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zanazy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was advertised to be the story of the four months Grace spent in stone as a gargoyle with Hudson, their love story. I had such high hopes, but instead of being romantic, the four months were a total train wreck of weird and forced storylines that made no sense. Rather than being a story centered on Grace and Hudson’s story, it was a story driven by the craziest plot ever.
Having read Court, it’s clear then author needed to fill in some gaps before her final book and since us fans were clamoring for the story of the missing four months, she meshed the two. Doing a huge disservice to Grace and Hudson, the first 1/3 of the book which was the bulk of the time they spent in Hudson’s lair was painfully slow to read. Nothing added to their story, it felt rushed, and very forced. Hudson realizes she is his mate right away, but hides it from Grace. Eventually telling her that her mating bond with Jaxon is gone. Although he talks about all his education and sees the strings in Grace, he just knows she’s not human. This makes no sense as we already learned gargoyles and strings are a big part in the other books. Then they enter the shadow world and live there seemingly happily and rent free in an inn, finding jobs, making friends, all while unaware the mayor of this city is basically a fraud and using them… Hudson being so smart misses all the warning signs. Grace finds out she’s a gargoyle and within minutes flies and does a bunch of shit she struggles with in the other books… Hudson is Mr. OMG I should have seen this coming when shit hits the fan, and Grace is a badass fighter, which isn’t bad but way too rushed for someone who at this point in the story has no training or anything. Everything Grace does which should be a first is way too easy for her. The side characters who become important in this life Grace and Hudson live are likable and make up for a lot.
Some things are better left to the imagination and this book is proof of that. If the author needed to tell us more about the shadow world for her next book, find a different way. Grace and Hudson’s story was not the place to do it in and ruined their relationship and growth in the previous books.
Having read Court, it’s clear then author needed to fill in some gaps before her final book and since us fans were clamoring for the story of the missing four months, she meshed the two. Doing a huge disservice to Grace and Hudson, the first 1/3 of the book which was the bulk of the time they spent in Hudson’s lair was painfully slow to read. Nothing added to their story, it felt rushed, and very forced. Hudson realizes she is his mate right away, but hides it from Grace. Eventually telling her that her mating bond with Jaxon is gone. Although he talks about all his education and sees the strings in Grace, he just knows she’s not human. This makes no sense as we already learned gargoyles and strings are a big part in the other books. Then they enter the shadow world and live there seemingly happily and rent free in an inn, finding jobs, making friends, all while unaware the mayor of this city is basically a fraud and using them… Hudson being so smart misses all the warning signs. Grace finds out she’s a gargoyle and within minutes flies and does a bunch of shit she struggles with in the other books… Hudson is Mr. OMG I should have seen this coming when shit hits the fan, and Grace is a badass fighter, which isn’t bad but way too rushed for someone who at this point in the story has no training or anything. Everything Grace does which should be a first is way too easy for her. The side characters who become important in this life Grace and Hudson live are likable and make up for a lot.
Some things are better left to the imagination and this book is proof of that. If the author needed to tell us more about the shadow world for her next book, find a different way. Grace and Hudson’s story was not the place to do it in and ruined their relationship and growth in the previous books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
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