Reviews

Solid follow-up to the previous book, but I think that this book should have been a bit longer — so much more happened in this book than the previous one, but it's half the length! Or, both books could have been trimmed a bit and the whole duology could have been one, longer book. This book felt very rushed and the characters (especially new ones and especially villains) felt very flat and uninteresting. Still, I'm not the target audience, and I would have liked this book as a teenager, so that's good enough for me.

mrufka's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

It was beautiful! Both books were. Magic system was unique, part of it at least. Loved the idea, characters and the world.

traceyyoung's review

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adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed book 1 more than this one. I just wasn’t drawn into it in the same way as the first one. It felt like the ending was a bit meh. Glad I finished it though.

allivenger's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book picks right up where the last book left off. With Lan and Zen on opposite sides of this war that is set to come to a head sooner rather than later. Lan finds herself searching for the Crimson Phoenix while Zen decides that he cannot win this war without an army. And he knows just where to find one.

But when the Crimson Phoenix is not what Lan expected and the Elantian army in hot pursuit, Lan once again finds herself with Zen. But can their differences be put aside when the kingdom is in jeopardy? Or will this war destroy them both in the process?

I loved the first book much better than I liked this one. There was nothing wrong with it really I just think I enjoyed the pacing of the first book better. I cried at the ending and it was wonderfully done. I wish we could have had a different ending but overall a solid story.

emily_bg's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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