KJ's Reviews > Stone Seduction

A solid sequel in the trilogy. Incredibly fast-paced. I think it would have been slightly more enjoyable if I'd reread Stone Temptation first, as it took a little bit to get back into the world and even then I still couldn't quite remember everything, but I got there in the end! I'm definitely wishing that I'd waited to read this book until the final book arrived, however, because it has left us on quite the impressive cliffhanger!!


Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Yes!


See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: I have moments with both Luke and Asher where I alternate between adoring them and rolling my eyes at them. I like to think that's a sign of some complex characters, even though sometimes the dialogue is slightly stilted (a Richard Amos staple that I've learned to skim past!). With this book, our fearless heroes are fighting their feelings (mostly worried it's too deep too fast), while Asher worries about sharing the secret he knows with Luke because of how Luke may react, while also knowing that he can't truly be with Luke when there are secrets between them. Sometimes Luke would do things that made me want to yell at him, and part of that was because he has some traits of a person that's been physically and emotionally abused (so possible trigger warning there). It's never explicitly stated and I don't think Luke himself realizes it, but as a reader I can see the signs. That being said, when the secret does finally come out, I was so impressed with Luke as a character that I fell in love with him all over again. In the end, they end up closer and further away than ever, but I'm keen to see how they will truly solidify their relationship in the final book!





PLOT: We pick up right where book one leaves off and its off to the races. We truly barely stop to breathe. I think my watch last night was telling me to calm down because my stress levels were high while I was lying in bed reading. More secrets come to light as this plot with Ember develops, and we finish this book with a rather explosive reveal that I personally didn't see coming! This was a wild ride all the way through to the end and I can only imagine what the final book will be like. If I know anything about Richard Amos, it'll leave me utterly breathless.




EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

3/5: medium. A wild ride that didn't leave me worried that the stakes would be too high, nor were they themes that had my heart racing. Thoroughly entertaining!


CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?

70%. Makes sense for a middle book in a series. I didn't feel we had a true climactic moment and then denouement because of how the reveal occurred. But I still really enjoyed the book and am grateful that in a few cases we didn't fall into any trope traps!