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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Some of this plot is confusing me, but the smut stays smutting so I remain here for it
This was on track for another 4 star but then the ending happened and I got mad so she's been docked a point
yes, this is not my usual reading choice/genre, but this book was such a huge mess—even though i skimmed all the parts that make this book erotica, which makes up like 80%, give or take (leaning towards the former).
also, the ending. i get ending books on cliffhangers, and wanting to get readers to feel compelled to buy the next book in a series, but this felt very cheap, and unnecessary, and just… yikes.
also, the ending. i get ending books on cliffhangers, and wanting to get readers to feel compelled to buy the next book in a series, but this felt very cheap, and unnecessary, and just… yikes.
These stories are wild. I love Sierra Simone's writing. I like the characters. I do not like unnecessary brooding, so that bums me out a bit and takes me out of it...but let me tell you, if we are here for the steam, this book has it all. Thorn God and all. Whew.
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5/3 stars. What in the actual hell was that ending?!?!? I am unwell why did it have to go there?! Why. Not sure if I’ll continue on in the series. The first book was good and I see why people consider it a standalone because... what in the world was this book. I hated that ending
(1.5 stars) "It just feels right, like when all of us are together, some essential connection is made that can't be made when we're apart."
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
Thornchapel Series:
A Lesson in Thorns: ★★★★★
Feast of Sparks: ★★☆☆☆ (1.5)
Harvest of Sighs: TBD
Door of Bruises: TBD
Sigh. This is not a fun review to write, because I so looked forward to this novel. We all know how much I love Sierra Simone (one of the queen's of the genre) and how I totally adored A Lesson in Thorns, the start of the Thornchapel series. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of its sequel. In fact, I'd say that, at most, I tolerated Feast of Sparks instead of having enjoyed it. It felt sloppy and the way it unraveled was a little incoherent and nonsensical.
Feast of Sparks picks up fairly quickly after the events of A Lesson of Thorns, which is fantastic because that cliffhanger was massive and I *needed* to see where the story would go next. Nothing says unexpected like lost virginity in the Thornchapel, rituals and, you know, finding the body of your long missing mother the next morning.
Let's just say that Sierra Simone knows how to keep her readers dangling over the edge of their own anticipation. All eyes were on her prose for the continuation. It's obvious why. With the first novel, we had such a gorgeous and unique setting and premise. And, true, A Lesson in Thorns was so rich with angst, sex, and mystery. It intrigued from the start. It was, in short, one of the best starts to a series I'd seen all year.
However, one of the things that made Feast of Sparks feel a lot less developed was the lack of exploration following the grief Poe might be suffering. All of it felt rather blink-and-you'll-miss it, which is unusual for Sierra Simone. All the intrigue and mystery and emotionally charged nods of the first installment was gone; in its place was something more hollow and dull. I felt like there was a huge question mark over the general story arches in Feast of Sparks and it was so, so disappointing.
While the sex was brilliantly charged with magnetic energy and a whole lot of changing partners, there were a lot of issues I had with how it wove itself through the novel. I think that Melanie said it best with her review: it was a mess. I actually agree with every issue she raised in question of the novel, so definitely read her review for a more in depth look at why so many parts of this novel were packed with problems.
I am with her on many of her central points--the unprotected sex, back to back, is a massive no-go from me. That's not a great thing to portray in anything. Ever. I also agree with her about the lack of communication re: BDSM and whatnot during specific scenes for Saint and Auden. (Auden is textbook abuser being masqueraded as a ~dom~ and that's another can of worms that I am just not up to opening today.)
The fact that we have a group of bi characters is WONDERFUL, but it's curious that we have yet to see more exploration of the women together. Thus far, we've mostly seen the F/M, M/M and hints of the core group of six, sexual scenes in detail. In and of itself, that's a problem.
Not to mention the little flashbacks between two sixteen year olds, that has no real business being written in the way it was due to the fact that there were kids. Look, I am all for normalizing sexuality. It's perfectly normal. But in this context, an erotic novel written explicitly for ADULTS, it is not a good look. Oh, and the age old Cassandra Clare "is it Incest?" trope, which is always a no. It cheapens the novel even more..
Only one good thing will come from that: it will probably be a cop out. Hopefully. However, it is totally unnecessary and gross. It left a bad taste in my mouth but, frankly, so did a lot of things in this novel. I had high hopes for it, but perhaps that is my own fault and not Simone's. She set out to tell a story and I don't fault her for that.
