Aww, what a wholesome and sweet little story this was! It doesn’t have much of a plot to write home about, but the atmosphere is really|| 3.5 stars ||
Aww, what a wholesome and sweet little story this was! It doesn’t have much of a plot to write home about, but the atmosphere is really quite lovely and heartwarming. Sometimes “no plot, all vibes” can be rather good fun! Of course, sometimes it can also get quite a bit boring, but oh well. I did enjoy it for the most part. It was cute.
I especially loved all the children! Neither Linus nor Arthus really did all that much for me, but the children… Well, they were abolutely adorable. And not in the typical way either, since they were all very unique, strange, and bratty, which made it so much fun to discover more of their quirks and personalities.
Then again, because the children did, indeed, form such a major part of the narrative in the book, it did tend to read a tiny bit childish or immature at times. However, I suppose that was simply the aesthetic that fit this story best. It’s not necessarily my personal favourite aesthetic, but I could appreciate it for what it was!...more
Oh my! This was positively lovely! It was the perfect mix of humour, emotion, intellect, and mystery: I was constantly cracking up laug|| 4.5 stars ||
Oh my! This was positively lovely! It was the perfect mix of humour, emotion, intellect, and mystery: I was constantly cracking up laughing, my heart continued to swell to the point of bursting, my brain felt properly stimulated by so many thought-provoking moments, and I could never quite figure out that mystery! I laughed, I felt, I was kept guessing; it gave me everything!
On the surface this story and especially these characters all seemed very silly and quirky, but even that silliness and quirkiness had a deeper meaning. It all meant something, and that meaning was beautiful. The book’s underlying message showed the importance of kindness, of forgiveness, of trying to understand your fellow human, of seeing similarities in someone who might seem so very different from you, of seeing the grief or pain that may lay under the surface of someone’s outer layer, of knowing that you are not alone in your fears, but, most importantly, it showed the beauty and power in finding acceptance, and perhaps even love or true friendship, in another soul, no matter who that person might be or when it might happen.
But, honestly, I don’t think I can do the book justice by trying to explain what the meaning was; you are just going to have to read the book for that. And you really should, as the book trully tells all of it so wonderfully....more
I am, unfortunately, quite disappointed. After absolutely adoring the first book, I went in with rather high expectations, which this b|| 3.0 stars ||
I am, unfortunately, quite disappointed. After absolutely adoring the first book, I went in with rather high expectations, which this book did not seem to be able to meet at all.
The most glaring issue for me would be the romance. We had something that felt so real and vivid between Alizeh and Kamran, only for it to now be replaced with something so cliche as another carbon copy of the enemies to lovers trope. I don’t have anything against Cyrus personally, he even seemed a rather sympathetic character in his own way, but I wasn’t able to really feel for him as he reads as yet another stereotypical broody, tortured hero. He was the kind of love interest I have read a million times before and, consequently, his unoriginal romance with Alizeh was one that I could not find much interest in. It just felt forced.
It’s not even that I find either Kamran or Cyrus more objectively likeable than the other, it’s not that. Cyrus might even win that contest, actually. It’s just that Cyrus felt like such a flat, simple character that he was unable to awaken any feeling or emotion within me. It might also be because we don’t get to read from Cyrus’ persective at all, while we continue to read from Kamran’s, that I felt so unable to connect with him, which leads me to believe that this was a strange and rather ill-adviced choice from the author.
Perhaps this strange choice of POVs is a hint that Kamran is indeed still meant to be endgame, but if that is to be the case, I’m possibly even unhappier about the events of this book. I did not need a second love interest. It cheapens the love between Kamran and Alizeh a lot, and so, even if they do end up together, it will now no longer feel as truthful as it did before. After all, Alizeh seemed to have forgotten about Kamran so easily, I no longer believe her feelings for him to be genuine. Not to mention, Kamran’s easy resolve to denounce and mistrust Alizeh in this book also makes me unsure whether I even want them to be together anymore…
I don’t know. This sequel just kind of ruined the romance for me entirely, no matter what happens at this point. Neither Cyrus or Kamran satisfy me as a love interest right now.
Worst of all, Alizeh has disappointed me as well. Whereas she was so painfully compassionate and caring in the first book, to the point of my falling utterly in love with her, she seemed more like a caricature of herself now. Instead of being kindhearted while still remaining strong and intelligent, she was now too naive, too silly, too overwrought with emotion, too dramatic; she no longer seemed real or admirable, she now almost felt like a joke… One I even found a little irritating.
Last but not least… Where on earth was the plot?? Why was it literally non-existent?? I’d even say this book was actually rather boring at times… It was definitely a far cry from the ever intriguing and constantly gripping experience I had with the first book. What a letdown.
