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kayanoelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well, that certainly went downhill very fast.
I was gagged for the last 50 pages, what the hell did I just read???
Also, Audric is the incarnation of ‘work song’ by Hozier.
“No grave can hold my body down,
I’ll crawl home to her.”
That’s literally Audric.
There were so many plot twists, I could barely keep up. I’m still a little confused with the one right at the end. Why would Simon work for the Emperor, it doesn’t make sense?? Because why would he help Eliana strengthen her powers and try to prevent everything? Maybe he’s a double agent and this is his plan to help her/the world?? I really don’t know.
This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read, it’s crazy to see how Corien corrupts Rielle and makes her doubt everything. He always tells her exactly what she needs to hear to gain her trust and it’s working and the f#cked up thing is I UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S WORKING. Her situation is impossible to handle, she’s annoying and selfish sometimes but I do understand how difficult it is. Claire Legrand did a wonderful job of portraying the constant conflict in her mind.
What I found fascinating was that when Eliana went to the past, it actually changed something!! I thought it wouldn’t because everything she did in the past already happened and led to the present she lives in. But now that we know she changed something, that leaves a lot of possibilities for the other books. They could still “win” and change Rielle’s mind and that’s exciting!!
What I find really impressive is when an author manages to convey feelings and boy did she succeed in that. The relationship between Eliana and Simon made me ache, I didn’t know what to do with my despair lmfao. Corien made me want to throw the book, Audric made me ehdbwjskbwwi because he’s just too good for the world. I was shocked, I cried, I laughed.
I’m very very excited for book 3!
I was gagged for the last 50 pages, what the hell did I just read???
Also, Audric is the incarnation of ‘work song’ by Hozier.
“No grave can hold my body down,
I’ll crawl home to her.”
That’s literally Audric.
There were so many plot twists, I could barely keep up. I’m still a little confused with the one right at the end.
This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read, it’s crazy to see how Corien corrupts Rielle and makes her doubt everything. He always tells her exactly what she needs to hear to gain her trust and it’s working and the f#cked up thing is I UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S WORKING. Her situation is impossible to handle, she’s annoying and selfish sometimes but I do understand how difficult it is. Claire Legrand did a wonderful job of portraying the constant conflict in her mind.
What I find really impressive is when an author manages to convey feelings and boy did she succeed in that. The relationship between Eliana and Simon made me ache, I didn’t know what to do with my despair lmfao. Corien made me want to throw the book, Audric made me ehdbwjskbwwi because he’s just too good for the world. I was shocked, I cried, I laughed.
I’m very very excited for book 3!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Pregnancy and Cursing
csmall73's review
challenging
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Incest, Self harm, Violence, War, Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
angstifies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this book had a lot of ups and downs. the pacing was definitely slower than the first book and i think it was too long, some parts definitely needed to be cut. it took me a while to finish it but i had fun, i’m glad i liked Eliana more in this book and the ending was very interesting.
one thing i don’t like about this series in general is how abusers get forgiven? this is the third time that happens, it really fucking bothers me.
one thing i don’t like about this series in general is how abusers get forgiven? this is the third time that happens, it really fucking bothers me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, War, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
junebugreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, War, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide attempt
leeang's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I adored the first book in this series, Furyborn! I was so excited to read the next installment. And while I enjoyed it, it has quite a case of second book syndrome. This book took me exponentially more time to get through. It felt long. Don't get me wrong, I'm still invested in the world and the characters, but I will need to take a break before diving into Lightbringer.
I still am invested in the characters, and the writing remains beautiful. Rielle's decent into madness is so well done and took me on a journey. The way that Rielle and Eliana mirror each other in the writing is exquisitely done.
And the last 50 or so pages felt like the action packed first book, with at least one twist I did not expect!
But all of it felt simultaneously like too much and too little.
I found the sex scenes gratuitous and awkward. The Audric one in the hall ... yikes. And the LGBTQ+ representation to be SO NICE TO SEE, but also felt ... lack luster.
It just felt like I was on the upward ramp of the rollercoaster where all you can do is look around at the scenery because nothing else is really happening yet. You feel the good part coming, but all this really served was to make me increasingly nervous.
I look forward to see how this story concludes. That will honestly depend on if I recommend this series or not to others.
I still am invested in the characters, and the writing remains beautiful. Rielle's decent into madness is so well done and took me on a journey. The way that Rielle and Eliana mirror each other in the writing is exquisitely done.
And the last 50 or so pages felt like the action packed first book, with at least one twist I did not expect!
But all of it felt simultaneously like too much and too little.
I found the sex scenes gratuitous and awkward. The Audric one in the hall ... yikes. And the LGBTQ+ representation to be SO NICE TO SEE, but also felt ... lack luster.
It just felt like I was on the upward ramp of the rollercoaster where all you can do is look around at the scenery because nothing else is really happening yet. You feel the good part coming, but all this really served was to make me increasingly nervous.
I look forward to see how this story concludes. That will honestly depend on if I recommend this series or not to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Moderate: War, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Mental illness
stormywolf's review
challenging
dark
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
3.0
This was not the best time to read this through. Then again, I don't know if there's ever a good time to read a book like this, but definitely not when you're already feeling depressed. It's not uncommon for the 2nd book in a trilogy to be more depressing than the first, what with needing to set up for the more triumphant finale, but this one, I think, takes it to a new extreme. I mean, I don't even think Catching Fire (The Hunger Games) was this disheartening.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I think Kingsbane was well written, though maybe a little slow in places, and a great character study in how love, and grief and fear can shape people. Both story and characters are detailed and complex, and every chapter knows just how to end to where you want to get back to their story as quick as possible. Of course, you end up feeling that way for both storylines, so you're stuck reading the book as written. If you were intrigued by the first book, you'll definitely want to continue their stories, but I might recommend waiting until the next book is out so you're not left in so much despair for so long...
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I think Kingsbane was well written, though maybe a little slow in places, and a great character study in how love, and grief and fear can shape people. Both story and characters are detailed and complex, and every chapter knows just how to end to where you want to get back to their story as quick as possible. Of course, you end up feeling that way for both storylines, so you're stuck reading the book as written. If you were intrigued by the first book, you'll definitely want to continue their stories, but I might recommend waiting until the next book is out so you're not left in so much despair for so long...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Child death, Blood, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
A good bit of the murder/death is either fantasy (a character snapping a character into ashes or summoning fire at them) or done during battle/war.
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