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graceskate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Was not expecting to like this as much as I did. The characterization of one character in particular (Tamlin) dramatically changes from the first book. I think the second and third books in this series work very well together but are sort of disconnected from the first book. If there had been bigger red flags with Tamlin in the first book or moments where the mask slipped a bit him turning into an abusive prick would have made more sense. Book 1 Tamlin and Book 2 + 3 Tamlin are very different characters and makes the first book feel disconnected. I like book 1 on it’s own and I like books 2 and 3 together but when you put the whole series together the jump between 1 and 2 doesn’t really make sense. Besides that I enjoyed the books if you can pretend Tamiln was showing more signs of being abusive in the first book and accept that you aren’t really going to see his character develop in that direction then it’s pretty good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Confinement
Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Racism, Mental illness, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Eating disorder, Torture, Gore, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking
waterwolves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Death, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, War, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I have a lot of thoughts on this book so buckle up for a wild ride. I was told this book was better then the first and I guess they were right in some ways. But was it good? No. And here's why...
1) Writing
The writing was not good. I don't enjoy how it's written conversationally and how there are so many instances in which sentences and thoughts aren't finished. The writing is also very repetitive, and the same phrases are used over and over. This was an issue I also had with the first book and I see that it was not resolved here. SJM loves to explain things as "barking", so much so that it was used twice in two different contexts within five pages... and it's not even a good adjective to use. There's so many other ways to explain sore muscles. This time, she also latched on to the phrases "vulgar gesture" and "loosed a breath", and overused them. Everyone also growled like an animal all the time and there was so much talk of everyone's scent that I felt like I was back in Twilight. Oh, and one more thing, explaining men to look at the women with "predatory intent" was not sexy and very uncomfortable, yet this phrase was used multiple times in the book.
I also really wanted more atmospheric description, but it fell short for me. I think the book could've been way better if it had been written in third person not first as I didn't particularly like Feyre as a character (more on that later) and I felt we lost a lot of the story because we only get her singular perspective. There was a lot of info dumping in big chunks of dialogue as a result of it being in first person, and even when she did swap to dual POV towards the end, Rhysand's voice sounded very similar to Feyre's.
2) Pacing
The pacing was all over the place. The book was definitely better than the first in this respect, though that's not a very high bar to jump over. The plot was moving throughout the whole book and things were happening, but I think the focus was on the wrong events. The last 80 or so pages were the best, just like the last novel, and I think these events should have been much longer and drawn out in this book, but they seemed rushed. The pacing through the middle was slow and I honestly got bored halfway through, such that I had to pick up the audiobook to get me through it. The book could've been a lot shorter with no loss of actual substance, in my opinion.
3) Characters
Firstly, can I just say that literally every single character in this book needs to take anger management classes. And get therapy, I hope they offer that in Prythian too.
Some people say SJM writes amazing characters but I just can't say I resonated with or cared about most of them at all. Rhysand and his gang were more interesting than those in the Spring Court, but I just didn't feel like we got enough depth to them to really feel for them and understand their perspectives. I also felt like we had a really quick turn around in characters where their personalities just changed, particularly Rhysand and Tamlin. It was explained off as "acting a part" but it felt like a cheap explanation as there was little to no foreshadowing to this in the first book. I also didn't like Feyre as a character. She never listens to anyone then wonders why she gets herself into bad positions. I understand characters can be frustrating, morally grey and unlikeable for the sake of the story, but the writing made me feel like some of her thoughts and actions weren't even justified for the sake of the plot. I also just cannot get past the fact MULTIPLE hundred-year-old men are attracted to a literal teenager who definitely acts her age...
4) Plot
There was so much potential with the plot, and I do really like the premise of the books; however, I just don't feel like the execution was there. It's a mix of the writing and pacing that took away from the plot, which was actually the strongest part of this book. I also didn't care for the romance plot, mostly because I didn't care about the characters, and I think the book would've been better without it, or at least with less focus on it. Or maybe I just don't like the fated mates trope, it is basically instalove for fantasy and I am not a fan of instalove... Additionally, for a book people claim to be super spicy, there was fairly little spice in this book, with only three scenes in two chapters. Not complaint, though, as I'm not a spice lover when it comes to books, it was just surprising.
I could go on and on about this book but hopefully that sums it up enough to justify my rating of this beloved series. Take what you want from this review. Once I came down from the high of the last 15% of the book, I realised that I will, in fact, be DNFing this series and not continuing. It's not worth my time for 100 pages of semi interesting content out of 600+ pages.
