Thank you Netgalley for the free copy of this book that I got in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, I only even looked at this book because the cover is STUNNING. The makings of a great, really atmospheric book. But then I read the synopsis and the plot seemed pretty basic and totally done before.

Not to say I'm an oracle or anything, but I was bang on the mark.

The plot just really wasn't it for me. And for me, the plot is everything. I want the action, the suspense, but that just isn't what I got enough of for a fantasy. And the magic system was totally lacking.

But here is a (short) list of good qualities this book has, that I'm sure made this book for some people, but just weren't enough to bring it back for me.
1)The jungle made for such an amazing setting. And with that sprinkle of disease and war and all that good stuff, it really was the thing that kept going. Anyone else get major Pandora vibes?
2) The sister relationship. It wasn't all hugs and kisses, but it was real AF. And had that underlying comitment to each other-even when screaming.I always appreciate sibling/platonic relationships in books more than romantic ones, so this one totally delivered on that front.

Wow, that really was a short list.

1,5 star - DNF

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the ARC to this book!

I am about 50 pages into the book, a little over halfway through the second chapter, and I am confused. I found myself struggling to get through the first half of the second chapter. The chapters are quite long and there seem to be multiple storylines and the POVs seem to be changing within a chapter, which makes it difficult for me to follow along and know who the characters are. The story seems to be very interesting, however as these POVs change within a chapter I had to put the book and could not finish it. I still gave it 1,5 stars (2 rounded up) because the story genuinely seems to be interesting, the writing style just is not for me.

“I’m tired of being evil,”Kjari said, before Ico could lash out again. “Tired of being the monster human children fear before they go to bed. River has no idea what it is to fill the role I fill.”

The Beholden tells the story of Izara and Celestia, two sister who summon the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost. Years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due; together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with a god even more powerful than her.

The cover of this book is just beautiful. From the colors to the drawings, all the elements combine perfectly. It fascinated me from the moment I saw it for the first time.

The characters are unique in their own way. I really liked the way each of them brings something important to the plot. The sister relationship between Izara and Celestia is very real. They can get angry with each other and disagree on certain issues, but they always have unconditional love for each other.

The elements of magic seemed incredible to me. The concept of gods and diseases was very creative in my opinion. The combination of magic with the characters, and how it helps them on their journey is fascinating.

The descriptions are also very detailed and I liked that too much. I was able to imagine each place and setting in a detailed way and that allowed me to read the story more realistically.

It was a book that I enjoyed.It is a plot driven book, so it is a bit more difficult to read if you are used to read character driven books. Still, it is very enjoyable.

I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It is simply wonderful. I hope I can buy a physical copy very soon :)