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ehparrish's review
adventurous
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
4.0
therearenobadbooks's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
This was my favorite so far.
The war between Winter and Summer Lands continues, and it has lasted so far many, many years, so many that people have already forgotten the main reason.
Before anyone starts questioning the logic of these attacks and retallions and stops pointing fingers at each other to start communicating, Winter Lands sends a teen spy to the Summer Lands.
The new character is cool and has her own POV. I liked her a lot. In the meanwhile, Kelcie is in recruiting mode, trying to bring more talented new students to the Academy. But is war the right path?
Well written. Each character has a different goal, only to discover that there is more to their mission like misunderstandings, omissions, and lies that are discovered. And when we think the Summer Lands are finally condemned and there is no way out, Kelcie and her friends travel to the human world that acts as Switzerland to find an entrance into the Winter Lands. A new adventure starts. It's like 2 books in one.
It was exciting, and the audiobook was also amazing. Some are trying to belong, others to prove themselves, but in the end, they are the same and understand each other. Not all have a resolution just yet. There are still some things that need to be solved in book 3.
Action-packed, filled with humor, awesome humor, many fantastical creatures, magic, fun characters, lots of characters, always on the move, high-stakes missions, love interest, new friendships, kindness, acceptance of differences, and team spirit of community.
The war between Winter and Summer Lands continues, and it has lasted so far many, many years, so many that people have already forgotten the main reason.
Before anyone starts questioning the logic of these attacks and retallions and stops pointing fingers at each other to start communicating, Winter Lands sends a teen spy to the Summer Lands.
The new character is cool and has her own POV. I liked her a lot. In the meanwhile, Kelcie is in recruiting mode, trying to bring more talented new students to the Academy. But is war the right path?
Well written. Each character has a different goal, only to discover that there is more to their mission like misunderstandings, omissions, and lies that are discovered. And when we think the Summer Lands are finally condemned and there is no way out, Kelcie and her friends travel to the human world that acts as Switzerland to find an entrance into the Winter Lands. A new adventure starts. It's like 2 books in one.
It was exciting, and the audiobook was also amazing. Some are trying to belong, others to prove themselves, but in the end, they are the same and understand each other. Not all have a resolution just yet. There are still some things that need to be solved in book 3.
Action-packed, filled with humor, awesome humor, many fantastical creatures, magic, fun characters, lots of characters, always on the move, high-stakes missions, love interest, new friendships, kindness, acceptance of differences, and team spirit of community.
jody_diou's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
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
smorrison4's review
4.0
Another great installment in the Kelcie Murphy series. If you are a fan of Rick Riordan, JK Rowling, Kelley Armstrong, or Holly Black then this series is for you. Kelcie and friends go on another epic adventure to save the Lands of Summer. I love that Kelcie finds out so much about her past in this novel and is able to start the process of healing. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
kellyjmac's review
5.0
I loved the first book in this series and this sequel did not disappoint! It is loaded with action and intrigue right from the get-go. I love that it starts just dropping you into this foreign viewpoint of unknown characters and twists what you might have thought about Winter in the first book. You quickly realize the Summer isn’t exactly as good as they are leading everyone to believe and Winter is more complicated as well. Just like in real life, conflicts have two sides and it’s not always an good vs evil kind of thing.
I really enjoyed the switching viewpoints in the book. It gave great perspective from both sides and made you realize how Kelcie and Lexis were both seeing things more similarly than they might have expected. Both are torn and conflicted about whether they really should be enemies. They both had great growth over the book and became heroes in their own right. I’m excited for the next book that will hopefully bring them together again.
There was lots of battles in this book. I felt bad for these kids at some points as it seemed they couldn’t catch a break. The foes they faced in thsi book were much darker and creepier than the first. Vampire owls, banshees, a headless horseman and bloodthirsty seers and bodachs with their tentacles and decaying bodies. The battle scenes are pretty epic and Kelcie and her fianna have definitely upped their skills. There were a few times where I said whoa out loud while reading almost picturing the scene as if it was in a movie. Like that moment where everything slows down and then speeds back up as Kelcie twists her twin blades in anticipation of attack. Loving those swords and how Kelcie is now able to combine her magic with them. Really hoping they are in the next book and we get more explanation about why she is so bonded to them.
