Deliverance of the Blessed – a review

Why am I onLY JUST REVIEWING THIS?!?!?! I read this, a book in one of my favourite EVER series, back in February after being given a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I did pop up my rating on Goodreads and write a wee review but it has taken me FAR TOO LONG TO ACTUALLY DO THISSSS. Can you tell I’m annoyed at myself? I adored this book, I adore everything ever published in the Godkissed Continent! So let’s get into the good stuff!

This book is the first we’ve had that’s set in the First Country, one that keeps itself behind closed doors from the rest of the continent, so we’ve not heard a lot about it so far. We follow Kaylene, who is kept behind the walls of the sanctuary and away from the general population in order to keep them safe. She can’t be trusted to control herself. After the devastating loss of her partner life lost meaning to Kaylene, but when she meets an unknown woman the course of her life changes, and she determines that she’ll reach beyond the walls of death and bring her love back.

As always with Alice’s books, I need more!! As soon as this finished I was heartbroken that there wasn’t a sequel coming in the future that I could dive into! Despite this being (almost *wink*) a completely new cast of characters from previously I felt so emotionally invested in them straight away. The “magical” powers throughout this series manifest in different ways and I adored seeing how they presented themselves within those from this secluded nation with little knowledge of the outside ways.

The character development throughout was done beautifully, the way that they learnt the nuances of each others mannerisms and ways of being, as well as how their relationships deepened. As a group the dynamic altered throughout the book and I found that incredibly interesting and so realistic to real life! The strife as well as the intrinsic bond could be felt through all their words and actions and you could tell that these people had been together for many years.

The only reason that it didn’t quite hit 5 stars was that there was a beat of the plot that just didn’t quite feel natural. There had been some seeds laid to bring us to it but there was a bit too much of a jump for me and it pulled me out of the book a little. But that was literally the only downside!!! (other than there not being another sequel for me to read… please and thank).

Highlight here for trigger warnings: violence, wrongful persecution, loss of a loved one, death

Honestly if you enjoy reading YA fantasy then I can’t recommend any of the books in the Legends of the Godkissed Continent series enough! The way that they intertwin whist also standing on their own as in depth tales of each country? I adore them and I’m so excited to see where we get to go next!