'This Woven Kingdom' series: 1. This Woven Kingdom - 5.0 stars 2. These Infinite Threads - 3.0 stars...more
I love her, I love her, I LOVE HER! Alizeh has to be one of my favourite protagonists of all time. Her silent strength, selfless kindne|| 5.0 stars ||
I love her, I love her, I LOVE HER! Alizeh has to be one of my favourite protagonists of all time. Her silent strength, selfless kindness and quiet resillience had my heart aching while simultaneously also bursting with pride. She was such a wonderful person who has suffered so much without ever losing her vibrant spirit or gentle heart; I adored her so much.
The romance was very gripping as well: Their feelings for each other were so poignant and vivid. I could feel the wonder and deep emotion coming in waves from both Alizeh and Kamran whenever they were in each other’s company; it might have felt overdone or overly intense had even a slight thing been done differently, but the way it was now, it was truly perfectly done. I felt their love deeply and truthfully, and their chemistry continued to blow me away. It was beautiful.
”I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again.”
The side characters were genuinely amazing as well. -Hazan was such an intriguing character and I feel like his loyalty and dedication to Alizeh had hidden depths I cannot wait to uncover further. -Cyrus has only been introduced near the end, so I don’t know much, but he definitely seems like a fun character who can add a whole new dimension to the already amazing storyline we’ve had so far! -I found Miss Huda terribly humerous in a slightly pathetic yet still endearing way. I can’t say I know her that well yet, but I feel like her friendship with Alizeh could be rather sweet and heartwarming if it gets the chance to blossom; she definitely seems like she would benefit from someone kindhearted around her. -Now, of course, I cannot forget to mention my baby, Omid. He was such a pure and adorable kid, I fell in love with him instantly. He was the absolute sweetest little child, and his unlikely friendship with Alizeh warmed my heart until it positively glowed. Their scenes together always put the biggest, brightest smile on my face.
The writing was also stunning, absolutely gorgeous. I have only praise for it. It gripped me from the very first page and didn’t let me go until the very end; I loved it all the way through and I genuinely felt like I was fully transported into this new world with these new people I have grown to love and care about.
In other words: I loved this book wholly and completely. I cannot wait for the next installment so I can find out what will happen next…!
Ahhh!! Yess!! Finally!! I feel like I finally got the love story I have been waiting for all this time with this series.
I never quite m|| 4.0 stars ||
Ahhh!! Yess!! Finally!! I feel like I finally got the love story I have been waiting for all this time with this series.
I never quite managed to see Jacks feelings for Evangeline in the previous book, but I could definitely see it now. Not only did it obviously help a lot to actually get his POV for the first time, but I also feel like his actions in this book actually made sense and were in line with him caring deeply for her. He truly did choose her above everything and anything this time around, even above himself. She was his number one priority and he would do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant keeping her away from him. I could finally see the guy every reader has been obsessed with all this time in him!
”I am a monster, but whether you remember it or not, I’m your monster, Evangeline.”
I also quite liked the plot in this one.
The memory loss really added something, especially as we kind of got to see Evangeline fall in love with Jacks all over again, only now with Jacks actually acting like he loved her too. Even more so, it also gave Evangeline a little more to do and think about other than simple pine after and lust over Jacks like a lovesick schoolgirl. After all, she couldn’t even remember him, so she certainly couldn’t remember to be like that either. Of course, she still thought about him quite a lot, but not as obsessively or borderline pathetically as before. It felt more natural and organic now.
Additionally, although I obviously hate him, Apollo definitely brought out a lot of real obstacles into the mix that I found very entertaining and fun to read about!
This was really disappointing. Everyone always raves about this book as if it’s absolutely amazing, especially due to the romance, but || 3.0 stars ||
This was really disappointing. Everyone always raves about this book as if it’s absolutely amazing, especially due to the romance, but that was exactly what was not really working for me.
The way people talk about Evangeline and Jacks, I honestly expected something really different. I knew he would be cold and unfeeling, but I also expected her to be the exception to that. I thought he would be obsessed with her, choosing her above everything and anyone, only having eyes for her, being protective, and basically just being really in love with her, despite him not wanting to be. I didn’t get that, though. Instead, he just constantly lied to her, betrayed her, left her, mocked her, and just overall treated her like she didn’t matter. This was not the guy I was promised and neither was this romance.
Speaking of the romance, it also ruined Evangeline’s character for me. She was so charming and endearing in book 1, but now her whole personality was reduced to her pathetic longing for Jacks. She only ever thought about him and how he felt about her, nothing else mattered. No matter how badly he treated her or how often he betrayed her, she never got angry, she never held him accountable, and it never changed her feelings for him. He could do whatever, and it would never change anything. She would still be the lovesick girl, pining after a guy who never gives her the time of day. That’s the opposite of romantic for me.
That said, the plotline was still pretty interesting. It certainly wasn’t as charming or magical as the first book, but I was still intrigued to find out how everything would turn out. I wanted to know where the story would lead, what the secrets would reveal, and who everyone’s true identity was. Obviously, I did not get all the answers here yet, but enough was answered for this book to not feel like filler (as so many middle books in trilogies do tend to be).
This kind of reminded me of a fairytale, but it also had that little bit of extra oomph t|| 4.5 stars ||
What an utterly charming and fun little book!
This kind of reminded me of a fairytale, but it also had that little bit of extra oomph that made it more intense and dramatic than a classic fairytale would be.
The plot was one you easily get lost in as it pretty much hooks you from the very first page. It was not too elaborate or intricate, but also not simple or shallow. It was just right for making you thoroughly invested, while also not making it so complicated that it almost feels like a chore to read it. No, instead this was a total breeze to get through. There was never really a dull moment as the setting, premise, and storyline were all very entertaing and engaging. The drama and the progression of the story all had me completely sucked in. Some things were predictable, but certainly not all of it. And even those things you did anticipate were still revealed or played out in a way that felt somehow surprising.
Another important thing is that the main character was also very easy to root for. Evangeline was honestly adorable with a true heart of gold. Still, she wasn’t a total stereotype as she also had her own wishes and desires, ones she did not always ignore so others would feel better. Sometimes she did choose herself, but… never when it would truly harm another person. She always knew right from wrong and was never afraid to fight for what was right, even when it would cost her. In other words, she was a total sweetheart, but not a doormat. And, most importantly, she actually grows in this book. She starts out naive and too trusting, but she learns to become a little smarter and a little more thoughtful, without ever losing her loving spirit or sunshiny attitude.
Because Evangeline was such an easy to like character, it made the juxtaposition between her and Jacks all the more fun and interesting. Evangeline was never afraid to embrace her feelings, her hope, her love, and her faith, whereas Jacks did nothing but run from them. They were a total ‘black cat x golden retriever’ duo, and I loved to see it. It’s why I cannot wait to find out how their relationship develops and how or why Jacks will eventually start to truly care for Evangeline. I have a feeling that seeing this man in love would be a true sight to behold.
This genuinely bored me to tears. It seems that any semblance of a plot had just vanished in this book, and it didn’t leave much in its|| 2.0 stars ||
This genuinely bored me to tears. It seems that any semblance of a plot had just vanished in this book, and it didn’t leave much in its wake. Without the presence of Caraval, all the magic and intrigue of this series just drained away… Instead of a climax, this finale mostly just felt like it dragged the story out into something it never should have been. It transformed the story into something unoriginal, uneventful and uninteresting. There were still a few twists and turns, but they all felt so anticlimactic and unimportant somehow; it just didn’t hit.
Other than the fact that there was little to no plot left here, the characters and romances gave me nothing of note either. Everyone and everything felt bland. The romances were so simple, meaningless, forced, and instant. It’s like… the book tries to convince me there is some sort of conflict going on between the couples, but both Scarlett and Tella do nothing but pine for their lovers who never really give them what they want. The girls don’t know how to stand on business and it makes them both seem really pathetic when they continue to pine for men who don’t know how to behave like true gentlemen who love them; Julian and Legend constantly abandon them or lie straight in their faces, but all is forgiven when the girls look at their handsome faces, leading them to once again turn into a giant puddle of love. Riiiight… It sucks too because Jacks was actually a lot more interesting, but Tella never gave him the time of day because she was obsessed with Legend for whatever reason, and Scarlett literally strung that poor count, Nicholas, along and destroyed his whole life, and for what?? She knew she wanted Julian. Why mess with the poor guy’s feelings like that? It’s just cruel.
Finally, the sister bond was also just as weak as ever. Tella and Scarlett have no chemistry or genuine love between them; they each seem like they view the other more like a nuisance they cannot get rid of than a true piece of their heart they love more than anything in the world. Meanwhile, the series continues to try to gaslight me into thinking these two care deeply for each other, but they just truly do not. Sorry not sorry…
Finally, we got a main character with an actual personality! I can’t quite say I loved Tella with all my heart, but she was at least in|| 3.5 stars ||
Finally, we got a main character with an actual personality! I can’t quite say I loved Tella with all my heart, but she was at least interesting (unlike Scarlett); she was fiery, passionate, fearless, determined, confident and able to actually use her brain from time to time.
The romance was okay, but I somehow expected a little more. I do like it when a man who has never felt love before finally meets his match, making his heart thaw and beat again, but… when that happens, I find it important that we get to see why that man suddenly starts to have feelings again; what makes the girl so special? what happened between them that meant so much to him? how did those feelings start to grow? In this case, however, I didn’t really get to see that. It seems he just decided he cared about her for no real reason and that was that. I don’t like that. I want more depth.
