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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
love it, literally got me through one of the worst times of my life
It took me a while to finally get around to reading the rest of this series and I honestly can't say why considering how much I love it. I absolutely devoured the first book and, apparently, I did the same with this one.
The tone was quite different compared to the first book — less magic and more gloom. But in a way that makes sense considering what all the characters have been through. I'd say it's actually really interesting to see a story about what happens after the supposed happily ever after. The story can almost always continue, it feels like, and the characters are bound to face a lot of emotional and psychological trauma. And it's fascinating to see that explored.
What I liked most about this book was how it deepened the lore and world-building. It was interesting to see how America differed from what we learned about magic and how it works in Great Britain. It was also fun to learn more about the vampires and see that it might not be as black and white as we've been led to believe.
That said, I did spend A LOT of my time just wanting to shake both Simon and Baz and yell at them to just talk to each other for heaven's sake. But that's sort of the problem, I guess. They've never been good at talking so why would they suddenly start? So yeah. It makes sense, even if it's excruciating to watch two people be so in love but also mess up so badly. Boys.
Still loved the book overall and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion! It's taken me way too long to get back to this series but now I'm determined to finish. And, to be honest, it won't even be difficult. I LOVE these books.
The tone was quite different compared to the first book — less magic and more gloom. But in a way that makes sense considering what all the characters have been through. I'd say it's actually really interesting to see a story about what happens after the supposed happily ever after. The story can almost always continue, it feels like, and the characters are bound to face a lot of emotional and psychological trauma. And it's fascinating to see that explored.
What I liked most about this book was how it deepened the lore and world-building. It was interesting to see how America differed from what we learned about magic and how it works in Great Britain. It was also fun to learn more about the vampires and see that it might not be as black and white as we've been led to believe.
That said, I did spend A LOT of my time just wanting to shake both Simon and Baz and yell at them to just talk to each other for heaven's sake. But that's sort of the problem, I guess. They've never been good at talking so why would they suddenly start? So yeah. It makes sense, even if it's excruciating to watch two people be so in love but also mess up so badly. Boys.
Still loved the book overall and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion! It's taken me way too long to get back to this series but now I'm determined to finish. And, to be honest, it won't even be difficult. I LOVE these books.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
A fun follow up to Carry On, but lacking the same charm as the first.
While it was a fun read, the ending was pretty lackluster. There is a ton of build up for the Next Blood/NowNext, but then they go down in one fight without much trouble, which makes the threat of them seem overhyped. I get they were supposed to be kind of shabby vampires, but still...I felt like the whole book was building towards that as the plot, ignoring all of the emotional arcs, and then it was like—“boop! Done!”—in 50 or less pages in a ~350 page book. So, we spent 300 pages building to basically nothing.
As many other people have said, I will echo again that there is absolutely no conflict resolution. There’s no resolution to Baz and Simon’s intimacy issues, not even a breakthrough. Why can’t Baz just say he loves him or vice versa? Why couldn’t they at least start talking about what was wrong? There were parts where it seemed like they were getting it, but then they randomly closed up again right at the end even though Baz had just ripped someone’s face clean off because he thought Simon died...
There’s no resolution for any of Penny’s arcs either, be it with the ex-boyfriend, her relationship to magic, or trying to understand herself. Agatha’s arc was mostly plot device, so yeah...
I liked Shepard a lot. Very fun character and looking forward to his future in the books.
Loved the expansion of the world—how magic works in another country, new terms, lots of new creatures, fun fictional history mixed with real history
Overall, the book was decent, but the last quarter of the book was a let down. The ending was basically just a bunch of set up for another book, which I am looking forward to and am excited for, but it would have been nice if we could have had some resolutions for at least some of the character arcs.
While it was a fun read, the ending was pretty lackluster. There is a ton of build up for the Next Blood/NowNext, but then they go down in one fight without much trouble, which makes the threat of them seem overhyped. I get they were supposed to be kind of shabby vampires, but still...I felt like the whole book was building towards that as the plot, ignoring all of the emotional arcs, and then it was like—“boop! Done!”—in 50 or less pages in a ~350 page book. So, we spent 300 pages building to basically nothing.
As many other people have said, I will echo again that there is absolutely no conflict resolution. There’s no resolution to Baz and Simon’s intimacy issues, not even a breakthrough. Why can’t Baz just say he loves him or vice versa? Why couldn’t they at least start talking about what was wrong? There were parts where it seemed like they were getting it, but then they randomly closed up again right at the end even though Baz had just ripped someone’s face clean off because he thought Simon died...
There’s no resolution for any of Penny’s arcs either, be it with the ex-boyfriend, her relationship to magic, or trying to understand herself. Agatha’s arc was mostly plot device, so yeah...
I liked Shepard a lot. Very fun character and looking forward to his future in the books.
Loved the expansion of the world—how magic works in another country, new terms, lots of new creatures, fun fictional history mixed with real history
Overall, the book was decent, but the last quarter of the book was a let down. The ending was basically just a bunch of set up for another book, which I am looking forward to and am excited for, but it would have been nice if we could have had some resolutions for at least some of the character arcs.
Baz is my favorite fictional vampire of all time. Period.
The villain still feels under-developed, but the world building is still incredible and stands even under an American expansion.
I cannot wait for book 3!
I cannot wait for book 3!
This was an amazing, fast-paced, easy to read, incredibly adorable book!!!!
I remember Carry On was just as good, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise how much I enjoyed this one.
It is a happy book! A lot of bad things happen, there is tons of drama and fights and magical creatures… but friendship and love is all over these pages :’) and that makes this a happy fluffy cute book. I adoooore Penelope, and Baz, and Simon
I remember Carry On was just as good, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise how much I enjoyed this one.
It is a happy book! A lot of bad things happen, there is tons of drama and fights and magical creatures… but friendship and love is all over these pages :’) and that makes this a happy fluffy cute book. I adoooore Penelope, and Baz, and Simon
I can't remember if the first book switched POV as often as this one does. I found the switches between paragraphs to occasionally be a bit jarring and found myself going back to see whose perspective I was seeing. I really liked the plot and character development and how the characters each saw America a bit differently.