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snapcracklepoppies's review
3.0
More a cerebral adventure fantasy, not so much a romance
I… think my hopes were too high for the sequel? I don’t know. I was really hoping we’d see advancement in their relationship or at least further sapphic cute-ness but the second book ends the same way the first book ends, minus the addition of declarations of love (that… idk how we even got there? Sian realizes she never wants to be without Trillan but acknowledges it doesn’t make much sense, since they’ve know each other for a hot minute.) Otherwise, they’re apart for almost the entirety of the book and trying to get back to each other. (Which was cute in an angsty, pining sort of way but again not what I was hoping for going into it.)
It was also very, very confusing to read. Even more cerebral and fluid than the first one; both of which are structurally SO different than everything else I’ve read — which isn’t bad, it just makes it difficult to follow. Their adventures feel a bit like a fever dream; vivid and gripping but bizarre and leaving you confused.
Again, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t at all what I was hoping for (or expecting for that matter) and I feel a bit bereft it’s over and now I have to wait for the third book for anything else to happen.
I feel a bit bad rating it so low as an ARC reader, but I've made a commitment to always being honest in my reviews. This book WILL be someone's cup of tea, I have no doubt.
I… think my hopes were too high for the sequel? I don’t know. I was really hoping we’d see advancement in their relationship or at least further sapphic cute-ness but the second book ends the same way the first book ends, minus the addition of declarations of love (that… idk how we even got there? Sian realizes she never wants to be without Trillan but acknowledges it doesn’t make much sense, since they’ve know each other for a hot minute.) Otherwise, they’re apart for almost the entirety of the book and trying to get back to each other. (Which was cute in an angsty, pining sort of way but again not what I was hoping for going into it.)
It was also very, very confusing to read. Even more cerebral and fluid than the first one; both of which are structurally SO different than everything else I’ve read — which isn’t bad, it just makes it difficult to follow. Their adventures feel a bit like a fever dream; vivid and gripping but bizarre and leaving you confused.
Again, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t at all what I was hoping for (or expecting for that matter) and I feel a bit bereft it’s over and now I have to wait for the third book for anything else to happen.
I feel a bit bad rating it so low as an ARC reader, but I've made a commitment to always being honest in my reviews. This book WILL be someone's cup of tea, I have no doubt.
jayceejarvis's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this next installment in Trillin and Sian's adventures. It picks up where book one left off, and I really recommend reading them in order. As always Trillin is a unique and satisfying monsterous love interest, while the world building is inventive and compelling. The world they find themselves in isn't quite as cool to me as the Endless, but it is still a fun adventure. Can't wait to read the last chapter in this series!
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
From the afterword, I understand a little about why the author wrote this book the way they did. But it didn't work for me. The tonal whiplash between books one and two was just more than I wanted. I don't mind batshit reinventions of fairy tale logic, but what I was here for was the mosterfucking body horror of the first book. With maybe some explanation of what was going on in the various storylines introduced and then abandoned in the rather abrupt (or indeed, cliff hanging) ending of book one.
I really liked book one, and I only finished this one to find out whether any of the plot hooks I was interested in got a look in. As they didn't, and the ending was not giving me any feeling that the next book will, I'm giving up on this series. Which is a shame, because the horror vibes were really good.
I really liked book one, and I only finished this one to find out whether any of the plot hooks I was interested in got a look in. As they didn't, and the ending was not giving me any feeling that the next book will, I'm giving up on this series. Which is a shame, because the horror vibes were really good.
magicaltats's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
This was a great continuation. I liked seeing Sian and Trillian stumbling into a new world. I loved the fairytale world and seeing the magic break down. This really is brilliant and man, I wish it were longer.
drbuffyfanify's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.5
anautummbison's review against another edition
5.0
My gosh this series is so fun and cute? This new dimension they explored was absolutely fascinating and such an interesting take on fairy tales being "real"!
I can't wait to start book 3. I don't know if that will be enough!
I can't wait to start book 3. I don't know if that will be enough!
autisticbookbug's review
adventurous
tense
3.5
i still absolutely adore the world building and the characters but i definitely liked book 2 a little less than book 1. i think i just didn't vibe with the Fairy Tale aspect and was a bit confused about the tonal shift.
i definitely also hated that they were apart for the majority of the book because this pair are just fantastic! i really love stories where a person falls in love with a non-human in a way where they just absolutely don't struggle with the differences at all (bar the primal screaming issue, but that's not due to her own feelings for Trillian!)
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✖️
becloseau's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
kateywumpus's review
4.0
I wish these books were longer. They're so good, they leave me wanting for more. In this one our lovers (a normal human and a cosmic horror) are thrust into a world where people are forced to play out fairy tales in search of their Happily Ever After. Of course our heroines already have their happily ever after, but since it doesn't fit in with the classic fairy tale version, they're forced apart.
It's a cute story, and I'm always a sucker for twisting of fairy tales. If you've read the previous book, you'll love this one just as much. Four stars.
It's a cute story, and I'm always a sucker for twisting of fairy tales. If you've read the previous book, you'll love this one just as much. Four stars.