The plotline of this book still held a lot of intrigue and mystery, but it didn’t quite hold my attention as much as the first book did. I think it’s because it didn’t feel as unique due to it not focusing as much on “the game”; it didn’t have as many twists and neither did it seemed to contain as much magic. It felt more like a story I had read before. Still, I remained invested enough in the story to want to find out what was going to happen in the future, what had happened in the past, and what was happening in the present.
All in all, I think the plot, setting and mystery were definitely less strong than they were in the first book, but I did not feel a lot less invested since I did feel a much stronger connection to Tella than I did to Scarlett.
This is one of those books where I can see why some people love it and why some people don’t. My feelings are lingering somewhere in th|| 3.5 stars ||
This is one of those books where I can see why some people love it and why some people don’t. My feelings are lingering somewhere in the middle; I was not wowed or blown away by anything this book had to offer, but I did have a good time and was enjoying myself during most of the book.
I think what was dragging the book down for me, though, is the lack of character development and depth we got. It’s what stopped me from ever veering into love territory when it comes to this book.
Scarlett is a semi-likeable character, but that’s about it. She doesn’t really shine in any particular way and she stayed the very same from beginning to end. I would describe her as a rather… flat character. I think I can best describe her character like this: It constantly felt like the story was happening to Scarlett rather than her truly living the story and actually acting like an important player within it. She was just kind of… useless.
In a way, Scarlett’s only real personality trait was that she thinks her sister is a moron who is in constant need of her help (even though we learn Tella is anything but stupid and has actually been twenty steps ahead this whole time, which makes her seem a whole lot more interesting in my eyes, but that’s beside the point). I mean, I do adore sibling love, but their relationship felt more like an obligation to Scarlett than it did actual love. Most of her inner monologue mentioned Tella in a very negative light and she did not seem to actually like her sister all that much; she just loves her because she thinks she has to… Which is not great. Especially not when her enire story in this book was based on that supposed love for her sister. It took away the emotion and weight out of that part of the story quite a bit.
That said, her relationship with Julian was better. Still not amazing, but definitely better. I wish I could have seen why and how they fell in love a little bit clearer, because it did feel pretty random now, but I do believe they each cared for each other, and they also had semi-decent chemistry. When we saw hints of Julian’s protectiveness, that was when he shined the most.
Now, as has probably become quite clear, neither the characters nor the relationships did all that much for me here, and I think the best part about the book was something entirely different: the mystery. We knew that everything the main character saw and heard in this book could be a lie and so it definitely kept you guessing what was real, what everything meant, what you could trust, and what would eventually happen. Thus, it was mostly my drive to see the mystery uncover that was driving me forward to keep reading with relish. It was what kept me on my toes and intrigued to find out what came next. In other words, it is what made me feel invested in this book despite my lack of character investment.
All in all, the book had its pros and its cons, and although it failed to give me the character and relationship depth I would prefer in a book, it did capture me with its mystery and twists-and-turns. The story was definitely unique in its own way.
Drama, drama, drama, but damn if I didn’t eat it up the whole time. It was honestly impossible not to get sucked into all this angst, c|| 3.5 stars ||
Drama, drama, drama, but damn if I didn’t eat it up the whole time. It was honestly impossible not to get sucked into all this angst, clinginess, and pining, especially since the protectiveness and obsession was top tier as well.
This entire book felt like one giant love letter to the magical power of imagination.
I honestly think the true purpose of this story i|| 4.0 stars ||
This entire book felt like one giant love letter to the magical power of imagination.
I honestly think the true purpose of this story is to show the beauty and strength of creativity by bringing things to life on the page that can normally only vaguely exist in someone’s own head, things that most people are unable to ever give a true shape or express in words.
While reading this book, you are made to feel things not so much because of characters, plot, or relationships, but more so because of the penetrating depth that is used to imagine and describe the most elaborate ideas, images, and, as a consequence, their accompanying emotions.
We get to experience this magical “circus” as if we were a guest and walking amongst the enchanting tents ourselves, which leads to us being thoroughly captivated and awed by its pervasive elegance, beauty, and charm.
I find I think of myself not as a writer so much as someone who provides a gateway, a tangential route for readers to reach the circus. To visit the circus again, if only in their minds, when they are unable to attend it physically. I relay it through printed words on crumpled newsprint, words that they can read again and again, returning to the circus whenever they wish, regardless of time of day or physical location. Transporting them at will. When put that way, it sounds rather like magic, doesn’t it?
Moreover, the manner in which the book is written almost feels like it is part of the magical experience itself due to the delicately flowing, uniquely structured, intricately interwoven, greatly detailed, and deeply striking writing style that makes everything appear so much more impactful, meaningful, and penetrating than it would have otherwise.
