Reviews with content warning for Murder - All of Our Demise

The conclusion to this deadly tournament could not have clutched me in its grasp any harder. I know it would be easy to criticize certain character choices or plot points but I simply do not care that characters bounce from one alliance to the next like a ping pong ball (they are children faced with nothing but uncertain, impossible choices doing the best they can with the information they have in that exact moment) or just how convoluted the relationship between the spell makers, the government & the families ends up. I don’t even care about how convenient it is that the remaining champions- including a new addition, bound to the tournament against his will with hasty, experimental magick- end up with someone to pair off with.

The relationship between Alistair and Gavin is a fantastic development from enemies to lovers. Isobel and Reid also make sense to me, still enemies to lovers but in a more this relationship is definitely a little toxic considering we both took each other as prisoners at one point and we each have our own serious personal growth to do kind of way. Briony and Finley are the most predictable and boring but I think that has more to do with him being essentially a prop in her story than anything else. Briony’s final sacrifice made me tear up- she became a true hero rather than the heroic charade her family had been playing at.

There could not have been a better ending for this sequel and it certainly could not have been happier without completely betraying the horrors faced by everyone whose lives were impacted by the tournament curse.

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buckydotson's review against another edition

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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? Yes

3.75

It really took me a minute to get into this book. I still feel like it could have been shorter (the audiobook is 19 hours) but by the end of it I was very glad I stuck with it. I Think the first book could have just been rolled into this book and been made one. I liked all the characters,

I especially liked the pairing of Alistair and Gavin, I wasn't expecting it but I really thought it was cute.

This is very Hunger Games-esque and I think it would make a good movie/movie series.

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paper_bound's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really Really Good

I LOVE these characters. I'm still thinking about them.

I'm glad the authors didn't pull punches either! The internal conflicts of each of the characters, each of them confronting themselves, their motives, and what really makes a villain is wonderful. And each of the final pairings are lovely.

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drmccoy's review

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adventurous dark fast-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

4.0

This YA duology is a magical Hunger Games. The story is fun to follow but the plot build leaves a little to be desired.

Some of the curse related plot points feel haphazard in how they are cured. The pairing off of all the champions feels forced.

It’s rather dark for a YA. I really enjoy the story but doubt that I’d reread it.

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