She believes he murdered her parents, the King and Queen of the Sky Throne. She believes he wants her and her sister dead. But one person's perception and reality are rarely so succinct.
Charlotte grew up being in love with the man she was promised to marry. Aurek was a warrior, a Daeva Prince to equal her Daeva Princess, and meant to protect their people when they took the throne. Where she was spoiled and young, he was patient and understanding. When she had outbursts, he was there to sooth her naive woes. It was a perfect match, just like her parents intended.
Until he murdered them.
Hiding was something she never thought she would achieve. It was only a matter of time. But hours became days, and days became years. The thought of being found slipped away, becoming nothing but nightmares and memories. Her and her sister made a life in a world filled with technology, hiding amongst Humankind despite being nothing so simple. They were safe, and it was all that mattered.
Until he found them.
Becca Ryden's debut novel is a fantasy/romance with dark undertones. It is set in modern-day with ties to the 1800s and encompasses various fantasy elements, from magic and vampires to the elements and the old gods. If you find certain events triggering, this book may not be suitable for you.
"Desperation" is the first novel in The Animus series.
Becca Ryden writes romantasy packed with swords, magic and the occasional mooing cow. Her characters are real, usually have a dark background, and are always looking for love, even if they don’t know it yet. Whether it be a high stakes chase or a fight for the last cookie, action lives in every scene. Becca has been writing since she was old enough to type, but with years of military service to temper her skills, her stories are more than fiction—they’re a possible reality. When not writing books, you’ll find Becca playing with her fur babies, running from a spider, or saving the universe, one NPC at a time.
Full disclosure, the author is a friend of mine. When she gave me a beta copy to read I procrastinated starting it and agonized over it, because what if I didn’t like it?!
Well I shouldn’t have worried because it sucked me in so quickly and I’m so mad the rest of the series isn’t out yet 😂. It’s unique magic system and powers, urban yet fantasy world, resilient FMC with childhood trauma we don’t have to guess about (because it’s in the prologue), and drool worthy MMCs.
The beta copy was amazing, the finished version is even better! #countdownforbook2
Desperation written by the author Becca Ryden is the debut book of the author. It is a combination of fantasy, mystery, romance, etc. The main character of the story is Charlotte Valois. Charlotte's father was the king of their lands and her mother was the queen.
Charlotte was promised to marry Aurek, a warrior. After their wedding, Aurek was supposed to become the king of their empire. But to Charlotte's horror, she saw her mother's body in blood. When she rushed to her father for help, she saw him lying lifeless on the floor and Aurek was pulling the blade out of him. Charlotte isn't strong enough to face the situation or question Aurek. She thought that hiding would be in her best interests. Since then, Charlotte and her sister have been hiding among humankind.
Read the story to find out if Aurek will find them one day. The storyline is interesting and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is well paced and one wouldn't feel bored while reading it. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in creating this fantasy world.
The story is captivating and I binge read this book. The cover photo is eye-catching. Go ahead with it without any second thoughts.
One of the most difficult parts of loving fantasy books is muddling through the world building in a new series. Desperation is a contemporary fantasy ramping up to be a high fantasy series and weaves the world building throughout the entire story, rather than slamming it all out with one fact after another making it impossible to track. This makes the story engaging right away and doesn't leave you with the "it took me 150 pages to get into it but then!" vibes.
In dual POVs, I typically prefer the perspective of the female main character, but I couldn't get enough of Aurek’s (main male character) POV. The interactions with supporting characters has me begging for more - can Vera get her own book?!
Enemies to lovers? Friends to lovers? Why not both 😏 The build up to the "big reveal" leaves you with the perfect amount of frustration and anticipation.
***I received a copy of this book from the author through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***
This book completely captured my heart. It's extremely difficult to create an entire race of people, their world, their culture, their magic and beliefs and make it so believable and real that it becomes a seamless narrative that flows along as if it has always existed.
From the very first chapter, I felt this whole world surrounding me, pulling me into its visceral and ephemeral clutches. There was no effort needed to remember tons of information, you're just swept up in the beauty and magic of these entities and their lives, loves and losses. I really enjoyed the characters and am looking forward to seeing where circumstances take them next. And after the heart stopping, action packed ending, we're still left with a jaw-dropping moment that immediately made me wish for book two. If you're looking to sink into the pages of a story that will captivate you and take you away with it for several days, look no further. This one's for you.
Great writing, fabulous world build, lots of very interesting characters and very plotty story with lots of tension and action. It has cool magic and elemental aspects I very much enjoyed. I think this author has a great writing future.
