Crier's War

Oh, die Sapphics haben hier einen richtig großen Sieg eingefahren. Ayla und Criers Geschichte ist eine voller fiebriger Sehnsüchte, heimlicher Verrätereien und angespannter, zögerlicher Romantik zwischen untröstlichen Feindinnen. Dieses Buch handelt von Korruption, Unterdrückung und düsteren politischen Intrigen – und ist zugleich eine klarsichtige Auseinandersetzung mit Macht und ihren Dynamiken. Doch die Momente zwischen Ayla und Crier sind ein ekstatischer Ausbruch aus dem Chaos, das sie umgibt. Ich bin wegen der Handlung gekommen (die mich nicht enttäuscht hat – einige Wendungen haben mir tatsächlich hörbar den Atem verschlagen), aber ehrlich gesagt bin ich wegen der Romanze geblieben.

This is one of my favorite fantasy books ever. Because it has androids. And it has Crier. Seriously, I don't think I'll ever love a book character more than I love her. "Crier's War" shines in world building, in characterization, in pacing, in pretty much everything it does. It sets up this unique premise perfectly so that you immediately want to grab the second book (which is even better and completes the duology perfectly, in my opinion).

Are you looking for a sapphic forbidden-romance with a touch of enemies-to-lovers, set in a uniquely imaginative fantasy world? Then this is your lucky day! The story is set in the Kingdom of Rabu, where Automae—androids created to serve humans—have overthrown their creators. We follow Ayla, a human servant who seeks revenge for her family's death by plotting to kill Lady Crier, the Sovereign's daughter. However, once Ayla becomes Crier's handmaiden, she discovers that Crier isn't the heartless monster she believed her to be. As their relationship develops and their feelings for each other intensify, the world around them stands on the cusp of a revolution, and the "threat" the Mad Queen poses looms ever larger. I absolutely adored Crier as a character ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ !!! She is deeply idealistic and appears somewhat naive due to her sheltered upbringing, yet I didn't find her annoying, but rather pure and endearing. (੭ ;´ - `;)੭ ♡