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billyjepma's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another tepid 3.5 stars, which is annoying because it feels like Stiefvater is on the edge of doing something really big and exciting with this series without fully committing. But what she does here is still a lot of fun, and you can tell she cares deeply for this world. Granted, her fondness for her story is a two-edged sword because I think that’s what’s preventing her from making this trilogy into something bigger.
I continue to be annoyed with Ronan as a protagonist, and this book didn’t change that. He’s interesting, but only as a blunt instrument, and his motivations are too flimsy to carry the dramatic weight I need from them. He feels stuck in place for most of this book (and the last one), which means he’s once again outclassed by the supporting cast—except for Bryde, who is a shallow and tedious character, tbh. Declan, Matthew, Jordan (the love of my life), and Hennessy continue to steal the show and speak to the bigger ideas Stiefvater is playing with. Whenever they’re in the driver's seat, I’m eagerly buckled in.
The stuff I like here I love, so whenever I encounter something I don’t vibe with, it bums me out, so don’t take my complaints as condemnation because they’re not. There are some spectacular moments of imaginative (and sometimes frightening) spectacle that got my heart pumping. Even when the story started to lose me, it didn’t take long to win me back. However, I will say that the ending does not inspire much confidence in me about the final book. It throws a wrench into things that could lead to something genuinely surprising, but if it sticks to the tempo of the trilogy so far, I don’t know if it’ll resonate with me. I guess we’ll find out!
I continue to be annoyed with Ronan as a protagonist, and this book didn’t change that. He’s interesting, but only as a blunt instrument, and his motivations are too flimsy to carry the dramatic weight I need from them. He feels stuck in place for most of this book (and the last one), which means he’s once again outclassed by the supporting cast—except for Bryde, who is a shallow and tedious character, tbh. Declan, Matthew, Jordan (the love of my life), and Hennessy continue to steal the show and speak to the bigger ideas Stiefvater is playing with. Whenever they’re in the driver's seat, I’m eagerly buckled in.
The stuff I like here I love, so whenever I encounter something I don’t vibe with, it bums me out, so don’t take my complaints as condemnation because they’re not. There are some spectacular moments of imaginative (and sometimes frightening) spectacle that got my heart pumping. Even when the story started to lose me, it didn’t take long to win me back. However, I will say that the ending does not inspire much confidence in me about the final book. It throws a wrench into things that could lead to something genuinely surprising, but if it sticks to the tempo of the trilogy so far, I don’t know if it’ll resonate with me. I guess we’ll find out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Blood, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Car accident
kthedestroyer's review
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ugh... the title was dope... I guess
Amm... yeah that pretty much sums up my feelings about this book because, to be honest... it was kind of a mess. Like, it wasn't bad but it wasn't particularly good either.
!!!!!SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!!!!!
I've read the first book in this series about three months ago and when I started reading, akhm, Mister Impossible (it's so good, I had to), I had absolutely no idea what was going on for about 50 pages. I know this is a problem of Call Down the Hawk but the author could still at least briefly mention who the most forgettable character of the first book aka Bryde was at the start of this weird sequel.
And while I'm talking about Bryde.
I. Hate. Him. With. Every. Fiber. Of. My. Body.
He is the worst character in the entire TRC universe. Even that stupid (minor spoiler for The Raven King) freaking demon hornet wasn't as awful as him. He makes Ronan one of the least likable characters in this book and this is his actual worst crime. Who cares if he's trying to destroy the world... don't touch my boy Ronan or you will suffer in pain for the rest of your miserable life.
Anyway, I should probably calm down and talk about things that I liked in this novel. Well, I loved Declan, Matthew, and Jordan. They are good characters and I was glad when we got to experience the story from their POV. I liked it when Adam was there, I liked Deklo and Jordan having a moment (still waiting for Declan's emotional breakdown with Ronan though).
The other characters were either boring - Farooq-Lane and Lilliana - or just very unlikable - those two idiots that I mentioned in that anger-filled paragraph and of course Hennesy. I really don't want to talk about her too much but it was just so annoying how she constantly self-pitied herself and envied Jordan's happiness.
I don't really like the writing style of this series either. It's like Stiefvater can't decide if she wants to write a novel or poetry - which works in some books - but this is some action mystery adventure shit. We can't play with words like that if it takes away all the tension.
Dreamer stuff gets confusing very quickly to the point where I understand less of it than I did in TRC. The story is all over the place - which is not unusual for Stiefvater - but what's different in this series is that there is no Gansey or Blue or Noah, even Parrish is barely there. The bad plot didn't matter in TRC but these new books are not as character-focused which can be a problem.
And there is one very unpopular opinion that I would like to share: Deklo is more likable than Ronan in the Dreamers series.
Change. My. Mind.
Now I can go wait for book 3 and meanwhile listen to Halsey's Gasoline.
Amm... yeah that pretty much sums up my feelings about this book because, to be honest... it was kind of a mess. Like, it wasn't bad but it wasn't particularly good either.
!!!!!SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!!!!!
I've read the first book in this series about three months ago and when I started reading, akhm, Mister Impossible (it's so good, I had to), I had absolutely no idea what was going on for about 50 pages. I know this is a problem of Call Down the Hawk but the author could still at least briefly mention who the most forgettable character of the first book aka Bryde was at the start of this weird sequel.
And while I'm talking about Bryde.
I. Hate. Him. With. Every. Fiber. Of. My. Body.
He is the worst character in the entire TRC universe. Even that stupid (minor spoiler for The Raven King) freaking demon hornet wasn't as awful as him. He makes Ronan one of the least likable characters in this book and this is his actual worst crime. Who cares if he's trying to destroy the world... don't touch my boy Ronan or you will suffer in pain for the rest of your miserable life.
Anyway, I should probably calm down and talk about things that I liked in this novel. Well, I loved Declan, Matthew, and Jordan. They are good characters and I was glad when we got to experience the story from their POV. I liked it when Adam was there, I liked Deklo and Jordan having a moment (still waiting for Declan's emotional breakdown with Ronan though).
The other characters were either boring - Farooq-Lane and Lilliana - or just very unlikable - those two idiots that I mentioned in that anger-filled paragraph and of course Hennesy. I really don't want to talk about her too much but it was just so annoying how she constantly self-pitied herself and envied Jordan's happiness.
I don't really like the writing style of this series either. It's like Stiefvater can't decide if she wants to write a novel or poetry - which works in some books - but this is some action mystery adventure shit. We can't play with words like that if it takes away all the tension.
Dreamer stuff gets confusing very quickly to the point where I understand less of it than I did in TRC. The story is all over the place - which is not unusual for Stiefvater - but what's different in this series is that there is no Gansey or Blue or Noah, even Parrish is barely there. The bad plot didn't matter in TRC but these new books are not as character-focused which can be a problem.
And there is one very unpopular opinion that I would like to share: Deklo is more likable than Ronan in the Dreamers series.
Change. My. Mind.
Now I can go wait for book 3 and meanwhile listen to Halsey's Gasoline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
queenfury's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
"A hero. It was an unfamiliar concept. Ronan had been the villain for so long, if he had been anything. The one in trouble, the one written up on the slip, the one being chased, the one being accused. And before that he had been the young dreamer. Secret. Forever."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Mental illness
Moderate: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
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