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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
A solid conclusion to the first. The epic end battle definitely had potential to be more epic, but in the end was honestly just kind of...there. This time around though I got more of the characters I liked and a lot less of the ones (*Harper*) that I didn't, so an improvement. a 3.5 rounded up
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I absolutely devoured (heh heh) Herman’s debut novel The Devouring Gray last year and have been desperately waiting for the sequel. The Deck of Omens is an addicting and thrilling read that introduces strange new aspects to the world of Four Paths, all while giving a satisfying conclusion to the story and characters.
The issue with having a sequel to a book like The Devouring Gray is ‘where do you go from here?’. Herman does a great job of expanding the world of Four Paths, the mysterious Gray, and the magic that the founding families have been drawing on for decades, while also giving this sequel it's own strong story. My favourite aspect of The Devouring Gray was the deliciously creepy atmosphere she creates in Four Paths, and she doubles down on that in The Deck of Omens. I really loved the imagery of the corruption seeping into the town, the way it impacts the townsfolk, and the mysteries that are uncovered as a result. My only wish for this book was that she investigated this further -- the focus is so strongly on the characters, which is great, but I wish we had seen a little more of the creepy and cool corruption!
The characters are the main drivers of the book, and they’re all recovering from the trials they suffered at the end of The Devouring Gray. Betrayals and revelations have left our five teens reeling, and they’re trying to pick up the pieces. In the first book, I felt that the girls outshone the boys and although I still adored May and Harper, I was surprised that Isaac emerged as my favourite character in The Deck of Omens. Is he still an absolute disaster? Yes. But he gets so many new layers to his story and becomes more than just a kid with anger issues. I loved the teasing out of his family’s story, his relationship with his brother Gabriel, and the way his friendships with the other Founders evolve. He becomes the most complex and wonderful character in the book -- something I didn’t expect at all!
If you liked The Devouring Gray, I really think you’ll love The Deck of Omens. It deals with the emotional aftermath of the first book very well, but also becomes it’s own unique story and is a satisfying conclusion to this great duology. I am sad to say goodbye to the town of Four Paths, but I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I absolutely devoured (heh heh) Herman’s debut novel The Devouring Gray last year and have been desperately waiting for the sequel. The Deck of Omens is an addicting and thrilling read that introduces strange new aspects to the world of Four Paths, all while giving a satisfying conclusion to the story and characters.
The issue with having a sequel to a book like The Devouring Gray is ‘where do you go from here?’. Herman does a great job of expanding the world of Four Paths, the mysterious Gray, and the magic that the founding families have been drawing on for decades, while also giving this sequel it's own strong story. My favourite aspect of The Devouring Gray was the deliciously creepy atmosphere she creates in Four Paths, and she doubles down on that in The Deck of Omens. I really loved the imagery of the corruption seeping into the town, the way it impacts the townsfolk, and the mysteries that are uncovered as a result. My only wish for this book was that she investigated this further -- the focus is so strongly on the characters, which is great, but I wish we had seen a little more of the creepy and cool corruption!
The characters are the main drivers of the book, and they’re all recovering from the trials they suffered at the end of The Devouring Gray. Betrayals and revelations have left our five teens reeling, and they’re trying to pick up the pieces. In the first book, I felt that the girls outshone the boys and although I still adored May and Harper, I was surprised that Isaac emerged as my favourite character in The Deck of Omens. Is he still an absolute disaster? Yes. But he gets so many new layers to his story and becomes more than just a kid with anger issues. I loved the teasing out of his family’s story, his relationship with his brother Gabriel, and the way his friendships with the other Founders evolve. He becomes the most complex and wonderful character in the book -- something I didn’t expect at all!
If you liked The Devouring Gray, I really think you’ll love The Deck of Omens. It deals with the emotional aftermath of the first book very well, but also becomes it’s own unique story and is a satisfying conclusion to this great duology. I am sad to say goodbye to the town of Four Paths, but I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
We wish it all away.
