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3.07 AVERAGE
3.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes
I would actually rate this 2.5 stars. I was very disappointed with this one after the first book. I felt like I missed an entire book in the middle where Lea and Shadrael fell in love. They spent most of the book separated, and the book was really hard to get through because I didn't believe in any of the characters' motivations or emotions. It finally picked up in the last quarter or so, which is why I didn't give it 2 flat stars.
I don't know why I read this one when I found it's predecessors so uninteresting. I must truly have been desperate (or I hate to leave things unfinished). I felt this work was unfocused and silly. I still think the supposed love that springs up between the two main characters was unrealistic and sounded a lot more like Stockholm syndrome than anything to base a marriage on. The sad thing is that as unimpressed as I was by this book, I'm even more unimpressed with myself for continuing to read it, just because I had to finish the series (insert obligatory eye roll here).
Real rating is maybe a 2.8?
I didn't care for the first book in this series, The Pearls. This one stepped up it's game however and I found myself enjoying this more than the first (though I think though should receive the same rating). My biggest complaint with the first was the lack of character to Lea. I can't say that it changes much in this one, though I may have just found her more tolerable as I had less of her to deal with. My real enjoyment in this novel was watching all the well placed plans of these characters fall to the ground. Shadreal, for one, falls apart. He spends most of the book wounded or in the beginning, drunk. His brother seems to go mad by the end, mad or blind to the idiocy of his plans. We even see more of the dark priests. Though I did find myself enjoying this book I do have a few concerns.
Reading over other readers thoughts after the first book I found myself seeing the uncomfortable Stockholm syndrome being brought up several times in reference to Shadrael and Lea's relationship. Honestly, I can see it as well. The romance comes out of nowhere, and is hastily explained as being 'forseen' by Lea before the books ever began. This is hinted at vaguely a few times, but I'm still left with the bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. The messy politics of both books are seemingly fixed by this romance (and one weirdly random murder 10 pages from the end). I can't help but find it a weak resolution, and wonder on the wisdom of the great Light Bringer emperor for even agreeing to the whole mess. It could be because he didn't see Lea in the mess of the book that he doesn't realize his 'wise' sister really acts more like a teenager in many ways than the great and wonder princess she should be.
As far as the character development goes you can see a little in our two leads. Shadreal deals with the loss of Lea poorly for most of the book and when he final receives what it is he is looking for you see him behave more humanly. He remains essentially the same man, and at times acts exactly as I expected him. Though small though he seems to take a few steps in the right direction. Lea on the other hand is presented as becoming less 'innocent' and more shadow-touched. It affects her a bit, nothing big, and in the end I was disappointed that I didn't get to see her really (wo)man up and start to take charge. Eventually she is saved by her brother and Shadreal, without the one of the two she would have died early in book one. It's disappointing, and again as far as strong female leads not a stellar example.
I gave it a solid three this time, mostly for the tension the book seemed to have constantly throughout it. I was fairly engrossed, even irate the few times I was interrupted in my reading. I'm happy to have the series behind me, it was an interesting yet unimpressive read.
I didn't care for the first book in this series, The Pearls. This one stepped up it's game however and I found myself enjoying this more than the first (though I think though should receive the same rating). My biggest complaint with the first was the lack of character to Lea. I can't say that it changes much in this one, though I may have just found her more tolerable as I had less of her to deal with. My real enjoyment in this novel was watching all the well placed plans of these characters fall to the ground. Shadreal, for one, falls apart. He spends most of the book wounded or in the beginning, drunk. His brother seems to go mad by the end, mad or blind to the idiocy of his plans. We even see more of the dark priests. Though I did find myself enjoying this book I do have a few concerns.
Reading over other readers thoughts after the first book I found myself seeing the uncomfortable Stockholm syndrome being brought up several times in reference to Shadrael and Lea's relationship. Honestly, I can see it as well. The romance comes out of nowhere, and is hastily explained as being 'forseen' by Lea before the books ever began. This is hinted at vaguely a few times, but I'm still left with the bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. The messy politics of both books are seemingly fixed by this romance (and one weirdly random murder 10 pages from the end). I can't help but find it a weak resolution, and wonder on the wisdom of the great Light Bringer emperor for even agreeing to the whole mess. It could be because he didn't see Lea in the mess of the book that he doesn't realize his 'wise' sister really acts more like a teenager in many ways than the great and wonder princess she should be.
As far as the character development goes you can see a little in our two leads. Shadreal deals with the loss of Lea poorly for most of the book and when he final receives what it is he is looking for you see him behave more humanly. He remains essentially the same man, and at times acts exactly as I expected him. Though small though he seems to take a few steps in the right direction. Lea on the other hand is presented as becoming less 'innocent' and more shadow-touched. It affects her a bit, nothing big, and in the end I was disappointed that I didn't get to see her really (wo)man up and start to take charge. Eventually she is saved by her brother and Shadreal, without the one of the two she would have died early in book one. It's disappointing, and again as far as strong female leads not a stellar example.
I gave it a solid three this time, mostly for the tension the book seemed to have constantly throughout it. I was fairly engrossed, even irate the few times I was interrupted in my reading. I'm happy to have the series behind me, it was an interesting yet unimpressive read.