The first step on the road to getting my physical TBR shelf under control, and in reading the books I purchased at RARE, I had to dive back into the NThe first step on the road to getting my physical TBR shelf under control, and in reading the books I purchased at RARE, I had to dive back into the Nevermore Bookshop series! I am assuming the whole series will follow a similar pattern, but I am loving the mix of cozy crime, why choose romance and paranormal mystery. It's a little bit ridiculous, but in such an entertaining and fun way that it's a pleasure to suspend your disbelief!
The characters are absolutely the main draw to this series. Despite many of the secondary characters seeming to be quite OTT and caricature-like, somehow it doesn't half give the reader a pretty good idea of the concept of a backwater English village! Every single one of them, from Mina's mother the MLM afficionado to Mrs Ellis, the former teacher with a kinky streak, pop off of the page and really bring the whole setting to life. As for Mina herself, she's a great companion to navigate the story with, and her warring emotions manage to evoke a full range of responses from the reader; from jealousy at her involvement with the leading men, to the shared fear of what her losing her sight might be like, she has true depth and weight, despite the general lighthearted nature of the book.
Likewise, it's a joy to experience her trying to figure out what makes the boys of the bookshop tick. My personal favourite is the quiet but beautiful soul of Quoth, who you get to know a little better in this second instalment. And while Mina does have a few missteps with him and can come across a little harsh in places, the intimate moments with just the two of them are just so sweet and tender. It's a great contrast to the gruff and grumpy Heathcliff, and the suave and sexy Morrie. The only issue I have is that I'm struggling to picture Heathcliff properly - the image my mind supplies doesn't match the descriptions at all, and it's just not the right image for our reluctant Antihero. As for Morrie, I have the opposite problem. I picture him too clearly as Andrew Scott! But again, that just doesn't feel right for this iteration.
The plotline works really well; it does remind me of an Agatha Christie novel, at least from my perspective as a passenger princess reader. I enjoy watching the characters go about trying to solve the mystery, while having no real idea of how it's going to resolve itself. But when it does, it makes perfect sense. Yes, with the characters involved it does lean towards the farcical at times, but it adds a bit of the 'Midsomer Murders' feel to to the setting... and I dread to think how many more victims are going to pile up over the remaining eight books!
The why choose romance starts why choosing in this book, which I was pleasantly surprised about; I had thought it would take longer to get the characters in the 'right' places. But it makes a lot of sense because of the underlying theme of the book. It's a great juxtaposition with the character with the puritanical urge to ban anything that's not inkeeping with God's will. The character is happy to jump on people for reading 'Of Mice and Men', but completely misses the polyamory going on right under her nose! Even with all of the fun and laughter this book brings, I found it incredibly clever that the author has managed to weave in an incredibly serious and timely matter. Lots of applause here!
The only thing that pulled me out of the world was the fact that this is clearly stated as an English village, and yet a few Americanisms (New Zealand-isms?) creep in which just sound plain wrong. There was a cellphone in the first book, for example, and a mention of the 'winter formal' in here (which I've only ever heard on US teen shows). I am happy to accept that this is a fictional place and so it could be that this England speaks with American idioms, but equally it will never quite sit right with me.
Will be diving straight into book 3 shortly!!!...more
Something about the blurb of this book clearly appealed to me, because on two separate occasions I've picked it up 'oh a whim' - firstly (I assume) asSomething about the blurb of this book clearly appealed to me, because on two separate occasions I've picked it up 'oh a whim' - firstly (I assume) as part of a SYK day, and second from the Audible Plus catalogue! I ended up hitting the audiobook first; while it's not bad, the story didn't really 'do' anything for me.
I do like the fact that the first few chapters of the book do feel like the start of the horror stories out main character, Lydia, so enjoys. It's not jump-scary or particularly graphic (if it was, I wouldn't be reading it), but it has that creepy vibe. But then it takes a sharp turn into fantasy land later on, and while the horror vibe remains, it's not as prevalent or effective. I feel like this could have been quite a good dark fantasy book, but it's missing the depth of either the darkness or the fantasy genres.
