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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have read the first one ok, and kept thinking about the descriptions of tea. But this one just didn‘t grip me
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a weak sequel. I liked the concepts of the first book and the world built from it, but in contrast this book felt very stereotypically YA.
I can appreciate a journey was attempted, but the pacing was very dull through most of it. There were many conveniences that gave it too much predictability. It did feel like a bulk of the book was fluff and the author had ideas for how she wanted to wrap it up, but we needed filler to get there. I do think everything could have been in one book if appropriately timed for the introduction of certain concepts. I also do think the final climactic battle was super rushed. They were all grievously injured only to be healed in the next paragraph? That was deeply confusing. The most unique aspect, the tea magic, was heavily underused. This is so unfortunate because that was what really made this series so unique. It's so lacking to the point where this book could have been an entire standalone and would not have lost much.
I would have liked to see more development of the characters. We are told Ning trusts Zhen and Ruyi, but there isn't a natural chemistry or development there. They never open up to one another so I am just told things that are present.
I expected more out of some of the supernatural elements as well.
The split perspectives were necessary, but at the same time not well executed. Kang's perspective shifting to third person made reading a challenge simply due to the structural inconsistency. Perhaps it was the author's intention to distance us from him, but at that point it makes me feel less invested in his side, even though I know that it matters to the lore. I didn't gain much from it otherwise other than exposition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I remember loving the first book, but I took way too long to read this one and so it took me much longer to finish this one. It was still a fantastic premise and the magic system was refreshing (like a cup of tea lol). There were times I felt like things felt too convenient, but I still greatly enjoyed how things played out.
Content Warnings: Violence, blood, death, witnessed torture and execution, poison, war, other grotesque creatures and scenes described
I enjoyed the sequel, but it was nothing like the first book. The first book had a lovely flow to it and a slightly cozy feeling with the tea competition. It was a very different vibe to this one. This book was more about travel and adventure with a bit more of a sinister turn. I did like the dual POV, but I didn’t like that it switched from 1st person to 3rd person. It kind of made the switching a bit jarring between chapters.
The tea magic is still a prominent competent to the story, but there is less detail about the ingredients and the making of the tea. That was something I really missed from the first book. I honestly wish the competition carried over from the first book.
Also not giving any spoilers, but I was left a bit confused by the ending battle. There is a whole mythical story told throughout this book and one of the main gods mentioned doesn’t show up in any form at the end like the others that are mentioned. So I just really feel like something was missing from that scene.
Honestly this could’ve been one book. I really wish it stuck with the tea competition theme. Halfway through this book, I was kinda hoping it would just end so I could move onto something else. I’m also sad that I didn’t quite get the happily ever after that I was hoping for. Overall, I love the way the author writes and will be picking up more of her fantasy books when/if she writes more.
I enjoyed the sequel, but it was nothing like the first book. The first book had a lovely flow to it and a slightly cozy feeling with the tea competition. It was a very different vibe to this one. This book was more about travel and adventure with a bit more of a sinister turn. I did like the dual POV, but I didn’t like that it switched from 1st person to 3rd person. It kind of made the switching a bit jarring between chapters.
The tea magic is still a prominent competent to the story, but there is less detail about the ingredients and the making of the tea. That was something I really missed from the first book. I honestly wish the competition carried over from the first book.
Also not giving any spoilers, but I was left a bit confused by the ending battle. There is a whole mythical story told throughout this book and one of the main gods mentioned doesn’t show up in any form at the end like the others that are mentioned. So I just really feel like something was missing from that scene.
Honestly this could’ve been one book. I really wish it stuck with the tea competition theme. Halfway through this book, I was kinda hoping it would just end so I could move onto something else. I’m also sad that I didn’t quite get the happily ever after that I was hoping for. Overall, I love the way the author writes and will be picking up more of her fantasy books when/if she writes more.