#88 Criers War

Criers War by Nina Varela

Criers War is a the first in a duology that i believe came out in October of last year, i have heard nothing but good things about this book but i was dubious to pick it up as i havent been enjoying YA fantasy as much in the last few months especially when the majority of the plot is romance based. When i read the blurb of this book:

'After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners' estate and bent the human race to their will. Now Ayla, a human servant rising, in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family's death... by killing the sovereigns daughter, Lady Crier. Crier was made to be beautiful, flawless and to carry on her father's legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isnt the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla. Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war'

My first thoughts were that sounds like a generic YA fantasy but i am intrigued by the AI elements as well as the possible LGBT romance so why not pick it up, plus its on scribd so bonus! I must say i was pleasantly surprised as this world building was really well thought out and the AI as a race within this world was unique and expertly crafted. The romance was very very slow burn and a proper enemies to lovers not like the typical broody romances that ive had to put up with in recent releases where they are enemies for all of 10 pages before ripping each others clothes off *yawns* this romance between Ayla and Crier is very 'will they or wont they' get togther type romance and it isnt over done at all.

The AI came into being as a Queen of Rabu was unable to bear children therefore could not produce an heir so she sought out help to 'create' the perfect child, the queen was able to design the princess from her personality down to eye and hair colour, the AI are very lifelike but the humans of this world view them as 'abominations' and there is constant war between the two.

At the beginning of the story Crier is betrothed to a man who is the leader of a movement that wishes to get rid of all the humans, very quickly Crier realises that she is unable to trust him but she is torn between doing what is right for her people including her father and her belief that humans are not the problem. When Crier finds out that there is a flaw in her design her betrothed also finds out and Crier is unsure whether he will use this against her and if it comes out what this could mean for her future.

Ayla is part of the resistant movement as her family was murdered when she was a young child by the AI, she hates the King as a result of this and wants revenge by taking away the thing he holds most dear, his daughter Crier. When Ayla gets a job in the castle to gain access to Crier will she carry out her task of killing her?

I really enjoyed the sci-fi elements of this and i feel like it really left so much to be explored in the second story. Ayla as a character is so complex and grumpy but a good kind of grumpy, she stands up for what she believes in and will stop at nothing to get what she wants whereas Crier as a contrast is kind and good hearted she is conflicted between always trying to please her father and doing what she believes to be right. Its almost like a weird sci-fi re-telling of Romeo and Juliet as they are on rival sides but come together anyway. This was a solid 4 star read for me and im really glad that the second and final book comes out this year so i wont have to wait too long to read it.