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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
When I read the first book in this duology, I knew that I enjoyed it, but I didn't actually realize how much I liked it until I realized six months had gone by since I read it and I was still thinking about it. Book two was even better. Now, I will say I often enjoy the second book more simply because I already know I like the world and the characters, so now I'm simply along for the ride. It's the difference between making new friends and going out with your old friends. However, I also think in this case book two works better because while the first book was driven by a mystery that I didn't find terribly shocking in its conclusion, the second book is driven by "how do we fix this?" And honestly, I always find myself more invested in those stories than in mysteries anyway.
Everything that I loved about the first book was present in this book, but, as I said, even better because I already knew I liked them. I loved reading about all of these characters again, and I loved how themself they were all allowed to be. Yuki's storyline in particular was fascinating, but I really do love them all.
And the relationships! The relationships introduced in the first book were explored more in depth here, and in interesting ways that I didn't always expect (I'm looking at you, Nani and Svenja), but always loved. I am always here for gay princesses, which this duology more than delivers on, but that is not even all that I am talking about here. The friendships, both old and new, are the heart of this book, and they were just as fascinating, from the still-slightly-awkward newness of Nani's inclusion in the group to the "I would kill and die for you" intensity of Yuki and Ella's friendship. Even the dynamics of Ella and her stepsisters are given their due, and I loved this book all the more for it.
While this is a series about fairy tales, it takes everything so seriously, in the sense that nothing is trivial. Everything matters. Everyone matters. I won't say much about the ending, but I thought it was the perfect end to the series. If these books had existed when I was sixteen, I would have been absolutely obsessed with them, and I know that for a fact because even now, as an adult with bookshelves full of the sapphic fantasies I craved in high school, The Grimrose Girls duology is still a favorite.
Everything that I loved about the first book was present in this book, but, as I said, even better because I already knew I liked them. I loved reading about all of these characters again, and I loved how themself they were all allowed to be. Yuki's storyline in particular was fascinating, but I really do love them all.
And the relationships! The relationships introduced in the first book were explored more in depth here, and in interesting ways that I didn't always expect (I'm looking at you, Nani and Svenja), but always loved. I am always here for gay princesses, which this duology more than delivers on, but that is not even all that I am talking about here. The friendships, both old and new, are the heart of this book, and they were just as fascinating, from the still-slightly-awkward newness of Nani's inclusion in the group to the "I would kill and die for you" intensity of Yuki and Ella's friendship. Even the dynamics of Ella and her stepsisters are given their due, and I loved this book all the more for it.
While this is a series about fairy tales, it takes everything so seriously, in the sense that nothing is trivial. Everything matters. Everyone matters. I won't say much about the ending, but I thought it was the perfect end to the series. If these books had existed when I was sixteen, I would have been absolutely obsessed with them, and I know that for a fact because even now, as an adult with bookshelves full of the sapphic fantasies I craved in high school, The Grimrose Girls duology is still a favorite.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for an early copy of The Wicked Remain. I was really excited to get to the sequel to The Grimrose Girls as I really enjoyed the first one! I liked the sequel but I wasn't as into it as the first one. The mystery wasn't all that twisty and I think I wanted it to be a bit more dark than it was. I also love this world so much that I'm kind of sad that we don't have anymore coming (that I know of). I liked it, I just didn't love it and that was disappointing to me. I definitely think it's worth the read and good, it just wasn't as great as I was hoping.
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I loved the character of Ella but for some reason I couldn’t stand Yuki. IM SO SAD THAT ELLA BROKE UP WITH FREDDIE CAUSE I LOVE FREDDIE #FREDDIESTAN4LIFE
"That made all of them burst into laughter. It was that moment, when Rory impelled all of them to laugh, that Ella somehow knew that even though the future was uncertain, whatever was going to happen, she would have her friends. That this was a love story, after all. Her love story."
So wow. This is exactly how a sequel should be. The Grimrose Girls was easily one of my favorite books of 2021 so naturally, I had high expectations for the sequel, The Wicked Remain and it did not disappoint.
The book starts where the first book ended. After finding out about a curse in the first book, they're trying to find a way to break the curse in the second book. That's all I'll be saying cause I don't wanna spoil anything for the people who haven't read the first book yet (if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for????)
Like most people, I too grew up with Disney movies and fairy tales and I do love fairy tale retellings. Especially when they love giving their own twist on certain characters.
This book is more focused on the romances but I didn't mind. The romances where cute and despite there being romance, the biggest focus of this book is friendship. Friendship between the girls and how having a friendship like that, can be a love story too.
And again, just like the first book, this book was filled with queer representation. We cute a cute bi f demisexual/bi m romance, two lesbian main characters, a transgender sapphic love interest, an other sapphic love interest, an aroace main character and an other implied aro character. I love some good queer rep.
Overall I even liked this book better than the first book and I didn't know that was possible.
Again, if you like Once Upon a Time and One of Us is Lying, then you'll love this incredible duology.
TW: forced kissing, transphobia, fatphobia, child abuse
My Instagram
So wow. This is exactly how a sequel should be. The Grimrose Girls was easily one of my favorite books of 2021 so naturally, I had high expectations for the sequel, The Wicked Remain and it did not disappoint.
The book starts where the first book ended. After finding out about a curse in the first book, they're trying to find a way to break the curse in the second book. That's all I'll be saying cause I don't wanna spoil anything for the people who haven't read the first book yet (if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for????)
Like most people, I too grew up with Disney movies and fairy tales and I do love fairy tale retellings. Especially when they love giving their own twist on certain characters.
This book is more focused on the romances but I didn't mind. The romances where cute and despite there being romance, the biggest focus of this book is friendship. Friendship between the girls and how having a friendship like that, can be a love story too.
And again, just like the first book, this book was filled with queer representation. We cute a cute bi f demisexual/bi m romance, two lesbian main characters, a transgender sapphic love interest, an other sapphic love interest, an aroace main character and an other implied aro character. I love some good queer rep.
Overall I even liked this book better than the first book and I didn't know that was possible.
Again, if you like Once Upon a Time and One of Us is Lying, then you'll love this incredible duology.
TW: forced kissing, transphobia, fatphobia, child abuse
My Instagram
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes