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Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 27 Oct 2024, 07:07
by Anu Anand
[Following is a volunteer review of "No Rest for the Innocent" by M. D. Sanders.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
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Lady Francesca von Islelvin, the beloved daughter and only child of one of the seven powerful dukes, was living the happiest days of her life. She was set to marry her academy sweetheart, Soren, who held the honored role of personal knight and right hand to the crown prince. But on the very day of their wedding, Francesca was framed and arrested for assassinating the holy queen of the Rozenstein Empire. Not only was she accused of a terrible crime, but the person assigned to carry out her punishment was Soren, the very man she loved and had married. What was the punishment for this royal crime that she didn't even commit? Immediate execution without a trial. Francesca’s life ended on the very day she thought a new chapter was beginning, with her husband forced to be the one to end it.

It might seem like her story ends there, but it doesn’t. Fourteen years later, Francesca is revived by her cousin Tirion van Stein, the empire’s second prince. Tirion is a necrotist, a scientist of the dark arts and alchemical magic who experiments with the mysteries of death. Now alive once more, Francesca finds her husband, Soren, happily married to her childhood friend Emilia and raising a thirteen-year-old daughter, Rue. Was it all part of their plan to betray her, or is there more beneath the surface? With a second chance at life, Francesca is set on a journey to uncover the truth about her own death and discover who worked to destroy her world. Keeping her identity hidden, will she be able to navigate a web of lies and secrets to unravel the truth? Read “No Rest for the Innocent” by M. D. Sanders and uncover the hidden motives, dark betrayals, and forbidden magic that will either fuel Francesca’s revenge or lead her to a fate far worse than death.

I hope the intro has sparked your curiosity about this captivating story. Now, here’s my take on the book: I absolutely loved it! The theme, overall story structure, and character interactions were all on point. My favorite part was the humorous narration, especially the interactions between Francesca and Tirion, which brought a delightful dynamic to the story. Characters like Rue, Bronegon, Samael, and Agnes added an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The mystery took me by surprise. I didn’t expect the plot to unfold the way it did!

As for the writing style, the author uses a blend of stream of consciousness with a third-person omniscient perspective. This style focuses on the main character's thoughts and feelings, using informal dialogue and expressive sounds to create a more immersive experience. The author’s use of stuttering and emphasized words in dialogue, like “WHat,” “WANted,” and “aWAY,” really adds to the authenticity of the characters’ emotions and interactions. At first, I found this way of storytelling a bit strange, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed its uniqueness and how it brought the story to life.

I don’t have any dislikes regarding this book. It is impeccably edited, with only two minor errors that I noticed. While the book contains some strong language and sexual content, I recommend it to adult readers who appreciate a good fantasy novel. I rate this book 5 out of 5 based on the points I mentioned earlier in the review.

******
No Rest for the Innocent
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Re: Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 14 Nov 2024, 09:03
by Priya Murugesan
You are right! The intro definitely sparked my curiosity! Waiting to read it!

Re: Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 28 Nov 2024, 14:15
by Sarah Zain
Yap, you sparked my interest in this book. The plot seems intriguing. It's add to my list. Great review Anu!

Re: Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 30 Nov 2024, 10:18
by Gerry Steen
Anu Anand wrote: 27 Oct 2024, 07:07 [Following is a volunteer review of "No Rest for the Innocent" by M. D. Sanders.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review


Lady Francesca von Islelvin, the beloved daughter and only child of one of the seven powerful dukes, was living the happiest days of her life. She was set to marry her academy sweetheart, Soren, who held the honored role of personal knight and right hand to the crown prince. But on the very day of their wedding, Francesca was framed and arrested for assassinating the holy queen of the Rozenstein Empire. Not only was she accused of a terrible crime, but the person assigned to carry out her punishment was Soren, the very man she loved and had married. What was the punishment for this royal crime that she didn't even commit? Immediate execution without a trial. Francesca’s life ended on the very day she thought a new chapter was beginning, with her husband forced to be the one to end it.

It might seem like her story ends there, but it doesn’t. Fourteen years later, Francesca is revived by her cousin Tirion van Stein, the empire’s second prince. Tirion is a necrotist, a scientist of the dark arts and alchemical magic who experiments with the mysteries of death. Now alive once more, Francesca finds her husband, Soren, happily married to her childhood friend Emilia and raising a thirteen-year-old daughter, Rue. Was it all part of their plan to betray her, or is there more beneath the surface? With a second chance at life, Francesca is set on a journey to uncover the truth about her own death and discover who worked to destroy her world. Keeping her identity hidden, will she be able to navigate a web of lies and secrets to unravel the truth? Read “No Rest for the Innocent” by M. D. Sanders and uncover the hidden motives, dark betrayals, and forbidden magic that will either fuel Francesca’s revenge or lead her to a fate far worse than death.

I hope the intro has sparked your curiosity about this captivating story. Now, here’s my take on the book: I absolutely loved it! The theme, overall story structure, and character interactions were all on point. My favorite part was the humorous narration, especially the interactions between Francesca and Tirion, which brought a delightful dynamic to the story. Characters like Rue, Bronegon, Samael, and Agnes added an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The mystery took me by surprise. I didn’t expect the plot to unfold the way it did!

As for the writing style, the author uses a blend of stream of consciousness with a third-person omniscient perspective. This style focuses on the main character's thoughts and feelings, using informal dialogue and expressive sounds to create a more immersive experience. The author’s use of stuttering and emphasized words in dialogue, like “WHat,” “WANted,” and “aWAY,” really adds to the authenticity of the characters’ emotions and interactions. At first, I found this way of storytelling a bit strange, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed its uniqueness and how it brought the story to life.

I don’t have any dislikes regarding this book. It is impeccably edited, with only two minor errors that I noticed. While the book contains some strong language and sexual content, I recommend it to adult readers who appreciate a good fantasy novel. I rate this book 5 out of 5 based on the points I mentioned earlier in the review.

******
No Rest for the Innocent
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
What a tragic beginning to the story! Your introduction to the story and your review as a whole has piqued my curiosity about this book. How is Soren involved in this? What about Tirion? Her friend, Emilia? The author has a great writing style and the book was well-edited. What more do I need? Congratulations to M. D. Sanders for earning a 5-star review from you. I am adding this book to my bookshelves.

Re: Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 02 Dec 2024, 07:57
by Neha Panikar
Love the review - it has a good introduction to intrigue the reader, no spoilers, and very well-explained. I'm not into fantasy fiction, but some plots make an exception. This book does that for me. Thank you!!

Re: Review of No Rest for the Innocent

Posted: 04 Jul 2025, 03:47
by Seetha E
It sure does. Loved reading your take on the book @Anu Anand. I have read this one, too, and I agree with your review. Well-written, and the fantasy elements are captivating. Wondered if this could make a nice 5-episode series.