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postitsandpens's review against another edition
3.0
I think it's probably not a great sign that my favorite parts of this book were the scenes we got with Kestrel and Arin. While I liked Sid and Nirrim's romance in The Midnight Lie, I found myself a lot less interested in the outcome of their relationship in this book. This is probably because they spend much of the book apart, but I also just found the family dynamic/relationship between Kestrel, Arin, and Sid a lot more interesting and emotional. I also found the way this book was told a bit confusing, and never truly felt engaged in the story, even with the mystery behind Kestrel's illness becoming a large plot point for most the book. All in all, this one just kind of fell flat for me, lacking any kind of emotional impact. Definitely a bummer, considering just how much I loved the original series.
ipomoea's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Poor Sid. The charming rake of The Midnight Lie has been brought low by love in The Hollow Heart, at home and pining for Nirrim. Meanwhile at home, her mother lies sick and poisoned, sending Sid into a state of frantic paranoia, dedicating her days to caring for her mother and running interference.
Across the sea, Nirrim has let the god take her over, using her power to punish the High Kith and Half Kith who forced her and those like her into poverty and servitude, who used them as endless wells of blood and power. As she punishes those who hurt her, her humanity has shrunk. This was hard to read-- it's clear that Nirrim has been hurt and is hurting others, but the emotionless tyranny hurt after reading the gentle and deep love between Nirrim and Sid.
When Sid receives word of invaders from Nirrim's land conquering other islands, she has no choice but to return to the woman she loves and see if she can save her.
Rutkoski's writing is so good, but I had a harder time with this than the previous four books in this world, just because Nirrim's god-viewpoint was so pitiless.
Poor Sid. The charming rake of The Midnight Lie has been brought low by love in The Hollow Heart, at home and pining for Nirrim. Meanwhile at home, her mother lies sick and poisoned, sending Sid into a state of frantic paranoia, dedicating her days to caring for her mother and running interference.
Across the sea, Nirrim has let the god take her over, using her power to punish the High Kith and Half Kith who forced her and those like her into poverty and servitude, who used them as endless wells of blood and power. As she punishes those who hurt her, her humanity has shrunk. This was hard to read-- it's clear that Nirrim has been hurt and is hurting others, but the emotionless tyranny hurt after reading the gentle and deep love between Nirrim and Sid.
When Sid receives word of invaders from Nirrim's land conquering other islands, she has no choice but to return to the woman she loves and see if she can save her.
Rutkoski's writing is so good, but I had a harder time with this than the previous four books in this world, just because Nirrim's god-viewpoint was so pitiless.
elena_1902's review against another edition
2.0
Una noia mortale, uno spreco di tante occasioni, tutto ciò che si poteva allungare è stato allungato senza dare concrete informazioni o sviluppi dei personaggi: così è come riassumerei questo sequel.
Dopo The Midnight Lie, che ugualmente non li aveva fatta impazzire ma almeno aveva elementi che mi erano piaciuti, ero preparata con basse aspettative a The Hollow Heart visto quanto se ne parlava abbastanza male. E ha senso, perché questo libro risolve poco e nulla e lo fa solo nell’ultimo 10-20% di pagine, lasciando tutto il resto in digressioni evitabili e, di nuovo, nessun chiarimento sul world building, che ancora soffre di vaghezza, soprattutto per quello che riguarda la mitologia e, ora che c’è il punto di vista della co-protagonista e il ritorno nel suo paese, anche quello che riguarda il territorio e l’assetto sociale.
La quantità di frasi e concetti ripetuti è allucinante. Mi chiedo dove fosse l’editor perché non è possibile che sia nei pensieri di Sid sia in quelli di Nirrim si dicano sempre le stesse cose: la prima soffre la lontananza da Nirrim e pensa che non la ricambi, d ripete i loro ultimi momenti prima di salutarsi come un disco rotto; la seconda allo stesso modo afferma il suo cambiamento dopo che la divinità le ha preso il cuore, rendendola insensibile e dedita alla vendetta, ed è un continuo con la frase “non sono quella di prima”. Beh sì, ci eravamo arrivati, ecco
Parte già male con queste ripetizioni fino almeno al 30% del libro, quando bastava un sommario veloce essendo il capitolo finale di una serie composta da solo due volumi. Qualcuno rassicuri l’autrice che non ci dimentichiamo le cose appena successe con cui si riapre inevitabilmente il sequel, non c’è bisogno del ripassino
Dopo The Midnight Lie, che ugualmente non li aveva fatta impazzire ma almeno aveva elementi che mi erano piaciuti, ero preparata con basse aspettative a The Hollow Heart visto quanto se ne parlava abbastanza male. E ha senso, perché questo libro risolve poco e nulla e lo fa solo nell’ultimo 10-20% di pagine, lasciando tutto il resto in digressioni evitabili e, di nuovo, nessun chiarimento sul world building, che ancora soffre di vaghezza, soprattutto per quello che riguarda la mitologia e, ora che c’è il punto di vista della co-protagonista e il ritorno nel suo paese, anche quello che riguarda il territorio e l’assetto sociale.