Violet was slowly but surely getting used to this new version of her mother, one who sought out her daughter’s company instead of avoiding it, one who seemed determined to make them a two-person family. I liked that for the entire book her and Juniper tried their best to be there for each other.
No matter how hard she tried to be Augusta’s perfect daughter, she would mess it up. She would never make her mother happy.
Which meant she had nothing left to protect anymore. Nothing left to lose. Finally! You know being her perfect daughter means being someone you don't want to be. It's not worth it for someone who treats you horribly.
Harper understood that it was probably the last time she would ever see him. She didn’t speak. She didn’t move. I love this for her! I liked that it wasn't sugarcoated with some bullshit trying to make her sound wise beyond her years and justifying it. It is what it is. Sorry isn't always enough and that's okay.
It was new for him to feel another person making room for him the way he’d always been taught to make room for someone else. I'm glad he found Violet! He's been through so much trauma that finding someone who gets it was all he needed. An effortless connection!
“You’re strong too, but it will require more ability than you currently possess to destroy it. This ritual will grant you the power you need.” Literally a dead giveaway that something is not right. Why would you need more and how does someone who's an outsider knows how to get it for you?
I was truly surprised by this because it was made to seem evil and nothing more so to find out there were layers to it was eye opening. Because a lot of good came from those answers they received from it.
“I never wanted any of this to happen,” May finished, aware as she said so of how false the words sounded. She’d wanted to be important, after all.
She had asked for this, pushed aside red flags, deceived everyone in her life just to feel special. “I messed up. I ruined everything. I’m sorry.” I couldn't stand her for half of this book. I'm glad that the truth was said plainly that she just wanted to be important. So important she blindly followed anything that made "sense" and ended up with her saving the day!
This is the first duology I've read where the second book was as good as the first and was necessary (because a lot of them aren't imo
We wish it all away.
Violet was slowly but surely getting used to this new version of her mother, one who sought out her daughter’s company instead of avoiding it, one who seemed determined to make them a two-person family. I liked that for the entire book her and Juniper tried their best to be there for each other.
No matter how hard she tried to be Augusta’s perfect daughter, she would mess it up. She would never make her mother happy.
Which meant she had nothing left to protect anymore. Nothing left to lose. Finally! You know being her perfect daughter means being someone you don't want to be. It's not worth it for someone who treats you horribly.
Harper understood that it was probably the last time she would ever see him. She didn’t speak. She didn’t move. I love this for her! I liked that it wasn't sugarcoated with some bullshit trying to make her sound wise beyond her years and justifying it. It is what it is. Sorry isn't always enough and that's okay.
It was new for him to feel another person making room for him the way he’d always been taught to make room for someone else. I'm glad he found Violet! He's been through so much trauma that finding someone who gets it was all he needed. An effortless connection!
“You’re strong too, but it will require more ability than you currently possess to destroy it. This ritual will grant you the power you need.” Literally a dead giveaway that something is not right. Why would you need more and how does someone who's an outsider knows how to get it for you?
Spoiler
Her power wasn’t seeing the future at all—it was talking to a monster.“I never wanted any of this to happen,” May finished, aware as she said so of how false the words sounded. She’d wanted to be important, after all.
She had asked for this, pushed aside red flags, deceived everyone in her life just to feel special. “I messed up. I ruined everything. I’m sorry.” I couldn't stand her for half of this book. I'm glad that the truth was said plainly that she just wanted to be important. So important she blindly followed anything that made "sense" and ended up with her saving the day!
This is the first duology I've read where the second book was as good as the first and was necessary (because a lot of them aren't imo
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
This was good! I made the mistake of attempting to multitask while listening to the audiobook a little bit and I think that, as usual, some pieces of the story slipped past my attention. I really like the setting and characters but I think listening to the audiobook detached me a little bit from it. I wish I took the time to read more of the physical copy instead!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated