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bookaholic84's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
bea__reads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- 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
Almost nothing happened for the majority of this book. It could be a lot better, given that the world is interesting and the characters have a lot of potential. But the pacing is so off and it got boring, which really made it hard for me to connect with the characters or to care about their relationships.
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)soulmates trope and the way it's handled here really rubbed me the wrong way. (Again, I think this is a pretty big spoiler to know what the trope is) I usually avoid the soulmates trope because it's often based heavily in amatonormativity and pretty much by definition excludes asexual and/or aromantic identities, as well as polyamory and other non-monogamous relationships (unless intentional efforts are made to expand the soulmate concept, which did not happen in this book). Unfortunately, I didn't realize that this trope was going to be a thing before recommending this series to my book club đ„Č
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. đ
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. đ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
howboutjane's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Fire đ„đ©
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 đ. I cannot wait for the next book!
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 đ. I cannot wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
sleepygym's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
dr4manrx's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
astuart89's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Death
nloprest6318's review
adventurous
dark
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Blood, Abandonment, Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Torture
rowanwolf13's review
i wasnât super thrilled with the first book, but it ended on a cliffhanger so i picked this one up out of curiosity. i should have known better because all of the repetitive faults of the first book are just amplified in the second one.
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 wonât be picking up the next one.
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 wonât be picking up the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
sqacedvst's review
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
bangiebangs's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
5*
- ends in cliffhanger
- spice 4/5 (very good spice!!)
I immediately jumped into this from Book 1, and I was not disappointed. The cliffhanger in Book 1 is less easy to predict than the one here, and I went in already mad about Book 3 not being out because I knew what was coming. Beware this book if you donât like unfinished series, this will leave you hurting.
Spoiler for cliffhanger I thought it was pretty obvious that the price for resurrecting Samkiel would be something to do with their finally-admitted love. Iâm expecting him to have lost feeling for her maybe in the next one, since she still seems to have feelings for him? Unsure, but I wouldnât be surprised. Iâm excited to see how that gets resolved, though, since I fully expect everyone to live and love again.
The world-building continues in this book, and at this length it gets pretty detailed. Iâd argue it is close to being a bit too much in terms of characters to remember, side stories to follow, who feels or felt what and why. So many gods, so many celestials! Getting more info about Logan and Neverra made sense, but while I really really want Cameron and Xavier to also get a happy ending, I think their unadmitted love doesnt hit enough (yet?) to make the actions towards the end of the book make sense. In general, this whole âsuddenly everyoneâs the enemyâ reminded me of the Hydra-takes-over storyline in the MCU which also felt like it came out of nowhere...
I did also like the banter a LOT and had some laugh out loud or big grin moments while reading it. It might be one I pick up again, though that also depends on Book 3⊠no release date yet afaict, so thatâs super sad. But I heard that the author got a series deal, so hope springs eternal!
Recommend this book if you like big epic stories (some parts had a whiff of LOTR for me), deliciously spicy spice, lovely banter, hot flirting⊠and a journey out of depression and grief. Itâs such a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking