Nina Varela

From debut author Nina Varela comes the first book in an Own Voices, richly imagined epic fantasy duology about an impossible love between two girls—one human, one Made—whose romance could be the beginning of a revolution. Perfect for fans of Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse as well as Game of Thrones and Westworld. After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will. Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family’s death…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla. Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.

Crier's War

giuli

"Did I really Design you?" he murmured, more to himself than to her, and that was how Crier learned that pain was not finite; there was no limit to woundless hurt.

There was a space behind her on the bed, at her back, a curving space the size of another body. Where another body could bend and fit against her, and press their face to the notches of Crier's spine. Inside her chest, in the core of her, Ayla felt her heart stretch and swell and take root.

Ayla hater her. She hated her so goddamn much. It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the whole truth.

But Ayla missed him. She missed him in the way of missing people who are not dead, who are warm and close and breathing. It wasn't something she'd ever experienced before. Missing her parents (and Storme, until yesterday) was different; it felt like trying to draw water from a well that had long since run dry. Missing Benjy felt like staring at a bucket of cool, clear water and refusing to drink.

Instead, in the darkness between and around them, Crier was just a body.

The truth of Ayla, the pain of her, was like a song you could feel vibrating on the air, even if you didn't know the words. It was a hum, low and throaty and full of sorrow.

If longing is madness, then none of us are sane.

if one is wanting of a child, then by nature their heart is overfilled with love–overflowing, yearning for a new vessel to hold that love, like spilling water.

Perhaps Crier had been right–perhaps Ayla was like a magpie, drawn to the shininess of trinkets. Perhaps Crier was just that–a shiny, distracting trinket. An inconvenience, adorned with a secretive half smile.

No matter how hard she tried, Crier could not force herself to sleep. Ayla was there, always, in the shadows of her mind, looking back, her gaze not like the stars but like the soft darkness that enfolded them.

"Sometimes I wish I remembered nothing. [...] Sometimes it seems like that would be so much easier."

"Ayla. It is a gift. It is a memory. And that's one they can't take from you." Ayla felt the strange urge to laugh. A memory was nothing like a gift.

Which was worse, vulnerability or loneliness? The danger of friendship or the safety of total isolation?

crier you would've loved the man by taylor swift

She was never, ever going to be on the council. She would never have a say in her nation's future.

"If there exists a type of human capable of dismantling our world, it is the dancer."

Crier wanted to study her like a map. Draw an easy path between all the specific yet scattered points of her.

Still: Was there a redness in her cheeks, beneath the brown of her skin, beneath the freckles? Or was that a trick of the morning sun, which had risen like a gasp, like the burst of saltpeter bombs exploding in the night sky, color and fire and light? Crier now felt something burst open inside herself, too. 'Did you see something in me?'

Ayla's face was fascinating. Crier had seen her barely twice and she already knew this like she knew the constellations.

obsessed with all of ayla's descriptions from crier's perspective

Crier felt like she had managed to capture a butterfly in her cupped hands, and now it was frantically beating its wings.

Perhaps the butterfly was actually a wasp.

She carried the same intensity about her, like heat waves rising from her skin, even though she was just standing in the doorway and not currently in the middle of saving Crier's life.

She had never really seen a pair of eyes like this. It was like standing in the doorway to a dark room, like balancing on the threshold, holding a lantern up and watching how it kissed somethings gold and left other things in shadow. It was the kind of dark that hid and held a lot of things. A hot fluid dark, a summer tide pool dark, a wild breathless dark.

A promise of what was to come. Revenge. Killing Hesod's daughter.

She told him all about the songs, [...] and how the humans sang frequently of love and hate and loss.

Justice was a god, and Ayla didn't believe in such childish things. She believed in blood.

Mdy<3

everybody say thank you nina varela for writing this masterpiece of a book

aica

Linara K.S

wlw done right although with a mid storyline.

Crier has my whole heart. She's the epitome of innocence, but it doesn't come across as annoying. Being innocent doesn't exempt her from having agency.
Ayla on the other hand was such a pain. I didn't like her pov at all. I mean, how insufferable can she be? Is it just me? Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I felt her thoughts were illogical. 

The story is entertaining, though not as compelling as I thought it would be. Given the promise of automated beings and civil war due to injustice, I'd thought there would be more... sci-fi?? Idk
The politics were well-developed but didn't hold the depths needed for me to be invested and the main "villain" (if you can even call them that). They never truly showed their true colours. It was always telling and not showing. The characters hypothesised on whatever he had done, and there was nothing to prove his villanry. 

*sigh* I should just stop reading YA. I've unfortunately outgrown it.

Loved the plot. Loved the characters. Loved the narration. If I could change one thing it would be the love dynamic. Other than that?? It was such a good book! 

Tsu 💙

Expressive because of the writting style, but plot was dry at times. It took a while for anything to happen durring 400 pages. However, love the question of what makes you human and have humanity. Will definitely read the sequel! And finally, a wlw story. Truly rare to ser any of those

TommyBoi

chloe rae

Maybe more of a 3.5? Still deciding!

This book totally took me by surprise! I had no idea what this book was about going into it; I didn't know what I wanted to read at the time and this book was on top of a random pile of my books so I just decided to take a chance. And guys, I really enjoyed this!
It's so funny reading this story shortly after reading Middlegame, because a large part of this world is about alchemy (sort of?) and 'creating a person' and it was so cool seeing that used in a totally different way. This book had a really interesting plot, but I feel like it got a little muddied sometimes. Or it would almost feel as if the plot forgot itself for a bit, and then would gain it back. I was interested in the book at first but I didn't really get HOOKED until about half-way through. There was something that happened that I felt could've happened earlier, AND I felt like should've been a bigger deal both with a certain character and in the story. Also, I found somethings needed to be way more fleshed out? I wasn't really confused about anything, but I also feel like I didn't know enough about how this new kind of person got made and I had so many questions.
But the characters, man. I really liked them. Crier took longer to understand but I also liked her growth throughout the story more. Ayla was also a great character; loved her fire and anger and strength. I never got confused with who was speaking; each character felt distinct. I LOVED the romance. UGH, we need more f/f romances. It was handled so beautifully and effectively and felt both passionate and sweet. I was rooting for them the entire time and while I liked the ending, I also thought it could've been much stronger.
Overall, I honestly loved this. I loved the queer rep, the friendships, the political intrigue (though I wanted more). I'm very excited to read the second one when it comes out!

Tatiana

Crier's War: 4/5


  “Humanity is how you act, my lady,” said Jezen. “Not how you were Made.”

Premise:
Crier's War takes place in a fictional world called Rabu, where humans created the Automae as servants/playthings for humankind. The power imbalance caused the Automae to overthrow the humans in the War of Kinds. The Automae won, took the royal estates, and bent humanity to their will.

The Automae killed Ayla's family, and she wants revenge. She serves in the royal House of the Sovereign, biding her time before she can kill the Sovereign's daughter, Crier. Crier was made to take over her father's work as his heir, but after her betrothal to Scyre Kinok, she discovers there is much to be learned about her father, the kingdom, and herself.

Writing & Plot:
I cannot believe this is a debut novel. Crier's War reads like it was written by someone with 50 years of experience under their belt. It is engaging, and most of all, the book's pacing flows so well. Readers can get lost in this book since it is so easy to keep reading. Every plot point leads to another, and the writing is so smooth and is written so effortlessly. In no way was I confused about what was going on; Nina Varela's world-building is immaculate. 

There is a lot to learn in the first 100 pages, but it is written in a way where you want to keep going. Those first few chapters are a bit slow, but it significantly picks up and doesn't stop until the reader has completed the book.

Characters:
Our two main characters, Ayla and Crier, are god-tier. Ayla is flawed but for reasons that are pertinent to her character. She's smart but sometimes makes the wrong decisions that that's okay! The reader finds themself still rooting for her despite it all. A true shining star herself is Crier. Crier challenges what it truly means to be human, and I am obsessed with it. She is fascinating to read about, and her perspectives were wildly intriguing. 

Ayla and Crier's relationship is so good. It is true enemies to lovers where one was sent to kill the other. I'm obsessed with both of them, and I cannot wait to see how their relationship continues in the second book!

Conclusion:
What an incredible debut from Nina Varela. If this has been on your TBR forever (like me), it's so worth just picking it up and reading the first three chapters. You won't be able to stop! Crier's War has hype for a reason. With great LGBTQ+ representation, intricate world-building, and fabulous enemies to lovers romance, you will not regret it!

Chloe Garcia

I hate to say it but this book just was not what I wanted to be. Based on the positive reviews I had expected it to be an enthralling adventure with a fabulous queer enemies to lovers plot. Unfortunately this book was quite the opposite and an overall drag to read. I was bored most of the time and the only reason I finished it is because I'm pretty stubborn and force myself to finish almost every book that I start. I rarely give books this low of a rating no matter how bad the overall rating. I am very specific with the types of books I genuinely enjoy and have found myself to really like some so-called "bad" books. I mostly think that this just was not the book for me. Maybe if I get into more fantasy books again, I will see this book from a different perspective but for right now this is just not the book for me.