And so, despite the slower pacing, lack of much plot, and absence of real romantic or interpersonal development, it was still incredibly (and perhaps surprisingly) easy to fall in love with this book based on its atmosphere and beautiful writing alone.
In other words, the book itself feels like it is part of the very same magic it is portaying on the pages....more
The book follows Elliot and Knight, two people at opposite ends of an internet debate about a serial killer who lived and died over 200|| 2.5 stars ||
The book follows Elliot and Knight, two people at opposite ends of an internet debate about a serial killer who lived and died over 200 years ago. Elliot is obsessed with the killer and thinks he was severely misunderstood; he beliefs that the killer had good reasons for murdering his victims, and that he was simply lonely and abused by those he tried to love, and he admires him for taking control into his own hands, and fighting back against those who wronged him. Knight, on the other hand, is very passionate about putting the truth about this killer out there, because he is a descendant of the killer's last victim. Of course, Elliot is entirely misguided in his delusions about this serial killer, but his reasons for feeling this way are very sad and, in a way, almost understandable. He has so many issues and he has been abused all his life, so he wants to look up to someone who he beliefs fought for himself and against those who hurt him. I did get it, because I really did feel very sorry for this messed-up, lonely, sad, and abused young man. I know for a fact he never would have felt this way if only a single person would have shown him love in his life.
Obviously, the set-up for these two characters sounds like it couldn't possible work out. A delusional guy who is in love with a serial killer and a history fanatic who wants to purify his descendant's name? They are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and Knight truly hates Elliot when he only knows about him from the internet. However, when they meet, Knight soon finds out that the guy behind the mask is a vulnerable man who is in desperate need of love and care. He sees that his misguided ideas are not based on a sick or sadistic mind, but on loneliness and vulnerability, and that's why he quickly realises he wants better for him. He wants to make him feel cared for, and hopes he can heal him that way. However, Knight also has issues of his own, as he is incapable of commitment, so when they grow closer and closer, and Elliot wants more, Knight is not sure he can give that to him, therefore making Elliot feel like he isn't enough after all, leading Elliot back to his love for the killer, who, he finds out, just so happens to be living as a ghost in the basement of his old home.
Honestly, this book had a lot of potential, because it had a unique premise and a lot of hurt/comfort, but it was just too much sex and too much of the same being repeated over and over again. I did see growth in these guys as individuals, but I also wanted to see more progression in their relationship; why did they fall in love, really? Was it just because Knight wanted to take care of someone, and because Elliot was hard-wired to fall for anyone who would give him even the slightest bit of attention? I just wanted more depth, and not constant sex or drawn-out descriptions of things I didn't care about. The execution was simply lacking for me: It was too weird, smutty, dragged out, and repetitive.
'Kings of Hell MC' series: 1. Laurent and the Beast - 3.0 stars 2. My Dark Knight - 2.5 stars
This was truly incredibly repetitive and painfully slow-paced. I’m serious, almost every page is the exact same, and I’m sure you could|| 1.5 stars ||
This was truly incredibly repetitive and painfully slow-paced. I’m serious, almost every page is the exact same, and I’m sure you could skip chapters upon chapters without any issue. So much so, I’d even argue there wasn’t much of a real plot to speak of here. Sure, the premise was really cool and the potential could have been off the charts, but the lack of anything ever really happening kept this from being anything of the sort. There’s also little to no interaction outside of one single room and between four one-dimensional characters. It’s supposed to be a story about a prison, yet we never set foot outside of the infirmary where the main character works, thus it never actually felt like a story that took place in an actual prison. It could have been anywhere. Therefore, there’s never any real suspense or even sadness about the horrific conditions of the place since we simply don’t get to see it. It’s vaguely mentioned once or twice, but not really. You definitely don’t get to actually experience or feel it. It’s mostly just a whole lot of inner monologue, which got old and boring sooo quickly.
Also, I don’t know what everyone is on about when it comes to the ending being so rad and shocking, because I found the plottwists to be extremely predictable. It was about as cliche as it could possibly be, not to mention incredibly stupid since it leads to three very important (and unfortunate) things as a result: 1) It negates the entire, never-ending inner monologue we have sat through this entire book, since it’s clear the main character has been lying and withholding truth this entire time, but since we’re reading from inside her head, I guess she’s been constantly hiding the truth from… herself?? Is she mentally insane? Like, nothing even remotely logical could explain her inner monologue when you consider the truth. It makes no sense. Genuinely, no sense. 2) The reveal makes all of the main character’s emotions entirely invalid. We have been led to believe a lot of things to explain her situation and her feelings on matters, but it turns out it was all untrue, so her feelings and emotions during this entire book are now completely null and void. 3) The plottwist also changes her from someone we previously viewed as incredibly compassionate and selfless to someone I’d personally call heartless. We now know she could have done plenty to save many many people, including her father and her mother, but she simply chose not to. It changes our view of her entire character from someone who constantly tries her hardest to save as many people as she can because she cares deeply about everyone around her to someone not even willing to help the people she supposedly loves most with minimal effort. I mean, I’d dare say she is approaching psychopath territory with that: You have to have no compassion at all to just sit by and watch people (your parents included) die when you had the power to save them. Crazy.
