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jdhgreenwell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
romancejunkie1025's review against another edition
5.0
OMFG this series is killing me. I want to devour the entire thing at once, but at the same time stretch it out to enjoy it. Whatever comes next is going to be heart breaking and crazy as the first two stories i cane already tell, but i have a feeling i wish i had read the previous series written by Kristen that was like this one because it seems like there is going to be some crossover im missing out on.
ccoleman813's review against another edition
3.0
Did not finish.
I really tried to give this series a chance. It sounded so cool and I pushed through the first book even though I wanted to stop. But the second is no different and I just couldn't do it anymore.
I really tried to give this series a chance. It sounded so cool and I pushed through the first book even though I wanted to stop. But the second is no different and I just couldn't do it anymore.
seles03's review against another edition
5.0
ummmm???? what the actual heck??
still a lil confused but totally invested
still a lil confused but totally invested
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
The intricacy of the world building here is astounding. And I love the mystery, the political 'fights', the beast, the witches, and the other fantastical elements.
There are several protagonists - which just makes everything better. The narration is amazing, as each protagonist pairing has their own narrators.
There are several protagonists - which just makes everything better. The narration is amazing, as each protagonist pairing has their own narrators.
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
The romance seems to take one step forward, two steps backward. A lot of things happen, but the plot moves slowly.
Also, characters from the Fantasyland series are starting to show up, so you should first read that one definitely. (Starts with [b:Wildest Dreams|12390650|Wildest Dreams (Fantasyland, #1)|Kristen Ashley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528295362l/12390650._SY75_.jpg|17371693]).
I still am not a lot invested in this series, and my opinion can be summed up in: MEH
But since I started it and I am 100 pages deep, I might as well finish it...
bookwife's review against another edition
5.0
I am obsessed with this story. That cliffhanger was a bitch! And we don’t get the next book for a couple months! Ahhh.
breathejagged11's review against another edition
4.0
LOVED
I love the female characters, really the best In all KA history. They are strong, loyal, loving, brave, fierce, funny, smart, flawed in different ways but even with their flaw they better themselves each time you see them. My two favorite males are MARS and TRUE.... Cassius and Armus need to catch up. that's all I'll say HAHA, they have such great potential, but their words when they are hurt go over the line for me personally. I love the world-building, the secondary characters, the political plots, the beast plot and seeing some old but LOVED characters. A lot happens in this book. moved way smoother and faster than the book before.
DISLIKED
The three-way couple!!! lol let me just say Open relationship... I just could not care for them, I wish the main couples took up that space.
OTHER THOUGHTS
The villains are way too many and I get confused by them at times lol I wish someone made a graph. There is the rising, the society and something else, IDK tho. I feel so bad for Elena's older sister, she was a complete B but my god if she finds out what is being done to her, it could actually break her....I feel like KA was way too harsh on Elenas older sister then she was on any other characters *Cassius, tadre, aromas or even on any other characters. TBH is not like she has done any worse then Cassius or armus in her words or actions. It breaks my heart that she is being deceived in the worst way ever! In a way, It's a little of Elena and her mother's fault for allowing her behavior to get that BAD especially with the power she carries. She was not told her behavior was unacceptable, she went on without consequence. I feel like she was deeply insecure because she felt like she did not deserve to be queen but to save her ego she told herself that she is Firstborn and that she will be the queen. No one told her any differently when you love someone you have to be able to tell them the things they are doing are harmful and unacceptable. Hiding the truth will hurt everyone.
I love the female characters, really the best In all KA history. They are strong, loyal, loving, brave, fierce, funny, smart, flawed in different ways but even with their flaw they better themselves each time you see them. My two favorite males are MARS and TRUE.... Cassius and Armus need to catch up. that's all I'll say HAHA, they have such great potential, but their words when they are hurt go over the line for me personally. I love the world-building, the secondary characters, the political plots, the beast plot and seeing some old but LOVED characters. A lot happens in this book. moved way smoother and faster than the book before.
DISLIKED
The three-way couple!!! lol let me just say Open relationship... I just could not care for them, I wish the main couples took up that space.