I‘m usually harsh with ratings (dont look for proof im too lazy to change my ratings that i put on goodreads ages ago) so believe me when i say THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BOOK OMG. Such a fun read. The characters were well written and the plot was perfectly paced. I haven’t read fantasy in so long and it’s been hard for me to consider it without it seeming slightly childish sometimes but I didn’t feel this way at all while reading this. I cant wait to read the second book, I have it downloaded already but I read the first one in a different house so its hard for me to pick up reading back in my house fsr. I’ll figure it out. I know this is lengthy but I truly recommend its so cute. 

tam 🕴️

Maga P

It stumbled at the beginning with how it couldn't seamlessly integrate exposition and instead dumped it, but once the scenario and all the characters were set it was a fun read sprinkled with rich prose.

We do love a good enemies to lover slow burn with revolutionary themes and I'm looking forward to the next installment!

From debut author Nina Varela comes the first book in an Own Voices, richly imagined epic fantasy duology about an impossible love between two girls--one human, one Made--whose romance could be the beginning of a revolution. Perfect for fans of Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Curse as well as Game of Thrones and Westworld. After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners' estates and bent the human race to their will. Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family's death...by killing the sovereign's daughter, Lady Crier. Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father's legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn't the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla. Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.

Jamieson

reread may 2020 me @ nina varela: HEY QUEEN! girl, you have done it again. constantly raising the bar for all of us .... and doing it flawlessly. I'd say I'm surprised, but I know who you are. I've seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud . and I love you . 



by breatheforayla on tumblr

I AM A MESS!!! This book is everything. I have wanted this for so long. A TRUE slowburn angsty enemies to lovers where they're REAL ENEMIES who want to KILL EACHOTHER and its so beautiful. 

The entire set up of this world? the plot?? amazing. We're in a world where Automae, created by humans, ended up overpowering and subjugating them. And it has so many fantasy tropes I love - like hidden/secret/forgotten histories and well constructed political intrigue. And SO MANY POWERFUL FEMALE CHARACTERS!! AND LOTS OF PLOT TWISTS!! 

Anyways the ending destroyed me I cannot BELIEVE we now have to wait for book 2 when Nina Valera did me like that in the end

Full review can be found on my blog !!

grace richards

fuck this book is good, i love enemies to lovers and i love it even more when it’s gay. in case anyone was wondering i will be laying my life down for crier, thank you and goodnight

Jasmine

4.5 Stars

  "If longing is madness, then none of us are sane."

YEP, I'M SO IN LOVE!! FANTASTIC AND UNIQUE YA FANTASY SERIES!
Crier is a princess and an Automae (AI's that are the flawless version of humans and currently control the world) When we start the story she is very clueless about how the world she lives in works and believes things are as they are without really question it. One thing Crier has always had is a fascination with humans, never more true than when a certain human Ayla saves her life and that leads her to start questioning everything she's known before.

Ayla: Is a human girl who lost her family when the automae took over their world. All her life the only thing she has truly wanted was to get revenge on the automae who destroyed her life and left her starving and alone before she was adopted by a woman named Rowan. She figures out what a better way to execute her revenge than killing the king's daughter Crier. Fate puts her in the right place at the right time, and what ends up happening is she saves Crier's life and in return gets a spot as her handmaid and access to spy from within the kingdom. Only nothing is going according to plan, and then there's the fact she's actually finding herself warming up Crier and unable to deny the connection they are forming. Which in turn is creating this major internal battle


Why you should read this book?
Unique: I love the premise so much there were classic YA elements but yet also felt completely different from what I've read before.

Political: 
“No, my dear. Kinok is the wolf.” She paused and stared at Crier for a moment. Then she said, “I want you to be the fox.” So much political intrigue goodness and moments that will have you on the edge of your seat


  Slow burn enemies to lovers:
 
"Crier was Made. But in the moment Ayla first touched her, Crier had learned what it felt like to be born."Crier and Ayla are so precious I adore them to pieces and they give me such a buzz because of how much chemistry they have!! The way they could both feel a connection but both weren't ready to name what it was or give into what it would mean. This is a true enemies to lovers story! Aylan despises the automae and everything they stand for, and even when her attraction grows for Crier she is still prepared to do whatever is necessary to see an end to the automae way of life. Sometimes I find when the plot is really strong the relationship gets underdeveloped, and just thrown in but here the way their relationship develops was flawless and I wouldn't change a thing! It was incorporated perfectly into the overall story only giving you small interactions over time that blended seamlessly with the political plot, but still never detracts from their connection. Also, the angst was so wonderfully compelling. One of the best f/f relationships I read I just want to see them come out of this alive and together. 


  Humanity: What is being human?
 
