The Umbra King (Vincula Realm Book 1)

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I didn’t rate 5 stars because there were a few times where the plot was a little too predictable or just something I’ve seen a million times before. But it ended up going in a good direction and really made up for it so kudos !!

The thing that really stood out for me is that in the beginning, you were given a guide on the realms, races and magic. I loved this as this is normally included at the end and by that part it's ALWAYS TOO LATE. I was a little bit scared going into this after reading the guide but throughout the story, Jamie Applegate Hunter did such a good job of explaining the world-building. It felt rich, and unique that I had never actually seen something like this (this might be because I don't read A LOT of PNR but I still found it fantastic). It was very structurally formulated and convoluted, but pretty simple to understand and grasp. Haha - updating once a year would be a painful process. No, I meant once every day (or every other day, if I go out of town). The banter, threats, and progression from enemies to lovers were well done and entertaining. (more quotes and content warnings at the end of this review, in case you’re interested) Undead • Mummy • Bones • Ghost • Buried • Reanimated • Witch • Slime • Goo • Reaper • Hallow Bones • Vampire • Bat • Hallow Guard • Lord Sinister DFN at 70%. The concept and the premises were super intriguing: Morally grey MCs, badass vigilante FMC, enemies-to-lovers, angst, I-hate-you-but-I-am-attracted-to-you? I’m sold.Aurora/Rory is a killer with a big heart, and I really liked her. She is strong, has a sharp tongue, and would do anything for her loved ones. She sees herself as a monster even though she’s a hero. She stood tall even when she was afraid and didn’t let people push her around.

Noooooooo, but I guess I can live with that. Define update slowly. Once a day,a week, a month, a year? Century, millennia?This is a third-person paranormal fantasy with a main focus on Aurora (Rory), who is a fae and also happens to be a little bit of a vigilante murderer. She is caught and instead of being sent to hell, she is sentenced to Vincula the prison realm for committing 13 brutal murders. When she gets to this realm, she's literally plonked at the feet of King, Caius and from very early on is barraged by the consequences of her perceived actions as a Butcher by many of the inmates. This book is so unlike things I’ve read in the past! While there are some of my favorite tropes like enemies to lovers and hate to love, and my favorite mythological creatures (shifters, fae, angels, etc) the world building and magic system were so unique. The friendships in the book are also so so amazing. The Umbra King is book one in the Vincula Realm Duology, which is set in the Realms of the Aether multiverse_. _It ends on a cliffhanger.

He might be the last dragon and he might be in a contract with a horrible king who wanted to destroy the very realm they all lived in. But a woman like that still existed. He could feel the power of her soul calling out to him. There was unfinished business between them. He could only hope to see her again. Rory- Rory is such a badass murdery FMC. I loved her so much, she has zero chill when it comes to bad guys and does what she feels has to be done. (She's also completely unhinged, but in a really " her heart is in the right place" kind of way) I love her loyalty to her friends and the way she goes toe to toe with Caius is thrilling! I wish the information given during the first 5 or so chapters had been shown in smaller pieces throughout the book as needed, as opposed to being written as an aside to the story;The Umbra King is fast paced, almost too fast at times, and left me wanting for detail on both the side characters and the world itself! (That being said this is a personal preference on writing styles for myself!) Will she be able to retrieve her memories to help her decide, or will she stay in the dark forever, dreaming of a man she should hate? The romance in this book was immaculate, the spice was a nice bonus because it wasn't too much, but it wasn't too little. The friendships and side characters really made you feel something, the prophecy and the murder mystery really kept you engaged in the story. Overall, it was amazing. The cliffhanger will have you salivating for the next book.Alien • Strong Alien • Zoomer • Hidden Zoomer • Lawnmower • UFO • Raider 1 • Raider 2 • Raider Boss The Star Cannon is best used when The Umbra is about to perform its Shot of the Century ability, as it cancels it out and prevents the loss of base health, which could otherwise lead to a defeat. This story has a lot of magical characters including Fey, Alchemists, Angels, and more. The author does a good job building the realms and explaining each type of "mystic" character throughout the chapters. She also included a “World Guide” at the beginning of the book, and I appreciate that extra effort made for readers. Pike • Knight • Clanker • Wraith • Cobalt Guard • Lunar Shard • Dust • Vampire • Bat • Solar Shard • Headless Jaxe • Mega Clanker • Ghost Knight • Cursed Guard • Cursed Horse • Flare • Lunar Shield • Solar Servant • Lunar Servant • The Umbra