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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
All things considered, this was quite an atmospheric and engaging final book of the duology.
Things I liked:
- The writing, [a:Christine Lynn Herman|17298543|Christine Lynn Herman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538571676p2/17298543.jpg] has a gorgeous style of narration.
- The small and mysterious town setting with such a complex and frightening history. And so many buried secrets.
- It had some much needed positive conversation between parents and their children.
- The action scenes at the end of the book.
- Issac - The only character I adored! I was so glad for him by the end of the book.
- The ending was very satisfying, I think it wrapped very nicely.
Things I did not care for:
- For some reason, I never got attached to any other character. Generally, I love a squad - but, this group of characters, they were okay at most.
- The build up towards the end felt lacking a bit. For most part of the book, the characters were running around like chickens with their head cut off. I love when character slowly unravel things for themselves, in case of this book, the character didn't really find anything themselves (there was a lot of useless patrolling and wandering around without any substantial revelation) - and everything was eventually revealed by the villain in a final show down! I am still wandering what's inside the locked drawers of the Sullivan cellar.
- The villain - I think I needed more from him.
- The romance - um?
ARC received from Titan Books in exchange for my honest opinion!
Things I liked:
- The writing, [a:Christine Lynn Herman|17298543|Christine Lynn Herman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538571676p2/17298543.jpg] has a gorgeous style of narration.
- The small and mysterious town setting with such a complex and frightening history. And so many buried secrets.
- It had some much needed positive conversation between parents and their children.
- The action scenes at the end of the book.
- Issac - The only character I adored! I was so glad for him by the end of the book.
- The ending was very satisfying, I think it wrapped very nicely.
Things I did not care for:
- For some reason, I never got attached to any other character. Generally, I love a squad - but, this group of characters, they were okay at most.
- The build up towards the end felt lacking a bit. For most part of the book, the characters were running around like chickens with their head cut off. I love when character slowly unravel things for themselves, in case of this book, the character didn't really find anything themselves (there was a lot of useless patrolling and wandering around without any substantial revelation) - and everything was eventually revealed by the villain in a final show down! I am still wandering what's inside the locked drawers of the Sullivan cellar.
- The villain - I think I needed more from him.
- The romance - um?
ARC received from Titan Books in exchange for my honest opinion!
This is the sequel to The Devouring Gray, which means there might be some unintentional spoilers for that book in this review.
After somehow managing to survive the events in The Devouring Gray, the four children of the founding families have splintered into separate factions. Too many betrayals have left them wondering who- if anyone- they can trust. But then May realizes that something is seriously, life- threateningly wrong with the Gray, and suddenly the teens are given a choice: die alone or work together to hopefully survive.
Take the Upside Down from Stranger Things, plunk it square in the middle of Riverdale, and you’ve got the setting for this book. I don’t know which part was more intriguing: the beast in the Gray, or the absolutely messed-up nepotism and privilege given to the descendants of the founding families. Just when you think all the skeletons in the closets have been found, something else jumps out.
I really enjoyed the tangles of storyline. There was a bit of a mystery surrounding the origin of the corruption escaping the Gray, which I really enjoyed. Watching as the teens picked apart the secrets surrounding their families to discover truths that had been thoroughly buried was fascinating.
The previous book focused a lot on Violet and Justin. While they were still a big part of this book, May and Isaac took center stage this time. I liked that the author took time to develop all of the characters, giving each one a specific and unique hurdle. Violet was the window into the town in the last book, so to speak. She was the impetus that brought the weird favoritism to light. May was the one tasked with ending things in this book. Once you read why, it makes perfect sense.
I loved the way the beast from the Gray was described, but it was the freaky trees that had human hair growing out of them that got my gag reflex working overtime. Odd fact about me: any hair not attached to my head grosses me out. Needless to say, those trees are definitely on my “nastiest creations found in literature” list. Blech! I can’t deny that the author’s descriptions were very effective.
