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bzliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Some dialogue felt clunky and heavy handed with reveals that shocked no one (re: Mische in the wedding party scene). The refusal/inability of Oraya and Raihn to discuss feelings went on for too long in my opinion and it was no longer serving a purpose by the time confessions were made. The buildup to the final battle was well done but
Overall I’m glad I read this and I’m interested in reading more from this author in the future. Mind the content warnings!
Content warnings:
Blood, body horror, death, gore, injury, murder, violence, fire injury (on page):
Grief (on page):
Sexual content (on page):
Emotional abuse, domestic violence, physical abuse: (off & on page):
Alcohol (on page):
Child death (off page):
Death of parent (off page):
Infidelity (off page):
Rape, sexual assault (off page):
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Body horror, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Child death, and Death of parent
jordanbennett29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have whiplash from the emotional rollercoaster that is this book. I’ve said it before, and i’ll say it until I die. Carissa‘s writing is superb. Devastatingly beautiful. it’s horrible and wonderful in every way. On that note, there is HEAVY grief expression. I don’t normally include TWs in the narrative portions of my reviews, but it was so accurately portrayed it mentally effected me.
Vincent’s story is so heartbreaking. I still can’t decide if I love him, hate him, or just pity him.
I was so unbelievably mad at Raihn in the beginning, I truly thought about DNFing the whole book. I wasn’t sure how Carissa could reconcile their loved story, but thank god she did. And did it in a masterful way. Nothing felt forced or glazed over like the ending of the first book. (which I realize is because you HAVE to read this book, I know big surprise 😅). I love him. I love him.
ORAYA!!! I know she’s fictional but I worship her. We love a badass FMC who breaks generational curses. I have truly loved her character arc, loved watching her step into herself, her power, despite everything. ugh 😭
Carissa simply does not miss. By far my favorite series of her so far! I’m so sad the next books in the Nyaxia saga won’t be following them directly but hopeful we see them throughout.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, War, Violence, Gore, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
bem13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
krystalframe's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: War, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Slavery
kat1105's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, War, Gore, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
lovejasmine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Cursing, Gore, Murder, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Genocide, Death of parent, Torture, Violence, and Confinement
nxpe's review against another edition
2.75
In the end, I'm happy I finished this but I didn't really enjoy it.
I fell out of love with the characters, and the story just massively dragged compared to book one. I haven't decided of I'm going to continue the series yet, but that's a worry for another day.
10 July 2023: DNF
I gave this book 256 pages to interest me and it failed. I'm very sad about this because I truly, truly wanted to like the sequel. I loved book one. But, it just didn't hit.
It was slow, nothing really happened, and I felt so bored. It's such a shame and I'm so sad. Maybe if I have it available to me as an audiobook one day, I'll finish it.
**Stopped at page 256/Chapter 32.**
Graphic: Blood and Death
skillyillian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Getting more story with Vincent and Septimus was great, but I feel like more on Jesmine would've been nice too though. I like Vale but he felt a little flat compared to who he was in 6SR, so I'm definitely glad I read the novella first otherwise he might've been easy to dislike. I'd have liked Lilith to be more than kind of a plot device for the main event that happens with her and Vale in this one? But I'm super attached to Lilith at this point tbh.
Watching oraya deal with her loss of trust in Vincent first and then raihn immediately after was very relatable and it was nice to see that there is no easy, one-size-fits-all answer for having conflicting feelings about loving someone who hurt you and broke your trust. Especially with Vincent, realizing someone close to you did a bunch of fucked up shit, even in the name of what they thought was love and protection, and then dealing with all of that baggage. Damn dude. Hit the nail on the head to see her reconcile with that and not find an easy solution, or one at all.
Overall the plot isn't quite as edge-of-your-seat as the last one until the last third of the book, give or take. Still an excellent book. I loved that the first one was enemies to lovers and the second one did it all over again but without it feeling repetitive. There were still "folds" and "slit" in the smut, which I boo wholeheartedly, but it didn't make me hate it. The romance and intimacy was very good, some of it had me actually grinning. There's a particular couple of chapters with dual POV bitey smut and when I tell you WHEW I mean WHEW. 🥵 So good. But ANYWAY very good book, despite being a little slow sometimes. Seeing oraya and raihn come apart and back together to save their home was fulfilling and I really enjoyed it. I'll be waiting eagerly for the next one. 🖤
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, War, Gore, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Slavery
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Death