The Book of Azrael Reading Review

This book has been recommending so much across all of Tiktok and I’ve always planned to get around to reading it, but wanted to wait until more books in the series were out. This book follows Dianna, who is 1000 years old and extremely powerful. I think is the main draw of this book because the fmc in fantasy books are often the young and inexperienced. At the beginning of the book we learn that she is bound to Kaden due to a deal she struck with him 1000 years ago to save her dying sister. She is his executioner and does his bidding and the start of the main book revolves around Kaden seeking out an ancient artifact. Through the search it draws out The World Ender, a King and God who has been gone so long he is though of more as myth.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. I thought the pacing was good and it definitely drew me in. The concept was unique and I love the world created. The one aspect that prevented this from being a book I was obsessed with was we were told often how strong and powerful the two main characters were but when it came to the thoughts and decisions made by the characters I was often left confused and unimpressed. For example, we are told that Dianna is this badass that has killed seemingly thousands of people for Kaden, but in the beginning of the book we see her struggling with some of the requests from Kaden…but after 1000 years it doesn’t make sense what would have started this shift in thinking. I believe the Author is trying to let us see another side to Dianna to allow us to relate to her, but all it did was make me confused and question the claims that she was really this all powerful and ancient being. I would have expected to see more of a strong mask over Dianna that was nearly impenetrable to anyone beyond the reader. I also can buy into a shift in thinking, but I think we should have seen more of catalyst for where this shift came from. Additionally, throughout the book she often makes very poor plans and gets caught in traps over and over, which again for a character over 1000 year old this doesn’t make sense and become really frustrating. I feel like Dianna was given a very good backstory and set up to be one of my favorites fmc’s, but she wasn’t written with enough skill or nuance to live up to it. I will admit that my feelings may also be exacerbated due to coming right off of a Throne of Glass reread where Aelin, Celaena, and Manon are masterfully written in a way which is both badass, sassy, and powerful while also being kind, thoughtful, and someone you care deeply about. I believe this is what Amber Nicole was trying to achieve with Dianna, but for me it fell flat. I am not opposed to continuing the series but I’m such a mood reader and ultimately it didn’t leave me feeling attached enough to the characters or storyline pick up the next book the series at this point.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t read this book, many people are obsessed with Dianna and Liam. The book definitely kept my attention and I was excited to pick it up each time I read it.

amx