I felt slight frustration with Niall’s distance through the book and how it wasn’t ever really talked about. At one point I thought something more magical must be up since when we left them in book one they were so close and just starting to develop into maybe more than friends. Throughout this book he is distant and sometimes seems mean towards her and never really explains a good reason why. I really enjoyed their bond in the first book and missed it in this.
I am excited to see what happens next as this book ends with us pointed toward something I think will be epic and will unite both fiannas to achieve. Again the magic and world building was incredible and I can’t wait to discover more about the world that Erika has created for us readers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the early reader copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the switching viewpoints in the book. It gave great perspective from both sides and made you realize how Kelcie and Lexis were both seeing things more similarly than they might have expected. Both are torn and conflicted about whether they really should be enemies. They both had great growth over the book and became heroes in their own right. I’m excited for the next book that will hopefully bring them together again.
There was lots of battles in this book. I felt bad for these kids at some points as it seemed they couldn’t catch a break. The foes they faced in thsi book were much darker and creepier than the first. Vampire owls, banshees, a headless horseman and bloodthirsty seers and bodachs with their tentacles and decaying bodies. The battle scenes are pretty epic and Kelcie and her fianna have definitely upped their skills. There were a few times where I said whoa out loud while reading almost picturing the scene as if it was in a movie. Like that moment where everything slows down and then speeds back up as Kelcie twists her twin blades in anticipation of attack. Loving those swords and how Kelcie is now able to combine her magic with them. Really hoping they are in the next book and we get more explanation about why she is so bonded to them.
I felt slight frustration with Niall’s distance through the book and how it wasn’t ever really talked about. At one point I thought something more magical must be up since when we left them in book one they were so close and just starting to develop into maybe more than friends. Throughout this book he is distant and sometimes seems mean towards her and never really explains a good reason why. I really enjoyed their bond in the first book and missed it in this.
I am excited to see what happens next as this book ends with us pointed toward something I think will be epic and will unite both fiannas to achieve. Again the magic and world building was incredible and I can’t wait to discover more about the world that Erika has created for us readers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the early reader copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.
library_rift's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
2.5
E. Lewis needs a better editor to make up for all the times her word choice, random uses of idioms, and OOCness threw me out of the narrative.
I can honestly say this is the one time where a bunch of 13 year olds in a fantasy world have actually acted and thought like a bunch of dumb 13 year olds and not kids who seemed too adult for their ages.
And this is probably too much of a nit-pick, but how is it that 3 kids who've never had Sour Patch Kids before not have a reaction beyond one of them saying "why is my tongue numb?"? Come on.
I can honestly say this is the one time where a bunch of 13 year olds in a fantasy world have actually acted and thought like a bunch of dumb 13 year olds and not kids who seemed too adult for their ages.
And this is probably too much of a nit-pick, but how is it that 3 kids who've never had Sour Patch Kids before not have a reaction beyond one of them saying "why is my tongue numb?"? Come on.
nightwing's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic sequel! My favorite part is how the author adds a NEW point of view--Leixs! She's a new character with her own chapters and the twist you find out in the first chapter is that she's got something bad up her sleeve...but you end up understanding her motivation and she becomes a sympathetic...antihero? Or something like that.
Kelcie and her misadventures continue and it goes even deeper with the worldbuilding which I LOVED! I really don't have a single complaint about the series, it's so good. I love how fast-paced it is and how vibrant Kelcie is as a protagonist, the magic system is so fun...I could go on. Damn good series. :)
I wouldn't try to read this book without having read the first one because you'd miss out on a ton of character & plot development. This book does a decent job of catching you up quickly but it's still a lot of lore to cram in the sequel.
Fantastic sequel! My favorite part is how the author adds a NEW point of view--Leixs! She's a new character with her own chapters and the twist you find out in the first chapter is that she's got something bad up her sleeve...but you end up understanding her motivation and she becomes a sympathetic...antihero? Or something like that.
Kelcie and her misadventures continue and it goes even deeper with the worldbuilding which I LOVED! I really don't have a single complaint about the series, it's so good. I love how fast-paced it is and how vibrant Kelcie is as a protagonist, the magic system is so fun...I could go on. Damn good series. :)
I wouldn't try to read this book without having read the first one because you'd miss out on a ton of character & plot development. This book does a decent job of catching you up quickly but it's still a lot of lore to cram in the sequel.
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