OTHER THOUGHTS
The villains are way too many and I get confused by them at times lol I wish someone made a graph. There is the rising, the society and something else, IDK tho. I feel so bad for Elena's older sister, she was a complete B but my god if she finds out what is being done to her, it could actually break her....I feel like KA was way too harsh on Elenas older sister then she was on any other characters *Cassius, tadre, aromas or even on any other characters. TBH is not like she has done any worse then Cassius or armus in her words or actions. It breaks my heart that she is being deceived in the worst way ever! In a way, It's a little of Elena and her mother's fault for allowing her behavior to get that BAD especially with the power she carries. She was not told her behavior was unacceptable, she went on without consequence. I feel like she was deeply insecure because she felt like she did not deserve to be queen but to save her ego she told herself that she is Firstborn and that she will be the queen. No one told her any differently when you love someone you have to be able to tell them the things they are doing are harmful and unacceptable. Hiding the truth will hurt everyone.
izziede's review
3.0
This book is much better than book 1.
I think part of it is the introducing of the new world is already set up from book 1, that's always a difficult balance to make sure the reader has enough understanding of the new culture, world, language, customs plus the new characters with their history and relationship dynamic with the actual plot.
It still deals with the four couples at once and I still get a bit confused who is with who.
In the audible version, each chapter is preceded with a clear description of whose POV, location and setting.
Multiple POV including enemy. Different voices with different accents to convey the various cultures.
None of the couples are getting on at all during the first quarter of the book.
This is something I feel KA excels at, to me she is at her best writing male/female conflict.
As an example, one couple haven't spoken for days due to an action one of them made. He's avoiding her. She is ready to sort things out. He comes in late, she tries he shuts her down. She leaves for a bit, he has time to think, she spends time with a friend who says he's being an idiot. When she returns he accepts her apology which she now wants to withdraw as she now feels she shouldn't have apologized in the first place.
He thinks they have made up and she wonders if they are having the same conversation as each other.
Some parts between the couples are hilarious.
Some are very touching and some hurtful.
The Hero and heroines are not perfect. As a reader you can see both sides.
Some conversations you really wanted to happen from situations book 1 happen others are shelved, with such a long series some things will have to be held back for a later time.
The enemy threat builds. There is some violence, some detail, including one with an axe.. ew.... The enemies seem to relish in it and some scenes are gruesome.
Possible triggers with those depending on your level of sensitivity.
There are also references to m/m and ménage but the scenes come later in the book this time in the second half of the book.
Most of the relationship dynamic and even conversations or phrases used have appeared in KA's previous work if you are a fan but i enjoyed though I haven't reread her work in some time.
In many ways it feels slow burn between the couples, we have the old Rock Chick maneuver where the Hero has a reason to sleep in the same bed as the heroine though there are various situations as to why they are not having sex yet.
There are is some intimacy, eventually sexual scenes for the couples.
True to me is developing as backbone but it may be a journey we take with him as he seems a bit of a wimp at times though under the title of a 'gentleman'. I am hoping to see him develop during the rest of the series as he has some good qualities and his role is yet to be.
I have found the name of some of the characters don't work for audible, for example True and Silence.
When the character Silence is said it's hard to work out for a minute if someone is asking for the room to be quiet or calling one of the heroines. Same with True, are they talking to him, about him or proclaiming a statement is accurate. To me not the best choice considering this is primarily an audible project.
I have enjoyed this as an audible, which I am new to but I do think it may not have been the best choice of books to introduce as an audible first as the sheer immense number of characters involved can make it a challenge for the listener
We also see odd scenes here and there from the other four couples from the original Fantasyland series, as if the original four couples weren't enough to get your head around.
As well as developing the couples relationships or not as in the case of some we are also introduced to more of the magic of the land as the couples travel and visit various areas.
Gnomes, pixies, mermaids and some that are from the authors imagination.
There are a few references to the ménage relationship, redemption for one man involved in that which is a bit bizarre as it seems his bad family background is going to excuse him for his involvement in the Rising.
Serena situation is a bit bizarre too. She is quite the b**** at times but the treatment of her in putting her in her place shows a very unpleasant side to the Heroes who either know about it or have organised it.
