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chapters_and_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’ve had this series on my shelf for about a year or so and I haven’t heard much about it, but I’m so glad I read it!
As this is a sequel, I won’t be going into anything storyline-wise, to avoid spoilers.
Duologies are no where near as popular as trilogies and longer series, but for this series in particular, I think it was the perfect length. I think anything past two books would have begun feeling drawn out and unnecessary.
In terms of characters, I honestly relate to Ziva so much! While I liked the series as a whole, my favourite thing has to be the journey Ziva went on mentally to accept herself and find more confidence within herself. Also, as I stated in my review for the first book of this series, I think it’s highly likely to Ziva is on the neurodivergent, and on the spectrum somewhere. Whether this was intentional on the author’s part or not, I love seeing neurodivergent representation, especially in non-realistic fiction.
Similarly to the first book, I adored Kellyn, Temra and Petrik, as not just individual characters, but within individual relationships and the overall family relationship that seemed to develop between them all.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series! It’s probably not one that’s going to stay in the forefront of my mind for years to come but it was a really enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
asahome's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
4.75
A woman learns to expand her view of herself and what she is capable of being. This change also transmits itself to her gift.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Content Warnings Notes: Panic attacks: the main character experiences panic attacks in this book as she does in the first bookjenn_chem's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Skews toward YA, sweet/no heat, first love. Nice conclusion to the duology. Excellent treatment of chronic anxiety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
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
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.
In this sequel to Blade of Secrets, Ziva is dead set on finding the magical healer and saving her sister, and she's extremely mad at Kellen for allowing her sister to get hurt in the first place. But when they found out the healer has been stolen by a rival kingdom, Ziva and her friends attempt a daring rescue and come face to face with a would-be-conqueror who wants to take over all the kingdoms and rule them as his own.
This was a really good sequel and an excellent end to this duology. I really love the development of Ziva and how she learns to live with her anxiety and push herself in ways she wasn't able to in the first book. I feel like this has really good anxiety rep and shows how overwhelming social anxiety can be.
The plot of this one was interesting and a bit different than the first book. I liked that most of this was centered in one place, as it was a nice change from the more migratory setting of Blade of Secrets.
I think my favorite plot point is Ziva learning more about her abilities and reconciling with the fact that once she creates something, someone else is able to use it for either good or ill. I liked the way this was dealt with!
In this sequel to Blade of Secrets, Ziva is dead set on finding the magical healer and saving her sister, and she's extremely mad at Kellen for allowing her sister to get hurt in the first place. But when they found out the healer has been stolen by a rival kingdom, Ziva and her friends attempt a daring rescue and come face to face with a would-be-conqueror who wants to take over all the kingdoms and rule them as his own.
This was a really good sequel and an excellent end to this duology. I really love the development of Ziva and how she learns to live with her anxiety and push herself in ways she wasn't able to in the first book. I feel like this has really good anxiety rep and shows how overwhelming social anxiety can be.
The plot of this one was interesting and a bit different than the first book. I liked that most of this was centered in one place, as it was a nice change from the more migratory setting of Blade of Secrets.
I think my favorite plot point is Ziva learning more about her abilities and reconciling with the fact that once she creates something, someone else is able to use it for either good or ill. I liked the way this was dealt with!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Kidnapping, and War
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