Reave

Reave took me on an wonderful journey through the eyes of Aster, a young, naive girl navigating a cruel and corrupt world. I absolutely loved Aster as the main character. She's inexperienced and sheltered at the start, but there's a quiet strength in her that gradually blossoms. Watching her growth felt like watching a puppy slowly turn into a wolf. What really sets Reave apart, though, is the slow-burn development—not just in the romance, but in Aster's character arc. There's no instant love, no naive female lead suddenly becoming wise or fierce overnight. The author takes the time for Aster to grow naturally, which I found incredibly refreshing. Her transformation is gradual, thoughtful, and entirely believable.

This is a slow burn with a high level of focus placed on character development. Typically this would lose my interest but being inside Aster's head was so enjoyable - I was hooked! She's clever, blunt, strong willed and insightful, I couldn't get enough.

There are two central male characters—Ahren, the stern Lord of the House, and Chase, a deadly Reaper who serves as an assassin for the city. Ahren starts off as cold and rigid, but as the story unfolds, he becomes unexpectedly lovable, with a warmth that caught me by surprise. Chase, on the other hand, is everything you'd want in a strong, protective male lead. His "touch her and die" attitude comes across perfectly -the first time we meet him, he breaks a man's arm for touching Aster improperly. The chemistry between Aster and Chase is slow-burning but intense, with so little said between them, yet their emotions speak volumes. I couldn't get enough of them.

Reave is very much about Aster's transformation, and it does an amazing job of keeping you hooked as you watch her evolve. The setting is dark and gritty, filled with danger, and it’s clear that Aster is on the path to something big—I can't wait to read the next book. I want to see Aster burn it all to the ground.

If you're looking for a character-driven story with a fierce yet developing female lead, brooding male characters, and a slow-burn romance, Reave is the book for you.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of Reave by C. Miller. This was a fantastic novel. I stayed up till way too early in the morning to finish it because I could not put it down. Aster was a fantastic character, with so much growth, and twists and turns in her backstory. I was NOT prepared for that ending, so I really hope that the next will be out soon. And that I can read the ARC of that one as well. I will be getting this as soon as it comes out. Fantastic world, the characters had depth, the storyline was interesting, and I loved how some of my feelings changed throughout the book about specific characters. If you know, you know. I will be recommending this all over! FIVE STARS!