You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
lois_aguda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
internalnonsense's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3 feels pretty generous for how underwhelmed I am by this sequel, but disappointed expectations doesn't inherently diminish the quality. It did offer more diversity, more magic, more Mama Agba. There were good set piece moments and some compelling writing.
It just did not continue the story or the character's stories in a way I enjoyed or engaged with. Some characters are set back to square one, some are just pushed to the side, and others are jerked along as the plot requires. They introduced a lot of new characters who, with the exception of two more plot-relevant ones, blended together. The world building expanded some, but there wasn't a moment where I felt it really built from what's been established, as much as playing with new elements. One piece of backstory actively ruined a pretty essential element of the conflict for me. That all said, I do see the vision, the why of the overall story, and I can see of how it can arrive at the same place in a way that really satisfies. As for the last minute twist, I'm not going to say I saw it coming but it didn't catch me entirely off guard. It also justified Ronan's prominence, which felt like a sore thumb for me. Still, what foreshadowing there was was sparse and blunt so the twist still feels abrupt. Again, I can see how it could work, but right now it isn't and doesn't set up enough for the next book.
It just did not continue the story or the character's stories in a way I enjoyed or engaged with. Some characters are set back to square one, some are just pushed to the side, and others are jerked along as the plot requires. They introduced a lot of new characters who, with the exception of two more plot-relevant ones, blended together. The world building expanded some, but there wasn't a moment where I felt it really built from what's been established, as much as playing with new elements. One piece of backstory actively ruined a pretty essential element of the conflict for me. That all said, I do see the vision, the why of the overall story, and I can see of how it can arrive at the same place in a way that really satisfies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
stonebm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
rwalker101's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent
lj_parkinson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
natakat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Unlike a lot of people, I went into this book with fairly low expectations because I had seen some negative reviews before I picked it up. I still wanted to give it a try but in the end I found that it was not as good as good as the first. I will parrot every other reviewer and say that the characters just weren't the same; they were flat and annoying in this installation. Each protagonist lives in their own bubble and they completely stop communicating with and working with each other.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations (I guess maybe they do since they have to suck the life out of Titans to gain power, but our center antagonist just doesn't care and sacrifices them all).
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.25
Children of Blood and Bone was such a unique take on magic and the dystopian tropes that we have seen so often in Young Adult, especially in the last 10 years. So with its predecessor doing so well, I thought the latter would live up to what the first book laid the ground work for and build off of it.
But that did not happen.
I tried so many times to like this book but there was one point where I almost DNF’d it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get through it. I muscled on however and was sadly disappointed by the result.
But that did not happen.
I tried so many times to like this book but there was one point where I almost DNF’d it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get through it. I muscled on however and was sadly disappointed by the result.
Children of Vengeance and Virtue flickers between multiple perspectives, like the first book, which I normally do not like but Adeyemi does a great job of making each transition seamless and not jarring.
The story picks right back up where we left off at the end of the first book where Zelie and the others have brought magic back to the world. What ensues in this book is them trying to overthrow the monarchy and the monarchy trying to crush the maji. Now that magic is back, not only are the maji more powerful but royals and other people of power in the monarchy have magic which I thought was very interesting. I liked seeing this new side of magic that even the maji were baffled at. There are battles periodically through out the book, power struggles with Amari and the maji leaders, inner struggles of Zelie as she comes to grips with what happened in the first book and other minor subplots for majority of the novel. The climax happens the last 40 pages or so of the book with a twist ending that made little to no sense.
I know the author wants to make the reader interested in the next book but all the meandering and floundering around of the plot before the main battle, Zelie’s continual and constant despisement for Amari and a few other things just rubbed me the wrong way made me think twice about my rating. I was going to give this 3 stars but thinking back on my reading experience, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.
The rich world of the maji is still beautiful and stunning, all the characters are more or less fleshed out and the author does a great job of balancing three perspectives as well as helping us understand and sympathize with even the most twisted of characters. Sadly, the last 40 pages or so of the book finally reaching its climax just could not carry or save the other 364 pages of this book.
The story picks right back up where we left off at the end of the first book where Zelie and the others have brought magic back to the world. What ensues in this book is them trying to overthrow the monarchy and the monarchy trying to crush the maji. Now that magic is back, not only are the maji more powerful but royals and other people of power in the monarchy have magic which I thought was very interesting. I liked seeing this new side of magic that even the maji were baffled at. There are battles periodically through out the book, power struggles with Amari and the maji leaders, inner struggles of Zelie as she comes to grips with what happened in the first book and other minor subplots for majority of the novel. The climax happens the last 40 pages or so of the book with a twist ending that made little to no sense.
I know the author wants to make the reader interested in the next book but all the meandering and floundering around of the plot before the main battle, Zelie’s continual and constant despisement for Amari and a few other things just rubbed me the wrong way made me think twice about my rating. I was going to give this 3 stars but thinking back on my reading experience, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.
The rich world of the maji is still beautiful and stunning, all the characters are more or less fleshed out and the author does a great job of balancing three perspectives as well as helping us understand and sympathize with even the most twisted of characters. Sadly, the last 40 pages or so of the book finally reaching its climax just could not carry or save the other 364 pages of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
brynn_books's review against another edition
4.0
While I think I prefer the first one, I still really enjoyed this one! I love learning more about the maji and meeting new characters. Some of them were annoying me with their decisions though. And new favorite character unlocked in Roën?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and War
More...