La quantità di frasi e concetti ripetuti è allucinante. Mi chiedo dove fosse l’editor perché non è possibile che sia nei pensieri di Sid sia in quelli di Nirrim si dicano sempre le stesse cose: la prima soffre la lontananza da Nirrim e pensa che non la ricambi, d ripete i loro ultimi momenti prima di salutarsi come un disco rotto; la seconda allo stesso modo afferma il suo cambiamento dopo che la divinità le ha preso il cuore, rendendola insensibile e dedita alla vendetta, ed è un continuo con la frase “non sono quella di prima”. Beh sì, ci eravamo arrivati, ecco
Parte già male con queste ripetizioni fino almeno al 30% del libro, quando bastava un sommario veloce essendo il capitolo finale di una serie composta da solo due volumi. Qualcuno rassicuri l’autrice che non ci dimentichiamo le cose appena successe con cui si riapre inevitabilmente il sequel, non c’è bisogno del ripassino
jaybyrd823's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.5
I really wanted to like this book as much as the first one. It very much feels like the author had moved on from wanting to create this story but still had to finish writing this. I was absolutely astonished that by the time we got to Sid coming back to Nirrim and learning all that's happened and being told she needs to save her, we only had 50 pages of the book left. like? Was that not intended to be the climax of the book? Because that's what it felt like and then she just rushed it all out and it was incredibly disappointing. I feel like she neglected Sid's side specifically in the end of the book because we really should've gotten to go with her through getting to Morah and getting to the gods and everything with that. But the way she wrote it completely pulled me out of the book and it was very obvious that I was reading, if that makes sense. Also it's crazy that we one didn't get to see a "mended" Nirrim in the end after getting her heart back. I think it absolutely would've been worth reading her getting her heart back and reflecting on everything she had done since it was traded. I also thought that we'd get some more interaction between Sid and Nirrim than we did? Like they got what? 5-7 pages (maybe) together? That's it? I just was very very disappointed by the end of this book and that was really frustrating. I really wish she had taken the time to work on this properly because I almost wish I hadn't read this one and just left it at The Midnight Lie.
areaderamongthestars's review against another edition
4.0
The Hollow Heart is the conclusion to Marie Rutkoski’s brilliant Forgotten Gods duology, a book about what one could do for revenge… and for love.
While The Midnight Lie is more focused on setting the story and exploring the growing feelings between Nirrim and Sid, this second installment follows the aftermath of the revelations about Ethin’s history and the individual evolution of both main characters.
If Sid’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance brought real tears to my eyes (that are also partially to blame on seeing again Arin and Kestrel- if you have loved them in The Winner’s Curse trilogy, be ready for a strong wave of emotions), Nirrim’s descent into villainy was ravishing and fascinating, like a cruel spectacle you can’t stop watching. Both subplots were balanced extremely well, connected by a fine underlying thread.
As usual, Marie Rutkoski’s prose never fails to amaze, with such an atmospheric and lyrical writing that lets the reader fully immerse inside the book. It was truly interesting how the storyline of The Midnight Lie was developed, with clever narrative choices (especially a certain plot twist related to Nirrim) and a deeper insight into the god’s words.
In fact, the only thing The Hollow Heart lacked is the romance. While it was totally necessary that both Sid and Nirrim solved their own issues by themselves and their last scene together was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read, they really *needed* to have more on-page space together- even just a longer and more detailed ending and an epilogue settled in the future would have solved the issue, but I still enjoyed the book as a whole.
The Midnight Lie and The Hollow Heart are two incredible novels that I will definitely never get tired of recommending, perfect for anyone looking for an amazing sapphic relationship and well-crafted stories that will leave you yearning for more.