Lydia is certainly interesting, but there are a few contradictions in her character that made me a bit confused about her. For example, she's clearly got medical training, but decides to do a bit of home surgery without even an attempt at some kind of local anaesthetic?! Nope, we'll just slice our skin open while fully cognisant - that'll go well! I'm not sure how to describe it, but she also may as well have a big pointy arrow over her head with 'I AM THE MAIN CHARACTER' in neon lights. Of course the main character should be the focus of the story, that's the point, but I got the sense that the secondary characters were all just there as filler to populate the world - for much of the book, there's no real reason or explanation for why Lydia is being sought out over any other person.
That being said, I do like Nick and am definitely interested to know what his destiny is! He's a good mix of comic relief, wise-ass best friend, protector and damsel in distress, and for the majority of the time acts as a good foil for Lydia. Their friendship is probably the thing I believed in most in the book.
There are moments when you think you know what's going to happen, and that I am guessing will follow the romantasy template as the series progresses. But there is precisely zero payoff in this book. Although there is a good amount of action in the first half, the pacing of the story arc is so slow - you don't get any kind of explanation as to what's happening and why until at least the half way mark, and even then it doesn't really give you that confidence in understanding. And the ending of the book feels more like the end of the first act in a play - you expect maybe a brief intermission, then to retake your seat and for the story to carry on. But in this case you have to come back on a whole other day to see part 2. The worldbuilding is there, but there's just not enough of it to paint that vivid picture in your mind.
I may come back and finish the series one day, but I have so many other books screaming at me that need to be read RIGHT NOW. And unfortunately, I'm just not invested enough to shift my TBR list around to accommodate the next books at this time....more
We return to 'Villain Academy' two years after the events of the previous books, this time following Cressida Warbury, the one-time tormentor turned aWe return to 'Villain Academy' two years after the events of the previous books, this time following Cressida Warbury, the one-time tormentor turned ally of Rory Bloodstone. The story essentially starts with a 'bang' ...more
A sweet little holiday novella to round out the series, this effectively casts Atlas as Ebenezer Scrooge in the witchy version of 'A Christmas Carol'.A sweet little holiday novella to round out the series, this effectively casts Atlas as Ebenezer Scrooge in the witchy version of 'A Christmas Carol'. But instead of persuading him to change his miserly ways, the three Spirits of Solstice will curse him to a life of solitude if he fails to let go of the darkness inside his heart...
In some respects this retelling is a little 'on the nose'; with the world she's built, the author could have given it more of her own twist while keeping things reminiscent of the Dickens classic. However, what we have does work well, and it's a nice little twist to have the happy-go-lucky character be the target of the ghosties' ire. Likewise, the introduction of Marley as the 'spirit wrangler' was a cute idea.
Once you get into the story, it's exactly what you'd expect and so that element does make it an easy read. But, like the second book, there are moments where I questioned whether I'd skipped something, which dulled the flow. It's like I can see the author has this fully built world inside her mind and a great story to tell, but the tiny little details get lost in translation. As before though, if you can let your imagination fill in the gaps, it works really well.
Just like A Christmas Carol, the visions proffered by the ghosts are not all light and fluffy. But, they give you a wonderful insight into Atlas' character, which is exactly what I was after. He now means so much more as person to me because I understand his backstory better, as well as what he's feeling and perceiving about himself. Yes, I would have liked a similar deep dive with Bash, but actually Atlas's character arc really needed this to bring him up to a top tier MMC.
I'd call this one fluff with substance. And the little glimpses of the future make for great fanfic fodder! Even if it does just stay in my head....more
While the conclusion of this duology gave me all the emotional connections and feels you could ask for from the sass to smouldering cRating: 3.5 stars
While the conclusion of this duology gave me all the emotional connections and feels you could ask for from the sass to smouldering chemistry to sadness, I found it harder to read than part one. It's written well enough, and the story is good, but it just didn't flow quite as well for me; I kept feeling like I skipped paragraphs or even pages and was missing information. But, if you use your imagination to fill in the gaps, it's still a great experience.
