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shelbyfayy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book definitely surpassed the first one, which I thought was fun and enjoyable already. There was far more intrigue, far more politics and even a little more world-building in this one and I was here for it. In reading a lot of the reviews, I’m a little confused by some of the ones saying they hated this book for the continuation of the love triangle. Did we read the same book? Lia explicitly stated probably 3-5 times that she was only in love with Rafe, that she only had friendly feelings for Kaden. Yeah, Kaden’s in love with her, but a love triangle that does not make. She led him on for political reasons, but she never returned his romantic feelings. Idk I thought this was made abundantly clear.
Lia as a character grew even more than she did in the first novel, and I love it. She’s gone from such a naïve, irritatingly-selfish teenager to a true woman of the people and political adversary. She plays the game and she plays it well. But she’s still not perfect either—that would equally irritate me if she were suddenly some flawless, never-makes-mistakes heroine because that’s just not life. She strikes the perfect balance to be believable and likeable. Honestly, I loved all four main characters in this, including the villain. He’s just so thoroughly evil by this point that it’s fun (although we won’t talk about his comically simple demise). Both MMCs are loveable in their own ways and I thoroughly hope Kaden gets his own HEA somehow. Maybe there’s hints in those mentions of Pauline?
I can see why some might be bored by this one. The pacing was on par with the first one imo, a little slow at times, and there was little to no action. Almost everything is through the lens of court intrigue and clan politics. Lia does what she has to to survive, but that doesn’t mean taking a knife to someone’s throat. It means pretending to care for men she doesn’t, and forging a fake alliance with a pseudo-king to keep from being executed by him for her growing power. I loved every minute of this, but I love stories that know how much power there can be in words. Not everything has to be grand battles and soaring dragons, though those are fun too. I only dock a tiny percentage of a star because I do think certain scenes could have been cut and we’d have lost nothing overall. There were parts that did seem to drag on a little too long.
All in all, I really, really enjoyed this one. I’m just mad my continual migraines made me take long breaks from it at crucial plot points. I would have probably finished this book in one or two days otherwise.
Lia as a character grew even more than she did in the first novel, and I love it. She’s gone from such a naïve, irritatingly-selfish teenager to a true woman of the people and political adversary. She plays the game and she plays it well. But she’s still not perfect either—that would equally irritate me if she were suddenly some flawless, never-makes-mistakes heroine because that’s just not life. She strikes the perfect balance to be believable and likeable. Honestly, I loved all four main characters in this, including the villain. He’s just so thoroughly evil by this point that it’s fun (although we won’t talk about his comically simple demise). Both MMCs are loveable in their own ways and I thoroughly hope Kaden gets his own HEA somehow. Maybe there’s hints in those mentions of Pauline?
I can see why some might be bored by this one. The pacing was on par with the first one imo, a little slow at times, and there was little to no action. Almost everything is through the lens of court intrigue and clan politics. Lia does what she has to to survive, but that doesn’t mean taking a knife to someone’s throat. It means pretending to care for men she doesn’t, and forging a fake alliance with a pseudo-king to keep from being executed by him for her growing power. I loved every minute of this, but I love stories that know how much power there can be in words. Not everything has to be grand battles and soaring dragons, though those are fun too. I only dock a tiny percentage of a star because I do think certain scenes could have been cut and we’d have lost nothing overall. There were parts that did seem to drag on a little too long.
All in all, I really, really enjoyed this one. I’m just mad my continual migraines made me take long breaks from it at crucial plot points. I would have probably finished this book in one or two days otherwise.
inlesnuages's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
words_inbold's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
WEOOON! FANTÁSTICO, ESPECTACULAR, IMPRESIONANTE.
Si el libro anterior me voló la cabeza, este me voló el cuerpo completo. Es que no puedo describirlo de otra manera.
Odié cada momento en que Lia sufría, cada vez que la trataban mal, cada vez que le hacían daño. Quería que todo aquel que la miraba mal se muriera en la hoguera 😤😤😤
Amé cada momento que tuvo con cierto personaje, y cada plot twist!!! Este libro tiene muchos giros de trama que me dejaron 🤯🤯🤯
No puedo creer lo buena que es esta historia, estoy maravillada y NECESITO EMPEZAR EL SIGUIENTE PERO YA!
Si el libro anterior me voló la cabeza, este me voló el cuerpo completo. Es que no puedo describirlo de otra manera.
Odié cada momento en que Lia sufría, cada vez que la trataban mal, cada vez que le hacían daño. Quería que todo aquel que la miraba mal se muriera en la hoguera 😤😤😤
Amé cada momento que tuvo con cierto personaje, y cada plot twist!!! Este libro tiene muchos giros de trama que me dejaron 🤯🤯🤯
No puedo creer lo buena que es esta historia, estoy maravillada y NECESITO EMPEZAR EL SIGUIENTE PERO YA!
megantoso13's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
zeeydee's review against another edition
5.0
God, it's only February! Can not put the bar this high already!!
I was wrong, no action in this one. Loved every moment of it!
"Rafe's plans were metal and flesh, floor and fist, all things solid. Mine were things unseen, fever and chill, blood and justice, the things that crouched low in my gut."
I was wrong, no action in this one. Loved every moment of it!
"Rafe's plans were metal and flesh, floor and fist, all things solid. Mine were things unseen, fever and chill, blood and justice, the things that crouched low in my gut."
faithmotta04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ashction's review against another edition
4.0
My GOD, this woman writes some of the fiercest endings and twists I have ever seen. I genuinely feel winded from only a dozen pages. I'm going to sit with this for a moment before I finish this trilogy... book three is a huge beast. 😅
alicesreadingcornerr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
mollyj099's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5