So, those three things combined really just lead me to question what on earth I’ve spent all this time even reading? It seems I’ve literally just read the most mind-numbingly slow story, narrated by a girl who is lying to herself for no reason other than to give us, as readers, a gotcha moment. Which means I basically read… nothing. What a waste of time.
That said, I do have to admit that I had a little bit of a soft spot for Tipp. The stuttering, vibrant 11-year old really managed to pull on my heart strings once or twice as the boy was simply too precious. But really, he was my one highlight, and he was far from enough to save this book for me....more
Wait, is this the end?? I genuinely can’t tell. It definitely felt like a happy-ending, like it’s done now. But then… some minor things|| 4.0 stars ||
Wait, is this the end?? I genuinely can’t tell. It definitely felt like a happy-ending, like it’s done now. But then… some minor things did leave room for a next book, I guess? I’m really curious now if something is coming next and if so, what it will be…
Anyway, enough about the possible sequel, let’s talk about this book. Honestly, I loved it. Truly. Maybe not quite as much as the first two books, but it doesn’t really matter: At this point I’m just hooked, line and sinker, when it comes to these characters, so I knew I would likely love this book no matter what. Which, in a way, is exactly what this book proved to be true, because, in all honesty, it didn’t always have the best plot or even enough character depth, yet I still cared enough to somehow not actually be too bothered by that. Nonetheless, I did notice, of course, as I clearly saw that the action or the preparation for action seemed to take over a bit. I would have preferred to see more relationship developments or character explorations rather than just seeing everyone trying to come up with ways to defeat the Asteri. But, you know, that’s a personal preference, which I’m sure not everyone will share; it’s simply that I’m normally a character-driven type of girl, so I go feral for deeper character studies or a lot of detail into all kinds of relationships (romantic, platonic, familial, you name it). So yea, I felt like the previous two books had a lot of that, and this one was missing a little bit of it. It still had some, don’t get me wrong, just not quite as much as I would have liked.
Honestly, though, I feel like in each of my reviews for these books I’ve really zoned in on how much I love these characters, yet I’ve yet to actually talk about any of them individually. Seeing how this might be the end(??), I feel like I might do that now. So here I go. I’ll try to keep it short:
Bryce… Well, where to begin? She’s the main character for a reason as it’s exactly the kind of behaviour and attitude she exudes. If you hear the phrase “main character,” this is the girl you’re gonna think of. She had confidence in spades, but she also backs it up with some serious smarts, bravery and willingness to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She also never fails to bring the sass and banter to any given situation, which livens everything up in such a fun way! That’s not to mean she can’t be annoying or tiring at time, though, because she certainly can. Like a true main character, she sometimes seems to think the world revolves around her and she’s not always very kind to others. Hunt, for example, kind of suffers from how much of the stage Bryce takes up, because I personally feel like he never becomes anything more than her sidekick. His whole drive and his entire being is wrapped up in her, and he never does much of anything that doesn’t include following her around. And that’s not to say that I don’t like him, because I do. He’s a very kind and, in a way, even soft individual, who, most of the time, just seems like someone who needs a hug.
Lidia is my icon, forever and always. She’s a momma bear ready to burn the whole world down for the very select few people she loves with a fire that burns brighter than anyone else’s. That said, I do feel like her romance with Ruhn suffered from the revelation of her being a mother; not only did it diminish the idea that Ruhn was the only person she loved (since clearly he was not, she doesn’t even love him most), but it also made her children her number one priority, taking her focus away from the developing romance. The minute her kids were introduced into the narrative was the same moment Ruhn was no longer really on her radar. They were together, and that was that; all her worry and protectiveness was now on her kids. As it should be, of course, but I think I was just disappointed considering how much I loved the blossoming romance of these two in the previous book. I had higher expectations of it, and it couldn’t be made a reality because of the ‘mom plot’ that suddenly jumped in here. I think my assessment of Ruhn also completely ties in with what I’ve just said. His development and characterization took a major backseat in this book as he no longer felt like a real priority. Not only in relation to his romance with Lidia, but his sibling bond with Bryce also seemed to be a very minor consideration.
