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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Satisfying conclusion to the story. I hope she writes more books.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just couldn’t get into it. I feel like it had all things I love I just didn’t think the story was interesting.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
hiss hiss motherfucker, ning is a baddie && kang has my heart, also shout out to lady an, a real one. 3.92/5
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
DNF around 40%
This didn't work for me the way the first book did.
A Magic Steeped in Poison was fun, original, had great world building, and an intriguing magic system. This book lost a lot of that originality and was, in my opinion, quite boring.
I really didn't like the changing perspectives in this. I'm not usually a fan of multiple POV and I wasn't expecting it in this novel since the first one is only in Ning's POV. I understand why Lin did this as we wouldn't be able to see what was happening in the palace without the second POV, but it just didn't work for me. Kang's POV is in third person while Ning's is in first so it was jarring to switch back and forth. Since Kang's perspective is written in third person, it feels distant, and when things are happening to staff that we got to know from Ning's perspective, they're hard to recognize because Kang doesn't know them.
This being a quest driven book (with a newly established second enemy no less) also was a downside for me. The first book was about a competition set in one particular place, so we were able to learn about palace life in a very immersive way. This book however... It's just moving from Point A to Point B to Point C and honestly? That made it boring to read and I found myself skim reading which lead me to DNF'ing this.
Judy Lin's writing still does shine in this book which made me try to push through. It's lyrical yet easy to read in a way that makes the time fly by. Her descriptions of food and landscapes are just *chef's kiss*.
This didn't work for me the way the first book did.
A Magic Steeped in Poison was fun, original, had great world building, and an intriguing magic system. This book lost a lot of that originality and was, in my opinion, quite boring.
I really didn't like the changing perspectives in this. I'm not usually a fan of multiple POV and I wasn't expecting it in this novel since the first one is only in Ning's POV. I understand why Lin did this as we wouldn't be able to see what was happening in the palace without the second POV, but it just didn't work for me. Kang's POV is in third person while Ning's is in first so it was jarring to switch back and forth. Since Kang's perspective is written in third person, it feels distant, and when things are happening to staff that we got to know from Ning's perspective, they're hard to recognize because Kang doesn't know them.
This being a quest driven book (with a newly established second enemy no less) also was a downside for me. The first book was about a competition set in one particular place, so we were able to learn about palace life in a very immersive way. This book however... It's just moving from Point A to Point B to Point C and honestly? That made it boring to read and I found myself skim reading which lead me to DNF'ing this.
Judy Lin's writing still does shine in this book which made me try to push through. It's lyrical yet easy to read in a way that makes the time fly by. Her descriptions of food and landscapes are just *chef's kiss*.
I’m on a roll with books that are disappointing ends to series. This book was so bland honestly, and the writing and characters overall felt very one-dimensional and distant. As I was reading, the tension felt low even though the world is at stake here. I just didn’t care what Ning or Kang did because they didn’t feel real to me. Two stars for the Hermit, the Chinese mythology, and because this book didn’t make me want to fling it off a mountaintop. I just had to force myself to read it because I knew if I put it down it was going to be a DNF because it inspires pure boredom.
medium-paced