“Humanity is how you act, my lady. Not how you were Made.” There are so many beautiful moments here where you are left examining so many things about humanity. The Crier's War as a whole is one beautiful look at being human both the good and the bad. I love books that have AI characters or more than human people with powers to really question what it means to be human. Crier while she can't relate to everything Ayla goes through she still learns from her mistakes, cares for others, falls in love, questions, and experiences pain and heartbreak. Even though she was made it could be argued she is just as much human as anyone else.

tina

Jack O‘Conner

Izza

4 stars | I'm pretty impressed with this! :) Can't wait for book 2.

Everything was amazing. The slowburn, the concept, the writing style.

Iciar Mendieta

i seriously don't think i've read a fantasty this good in a while. it literally has everything and i just could not put it down!!! i bought this book a long time ago and finally got to it and once again i'm so upset it took me so long because i absolutely devoured it. amazing amazing amazing, nina varela is phenomenal 

Rachel Evans

(4.25/5) Audiobook - 6 hours 48 minutes - This is the first time I have listened to a completely new to me fantasy book as an audiobook, and I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I loved both of the main characters and their relationship felt realistic and didn't feel forced. The plot was engaging and I loved the world it was set in - it was a fascinating concept. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Yunna Ducharme

alex wolfinger 

how can you not love a book about enemies to lovers?? and they're sapphics???? and the pov changes are good????? immaculate

Daniella Cuesta

4.5 stars rounded up!

“Crier had been designed. Crier was Made. But in the moment Ayla first touched her, Crier had learned what it felt like to be born.” 


I won’t lie the first half was slow, but that’s the case in any fantasy that has to build the world and story to lead you to the inevitable punch of it. BUT HOLY SHIT DID THIS DELIVER IN THE FINAL QUARTER. 
Truly without the plot it would have been crier looking at Ayla and thinking how pretty she is, when Ayla is thinking the same but full of resentment over Criers role in life.
Crier is made, Basically the ruling class are perfect robots called Automae and Crier is a princess. She’s disillusioned but spends the entire book coming into her own as she’s realizing her father, and her betrothed Kinok are not everything they’ve made themselves out to be.
Ayla is a part of the Humans that are practically enslaved and starving. If I was smart enough I would connect this as a commentary but truly, at the heart it’s about race, genocide, and bigotry in a more palatable form as a YA book.

It was a great time and I can’t wait for the same installment!

jess

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Crier's War was one of my most anticipated books of the year. It took me a lot longer to get through than I'd hoped, but in the end, I ended up really enjoying it. Crier's War is an ode to queer high fantasy, with memorable characters and a romance that you can't help but root for.

We have two main characters, who alternate viewpoints: Crier, an Automae noble, and Ayla, a human servant who hungers for revenge. I liked both of them equally; they're both so different from each other and so interesting. Crier's so curious and inquisitive, and she has so much empathy in her, while Ayla's angry and determined to do the right thing, and they work so well together. There's so much great character development and inner discovery from both of them.

The romance is slow burn mutual pining enemies-to-lovers which is literally everything I could ever ask for in a f/f book, and the romance totally lived up to the expectations. It was tense and full of yearning and small touches and denial, which is how I like my enemies to lovers. Crier and Ayla might start out on different sides, being told that each should hate the other, but over the course of the book they learn so much from one another and come to mutual understandings and love.

I found the pacing to be slow through most of the book; rather than a lot of action, Crier's War is a fantasy that focuses very much on how the world changes through politics and revolution. Kinok, Crier's fiance, leads the Anti-Reliance Movement, yet holds deeper ambitions, and a lot of the book is devoted to figuring what that is as well. Both Crier and Ayla do a lot of sneaking around and finding out intrigue, and slowly putting the pieces of a mystery together. It does pick up greatly near the end, with promises of things bigger than Crier or Ayla looming.

I adored the worldbuilding: it was a cross between steampunk and medieval fantasy, and it reminded me of Detroit: Become Human while I was reading it. However, the book dumps a lot of lore on you at once, which is why I found the beginning to be slow and a bit hard to get into. A lot of the lore is essential to understanding the story, so it's not skippable. Nina Varela's writing is gorgeous.

Crier's War is a wonderful f/f enemies to lovers story with great worldbuilding, and it's just all around soft. There's so much in this book that comes together in such a quiet yet meaningful way, and I'm very much looking forwards to the next book.

representation | f/f main pairing, characters of color

Delaney Woods 

i definitely really liked this but i also just wanted more from it? not exactly sure in what way but there was just something missing for me which is why it lost a star. i also wanted more of Ayla and Crier so hopefully the next one has more of that

Crier's War

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