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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
It wasn't that this one was bad. It was just that the library time ran out and it's been too long for me to not start over to finish it.
I really enjoyed the first book and I fairly enjoyed this second book too. Remarkable writing as always for a Young Adult Fantasy book, however my personal take is that I did not really enjoy some of the tropes and that's what bumped it down to 4 stars. Though I do accept the cliches in some aspects, I just felt like the ending felt a bit random and conventional.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One thing I'll always love is an ending that isn't perfectly happy. I rarely want a happily ever after and this book checked that box well. It was good overall, but I wasn't as absorbed as the first installment. I'm glad the author didn't go the love triangle angle, because that would have been a solid 1 or 2 stars. She kept her eyes on the plan and wrote a good story with intake goals and no surprises. I'd definitely pick up another book from her.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Stars: 3.7
I took too long reading this book, mainly because I was burnt out from reading and not because it wasn't a good book. So, let's get to the review.
The good: This book is a fast-paced book. There is a sense of urgency throughout, and our main characters have time sensitive issues to overcome.
Lan did not have the answers to everything she had to do. She knew where those answers could be found, but getting there was not easy to do. I also noted that the issue with Lan's end goal was that she had a sort of savior complex. Her judgment towards what Zen had to do came from not understanding that without Yin, her way of winning by only choosing Yang would not have been possible. I will say that I do understand why she is the way she is. She had that engraved from when she was younger, and she did open up as the story developed and her views were thrown upside down.
Zen, I felt more empathy for him than any other character. He made a tough choice, and throughout this book, he still struggled with the decision he had made. I felt his character was the most complex and relatable. He knew that without Yin, there would be no way of accomplishing what needed to be done. He was, sadly, our tragic hero.
The ending was bittersweet, and I was not surprised at how it ended. I saw it coming and there was not much other option.
The "bad": The villain in this book SHOULD NOT have been the same as the one in the first book. He had no big role, and I found him irritatingly pointless. He was only needed for the last scenes, and then he didn't survive in the most pathetic way possible. The main villain should have been the new character. He was far more interesting and I wish we had spent more time with him. With what we briefly had, he already intrigued me.
Overall, as I mentioned how this is my first introduction to a lot of these Chinese folklore and high fantasy, I was entertained. It is notable that these are some of the authors' first books. She can only get better from here, and I look forward to her devolpement as a writer.
I took too long reading this book, mainly because I was burnt out from reading and not because it wasn't a good book. So, let's get to the review.
The good: This book is a fast-paced book. There is a sense of urgency throughout, and our main characters have time sensitive issues to overcome.
Lan did not have the answers to everything she had to do. She knew where those answers could be found, but getting there was not easy to do. I also noted that the issue with Lan's end goal was that she had a sort of savior complex. Her judgment towards what Zen had to do came from not understanding that without Yin, her way of winning by only choosing Yang would not have been possible. I will say that I do understand why she is the way she is. She had that engraved from when she was younger, and she did open up as the story developed and her views were thrown upside down.
Zen, I felt more empathy for him than any other character. He made a tough choice, and throughout this book, he still struggled with the decision he had made. I felt his character was the most complex and relatable. He knew that without Yin, there would be no way of accomplishing what needed to be done. He was, sadly, our tragic hero.
The ending was bittersweet, and I was not surprised at how it ended. I saw it coming and there was not much other option.
The "bad": The villain in this book SHOULD NOT have been the same as the one in the first book. He had no big role, and I found him irritatingly pointless. He was only needed for the last scenes, and then he didn't survive in the most pathetic way possible. The main villain should have been the new character. He was far more interesting and I wish we had spent more time with him. With what we briefly had, he already intrigued me.
Overall, as I mentioned how this is my first introduction to a lot of these Chinese folklore and high fantasy, I was entertained. It is notable that these are some of the authors' first books. She can only get better from here, and I look forward to her devolpement as a writer.
while i did love all the lore and the story was great and we love a morally grey mmc
this series fell a little short of my expectations- because i was expecting this to be a 5-star read. it is still wonderful to read and makes for a very well done audiobook though. i had fun!
this series fell a little short of my expectations- because i was expecting this to be a 5-star read. it is still wonderful to read and makes for a very well done audiobook though. i had fun!