Kagama -The Literaturevixen

I recieved this ARC from Netgalley and this is my honest Review

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.  

Asa the youngest daughter of the Lord Fane through a series of events decides to take her middle sisters place as the bride to Heir of the neighbouring planet Wester.

When I saw that this book had space opera AND an arranged marriage I immediately requested it from Netgalley.

But as soon as I started reading I  was thrown into an action sequence and got very confused and even when I reached the end of the book I am not sure I understood half the world or the characters. or The blight,or the amazing new technology.

I felt I couldnt get a grip on the characters.What had made them what they were

I was honestly surprised when Eagle and Asa bonded near the end since what interactions they did have had so far were so vaguely described. In fact a lot of the book is vague and things like this

Breakfast is a reticence of ghosts.The cloudy gray window light dulls everyones smiles and clothes.Even the plates and knives are quiet.

 

I know I know.Its poetic and wordy.But to me it just became a bit ridicilous since eating utensils are usually not prone to talk.

I thought Asas personality was a bit hysterical and given too much to instropective description of her surroundings and leaping to conclusions. Why is she so attached to Wren her sister for example? Still not sure.

This book was a disappointment to me but at times I did glimpse some potential from this author if she would just shed the needlessly complicated phrases and add some substance to her world and characters.