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ptaradactyl's review against another edition
3.0
I always get pulled into these books, no matter how much I catch myself wanting to lecture the characters for making bad choices from time to time.
lecrockett's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this ARC from PRH for review!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the warrior bard series last year (The Harp of Kings)—the undercover work, spy mission, character development, druids—and reading this next installment proved Marillier still has those writing chops for great character development and visceral storytelling.
However, the content in the novel was a bit vicious and harrowing for my taste right now (trauma, abuse, neglect, gaslighting), and the leader reminded me so much of the current scumbag in office that I struggled to not get extremely riled up when the characters just took his lashings without comment. It’s dark yet beautifully written—just hit a little too close to home. I’m glad to see the representation in here—mental health, blindness, domestic violence survivors—and of course I’m thrilled to see where Dau and Liobhan end up in the final book.
I’m aware this review isn’t much of a review—I can’t say too much without spoiling the narrative—but I read it, I enjoyed it as a second in the series, but it (through no fault of its own) was a bit too close to home for me at this point in time. Years down the road I’ll reread this with new eyes and absorb the other aspects of the narrative, I’m sure.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the warrior bard series last year (The Harp of Kings)—the undercover work, spy mission, character development, druids—and reading this next installment proved Marillier still has those writing chops for great character development and visceral storytelling.
However, the content in the novel was a bit vicious and harrowing for my taste right now (trauma, abuse, neglect, gaslighting), and the leader reminded me so much of the current scumbag in office that I struggled to not get extremely riled up when the characters just took his lashings without comment. It’s dark yet beautifully written—just hit a little too close to home. I’m glad to see the representation in here—mental health, blindness, domestic violence survivors—and of course I’m thrilled to see where Dau and Liobhan end up in the final book.
I’m aware this review isn’t much of a review—I can’t say too much without spoiling the narrative—but I read it, I enjoyed it as a second in the series, but it (through no fault of its own) was a bit too close to home for me at this point in time. Years down the road I’ll reread this with new eyes and absorb the other aspects of the narrative, I’m sure.
19lindsey89's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
joanaentrelivros's review against another edition
4.0
Gostei deste livro, não fosse ele de uma das minhas autoras favoritas, mas não é certamente o que mais gosto.
Liobhan e Dau crescem muito neste livro, não como exatamente como guerreiros mas como mulher e homem, e esta evolução foi algo que adorei assistir. Cada vez estou mais encantada com estes dois. Neste livro vamos mais a fundo no passado de Dau e ele revelou-se uma bela surpresa.
Brocc está num caminho diferente, e apesar de ter ficado entusiasmada com alguns dos capítulos em que ele é o narrador, noutros não tanto, talvez porque inicialmente não estava a ver como as histórias se interligavam. Mas estou desejando ler sobre a continuação da sua jornada.
Seanan é a personagem mais desprezível do livro, mas achei que iriam existir ali reviravoltas que não existiram, e os acontecimentos finais foram mais rápidos do que eu esperava. Contudo não deixei de gostar da história e da forma como ela se foi desenrolando.
Como sempre, os cenários criados por Juliet são sempre muito vívidos para mim, e adoro isso num livro, que me consiga transportar para onde as personagens se encontram quase como se estivesse ao seu lado.
Agora estou ansiosa pelo próximo livro para continuar a viver as aventuras com estes três.
“Tenho de encontrar a minha forma de escapar. Vou encontrá-la… em breve, muito em breve… mas agora tenho de fechar os olhos, só por um instante…” p. 352
Liobhan e Dau crescem muito neste livro, não como exatamente como guerreiros mas como mulher e homem, e esta evolução foi algo que adorei assistir. Cada vez estou mais encantada com estes dois. Neste livro vamos mais a fundo no passado de Dau e ele revelou-se uma bela surpresa.
Brocc está num caminho diferente, e apesar de ter ficado entusiasmada com alguns dos capítulos em que ele é o narrador, noutros não tanto, talvez porque inicialmente não estava a ver como as histórias se interligavam. Mas estou desejando ler sobre a continuação da sua jornada.
Seanan é a personagem mais desprezível do livro, mas achei que iriam existir ali reviravoltas que não existiram, e os acontecimentos finais foram mais rápidos do que eu esperava. Contudo não deixei de gostar da história e da forma como ela se foi desenrolando.
Como sempre, os cenários criados por Juliet são sempre muito vívidos para mim, e adoro isso num livro, que me consiga transportar para onde as personagens se encontram quase como se estivesse ao seu lado.
Agora estou ansiosa pelo próximo livro para continuar a viver as aventuras com estes três.
“Tenho de encontrar a minha forma de escapar. Vou encontrá-la… em breve, muito em breve… mas agora tenho de fechar os olhos, só por um instante…” p. 352
zobow's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
loosealbluth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.5
defcon's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
prescriptionbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
heirloom321's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wordnerdy's review
3.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2020/08/2020-book-156.html
I loved the first book in this series, and there was a lot to like in this one, but it was waaaaay dark. Like, a sadistic guy torturing animals and people dark. So like . . . ugh. Still, I love the two main characters and their relationship. The brother character's storyline in this one is not as interesting, but it might get interesting? I guess I‘ll read the next one? I love Marillier's relationships. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on September 1st.
I loved the first book in this series, and there was a lot to like in this one, but it was waaaaay dark. Like, a sadistic guy torturing animals and people dark. So like . . . ugh. Still, I love the two main characters and their relationship. The brother character's storyline in this one is not as interesting, but it might get interesting? I guess I‘ll read the next one? I love Marillier's relationships. B+.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on September 1st.