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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was fun but I did have some issues that hindered my enjoyment. First of all, going into this book I quickly realised that I had forgotten a lot of the family relationships, storylines and character traits from the last book as I had read the first book a year ago. I spent a lot of the book trying to work out and remember all these things while also trying to engage with the storyline of this book. Secondly, this book felt a bit slow and not much really happened. Yes there was a boss scene at the end but the rest of the book was just the characters working out what’s going on.
However, there were some good moments between the main characters and we saw relationships develop. Also 100% here for the great bisexual representation!!!
However, there were some good moments between the main characters and we saw relationships develop. Also 100% here for the great bisexual representation!!!
All I can say is it was the perfect sequel to The Devouring Gray. It might as well have been a direct extension of the book rather than a sequel, because the tone of it matched perfectly and the story flowed as one.
OKAY SO WHY 2020? I MIGHT BE DEAD BY THEN SMH. I need some #Visaac in my life, okay. And OMG, what’s Harper gonna do? (#Jarper is also not-so-secretly OTP, even though they might not end up together because there’s just so much bad history there, wow).
This was such a great sequel to The Devouring Gray and a satisfying conclusion to the duology.
The Deck of Omens was just as atmospheric yet, in my opinion, much creepier than its predecessor. I personally found the first quarter of the book to be a bit slow, but once the slime and secrets were spilled, I was hooked. So many good twists and a climax I never expected.
Also, I love the Four Paths disaster kids and I would like to adopt Harper, Violet, and Isaac, or at the very least give them all hugs. Nothing against the Hawthornes, but the others are just better. I said what I said.
Oh, and that romance? Even though I accidentally read one of the author’s spoiler tweets and thus knew it was coming, I was so invested in their dynamic. The progression from allies to friends to lovers? I’m emotional. I ship it so much. 10/10 would read more about them. Props to Herman for that.
To be honest, every relationship in this book, of every variety, was just so well-written. These characters are complex and messy and so are their relationships, and Herman did it all brilliantly. A+ banter, too.
Overall, I really liked this. I’m looking forward to both recommending these books to everyone and reading more from the author in the future.
Representation:
• Two bisexual protagonists
• One protagonist is an amputee
• Two queer side characters
The Deck of Omens was just as atmospheric yet, in my opinion, much creepier than its predecessor. I personally found the first quarter of the book to be a bit slow, but once the slime and secrets were spilled, I was hooked. So many good twists and a climax I never expected.
Also, I love the Four Paths disaster kids and I would like to adopt Harper, Violet, and Isaac, or at the very least give them all hugs. Nothing against the Hawthornes, but the others are just better. I said what I said.
Oh, and that romance? Even though I accidentally read one of the author’s spoiler tweets and thus knew it was coming, I was so invested in their dynamic. The progression from allies to friends to lovers? I’m emotional. I ship it so much. 10/10 would read more about them. Props to Herman for that.
To be honest, every relationship in this book, of every variety, was just so well-written. These characters are complex and messy and so are their relationships, and Herman did it all brilliantly. A+ banter, too.
Overall, I really liked this. I’m looking forward to both recommending these books to everyone and reading more from the author in the future.
Representation:
• Two bisexual protagonists
• One protagonist is an amputee
• Two queer side characters
This was pretty average with just a few good scenes. I definitely wish the characters were more complex and nuanced. I liked Augusta and Juniper's characters, they were at least somewhat grey. Also, loved the amount of bisexuals I got in this book
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay in all honesty I liked this one so much better than the first. I don’t know if it was the book or just my attitude but yes 100% loved this and the ending was perfect thank you so much.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**This novel contains themes of familial abuse, PSTD/trauma, weird tree gore. If you are sensitive to any of these themes, this may not be a good read for you.**
*This review contains spoilers.*
I have very little to critique/nitpick about The Deck of Omens. Aside from typos and paragraphs that didn't get broken up when they should have, which may be due to the British edition I read and not a failing on Herman's part, I really enjoyed this novel. I'm a big fan of the disaster bi energy emanating from Isaac and Violet. I loved that Harper and Justin were mature enough to decide not to date (as an aroace person I am so unbelievably tired of romantic relationships overriding platonic ones in YA; seriously, not every teen wants to make out or fuck). The spooky, gloomy atmosphere was top tier, and the revelations of the founders' relationship to everything in Four Paths being slowly revealed kept me wanting more. Adults are held accountable and learn to respect their children as opposed to being redeemed and having their crap behavior excused. While I remembered very little from The Devouring Gray and just mostly nodded along at first, as I read it last year, I found it easy to settle back into Four Paths for the sequel.
My only criticism is I want a third book.
*This review contains spoilers.*
I have very little to critique/nitpick about The Deck of Omens. Aside from typos and paragraphs that didn't get broken up when they should have, which may be due to the British edition I read and not a failing on Herman's part, I really enjoyed this novel. I'm a big fan of the disaster bi energy emanating from Isaac and Violet. I loved that Harper and Justin were mature enough to decide not to date (as an aroace person I am so unbelievably tired of romantic relationships overriding platonic ones in YA; seriously, not every teen wants to make out or fuck). The spooky, gloomy atmosphere was top tier, and the revelations of the founders' relationship to everything in Four Paths being slowly revealed kept me wanting more. Adults are held accountable and learn to respect their children as opposed to being redeemed and having their crap behavior excused. While I remembered very little from The Devouring Gray and just mostly nodded along at first, as I read it last year, I found it easy to settle back into Four Paths for the sequel.
My only criticism is I want a third book.
This book, for me, was exactly the exploration of guilt, grief, and healing that I wish I had as a teenager. Far and away the best sequel I could have imagined.