What makes this book is the development of the relationships between the various characters; the bonds between friends, lovers, brothers and generally as a 'found family' are beautifully crafted. The new characters that are introduced very quickly become familiar and loveable, and you'd swear they've been there all along. However, I would have liked each individual to have a bit more in the way of character development - they're great characters, but just aren't quite three dimensional enough to truly feel real in your head. Even the existing characters don't quite feel as fleshed out as they should. I do wonder if this is because there are quite a lot of characters, places and events and there just isn't the space for those moments to drill down into each character's personality etc.
In some respects, it's also quite hard to keep track of where everyone is and what they're doing. For much of the book, the core group splits up and uses 'magic doors' to travel around the land - it's really difficult to work out where you are when travel is instantaneous! Not only that, but the worldbuilding and descriptions of place don't really come across well enough for you to be able to orient yourself properly. It's a shame because the author has clearly put a lot of effort and thought into the worldbuilding - there's even a map at the front of the book to help - but there's just not quite enough of a sense of place within the writing. Ultimately, sometimes there's just a bit too much going on with an ensemble cast and a big old world for them to play in.
I did like the 'resolution' of the cliffhanger from part one - it was cleverly done and meant I could quite quickly relax back into the story. I think I'd have been on tenterhooks otherwise! And likewise, the climax of the story is beautifully done (although there is one small moment that I had to read two or three times before it made sense). It's one of those books where I found myself desperately hoping for the traditional fairy tale HEA and, while it doesn't quite tick all the boxes, it's still a satisfying conclusion.
There's a little novella to follow on, which I'll pick up later. But all in all, another author I'll be more than happy to visit at RARE25!...more
So it appears my inner mood-reader thinks it's spooky season, as I'm currently in the middle of my witch era. This is the second book that I've read tSo it appears my inner mood-reader thinks it's spooky season, as I'm currently in the middle of my witch era. This is the second book that I've read this year with the basic premise that a witchling must compete in a trial to try and become the new leader of their coven, so I felt on firm ground from the off. But the characters, chemistry and magic system gave it its own USP, and made it a really enjoyable read. It also gives off vibes similar to the Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig, so if you enjoyed that I'd highly recommend picking this one up!
The writing is extremely focused on our main character, Raven, and although it's written in the third person it comes across as being completely from her point of view. As a result, many of the secondary characters are held on the periphery of your notice - they are named and you get a sense of them, but unless they have a direct affect on her outlook they don't really get fleshed out to the extent that one might hope. Even the main competition, while described in more detail, doesn't necessarily pop off the page in the way that they should. However, this means that all of your attention is drawn to the core cast. I personally am particularly intrigued by Grey... I feel like he needs his story told!
The premise of the story is set out well, but there are elements that you just have to go with as the depth of explanation isn't always there. For example, the magic system is really well developed throughout the book, and the fact that Raven is an Unmarked Witch is clearly important and sets her apart from the rest of the coven. But it's not as highlighted in the narrative as you might expect. And when it does become central to the plot, it's explained in a 'blink and you'll miss it' way. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with it, even though there is enough there for your imagine to fill in the gaps.
Similarly, the start of the relationship development between Raven and Bastian is incredibly good to read; sweet and yet totally inkeeping with the type of character he is, and yet it does feel a little abrupt - I was expecting things to go in a very different direction. BUT *Shadow Daddy alert!* Bastian is everything you'd hope for; dark, brooding, sexy and powerful, the villain in everyone's narrative but his own and would burn down the world for his girl. And he has wings. And a mountain cabin. With soup. Need I say more?
There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises in here, with moments I was genuinely not expecting. While they didn't cause me to drop my Kindle in shock or launch it across the room, they're the sort of events that make you wonder just how the author is going to bring things back around because surely she didn't just do that?! This continues right to the conclusion, and to borrow a phrase it definitely ends on a cliff dangle! And I have to know what happens next! So there's another KU book jumping the TBR queue......more
The story of Rory Bloodstone continues in this second omnibus edition of the Royals of Villain Academy series, with even more secrets, surprises sexytThe story of Rory Bloodstone continues in this second omnibus edition of the Royals of Villain Academy series, with even more secrets, surprises sexytimes in store. The main focus remains on the pentacle of scions, but expands beyond Blood U to take in the wider world, both mage and nary, to take you on a ride where the outcome isn't certain for any of them. This is more emotionally charged than the first half, both in terms of your investment in the characters and the overarching narrative, there are moments that really draw you in to examining your own stance on various happenings in the real world, and moments that make you wish you lived in fiction!
As before, the pace is very quick, with the whole story really being more than the sum of its parts. But what I liked about this was the various elements of uncertainty throughout. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping the options open every step of the way, so that it's completely possible for the various scenarios to have multiple outcomes. I found myself wanting to keep reading so I could get all the answers, from whether all of the pentacle would make it to the end and would there be a HEA, to whether certain characters would turn out to be heros or villains. Again, the omnibus is over 1,000 pages but it is definitely not a hard read and it really does fly by!
This book also has the advantage that, even though it essentially follows straight on, the characters all seem to come into their own a little more, presenting much more maturely and facing the problems of the outside world as adults rather than the petty middle school childishness that went on in books 1-4. I found this made all of the main characters far more likeable, and when coupled with their individual moments in the spotlight, made them all more well rounded too. They probably could have done with a little bit more development to really flesh them out as they don't come across in my head as vividly as others, but they're engaging enough for you to envy Rory her position, and to recoil from the barons.
The chemistry between Rory and the boys cranks up a notch here, with the appeal of each only improving as the story progresses. This book has helped me understand the appeal of the reverse harem, although I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of four guys at the same time, especially with no crossing swords... may need to go back and read those bits again... ...more
Blaming my bestie for this! My first RARE25 author read of the year, and the first dip of the toe into the world of reverse harem. And I feel like thiBlaming my bestie for this! My first RARE25 author read of the year, and the first dip of the toe into the world of reverse harem. And I feel like this was a good place to begin! A series with a fairly straightforward setup, but with lots of underlying action and intrigue to keep things interesting, a little bit of magic and fantasy to keep me within my comfort zone, and some great characters! It also helped that this is an omnibus edition of the first half of the series, meaning it was easy to get really into the story without interruption.
I will admit that I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I was reading the books separately. While each one does have an individual story to tell, the overarching narrative is far more prevalent and so, to me, it works far better as one big book (even if that book is over 1,000 pages!). The pacing is still fast despite the length, but it is tempered by the fact you are able to focus on the series arc and thus it has a nice build to it, both in terms of dramatic and romantic tension. Whereas each individual section flies by and I think if I'd been reading them individually I'd have found each one 'something of nothing'.
Our main character, Rory, is a protagonist who stands at odds with the world she's dropped into and so the perspective you get is skewed through her eyes from the getgo. While the story absolutely gives justification for this, it's so easy to see past it, which does make her come across as a little naive and blinkered. Her character does develop well, but even by the time you reach the end and she has modified her opinions, there is still that underlying bias which feels even more out of place than it did at the start. I'm certainly interested to see how this continues to develop in the second half of the series.
It does read very much like teen crushes and playground politics for much of the story; despite it being set at a university and all the characters being of age, everyone seems to act like they're still in school. So when things turn more adult, the writing makes it work but there is something of a disconnect between those moments and the rest of the goings-on. That being said, there are some beautiful moments of 'quiet', where Rory and one of the boys are alone together and having an honest conversation or a moment away from their stresses.
Speaking of the boys, I don't blame Rory for not wanting to choose! The author has done really well at developing each of the characters so that the bullying at the outset leaves you with that lingering sense of mistrust and the 'bad boy' appeal, but at the same time gradually revealing their layers to give some reasoning for why they are how they are. And all of the boys are developed evenly; it's easy to share Rory's developing feelings as everything seems to progress naturally (if a bit quickly). I guess this is a pretty standard response to an RH/why choose book, but I'd just have convinced myself that Rory would be best paired with one character, when the author would completely flip the script and I'd find myself rooting for another of the guys! Genuine can't pick a favourite (although I will admit I'm still not totally sold on Malcolm, but I think that's the point!).
