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bea__reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
While it was slightly gratifying (but also rather boring) to be right about so many of the plot twists, I honestly just don't see the point in reading 600+ pages or listening to 28+ hours just to get 10 good chapters in at the end. This also has the unfortunate effect of making some plot twists seem really obvious while others come out of left field.
Plus, I can't stand the (pretty major spoiler)
This series is not for me. My book club loves it, but I think I'll be skipping book 3 when they read it later this year. š
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
howboutjane's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What can I say, I have a kink for books that shatter me and leave me unable to function for the next 3-5 business days and THIS BOOK does that.
Alot of the world building and context is laid out in the first book, so this book was able to start with a bang and keep going. It was an emotional roller coaster from start to finish.
Morally grey everywhere, everybody, everything. Twists on twists on twists. Beautiful f'kin chaos š. I cannot wait for the next book!
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
sleepygym's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
rowanwolf13's review
the first half is just a retelling of the events of the first book. and while the characters grief is important the recaps through flashbacks are wholly unnecessary. I read a good couple hundred pages, got super bored with reading the same thing over and over again and then skimmed through to see if i could pick up any kind of forward plot movement.
the author also introduces so many new povs that the story is further convoluted and drawn out. the spicy scenes are super cliche and cringey. the story itself had promise. too bad it was such a chore to read. this book also ends on a cliffhanger. i wonāt be picking up the next one.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
radiantgeode's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, War, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Vomit
overflowingshelf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
āāThis is how the world ends,ā the fate had whispered, and I was going to show them just how right fate was.ā
āWhen I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be goodā¦ once.ā
Dianna is in her full-blown villain era and has some fun power upgrades to match. Sheās out for revenge, out for blood for all those who betrayed her, and you best not stand in her way. As much as I fully loved her embracing her villainess side (and I truly LOVED it), my heart also ached for her. She is hurting so, so, so badly after what happened at the end of The Book of Azrael. All I wanted to do was reach out and hug her. The grief she felt was tangible, and I cried along with her at times. The softer, quieter moments with Dianna and her feelings stood out to me and were some of the most impactful. Diannaās character arc was genuinely awe-inspiring in this book as we see her go through all the stages of grief. Itās a hard journey to join her on, but I love where she ended up. I truly think Nicoleās exploration of grief through Diannaās character is fascinating, and one of the things I loved the most about this book
āI never once said that I was goodā¦but sometimes a king has to be a monster.ā
Logan is no more as heās ready to own being Samkiel again, and I think thatās for the better. I feel we see a different Samkiel in this book as heās really embracing his role as a God, as a leader. And just cause heās a God doesnāt mean heās all good. Heāll do anything to bring Dianna back to herself. Heās very much in his ātouch her, and you dieā era, and he would do anything for her. I liked this Samkiel more, as he had an air of confidence and strength. Heās juggling a lot as heās cleaning up after Dianna, trying to bring her back to herself and stopping chaos from being unleashed on all the realms. I also truly adored seeing him spend time with the Hand and getting to know them better as a group and individuals.
āYet he looked at me as if he would rip the world to pieces for me, and I knew I would do so much worse for him.ā
We continue the enemies-to-lovers vibes from The Book of Azrael though it is much more layered and complex now. The flirty, snarky banter in the scenes of them fighting each other had me living. But their relationship is so much deeper than that. They have this deep connection ā they both can see behind the monster/god to the individual and accept each other for their flaws, fears, hopes, dreams, and all. Their relationship continues to develop slowly over this book, but the payoff is worth it. We get some very rewarding sexy scenes in this, but also so much love. God, the love. Along with the exploration of grief, the exploration of the power of love and all the many forms it can take is another standout from this book.
āLet chaos reign.ā
This book did feel a little long at times ā there were a lot of flashbacks and a lot of points of view that Iām not sure were all necessary ā but I honestly didnāt mind in the end as I was so engrossed in the story, in the drama. Boy, does this book go there in terms of the plot! I was a big old jumble of nerves and so stressed the whole last quarter of the book. I was literally gasping out loud and having to put the book down at times to process EVERYTHING that was HAPPENING. And oh my god, that ending! While I correctly predicted some plot points, others completed shook me to my core. I still am in shock thinking about some of them! I donāt know which character I hate more after everything. I cannot wait to see where Nicole takes this story and these characters in the last book as THAT ENDING.
āRemember that I love you.ā
If you want to be emotionally devastated, this series is perfect for you. And I mean that in the best way possible. I cried, I laughed, I gasped, I loved ā I felt it all while reading. If you love dark romance or are in your romantasy era, you will eat these stories up! You do have to read this series in order, so now is the perfect time to start, as The Book of Azrael and The Throne of Broken Gods are on KU.
Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: War and Confinement
erendira's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder
stephaniemcuervo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement