I really enjoyed it, specially the solid worldbuilding and the whole vibe of it.

However, it did feel like a huge setup of what's to come and nothing much happened in terms of plot, and unfortunately the characters don't compensate the lack of it.
Nonetheless, the way the book ends suggests that the story and the characters will be developed better.

I for once can't wait.

yeah.... no

This book was presented to me as two friends developing romantic feelings for each other. That is true, for about 1/3 of thee book. Once they do cave in for each other, they are ripped apart from each other. Here I am frustrated, anxiously wanting to know when do they reunite. Only to discover that both Gus and Domino are taking actions that will damage or complicate their relationship. I can support Gus' actions because he has start to be his own person and learning more about himself. Domino, I want to punch him for being easily influence to agree on a political marriage. MF Gus is being harassed, assaulted, and almost murder and there you are, admiring the lips of some suspicious AF tribe leader. I don't trust Lienn. She is no good and I doubt she would let Domino be with Gus.

Lienn and Ero, one of those two is the lesser evil and the other is pulling the strings.

The book starts out to be character driven, then the plot is presented to be set up for the second book. I like the premise, but the world building could have been explained more through Gus perspective. He lived isolated from the world, only informed by the blesser's teachings. It would have been perfect to explore what the Corruption is and more info about Nichan's abilities, along with the types of beast and spirits. I was lost but eventually understood.

One flaw I can't avoid is lack of delivery after a set up. For example, one of Matta's eyes allows her to see through objects. It's only explained but never used. She could have used it when Gus was being assaulted behind close doors. The stone that can bring Gus pain, used once as a warning, not used since then. Both Matta's and Gus explanations about where their abilities came from was told to share but the information is yet to be useful. I think all of that will be brought back in the next volume, but examples would have been nice before a bigger scene.

I learned that the author doesn't like happy endings, but I only hope that Gus and Domino can express their love before something really tragic occurs.

DNF @ 32%

I won't rate this book because I didn't read that much but all the time I was reading it I got the feeling that the writing was very...stiff and weird? Then I found out that this book was originally written in French, then translated for his publication so I think the writing style suffered because of it.

Besides I didn't especially connect with the characters or the world either and I really can't bother reading two books that leave me feeling indifferent in a row.

3,5 ⭐

I was invested in the characters and the world but there is very little worldbuilding throughout this first novel. I hope we will get more lore in future volumes.

The writing style needs more polishing and there were quite a few grammar errors curtesy of the author's having first written it in French and then translating it (as English is not their 1st language). They didn't bother me as much but there were some word choices that took me out of the atmosphere (ie much too modern sounding words in this fantasy world where they barely have semi functional guns)

The characters themselves were interesting and I enjoyed getting to know then. My personal favourites so far would be Lienn and Gus and I am very curious about what they'll be up to in volume 2. The main romance was...hmmm...it felt just a bit rushed once Domino hit close to puberty but I enjoyed their banter and interactions and the bond they formed during their childhood. Needless to say, the ending left me needing more but it was a good point to end the book.

All in all, this was a wonderful and promising debut and I am excited about future instalments.

I really enjoyed this! The worldbuilding was great and the characters felt real. The reason it lost a star for me was because sometimes, being in Gus and Domino's heads, the characters weren't thinking what it was obvious they would be thinking. Sometimes they never got there and sometimes they did but it took entirely too long. Things like: I know X would impact Y and I know Y really matters because all they've told me is that Y really matters and yet X would come up and.... no one would think about Y, which was super jarring because I know that's what you should be thinking about because that's what makes sense, y'know? Other than that though, I'm very invested and can't wait to read the next book!

I really enjoyed this story. Other reviews criticize the writing (was it done in French and translated? Feels like it), which is fair — the flow can be stilted and every character sounds the same when speaking, BUT the story is interesting and well constructed, and paints a good picture for more to come. The two main characters are extremely likable (Gus ❤️‍

Y'all be lying in the reviews and ratings for what? Smh.

The Nichan Smile is about a nichan boy named Domino who meets a human boy named Gus. A nichan is another being that used to be able to shift shapes but ever since the mysterious Corruption took over, they are stuck as human. As the years go on, the two boys grow closer and their fates are tied together.

No shade to the author but kinda shade? This book was originally written in French, then translated to English... and then published as English. It wouldn't have been such a thing if it were originally published in French but yikes my dude. Translated books always read so bizarre and this one was extra wild. I can't even properly judge if the author is good or not because honest to god have no idea what they were trying to say half the time. But with what they have given me here, I'm inclined to believe writing isn't for everyone.

This book tries to do so many things but none of them worked. Every other page we get namedropped something else and after the first dozen weren't explained, I didn't care. It's like giving different names to the most boring things and people. The world building was just awful and I still have no idea what any of this was. The backdrop for the entire book really felt like a bunch of assholes in the woods and like 3 shitty tents, no joke. The atmosphere that was hyped up so badly was a joke.

The plot was ??? Plot who? It really felt like a bunch of men dicking around for 400+ pages and that was it. The pacing is so off and while everyone (including the author) is saying this is not YA, it reads 100% YA. Until it gets to the middle when the MC goes into this really fucking awful sex frenzy.

It's his SEASON so of course he gets super horny and he HAS to have aggressive and violent sex with two women where he just keeps coming and coming and not seeing them as people. Up to this point in the book, female characters were nonexistent and to finally have them as fucking sex dolls only here to please the piece of shit stinky teenager was disgusting in ways I want to scream about. Like the dude was even getting horny from his female cousin being around him because he jUsT cAnT cOnTroL it. Men are ANIMALS they just can't CONTROL THEIR FUCKING DICKS and if they don't have sex oh my god they will DIE? Literally choke thank you.

I wasn't going to rate this book out of respect for the fact that I didn't think I would like this in the first place but when you pull this bullshit, you are getting that 1 star and I have no damn respect to give. I know mating and nasty shit like that is a staple in some ~romance~ and wattpad hell but yea no fuck that.

I don't know why m/m books have to go out of their way to shit on women but it feels like every time these days and I'm honest to god sick of it. The fact this level of misogyny is coming from a woman is even grosser to me. Do fucking better.