For a chonky tome, this was a really nice, easy read (albeit with a few flashes of darkness), perfect for switching off your brain and just being carried along. I guess I'd better go download the second half now!...more
Well this was a little bit kooky and a little bit spooky, but a fun, lighthearted series starter that offers some great visuals, a fair few giggles anWell this was a little bit kooky and a little bit spooky, but a fun, lighthearted series starter that offers some great visuals, a fair few giggles and just a sprinkling of murder-mystery... so it really has something for everyone! When Mina starts work at her local bookshop, she just thinks her gorgeous-but-surly boss Heathcliff and his equally hunky flatmate, James Moriarty, have unfortunate if oddly fitting names. But as we all know, sometimes the truth can be stranger than fiction...
Now, this was a first for me in that I switched from the audiobook to the ebook about 25% of the way through (yay for SYK days!). While I was really enjoying the story and the scene setting, unfortunately I just could not get on with the narrator. I enjoyed her take on the characters' voices, and when she was playing a role she was wonderful. But when she wasn't doing dialogue, it sounded like someone learning to read aloud. She would stress words in strange places, and every time she said the word 'a' or 'the', it sounded like it was the most important word in the sentence - a stilted pause before, an elongation to 'ayyy' or 'thee' and another stilted pause, like she wasn't quite sure what the next word was. It got to the point that it was detracting from my enjoyment and distracting me from the actual story and writing. But, once I started reading the ebook and was able to use my own internal monologue to follow along, it became far more engaging.
The writing is a little rough and ready, but it's got a feel-good factor to it that just sparks joy. It flowed well and the book zoomed by at pace, giving me everything I needed to enjoy a couple of hours of escapism while setting up the premise of the wider series. Most importantly, it doesn't take itself too seriously! Yes, the plot revolves around a murder, but it really is secondary to getting to know the characters and drawing the reader into their inevitable attraction to Heathcliff, Morrie and Quoth (you'll see ...more
I picked this book up at RARE last year after being intrigued by the author's table, and it hasn't disappointed! The only thing I'm miffed about now iI picked this book up at RARE last year after being intrigued by the author's table, and it hasn't disappointed! The only thing I'm miffed about now is I think I've missed the preorder window for this year to get the rest of the series! With a magic academy, hot men on motorbikes and a pig as a pet, this really does seem to have a little bit of something for everyone!
It does have a very similar premise and vibes to the 'Villain Academy' series by Eva Chase right from the get-go, and I was worried at the outset that I might get bored. However, as I continued I found myself sinking more and more into the world, and overall found the pacing and story development far smoother in here! It must be acknowledged that, as a series starter, it is basically setting up the story arc and introducing you to all of the characters, so while there is a plot, it's not particularly complex, and by the end you are probably left with more questions than answers. But, at the same time, there is enough substance to not make it feel like one long introduction - it definitely stands up on its own merits.
Similarly, all of the characters you meet are recognisable and easy to place, while leaving plenty of room for character development. I like the mysteries surrounding each of the characters too; it adds another hook into the reader to make them want to continue, but they're not so overplayed that it gets dull. Our main character, Rhi, is a great foil for the world as she's coming to it with as fresh eyes as the reader, so it's a nice way in.
It is very lighthearted, even when considering it's billed as a 'bully romance', but there are enough morally grey elements to give it that little bit of pep. Yes, it might end up being a little predictable, but that's half the joy of a story like this - you just get to sit back, relax and watch it unfold.
I'm definitely going back to Hannah's table at RARE this year, and just keeping my fingers crossed she has copies of the rest of the series I can pick up!...more
I went into this book relatively blind; having picked up book two in a charity shop because I'd heard good things about the series, I figured I'd bestI went into this book relatively blind; having picked up book two in a charity shop because I'd heard good things about the series, I figured I'd best start at the beginning! So while I was a little thrown by the fact that it's more a Beauty and The Beast retelling than a Romeo and Juliet one, I certainly wasn't going to complain as BatB is on equal terms with Hades and Persephone whe it comes to favourite retellings (I know, I know, basically same difference...).
