Scan barcode
honuzbubbles's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, War, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Blood, and Torture
kaiyakaiyo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this took me SO long. the first half dragged terribly, and the constant “twists” just felt like Serilda being so slow on the uptake it was out of character. I wouldn’t call her clever by any means in book 1; she mostly walks right into every trap set for her, but shes new to magic and does try to untangle the Erlkings web.
In this one she just straight up does not look before she leaps to an extremely unrealistic degree. She knows the consequences and yet let’s her guard down EVERY time. Every time she acted shocked by an evil thing the Erlking did i facepalmed; I’ve never seen such a sharp decrease in intellect in a main char between books before. Maybe the baby was rerouting oxygen from her brain? She’s blessed by the god of stories and lies but can’t pick apart very clear threats and lies said directly to her face? she does all this “investigating” but somehow never realizes the literal underworld gate is under her home? She realizes her “power” but continues spouting off bullshit that gets everyone in trouble? Her characterization is just incredibly weak in this book; there’s no way a “skillful liar” is that stupid? book 1 was okay but this one was just a total slog
also imma be real there was a gratuitous amount of child death in these books, and the use of the rumpelstiltskin name trope was incredibly cheesy and out of place. the ending was so cobbled together it doesn’t make sense! as someone who loved the lunar chronicles I am baffled that these books came from the same planet let alone the same author. just 0 interesting character development and a fascinating universe with no consistency
In this one she just straight up does not look before she leaps to an extremely unrealistic degree. She knows the consequences and yet let’s her guard down EVERY time. Every time she acted shocked by an evil thing the Erlking did i facepalmed; I’ve never seen such a sharp decrease in intellect in a main char between books before. Maybe the baby was rerouting oxygen from her brain? She’s blessed by the god of stories and lies but can’t pick apart very clear threats and lies said directly to her face? she does all this “investigating” but somehow never realizes the literal underworld gate is under her home? She realizes her “power” but continues spouting off bullshit that gets everyone in trouble? Her characterization is just incredibly weak in this book; there’s no way a “skillful liar” is that stupid? book 1 was okay but this one was just a total slog
also imma be real there was a gratuitous amount of child death in these books, and the use of the rumpelstiltskin name trope was incredibly cheesy and out of place. the ending was so cobbled together it doesn’t make sense! as someone who loved the lunar chronicles I am baffled that these books came from the same planet let alone the same author. just 0 interesting character development and a fascinating universe with no consistency
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
More...