This duology is a blast to read and I’ll be on the lookout for more by this author.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2020/05/09/the-deck-of-omens-by-christine-lynn-herman/
After somehow managing to survive the events in The Devouring Gray, the four children of the founding families have splintered into separate factions. Too many betrayals have left them wondering who- if anyone- they can trust. But then May realizes that something is seriously, life- threateningly wrong with the Gray, and suddenly the teens are given a choice: die alone or work together to hopefully survive.
Take the Upside Down from Stranger Things, plunk it square in the middle of Riverdale, and you’ve got the setting for this book. I don’t know which part was more intriguing: the beast in the Gray, or the absolutely messed-up nepotism and privilege given to the descendants of the founding families. Just when you think all the skeletons in the closets have been found, something else jumps out.
I really enjoyed the tangles of storyline. There was a bit of a mystery surrounding the origin of the corruption escaping the Gray, which I really enjoyed. Watching as the teens picked apart the secrets surrounding their families to discover truths that had been thoroughly buried was fascinating.
The previous book focused a lot on Violet and Justin. While they were still a big part of this book, May and Isaac took center stage this time. I liked that the author took time to develop all of the characters, giving each one a specific and unique hurdle. Violet was the window into the town in the last book, so to speak. She was the impetus that brought the weird favoritism to light. May was the one tasked with ending things in this book. Once you read why, it makes perfect sense.
I loved the way the beast from the Gray was described, but it was the freaky trees that had human hair growing out of them that got my gag reflex working overtime. Odd fact about me: any hair not attached to my head grosses me out. Needless to say, those trees are definitely on my “nastiest creations found in literature” list. Blech! I can’t deny that the author’s descriptions were very effective.
This duology is a blast to read and I’ll be on the lookout for more by this author.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2020/05/09/the-deck-of-omens-by-christine-lynn-herman/
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just as good as, if not better than, the first book. Did I see some plot twists coming? Sure, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
Teared up at the end. Will deeply miss these characters
Teared up at the end. Will deeply miss these characters
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5
Here's a fun new drinking game, take a shot every time you read the word 'iridescent'.
Here's a fun new drinking game, take a shot every time you read the word 'iridescent'.
Rating 2.5/5
Read my full review here:
https://mousethatreads.com/the-deck-of-omens-by-christine-lynn-herman-book-review/
Thank you to Titan Books for sending me a copy for an honest review in return.
I recently finished ‘The Devouring Gray’ on audio and I enjoyed the story about town Founders intrigue, magic and sprawling forests. It gave me Mystic Falls meets the Raven Cycle meets Twilight vibes. I was really excited to read the sequel but unfortunately the book fell flat and I struggled to finish it.
‘The Deck of Omens’ just wasn’t as compelling as the first book. The only character that continued to fascinate me was Isaac. I feel like he carried the whole book on his shoulders.
A lot of the world building had holes in it and by the end nothing made real sense anymore. What was the point of setting everything up in the first book just to deconstruct everything in this book to introduce a new villain?
I do think that Herman managed to create a unique atmosphere in her books through the Gray. It creeped me out and I loved the mild horror aspects in the magic storyline.
Read my full review here:
https://mousethatreads.com/the-deck-of-omens-by-christine-lynn-herman-book-review/
Thank you to Titan Books for sending me a copy for an honest review in return.
I recently finished ‘The Devouring Gray’ on audio and I enjoyed the story about town Founders intrigue, magic and sprawling forests. It gave me Mystic Falls meets the Raven Cycle meets Twilight vibes. I was really excited to read the sequel but unfortunately the book fell flat and I struggled to finish it.
‘The Deck of Omens’ just wasn’t as compelling as the first book. The only character that continued to fascinate me was Isaac. I feel like he carried the whole book on his shoulders.
A lot of the world building had holes in it and by the end nothing made real sense anymore. What was the point of setting everything up in the first book just to deconstruct everything in this book to introduce a new villain?
I do think that Herman managed to create a unique atmosphere in her books through the Gray. It creeped me out and I loved the mild horror aspects in the magic storyline.
The perfect friend group with some dark mystery magical twists!!! It also had such a good LGTBQ+ representation!!! Loved it!!