Firstly, I wasn't expecting to giggle quite as much as I did. From Dallas claiming Theo James as her 'freebie' (good choice, I approve! And if he'snot cast as Romeo if/when this becomes a TV show or movie, I will riot!), to the text banter between Romeo and his friends and the complete sass and stick that Dallas throws Romeo's way, I was surprised by how lighthearted the book was. And yet, it manages to weave in darker themes without killing the mood; the moments of violence, strife and raw honesty serve to forge that connection between reader and characters that has you wanting them to get their HEA.
I will admit that I found Dallas pretty insufferable for the majority of the book; she is a complete brat, a spoiled rich kid and a daddy's girl who basically throws a tantrum whenever she doesn't get what she wants. And yet, I didn't dislike her. Her fiery spirit and determination to make her husband's life a living hell is actually quite enjoyable to watch unfold, if only so you get to see Romeo's reactions. While she does seem to mature slightly towards the end of the book (and certain admissions and events do allow you to see her in a different light), I felt that this was purely down to the relationship development between her and Romeo, rather than due to any significant growth in her character personally.
As for Romeo... his story arc is very reminiscent of the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton (which does get a name check, so assuming some inspiration here). While on the surface I can understand their knee-jerk reactions, their whole argument is based on faulty logic and that just bugs me. In Romeo's case, it's even starker given his intentions once he's achieved his coveted position within the family business. But aside from that, he's another gorgeous male lead that draws you into his orbit and makes you want to submit. Yummy!
While it is helpful to ground you in space and time, I did find myself wincing at some of the contemporary/pop culture references, which are going to cause this book to date poorly. Indeed, one of the running threads of Dallas' personality is a love of a series of books about a boy wizard with the initials 'HP'. Now, while details have been changed, we all know what the authors are actually referencing. And while I absolutely accept that they couldn't see into the future and were simply referencing a beloved series, now reading that reference just feels awkward. There are also lots of brand names, tech references and so on that make perfect sense now, but give it a few years and it'll just make the book feel 'old fashioned'.
Otherwise though, the plot is well paced and the writing is engaging and easy to read. However, I would say that the character building is a bit patchy - I feel like we got an excellent grounding in Romeo's friends (who I assume are going to be the MMCs in the next couple of books?) and Romeo's father, but everyone else still requires more flesh. They're certainly more than placeholders - they all have 'something' about them, but not enough that I got a clear sense of the 'feelings' in their relationships with our MCs.
This is another series I'm definitely happy to continue with and am very glad the next two are already sat on my TBR pile....more
This book has been on my TBR pile since it was released, and as the author is attending RARE in a couple of weeks it finally fought its way to the topThis book has been on my TBR pile since it was released, and as the author is attending RARE in a couple of weeks it finally fought its way to the top of the stack. It's definitely enjoyable, with a relatively simple premise and all of the twists and turns you expect from a 'trials' based story, and of course when the leading man is Hades you know I'm sold before I even break the spine. But there is just something I can't quite put my finger on that left me a little bit underwhelmed.
I'm not one for annotating my books, but this is one where I might make an exception if I had a physical copy. Mainly because I think it'd help me keep track of the characters better. The author uses the first labour as a springboard to introduce the competitors (and our FMC Lira's rivals) properly, as you'd expect. But, unlike other trials books where some of the contestants are purely background characters, with a name and little else, in this case all 12 mortals have a role to play. And while the action does try to 'show, not tell' the reader who each of these people are, when you have so many it very quickly becomes a case of information overload. Add in the Gods and other secondary characters, and be prepared for your head to be spinning.
That being said, all of the characters have interesting quirks, strengths and weakness and backgrounds to make them the way they are, and so the all have a good amount of presence within the imagination, without overwhelming the main characters. It does help that the Gods maintain their 'traditional' roles, so you don't suddenly have to worry about Hades owning a nightclub or Aphrodite running a dating service, and can fall back on the standard myths and legends to help guide your imagination when it comes to them. I did enjoy the juxtaposition of these fairly faithful takes on the Gods with their existence and following in the modern world; I love the image of Zeus having a temple in modern San Francisco! Oh, and of course we have the now-mandatory element of Cerberus the Very Good Dog. Which I love every single time!