Cassius and Aramus can be particularly unpleasant and cruel at times, sometimes it goes a bit too far to be forgiven and Mars I felt played games a bit with Silence over sex. She is naive and innocent and he is widely experienced but although he eventually sorts things out he flirts with others at times when if she had played games like that he would not have stood for it.
But this can be typical KA character Hero behaviour at times.
Ends on a cliffhanger as it's part of a four part book series.
Tbc
I think part of it is the introducing of the new world is already set up from book 1, that's always a difficult balance to make sure the reader has enough understanding of the new culture, world, language, customs plus the new characters with their history and relationship dynamic with the actual plot.
It still deals with the four couples at once and I still get a bit confused who is with who.
In the audible version, each chapter is preceded with a clear description of whose POV, location and setting.
Multiple POV including enemy. Different voices with different accents to convey the various cultures.
None of the couples are getting on at all during the first quarter of the book.
This is something I feel KA excels at, to me she is at her best writing male/female conflict.
As an example, one couple haven't spoken for days due to an action one of them made. He's avoiding her. She is ready to sort things out. He comes in late, she tries he shuts her down. She leaves for a bit, he has time to think, she spends time with a friend who says he's being an idiot. When she returns he accepts her apology which she now wants to withdraw as she now feels she shouldn't have apologized in the first place.
He thinks they have made up and she wonders if they are having the same conversation as each other.
Some parts between the couples are hilarious.
Some are very touching and some hurtful.
The Hero and heroines are not perfect. As a reader you can see both sides.
Some conversations you really wanted to happen from situations book 1 happen others are shelved, with such a long series some things will have to be held back for a later time.
The enemy threat builds. There is some violence, some detail, including one with an axe.. ew.... The enemies seem to relish in it and some scenes are gruesome.
Possible triggers with those depending on your level of sensitivity.
There are also references to m/m and ménage but the scenes come later in the book this time in the second half of the book.
Most of the relationship dynamic and even conversations or phrases used have appeared in KA's previous work if you are a fan but i enjoyed though I haven't reread her work in some time.
In many ways it feels slow burn between the couples, we have the old Rock Chick maneuver where the Hero has a reason to sleep in the same bed as the heroine though there are various situations as to why they are not having sex yet.
There are is some intimacy, eventually sexual scenes for the couples.
True to me is developing as backbone but it may be a journey we take with him as he seems a bit of a wimp at times though under the title of a 'gentleman'. I am hoping to see him develop during the rest of the series as he has some good qualities and his role is yet to be.
I have found the name of some of the characters don't work for audible, for example True and Silence.
When the character Silence is said it's hard to work out for a minute if someone is asking for the room to be quiet or calling one of the heroines. Same with True, are they talking to him, about him or proclaiming a statement is accurate. To me not the best choice considering this is primarily an audible project.
I have enjoyed this as an audible, which I am new to but I do think it may not have been the best choice of books to introduce as an audible first as the sheer immense number of characters involved can make it a challenge for the listener
We also see odd scenes here and there from the other four couples from the original Fantasyland series, as if the original four couples weren't enough to get your head around.
As well as developing the couples relationships or not as in the case of some we are also introduced to more of the magic of the land as the couples travel and visit various areas.
Gnomes, pixies, mermaids and some that are from the authors imagination.
There are a few references to the ménage relationship, redemption for one man involved in that which is a bit bizarre as it seems his bad family background is going to excuse him for his involvement in the Rising.
Serena situation is a bit bizarre too. She is quite the b**** at times but the treatment of her in putting her in her place shows a very unpleasant side to the Heroes who either know about it or have organised it.
Cassius and Aramus can be particularly unpleasant and cruel at times, sometimes it goes a bit too far to be forgiven and Mars I felt played games a bit with Silence over sex. She is naive and innocent and he is widely experienced but although he eventually sorts things out he flirts with others at times when if she had played games like that he would not have stood for it.
But this can be typical KA character Hero behaviour at times.
Ends on a cliffhanger as it's part of a four part book series.
Tbc