The Reader by Hope E. Davis
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
Synopsis:
I was born into this life only to walk another
Until the front lines began to falter
The viscount came and knocked on my door
Demanding that my brother join the war.
I disguised myself and volunteered in his stead
Only to discover I wasn’t the person they thought they had.
Forced to pass on magic, I lived my life in chains
But little does the viscount know…
I’m the biggest threat to his unending reign.
My Review:
Cliffhangers should come with warning labels, because The Reader by Hope E. Davis ends with one that nearly ended
me. When I saw “Seeker August 2025” at the end, I genuinely thought the sequel
was already available. Discovering that it won’t release until next August felt
like emotional sabotage. Once I recovered from that heartbreak, I realized the
book itself was worth every bit of the chaos it caused.
The Reader
offers a gripping premise set in a world where families are restricted to only
one child. Runa, however, is a hidden twin, forced to live her entire life
pretending to be her brother Milo. She dresses like him, talks like him, and
essentially becomes him in order to protect her family from harsh consequences.
The fragile lie starts to crumble when her parents overlook one crucial rule:
every firstborn son must enlist in a brutal, never-ending war. That moment
marks the end of Runa’s disguise and the beginning of her true story, one
shaped by sacrifice, danger, and a world far more intricate than she ever
realized.
Runa herself is an incredibly compelling
protagonist. She’s selfless in that classic romantasy-heroine way, strong,
loyal, and willing to give everything for the people she loves, and that very
trait makes it all too easy for others to take advantage of her. Her
relationship with Milo is especially frustrating; he is selfish, oblivious, and
frankly undeserving of the protection she’s given him all her life. In
contrast, side characters like Friar and Astrid absolutely shine. They add
heart, humor, and depth to every scene they’re in, and I sincerely hope they
play an even bigger role in the next book.
While the pacing slows in places, much of that
stems from the complexity of the magic system, which demands close attention.
The worldbuilding is layered and detailed, and the relationships, both romantic
and familial, are messy, morally gray, and emotionally charged. The family
dynamics in particular are uncomfortable in a way that feels intentional,
highlighting just how much Runa has been forced to sacrifice.
By the time I reached the final pages, I was
furious in the best, most emotionally invested way possible. The ending is
bold, dramatic, and guaranteed to linger in your mind. I have a long list of
questions I desperately hope will be answered in book two, along with one very
firm opinion about the love interest I’m rooting for. From his first
appearance, he became the one for me. He
deserves so much more than he’s gotten so far, and if Runa doesn’t appreciate
him properly, I absolutely will. He can be my Weighted mate any day.
Despite
the agony of waiting for the sequel, The
Reader is a powerful and compelling beginning to a series with rich
worldbuilding and unforgettable characters. I’ll be counting the days until the
next installment arrives.
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