I also really enjoyed the relationship development not only between Lira and Hades, but all those she draws towards her. Each friendship has a different feel to it, and with Lira's underlying belief that she's unlovable, it really made her character speak to me. It strikes a nice balance of mixed-sex friendships without any expectations apart from genuine fondness, but with that little tiny germ of tension that it could turn into something more (even when we all know who's going to get the girl!). Likewise, the trials element adds an element of jeopardy to proceedings; will there be betrayal, heartbreak or unforeseen consequences? As for the romantic tension... yum.
There are a number of story threads that have been left dangling, but I'm not entirely convinced that we'll get resolutions to them all moving forward. For example, the seemingly random appearance of Lira's parents out of nowhere. This feels like it could be the start of an interesting sub-plot in the moment, but then nothing is really done with it and it doesn't necessarily feel like a deliberate choice. It is certainly possible that this will be picked up again in subsequent books, but the spark of *something* that it ignited dies out by the end of book one so I'm not all that invested. The fact that there are several instances of this left me a little frustrated, because either they're introductions to future plots that could have been weaved into the story better, or they're just one off asides which serve no real purpose. At least, that's how it felt to me.
I can absolutely imagine the visuals of this being stunning if it was made into a TV show or film, and certainly the story was engaging and entertaining. But it has been perhaps just a tad overhyped for me. This Hades will of course join my personal pantheon of Kings of the Underworld, but he will be one of the crowd rather than the King of Kings....more
I'm not even sure where to begin with this review, but I get the love for this series now. This book gave me everything I was missingRating: 4.5 stars
I'm not even sure where to begin with this review, but I get the love for this series now. This book gave me everything I was missing from book one, and while I cannot say that it speaks to my soul in the same way as ACOTAR, I feel like this book is going to be the lynchpin of the series for me.
First and foremost, yup, I'm on board with Luther now! His character development is gorgeously done, keeping you guessing while equally giving you reassurance that, under the bravado and the mask of the Prince, he is exactly who you're hoping he'll be. From the fairly generic shadow daddy of book one to this, the writer has really upped her game to make him one of the swoonworthy MMCs currently filling the shelves. And oh, my goodness, the sweet torture of the slowest of burns! The writing is teasing, tense and tantalising, and while one part of me just wants to yell at the characters to jump eachother's bones already, the other part is revelling in the UST, the overprotective brooding and the silent yearning... so good!
I also adore each member of the found family. This small band of people are all so well drawn, I believe wholeheartedly in every last one. I could perhaps have done with a little more resistance to the change in order, but it's so enjoyable and sweet that it's only a little something in the back of my mind. But each of them bring something to the table that gives the whole premise a nice balance. Likewise, those characters who oppose the new order are equally brilliant - you are right there with Diem trying to work out who you can trust, and it's very easy to fervently despise those who get on her bad side.
I think the only character I struggled with was Henri. I can understand his feelings of loss, confusion and anger, but I'm not convinced by Diem and Henri's mixed feelings for eachother, nor their struggle to cut ties or become closer. And Diem's continuance of clinging to their relationship, even after he has shown her repeatedly the type of man he can be, just doesn't quite fit for me with the rest of her personality.
There are some big old emotional moments in this book that are so well written and conjure some incredible images in the mind. The set pieces are all so vivid, it really is like watching a movie inside your head. Likewise, some of the smaller heart-to-hearts or other little touches also shine thorough, making the whole feel layered and so effective. And that ending! So many questions, but so good!
Like with 'Catching Fire', I like book 2 more than book 1 because I'm familiar with the characters and the setting, and so the worldbuilding from scratch is no longer required. However, in this book it just keeps building, with more details about the various other realms, the history of Lumnos and the workings of Descended society playing very important roles. It is a lot to take in and it did make my head spin a little, but it does help that you're learning a lot of this information alongside the main character, so it feels less if an info-dump and more like you finding your feet with her.
I have downloaded the bonus chapter and will be reading that shortly, and then it's onto book 3! I'm prepared for a painful cliffhanger and a cry of 'but when's book 4 coming?!'. Here's hoping there might be news of that from the author's mouth at RARE in July!...more
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