Goodreads: Melokai

Author: Rosalyn Kelly

Published: 10th October 2017 (NValters)

Source: Copy from Author

Rating: 4/5 (Really liked it)

Official Summary: “She thinks it’s the end, but it’s just the beginning.

“Trouble will come from the east. A wolf will claim the throne.”

Legendary warrior Ramya has successfully reigned over Peqkya as Melokai for twelve years. Prosperous, peaceful, and happy, her people love her… or so she thinks.

But Ramya’s time is up. Bracing herself for the gruesome sentence imposed on all Melokais who have served their purpose, she hears instead a shocking prophecy.

Is the sudden appearance of a mysterious cave creature from the east the trouble the prophecy speaks of? Or is the threat something darker, more evil? And what of the wolves… does the ferocious war with their kind mark the end for Peqkya?

Before Ramya can answer, she and her fearless warriors must first crush a catastrophic rebellion that threatens to destroy her and devastate her beloved nation.” – Goodreads

(Disclaimer: I requested a copy from Author for review. This does not affect my review in anyway)

Review: I went about halfway through the book thinking was the whole point to make your hate the Melokai, was the whole point that you were happy to see her fall? Then that feeling changed, you started to feel for her. Saw that she was just a person, a flawed person who just wanted some happiness. I did not like how she went from years and years of tradition/training to then bang going against all that and sleeping with a Trogr. Seemed a bit too fast. Most of her side of the story I just got a little annoyed with. It was very sex driven and cruel. Which is just their culture.

Lucky enough the book didn’t really feel like it had a ‘main’ character. Every character was important, every new character introduced brought a whole new part to the world. There was a lot of different view points, adding lots of different layers. You think the story is heading in one direction, then it kept changing until the end game was clear. All their little battles and wars are just pointless. The big bad is coming and you are so fucked. I really liked that about this story that it focused on more than one character, allowing you to get attached to who you liked, also showing who you didn’t like. Normally the switching would have annoyed me a little.

The world building was so on point, bringing life to a wide range of different humanoid species. Plus unique animals. So where the second book?

(LGBTQIA – Many mentions of same sex relationships.)