find out it’s only been 2 weeks - unrealistic. Also a compelling villain! Things this book could work on: fleshing out a bit more of the world and the background. The reasons Tisaanah is so desperate to get back to Threll. I’m personally not a fan of creatures inhabiting others so that was also a mark down for me. Also hate when characters do the same thing over and over and expect different results - it’s boring and frustrating. But I have high hopes that the series can improve, so on to book 2!

Devoured 👏🏻

The closest I’ve come to falling in love with a character since finishing all of the SJM novels! Loved this complex, moving, & fast paced fantasy read - can’t wait to finish the series!