However, this book was a lot darker than I was looking for. I don't think I'm the intended reader audience and try and avoid books like this that don't have a firm resolution. If you like cliffhanger endings, then you will enjoy this. The other thing that caused me to put it down for a while was some triggery subjects. The MC is extremely traumatized and had just about all the bad things you can think of happen to her so if you are a fan of whump, this is definitely the book for you.
Ugh I loved this book and I’m left on the edge of my seat for the next one in the series. Charlotte was a likeable, relatable character who felt mature yet vulnerable. I LOVED the love story that twisted into the complex magical world building. I was cheering for them to get together!! Stayed up till the AM several nights reading because I couldn’t put it down. A+, I want the next one!!
Disclaimer: Honestly started a bit slow for me and I even put it down for a while, but I think the world building had to happen for me to SO enjoy the rest of the book like I did. Once I picked it back up, I devoured it. If you get “stuck” like I did, go back to it and you won’t regret it!!
I was not able to finish this book. I really tried as I had purchased it wanting to help out an indie author. Unfortunately, I found so many inconsistencies within the first 30 pages, that I refused to subject myself to this, torture? No that's too harsh a word, but regardless I just couldn't finish it. The upside to the book is that the author is a good writer. Unfortunately, their editor only cleaned the book up when it came to grammatical mistakes. Had they pointed out these inconsistencies to the author (but then again maybe they did) this would have been an amazing story. At least from what I read so far.
"Desperation" is a whirlwind of magic, mystery, and suspense. The story centers around Charlotte and Aurek, whose destinies were intertwined from a young age as they were meant to rule the Sky Throne together. Their love seemed perfect. However, after Charlotte’s parents are murdered, Aurek appears quite guilty, and Charlotte escapes with her infant sister. They spend more than a decade amidst humans in our world.
Becca Ryden weaves an extraordinary narrative, infusing parts of the Otherworld with ours in quite humorous ways. I appreciate the contrast between Charlotte’s manners and how human society has changed them. The injection of mythology was very well done, offering easy explanations for things that would normally defy logic, such as charms and 'tasting lies.' Charlotte is a heroine worth rooting for. A powerful royal who had everything given to her was suddenly left alone with the responsibility for her sister in a strange world without her powers. She ends up growing into a strong, feisty, snarky, and independent woman. I’m not going to spoil the read by discussing Aurek, but he is the reason this book is Romantic Fantasy. He does not disappoint.
While the book is a little on the lengthy side and some parts slow down a bit, there are a lot of characters and stories to be told, so I understand the page length, and it didn’t take away from the story. I think some of the length is due to revisiting events from two different points of view, with one character telling us what happened and then later, the other character hearing what happened. One incongruent part that I found is that Charlotte was never taught or curious enough to ask about her animus. With someone so important and powerful, like the animus her mother possessed, you’d think she would know about it. That being said, the explanation was a good way to build trust between characters. Charlotte’s emotional turmoil and the love between Charlotte and Aurek’s animus are beautifully written. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Customer Review Ian Richard Gill 4.0 out of 5 stars A Tantalizing Blend of Magic, Romance, and Royalty Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2023 Verified Purchase Desperation, by Becca Ryden, grabs the reader’s full attention and holds it from the first page until the very end. In a feudal parallel world fueled by magic in all of its aspects, Charlotte de Valois, is at a young age the heiress to her parent’s throne. cast into turmoil and forced to flee her privileged former life with her newborn sister, after the murder of her Royal parents at the hand of her intended betrothed, Prince Aurek. Through a magical portal, they escape to a mysterious world devoid of magic, where they hide away, desperate to avoid the same fate as their parents. Years pass, as Charlotte does her best to raise and protect her sister Alli, always fearing that one day her past will catch up to them. Charlotte is a strong protagonist. Although often plagued by her own self doubts, and self imposed limitations, Charlotte has struggled to make a home for herself and Alli, while learning to take care of herself defence through mastering Muy Tai. Charlotte has through means not really well defined, locked away her powers in an attempt to help her hide. Clearly, this was done to help conceal her true identity, but I would have liked a more in depth telling of how this was achieved, and why it was very difficult to reverse. Obviously, this act has created plenty of issues for Charlotte, weakening her ability to defend against the magic of those who might be hunting her. As it must, the day arrives when everything goes sideways, and Charlotte comes to realize that Aurek has come to Earth, hunting for her. Ryden expertly wields her pen to build a world filled with great characters, loyalties, and deceptions, rising, and twisting towards a strong conclusion. I found Desperation to be a page turner, that left me wanting to read on, and I suspect that a sequel will follow, hopefully soon.
Desperation is a fantastoc.novel with magic, mystery and auspense all in one. The book follows Charlotte and Aurek who through their time together seal with personal issues and transformation.