Of course there were a ton of side characters, who don’t get to shine as much as they could have, and of whom I’d loved to have seen more. Marc and Declan’s relationship seemed so healthy and stable and loving, yet we sadly get to see little of it. Same thing with Juniper and Fury; I would have killed to see more of them. They are the literal embodiment of a ‘black cat x golden retriever’ duo, and I know their journey to getting together could have been something amazing to behold! Even Hypaxia and Celestina felt like they could have been so interesting, if only we could have seen more of them; I mean, the angst and drama that could have come out of Celetina’s betrayal, leading to Hyphaxia dumping her, would have had me feral! Alas, we get to see none of it, and only get to hear about it in a few small mentions. Baxian, too, seemed like he could have been such an intriguing person with all his loyalty, strength and motivation, but we never really get to know him. So yea, I would have really liked to read from any of these people’s perspectives… Even if it hadn’t been often, I just wanted to get to know them, get a feel of their relationships. Now it was all left feeling a little vague, especially since everyone was constantly split up, so we no longer got to hear their stories through the POVs of others; they were kind of just ignored now…
Speaking of, there were really only two characters I simply did not like whatsoever, and somehow both of them got to have a recurring POV I could have gladly gone without! One of them was, of course, Ithan, who literally did nothing but whine and whine. “Woe is me” should be his permanent catchphrase as he’s truly the most self-pitying person I’ve come across in quite some time. The only person who could rival him for that title would be the second character I dislike, which would be Tharion. He, too, does nothing but feel sorry for himself, day in and day out. But I actually dislike him even more because he’s also incredibly selfish. He’s always looking our for number one: himself.
All in all, though, I feel like my review has sounded a little more negative than I would have liked. Overall, I genuinely did have a great time with this book! Did I feel some sense of disappointment here or there? Sure. It wasn’t as good as it could have been. But still, I never felt like I’d rather not be reading it; I constantly had a good time. I’ll also always have a special place in my heart for these characters, even if I did wish I got to see more of them in some ways.
Honestly, I found this to be quite an unsatisfying read due to the complete lack of closure or understanding that is reached within the|| 3.0 stars ||
Honestly, I found this to be quite an unsatisfying read due to the complete lack of closure or understanding that is reached within the story. It simply sets up the premise of an interesting idea, but then fails to actually do anything with it.
That said, I did feel intrigued and even entertained while reading this (albeit not to any great extent), so I can’t complain too much, but I just don’t like that it didn’t lead to anything. It purposefully stays vague and open-ended, which didn’t quite do it for me.
I understand that this is exactly what the author wanted to achieve, and although I do love to have a lot of questions while reading a story, I personally prefer to have at least gotten answers to some of them at the end of it. It just kind of feels like a non-story now. A beginning with no end. A thought with no conclusion.
The thing that still makes this story work well as a whole, though, is the fact that the way it is written feels a lot more interesting than the story actually is. Its tense and gloomy atmosphere gives all of this quite an important air to it, like you’re reading something meaningful or insightful. Thus, even though the story really doesn’t say much of anything, the writing makes it so that you feel like you did read something of note....more
Ummm hellooo!?!?? Why on earth did no one tell me how insanely amazing this is!?? Why the hell has it taken me this long to finally sta|| 5.0 stars ||
Ummm hellooo!?!?? Why on earth did no one tell me how insanely amazing this is!?? Why the hell has it taken me this long to finally start this series??
I was actually dreading to pick this series up quite a bit because of what I’d heard people say about it. I had pretty low expectations and I honestly thought it might be a total drag to get through. I was even reluctant to pick up this sequel, despite loving the first book, because people said it would all go downhill… But really, wow, did this end up blowing all of those assumptions away for me! It was so much better than I would have ever thought, and I am genuinely so insanely invested in it all. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but this is by far SJM’s best series in my eyes. It doesn’t even come close for me. You can really tell how much she has grown as an author over the years, and she can be very proud of the result she has gotten out of it with this series.
Honestly, though, this series, and this book in particular, just managed to hit all the right spots for me. It’s a very long book, but it never feels like it. All the pages just flew me by and I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. I think it’s also for a big part because I’ve genuinely grown to care for and enjoy all of these characters so much; I could read about them having the most mundane conversation ever and it’d probably still make me smile indulgantly at them. I mean, I honestly think the first book did have a better storyline than this one, but my love for the characters has honestly grown and grown so much that it still made this just as fun, if not more so, to read!
There is a lot to love about this book, so I could probably go on forever, but I don’t want to babble on for too long, so I’ll end this by giving a well-deserved shoutout to my favourite addition that we got with this sequel and that was: Night and Day (I’ll use their codenames, so whoever hasn’t read this book yet won’t know who I’m talking about and so won’t have the book spoiled for them). I mean, oh my god, I’m obsessed with them! The setting of all their interactions was so interesting, and I loved seeing them both find a safe place with each other amidst all the sadness, doubt and fear in their hearts. It was just so beautiful to see Day talk about how she finally found a person who truly saw her, and not the mask of cruelty and coldness she usually wore. He was the only one who ever showed her love, and it's why he also became the only person she has ever felt love towards in her whole life. Knowing how rare that love was to her made her devotion to him feel so much more special.