[ an ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review ]
While The Midnight Lie is more focused on setting the story and exploring the growing feelings between Nirrim and Sid, this second installment follows the aftermath of the revelations about Ethin’s history and the individual evolution of both main characters.
If Sid’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance brought real tears to my eyes (that are also partially to blame on seeing again Arin and Kestrel- if you have loved them in The Winner’s Curse trilogy, be ready for a strong wave of emotions), Nirrim’s descent into villainy was ravishing and fascinating, like a cruel spectacle you can’t stop watching. Both subplots were balanced extremely well, connected by a fine underlying thread.
As usual, Marie Rutkoski’s prose never fails to amaze, with such an atmospheric and lyrical writing that lets the reader fully immerse inside the book. It was truly interesting how the storyline of The Midnight Lie was developed, with clever narrative choices (especially a certain plot twist related to Nirrim) and a deeper insight into the god’s words.
In fact, the only thing The Hollow Heart lacked is the romance. While it was totally necessary that both Sid and Nirrim solved their own issues by themselves and their last scene together was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read, they really *needed* to have more on-page space together- even just a longer and more detailed ending and an epilogue settled in the future would have solved the issue, but I still enjoyed the book as a whole.
The Midnight Lie and The Hollow Heart are two incredible novels that I will definitely never get tired of recommending, perfect for anyone looking for an amazing sapphic relationship and well-crafted stories that will leave you yearning for more.
[ an ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review ]
tubz99's review against another edition
2.0
Man I really struggled to get through this and only made it to 30% before DNFing. It took so long to get any where. The characters I enjoyed so much in the first book were lacking and I just found myself getting so annoyed at them.
Everything that was great about Nirrim; her selflessness, innocent curiosity, fierce passion for justice was just...all removed here and replaced with a cruel tyrant who I did not give two shits about. It lacked so much feeling and missed the mark in what I believe was supposed to be a justified turn to evil. She was a villain without any substance because her motives were ignited by an otherworldly magic spell that took away pretty much her entire personality. She essentially became another character with the real Nirrim popping in now and then to say "no don't do that" and getting no where.
Sid also didn't really work for me. When we meet her in Midnight Lie, she's surrounded by an air of mystery and stands out with her carefree attitude in a city where everyone is oppressed and subservient. But when she's taken back home to her kingdom, that carefree spirit just turns into spoiled brat with a complex.
Also I was fed up with the constant repetition in this book. If you total it up, there was at least a page's worth of passages about how handsome Sid is and how she likes to sleep around and break women's hearts...and when it came to the romance, all Nirrim and Sid remembered of one another was the physical aspects of their relationship. It just read as lust to me.
I hate writing negative reviews but these are my honest thoughts...
Everything that was great about Nirrim; her selflessness, innocent curiosity, fierce passion for justice was just...all removed here and replaced with a cruel tyrant who I did not give two shits about. It lacked so much feeling and missed the mark in what I believe was supposed to be a justified turn to evil. She was a villain without any substance because her motives were ignited by an otherworldly magic spell that took away pretty much her entire personality. She essentially became another character with the real Nirrim popping in now and then to say "no don't do that" and getting no where.
Sid also didn't really work for me. When we meet her in Midnight Lie, she's surrounded by an air of mystery and stands out with her carefree attitude in a city where everyone is oppressed and subservient. But when she's taken back home to her kingdom, that carefree spirit just turns into spoiled brat with a complex.
Also I was fed up with the constant repetition in this book. If you total it up, there was at least a page's worth of passages about how handsome Sid is and how she likes to sleep around and break women's hearts...and when it came to the romance, all Nirrim and Sid remembered of one another was the physical aspects of their relationship. It just read as lust to me.
I hate writing negative reviews but these are my honest thoughts...
the_llewbrary's review against another edition
4.0
As a non-binary person, it was a bit frustrating to read Sid. It is implied several times in the book that they don’t really feel like they fit into the gender binary, but it is done in a really uncomfortable way. The writing was great, but if you’re gonna go the gender non-conforming way, it has to be done well.
bookishwithb's review against another edition
2.0
I'd been waiting for this book for over a YEAR and truly was so disappointed. It sort of read as though the author didn't really want to write it anymore if that makes sense? where the first book was clearly a work of passion, the second felt a little forced. onto of that, the characters didn't even really feel like themselves, especially since we finally got a Sid POV.
upsidedownything's review against another edition
4.0
Not as mind-bendingly fantastic as a the first in the series, but still a great story and a neat ending.