This is not your typical fantasy novel, and not like the ones I have read in my.past, the thing that made this book really stand out to me was Vampires! I know, right in the perfect time for spooky season! There is a hint folklore in it too, and I also thought that was very cool. It deals with old Gods and if you are well versed in that, then this is for you.
All of these elements come together perfectly as Becca (the talented author) relays the story bit by bit until the final conclusion. By the way, its hard to give a review of this great book without spoilers lol.
It is an urban fantasy, with it being portrayed during today's era but has links with the 1800's, which I thought was creative. The pace was a bit on the slow end, but thats not a complaint. Slow burners are one of my favorite things. Creative and imaginative, Desperation follows a strong female lead, whonis very relatable and inspiring.
I can see anyone enjoying this book, and I also liked that the authot put a type of trigger warning, of which you do not see a lot of.
5 stars for ceeativity and for keeping me and soon to be many many other readers engaged and entertained. I will be looking for more works by this author! Great cover too!
"Desperation" is a well-written and captivating novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world of fantasy and romance, tinged with dark undertones. Set in a modern-day society with echoes of the 1800s, the story unfolds as Charlotte, a Daeva Princess, believes her promised love, Aurek, is responsible for the murder of her parents, the King and Queen of the Sky Throne. The novel beautifully weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Charlotte's emotional turmoil and determination to protect her sister add depth to the character's development. As the plot progresses, secrets are revealed, blurring the lines between perception and reality, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Ryden skillfully incorporates various fantasy elements into the narrative, including magic, vampires, and ancient gods, making "Desperation" a rich and immersive experience for fantasy enthusiasts. The world-building is commendable, with a seamless fusion of technology and the supernatural. While the book holds an enthralling charm, it must be noted that certain events may be triggering for some readers. As the first installment in The Animus series, "Desperation" sets the stage for what promises to be an epic and enthralling saga. Whether you are a fan of dark romance or fantasy worlds, you will find this read interesting and engaging.
This is marketed as a fantasy romance yet there was zero romance in what I read. In my experience reading fantasy romance, if there is not a hint of romance in the first 100 pages, I know that any romance that eventually develops will feel lack luster. The only time you can get away without any romance in the first 20% of a book is if you haven’t introduced one of the characters involved in the main love story. In this case, both characters are introduced right in the prologue and I felt little to no connection between them. It is clear that Aurek has an attachment to Charlotte, but that is only because the author explicitly states this. The author doesn’t make me believe it though. I just know that any romance that comes up between the two will be jarring to read. Also, the entire enemies to lovers aspect of this story felt forced and was also unbelievable.
The overall plot was interesting and held so much potential but I felt zero connection to the FMC and found myself wondering why I even cared about what happened to her.
So much potential in plot with overall good writing….this one just fell flat for me.
DNF@13% I've never seen a book with as much lore per page as this one. When I read a book I want to relax and have a good time, I don't want to feel as if I have to create a spreedsheet just to keep track of who is who and what their alliances are.
A simple way to improve this book would have been to cut off that first cringe chapter completely and use that section for lore dump instead, and then start on chapter II with Aurek doing his thing. That way you keep the mystery and the intrigue instead of revealing the whole plot from the start.
I couldn't get passed chapter II, and I still feel as if I had read the whole book because the author gives away so much from the plot so early that it's easy to guess the ending from the start. She needs to learn some restrain
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an unbiased review.
The plot summary of this book had so much potential! It fell really flat for me though. It just didn't have any stakes. I didn't know why we cared about the girl or her world or why I should be rooting for her. The writing was a bit clunky in spots, but mostly was a really enjoyable style. I was hoping for a lot more from the "enemies to lovers" romance. It wasn't a romance, and I'm not sure how they fell in love.
A Gripping Tale of Love and Betrayal "Desperation" by Becca Ryden is a masterpiece of fantasy fiction. The story of Princess Charlotte and her quest to uncover the truth behind her parents' murder kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with unexpected twists. Ryden's world-building is impeccable, immersing you in the royal intrigue and emotional depth of the story. This book is a must-read for any fantasy lover!
A Page-Turner with Depth "Desperation" is a brilliantly crafted fantasy novel that explores themes of trust, love, and betrayal. Charlotte's character development is profound, and the plot is filled with thrilling twists and turns. Ryden's writing is vivid and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the world she has created. This book is a fantastic read that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.
An Emotional Rollercoaster Becca Ryden has outdone herself with "Desperation." The blend of romance, mystery, and action is perfectly balanced. Charlotte's journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, and her relationship with Aurek is complex and compelling. The suspense kept me turning pages late into the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy novel.
This was definitely a case of judging the book by its cover. I thought the cover was interesting and dove right into this book. No complaints, I enjoyed the journey immensely.