Reviews

For the Throne by Hannah Whitten

kairosdreaming's review against another edition

2.0

Eh, I didn't love this sequel to 'For the Wolf'. The second book in the series it pretty much exactly starts where the last left off. Honestly, they should just package them together because with all the detail contained therein, you probably want to read them right after each other to keep from having to refresh your memory.

Neve is the primary protagonist of this one, although we see Red and the other characters interspersed throughout the book from their own perspectives. She's in the shadowlands, with a man she doesn't want to be near, and a quest she's not really sure how to take. Red is just concerned for her sister interspersed between having lots of naked fun times with her husband. And that's the book.

The imagery is what is really compelling. I can picture some of the scenes that Whitten weaves and it's quite beautiful, if a little horrifying. But there's just too much happening, too much lore that is being brought in, and it all seems overmuch. I still don't really understand the full story of the Kings and how Neve and Red's actions were part of the mythology, etc. Because it was swallowed up by the five thousand other things going on. The writing was also just a little meh on the dialogue. Sometimes it was conversational, regular, other times it was overly formal and it just seemed disjointed in that way.

I'm sure some people loved this, but it definitely wasn't my favorite sequel. I almost wish I had left it at For the Wolf with the cliffhanger.

Review by M. Reynard 2023

megreadslotsofbooks's review

5.0

STUNNING and EPIC conclusion to this incredible duopoly by Hannah Whitten. A continuation of For the Wolf, For the Throne follows Neve and her journey in the Shadowlands that exist as a mirror to the Wilderwood. Hannah Whitten continues to amaze with her incredible world building skills and descriptive writing- you become immersed into the world of Red and Neve and experience a new point of view in Raffe. This book evokes so many different emotions- despair, heartache, longing, forgiveness, redemption, and, above all, love. Once you start reading, you certainly won't be able to put it down. This duology is definitely one that can be read over and over again. I have already pre-ordered this book to keep on my shelf!

Thank you to NetGally for the ARC of For the Throne.

annabel_jacobs's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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 liked this book better than the first book in this duology but it still isn’t a 4 or 5 star book in my opinion.

I like that the villains from the first book become the protagonists in this book. Characters aren’t truly good or evil-just empty and self interested. The world building was complicated in the first book and didn’t get any easier in this book. I got the sense that the “how” of it all wasn’t important as long as you understood where the characters stood.

I would’ve enjoyed this book more if it was just Neve and Solmir’s book. We also get Raffe and Red’s POV which aren’t nearly as interesting.

Overall I have to give it 3.5 stars

bookish_b's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

barelytolerable's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

valrien's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

scijessreads's review against another edition

5.0

Neve and Red are forever in my heart. For the Throne builds on everything that For the Wolf started, and does it so masterfully that I felt wrapped up in the narrative and wanted to lose myself in the Shadowlands and Wilderwood magic. Having multiple POVs made following the journey much more engaging. There is a lyrical nature to the prose that reminds me of Erin Morgenstern, and the character relationships are everything.
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The deep, abiding love that Neve and Red have for each other is captivating. They both will sacrifice so much for the other, and are trying to wright wrongs that were never theirs to begin with, but became their cross to bear through getting involved with Eammon and Solmir. They are bound by prophecy, yet still have a degree of choice. In fact, it is their choices which everything rests upon.
•
The combination of folk tale and fairy tale and fantasy is bound so well in this book, and the duet as a whole. And this one, it is everything I could have wanted in a story.
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“If there’s anything I’ve learned it’s that souls are malleable things… lost and found all the time.”
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“They all knew that love made monstrous things necessary sometimes. They all knew their own capacity to burn worlds down.”

chellaa's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

iorangi's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

inkedbibliomaniac's review against another edition

5.0

Magical. I love this duology SO MUCH.