At the end of the day, I will likely not continue on with the series--unless the issues of Feast of Sparks are cleaned up and pushed back on track. This book just wasn't for me and felt like it'd been written by another author entirely.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
Thornchapel Series:
A Lesson in Thorns: ★★★★★
Feast of Sparks: ★★☆☆☆ (1.5)
Harvest of Sighs: TBD
Door of Bruises: TBD
Sigh. This is not a fun review to write, because I so looked forward to this novel. We all know how much I love Sierra Simone (one of the queen's of the genre) and how I totally adored A Lesson in Thorns, the start of the Thornchapel series. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of its sequel. In fact, I'd say that, at most, I tolerated Feast of Sparks instead of having enjoyed it. It felt sloppy and the way it unraveled was a little incoherent and nonsensical.
Feast of Sparks picks up fairly quickly after the events of A Lesson of Thorns, which is fantastic because that cliffhanger was massive and I *needed* to see where the story would go next. Nothing says unexpected like lost virginity in the Thornchapel, rituals and, you know, finding the body of your long missing mother the next morning.
Let's just say that Sierra Simone knows how to keep her readers dangling over the edge of their own anticipation. All eyes were on her prose for the continuation. It's obvious why. With the first novel, we had such a gorgeous and unique setting and premise. And, true, A Lesson in Thorns was so rich with angst, sex, and mystery. It intrigued from the start. It was, in short, one of the best starts to a series I'd seen all year.
However, one of the things that made Feast of Sparks feel a lot less developed was the lack of exploration following the grief Poe might be suffering. All of it felt rather blink-and-you'll-miss it, which is unusual for Sierra Simone. All the intrigue and mystery and emotionally charged nods of the first installment was gone; in its place was something more hollow and dull. I felt like there was a huge question mark over the general story arches in Feast of Sparks and it was so, so disappointing.
While the sex was brilliantly charged with magnetic energy and a whole lot of changing partners, there were a lot of issues I had with how it wove itself through the novel. I think that Melanie said it best with her review: it was a mess. I actually agree with every issue she raised in question of the novel, so definitely read her review for a more in depth look at why so many parts of this novel were packed with problems.
I am with her on many of her central points--the unprotected sex, back to back, is a massive no-go from me. That's not a great thing to portray in anything. Ever. I also agree with her about the lack of communication re: BDSM and whatnot during specific scenes for Saint and Auden. (Auden is textbook abuser being masqueraded as a ~dom~ and that's another can of worms that I am just not up to opening today.)
The fact that we have a group of bi characters is WONDERFUL, but it's curious that we have yet to see more exploration of the women together. Thus far, we've mostly seen the F/M, M/M and hints of the core group of six, sexual scenes in detail. In and of itself, that's a problem.
Not to mention the little flashbacks between two sixteen year olds, that has no real business being written in the way it was due to the fact that there were kids. Look, I am all for normalizing sexuality. It's perfectly normal. But in this context, an erotic novel written explicitly for ADULTS, it is not a good look. Oh, and the age old Cassandra Clare "is it Incest?" trope, which is always a no. It cheapens the novel even more..
Only one good thing will come from that: it will probably be a cop out. Hopefully. However, it is totally unnecessary and gross. It left a bad taste in my mouth but, frankly, so did a lot of things in this novel. I had high hopes for it, but perhaps that is my own fault and not Simone's. She set out to tell a story and I don't fault her for that.
At the end of the day, I will likely not continue on with the series--unless the issues of Feast of Sparks are cleaned up and pushed back on track. This book just wasn't for me and felt like it'd been written by another author entirely.
Lots more focus on Auden and St. sexy, fun. A lot of writing about the nature and history which I don’t care that much about.
that ending was just....why???? I was probably going to give this book a high rating of 4 or 4.5, but the actual Beltane night group situation mixed with the ending kinda ruined a lot of the positive feelings I had towards this book. I was enjoying the development and recovery of Auden and Saint’s relationship, I liked most of the scenes Poe had with each of them, and even though there were definitely times where there was an overload of information about historical events, I did for the most part find it interesting. Becket had more time in this book as well which I enjoyed (except for the Beltane scene tbh), but at the same time I feel like Rebecca and Delphine didn’t really get as much development? But the next book is centred around them so at least there’s that.
I REALLY don’t like the ending, and just find it hard now to think about all the cute Auden and Saint moments??? I’m still going to continue the series because I want to find out what’s going to happen with all the mystery and magic of thornchapel, but wow am I feeling bitter and disappointed over that ending.
I REALLY don’t like the ending, and just find it hard now to think about all the cute Auden and Saint moments??? I’m still going to continue the series because I want to find out what’s going to happen with all the mystery and magic of thornchapel, but wow am I feeling bitter and disappointed over that ending.