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e_j_cook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.0
theghostly's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cmdufresne's review against another edition
2.0
Read the first book because the description sounded great and I loved the cover, and was super disappointed. Read the second one just to finish the series, hoping it would get better.... and still super disappointed...
glowbunny's review against another edition
1.25
That annoying heroine is even more annoying and insufferable in this one than in the first book.
absolutealexandria's review against another edition
4.0
A good happy ending but it really dragged in the middle. I think she needed another subplot, or to just shorten it a bit as the middle was pretty repetitive. I still really liked the characters and how it was wrapped up and solved in the end.
aklev13's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I went into the sequel of this duology a little confused as to how there could be enough story to justify a second book. The main conflict appeared pretty resolved, but i absolutely loved reading about the world Below. I feel this author has a gift for creating atmosphere with words. The world Below was gothic, beautiful, eerie and magical. Again Lord Under was a standout - he’s a really compelling character. Where this fell down a little was in understanding the magic system of this world. I struggled to understand how Rowan connecting to the darkness or Leta seeking more power got them closer to their goal of being together but i cant say it effected my enjoyment much. Some of the plot points felt a little convenient and some parts dragged a little. So i would recommend reading this book for the gothic vibes and Lord Under but not necessarily for a clear plot.
I went into the sequel of this duology a little confused as to how there could be enough story to justify a second book. The main conflict appeared pretty resolved, but i absolutely loved reading about the world Below. I feel this author has a gift for creating atmosphere with words. The world Below was gothic, beautiful, eerie and magical. Again Lord Under was a standout - he’s a really compelling character. Where this fell down a little was in understanding the magic system of this world. I struggled to understand how Rowan connecting to the darkness or Leta seeking more power got them closer to their goal of being together but i cant say it effected my enjoyment much. Some of the plot points felt a little convenient and some parts dragged a little. So i would recommend reading this book for the gothic vibes and Lord Under but not necessarily for a clear plot.
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
There were several things I didn't like about this book.
Starting with the most technical, I really didn't like the writing style. There are so many partial sentences the book felt choppy, like the author wasn't sure how to finish one thought and start the next. Maybe this was supposed to make it feel more tense, but it was more confusing than anything.
There are several places where the author starts describing a scene or a movement by a character, but the description is vague and when the next movement would happen it would clash hard against how I had pictures the last bit of information.
The author also relies very heavily on miscommunication, and often no communication at all, there are pages and pages of dialogue and I know no more at page 200 about what's going on than I did at page 1.
The love triangle, in my opinion, is poorly written. This doesn't feel like she can't decide, or even like an open relationship, it feels like a toxic relationship filled with cheating which I couldn't enjoy even when I tried. And to top that off, when she would start to write a decent romance scene that could have at least broken up the tension, there was so much anger and the internal monologue was so jumbled that it was more confusing than enjoyable.
The descriptive words used were so repetitive the book became boring. By oage 200 I should know more than that the characters are all angry, desperate, and never think. They have learned absolutely nothing from book one. There is more to a powerful female character than being angry and demanding all the time.
Violeta is an increasingly unlikeable character. All through book 1 she makes choice after choice to protect her loved ones, refuses to work with them, talk to them, or slow down and think, and gets herself into this sticky situation. For 200 pages of book 2 she has done nothing but whine, complain, blame the Lord Under, and throw a fit when he says no. Then for no explained reason at all, suddenly she wants him, starts playing with his emotions, and using him, all the while yelling at him for using her.
Lastly, even the side characters are no longer enjoyable for me. It's like the author forgot how she was writing them all, and gave them all new personalities hinging on the worst of their original traits.
At least at this point in the book, the story is reading like a fanfiction by someone who was crushing on Thranduil in the hobbit movie, and wanted the Darkling and Alina to end up together, but wanted to add extra tropes to be unique. Instead if succeeding it feels confusing and slow.
With the above mix of technical writing issues and personal dislike for the tropes used, I can't get into the book enough to finish it even though I hate DNFing
Starting with the most technical, I really didn't like the writing style. There are so many partial sentences the book felt choppy, like the author wasn't sure how to finish one thought and start the next. Maybe this was supposed to make it feel more tense, but it was more confusing than anything.
There are several places where the author starts describing a scene or a movement by a character, but the description is vague and when the next movement would happen it would clash hard against how I had pictures the last bit of information.
The author also relies very heavily on miscommunication, and often no communication at all, there are pages and pages of dialogue and I know no more at page 200 about what's going on than I did at page 1.
The love triangle, in my opinion, is poorly written. This doesn't feel like she can't decide, or even like an open relationship, it feels like a toxic relationship filled with cheating which I couldn't enjoy even when I tried. And to top that off, when she would start to write a decent romance scene that could have at least broken up the tension, there was so much anger and the internal monologue was so jumbled that it was more confusing than enjoyable.
The descriptive words used were so repetitive the book became boring. By oage 200 I should know more than that the characters are all angry, desperate, and never think. They have learned absolutely nothing from book one. There is more to a powerful female character than being angry and demanding all the time.
Violeta is an increasingly unlikeable character. All through book 1 she makes choice after choice to protect her loved ones, refuses to work with them, talk to them, or slow down and think, and gets herself into this sticky situation. For 200 pages of book 2 she has done nothing but whine, complain, blame the Lord Under, and throw a fit when he says no. Then for no explained reason at all, suddenly she wants him, starts playing with his emotions, and using him, all the while yelling at him for using her.
Lastly, even the side characters are no longer enjoyable for me. It's like the author forgot how she was writing them all, and gave them all new personalities hinging on the worst of their original traits.
At least at this point in the book, the story is reading like a fanfiction by someone who was crushing on Thranduil in the hobbit movie, and wanted the Darkling and Alina to end up together, but wanted to add extra tropes to be unique. Instead if succeeding it feels confusing and slow.
With the above mix of technical writing issues and personal dislike for the tropes used, I can't get into the book enough to finish it even though I hate DNFing