#ninavarelas

[birtsby]

a rough little sketch bc I finally read crier’s war!!!

[londyboobs]

crier’s war (2019) by nina varela

“There was no way she could actually marry Kinok. Especially not now – not after the kiss. Not after she knew the truth about herself. Tha she was capable of the most human feeling of all. That she loved Ayla.”

[accidental-rambler]

read in 2019 📖 Crier’s War by Nina Varela

“It was always better to do what you knew was right than what was kind.”

[theliteraryflower]

Crier's War

By Nina Varela

Rate: 5/5

Synopsis: Impossible love between two girls —one human, one Made.

A love that could birth a revolution.

After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.

Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father.

Crier had been preparing to do just that—to inherit her father’s rule over the land. But that was before she was betrothed to Scyre Kinok, who seems to have a thousand secrets. That was before she discovered her father isn’t as benevolent as she thought. That was before she met Ayla.

Set in a richly-imagined fantasy world, Nina Varela’s debut novel is a sweepingly romantic tale of love, loss and revenge, that challenges what it really means to be human.

Review:

This can only end in tears. Im sure of it. I went into this book a bit unawares, seeing as it came in an Owlcrate. But my stars, it was beautiful. The writing was very wordy almost like poetry but not in a pretentious way and this is another amazing LGBTQ book that needs more exposure. The love story was there but it wasn't the main focus. This was a political, conspiracy drama that just happen to take place in an alternate universe where alchemy was a recognized art and it created (as it goes) a superior race who later over throw their creators. You know the usual. From the summary I expected a LGBTQ romance that just happen to have a revolution story in the background but no this was a revolution that had the inconvenience of having two characters fall in love. Also, you would think that homosexual relationships would be the big no no of the story (its not both humans and mades have their same sex marriages) the big no no is inter species relationship which I felt was a metaphor. This entire book felt like a parallel to our reality with out it being either too obvious or too subtle. I know, I'm rambling but my gosh this story is amazing. This story deals with politics, cultural appropriation, racism, subtle sexism and what makes us human. I thought that is would be your typical YA love story but no. It was smart in the way the characters were written with motives beside being in love. Which by the way neither were happy about. Crier is a Automae, she is wants to have purpose, and not in the woe is me way, but her ideals conflict with the teachings her father has taught her. While Ayla hates Automae, because they have enslaved her people and killed her family. So, she wants revenge against Crier and as luck would have it Crier taps Ayla as her hand maiden. Thus our story begins. Both are in denial, Ayla more than Crier but they love each other and its a mess for both of their causes. What I also loved was that I don't know who Crier or Ayla can trust. I feel that both are being set up by the people around them and that cliff hanger has me craving more. I can't wait for the next book and I am so obsessed that this review doesn't do it justice. Owlcrate did a great job with this book (the cover is so pretty). It is a perfect sifc book and a great LGBTQ story. Its a slowburn but once it starts it just amazing. If you haven't read it please do.

[londyboobs]

BETWEEN MORTAL AND MADE LIE THE HEART AND THE BLADE.