“In a world full of enemies, you’re my only friend.”
Honestly, the angst and impossibility of these two just truly had me in a chokehold, and I was totally held in its thrall every time a new thing happened between them or was revealed. Day, especially, intrigued me so much, and she honestly holds a very special place in my heart now. She’s so brave and selfless to have lived the life she has, doing the things she has done, knowing everyone hates her for it, in the hopes of creating a better world. That’s true sacrifice. And I hope Night will see that when it is time for him to… She certainly has my love forever.
It’s crazy how one book in a series can be so different from another; how book one in this duology can be my least favourite Grishavers|| 4.5 stars ||
It’s crazy how one book in a series can be so different from another; how book one in this duology can be my least favourite Grishaverse book while this sequel ended up being the one I loved the most. Isn’t that crazy? It really makes you wonder how often you might have given up on a series after being disappointed by the first book when its sequels might have brought you so much joy if you continued…
Everything I disliked about the first book was different this time around. The plot never felt like it dragged, but instead was constantly operating in full force to try and keep me on my toes. It was consistently engaging and never had me feeling a hint of boredom. Although the writing was not entirely different to most of the other Grishaverse books, I did feel like it was a little less unnecessarily descriptive and also less heavy on the inner monologues. Instead, the writing really made me feel like I was living the action, living through the story. The characters themselves were also more easy to connect to and I found it easier to feel their emotions and relationships. I felt their passion, their drive, their bravery, their energy, their loyalty, and their perseverance. There was even a moment where I had to shed a tear over someone’s loss…
All in all, I can say that I have never been happier that I did not give up on a duology after a disappointing start as I can honestly say this sequel more than made up for it. It also gave a very satisfying ending for all the main characters of the Grishaverse while also leaving the possibility open for more to come.
I love Hunt, but no one can convince me that this wasn’t actually a true love story about the friendship between Bryce and Danika. Thos|| 4.5 stars ||
I love Hunt, but no one can convince me that this wasn’t actually a true love story about the friendship between Bryce and Danika. Those two loved each other so fiercely; their love could withstand anything and it was one in which each would sacrifice everything for the other. I can honestly say that a lot of the selfless, brave, and tragic things they did for each other genuinely brought tears to my eyes. They are the definition of ride or die, and thus, Danika’s own motto described them best:
Through love, all is possible.
For me, all of this book’s characters really came to life and I truly began to care for them. I could feel their grief, their longing, and their struggle but also their joy, bravery and perserverance (especially when it came to Bryce, of course). I became so invested in all of their feelings and in all of the complex relationships Bryce had with people; I could never, for a second, say that I got bored of it. I mean, take her relationship with her brother, Ruhn, for example; it really had me in a chokehold from beginning to end and each interaction had me completely in its grip! I just loved all the different kinds of love that Bryce was developing and grieving and slowly understanding; familial, platonic, or romantic; old or new.
In all truth, though, I do understand why some people struggled with this book because of its immense length. Its pacing isn’t always the best and it even drags at times. Nonetheless, I was completely sucked into this murder-mystery story with all its twist and turns, this brutal yet also fantastical world, and, most of all, these complex but loveable characters. Thus, I can’t deny I was fully engaged from beginning to end.
And wow, what a truly fantastic beginning and end it was!! Both had me completely shocked and at the edge of my seat! I mean, I did not see the course of the first part of this book coming at all, and so when we… lost certain people, I was completely heartbroken and shattered. I had already formed a really strong connection to a lot of those people and to then see them… suffer that fate… Damn. That really hit me unexpectedly and therefore all the more strongly. But then, of course, the last part of this book was also so strong in the way it truly felt like a culmination and climax of everything that had been building, and it didn’t fail to satisfy in a single regard.
In summary, this book is a big commitment and long journey, but one that’s worth it in my opinion.
Genuine question: If he truly desired her so much, why didn’t he just ask her to marry him from the get go? Like, the disrespect of him|| 2.0 stars ||
Genuine question: If he truly desired her so much, why didn’t he just ask her to marry him from the get go? Like, the disrespect of him continuously offering for her to be his mistress got on my damn nerves, but it was also just so silly, since he knew he could have had her through marriage, if only he asked. She would have said yes. So what was the point of him pining after her in such a useless and stupid way, only ever talking about a mistress position instead of simply offering marriage? It really reinforced my idea that they only had lust between them, not love.
And then, when at the halfway point of the book they do, in fact, marry (because apparently he was capable of that after all… shocker), I wasn’t sure what I was even still reading this for. It should have basically been the end. The game was over. They were together. They were happy. They were settling down, finding a place together. It was an epilogue that lasted forever.