1) Writing
The writing was not good. I don't enjoy how it's written conversationally and how there are so many instances in which sentences and thoughts aren't finished. The writing is also very repetitive, and the same phrases are used over and over. This was an issue I also had with the first book and I see that it was not resolved here. SJM loves to explain things as "barking", so much so that it was used twice in two different contexts within five pages... and it's not even a good adjective to use. There's so many other ways to explain sore muscles. This time, she also latched on to the phrases "vulgar gesture" and "loosed a breath", and overused them. Everyone also growled like an animal all the time and there was so much talk of everyone's scent that I felt like I was back in Twilight. Oh, and one more thing, explaining men to look at the women with "predatory intent" was not sexy and very uncomfortable, yet this phrase was used multiple times in the book.
I also really wanted more atmospheric description, but it fell short for me. I think the book could've been way better if it had been written in third person not first as I didn't particularly like Feyre as a character (more on that later) and I felt we lost a lot of the story because we only get her singular perspective. There was a lot of info dumping in big chunks of dialogue as a result of it being in first person, and even when she did swap to dual POV towards the end, Rhysand's voice sounded very similar to Feyre's.
2) Pacing
The pacing was all over the place. The book was definitely better than the first in this respect, though that's not a very high bar to jump over. The plot was moving throughout the whole book and things were happening, but I think the focus was on the wrong events. The last 80 or so pages were the best, just like the last novel, and I think these events should have been much longer and drawn out in this book, but they seemed rushed. The pacing through the middle was slow and I honestly got bored halfway through, such that I had to pick up the audiobook to get me through it. The book could've been a lot shorter with no loss of actual substance, in my opinion.
3) Characters
Firstly, can I just say that literally every single character in this book needs to take anger management classes. And get therapy, I hope they offer that in Prythian too.
Some people say SJM writes amazing characters but I just can't say I resonated with or cared about most of them at all. Rhysand and his gang were more interesting than those in the Spring Court, but I just didn't feel like we got enough depth to them to really feel for them and understand their perspectives. I also felt like we had a really quick turn around in characters where their personalities just changed, particularly Rhysand and Tamlin. It was explained off as "acting a part" but it felt like a cheap explanation as there was little to no foreshadowing to this in the first book. I also didn't like Feyre as a character. She never listens to anyone then wonders why she gets herself into bad positions. I understand characters can be frustrating, morally grey and unlikeable for the sake of the story, but the writing made me feel like some of her thoughts and actions weren't even justified for the sake of the plot. I also just cannot get past the fact MULTIPLE hundred-year-old men are attracted to a literal teenager who definitely acts her age...
4) Plot
There was so much potential with the plot, and I do really like the premise of the books; however, I just don't feel like the execution was there. It's a mix of the writing and pacing that took away from the plot, which was actually the strongest part of this book. I also didn't care for the romance plot, mostly because I didn't care about the characters, and I think the book would've been better without it, or at least with less focus on it. Or maybe I just don't like the fated mates trope, it is basically instalove for fantasy and I am not a fan of instalove... Additionally, for a book people claim to be super spicy, there was fairly little spice in this book, with only three scenes in two chapters. Not complaint, though, as I'm not a spice lover when it comes to books, it was just surprising.
I could go on and on about this book but hopefully that sums it up enough to justify my rating of this beloved series. Take what you want from this review. Once I came down from the high of the last 15% of the book, I realised that I will, in fact, be DNFing this series and not continuing. It's not worth my time for 100 pages of semi interesting content out of 600+ pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
timbsy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Vomit
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexism
pandalesque's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I enjoyed listening to the first and second book via audiobook. I think the narrator did a good job. Though like every time with audiobooks and with a single narrator, It isn't always clear who talkes or within a chapter if we're still in the same paragraph/timeline or even location. Sometimes I felt not having a map or the names of characters or things in this fantasy world were a little disadvantageous but I could easily search for it online. So all in all I can recommend the audiobook.
+
+
- I like S.J.M.'s descriptions of cities, landscapes and clothes
- I think the basis/premise of the world is very interesting
- I enjoy fantasy stories where the MCs train and get to know their powers like in this story and I enjoy the fight scenes
- I do like that the focus is on different relationships (friendships and romantic – found family)
- I am invested enough to be curious how the story continues/I want to finish the series
- I liked that they flirted via letters/texts (kinda made it feel a little 21st century)
-
- Not a fan of her endings until now
- Though I liked the descriptions it is a long ass book.
- maybe I'm not getting it but sometimes I don't believe the threads of some plots come together so that they "make sense" to me. Sometimes I got confused by the world building or the magic system rules or the change in behavior or descriptions of creatures.
-> Either I don't get it but mostly I feel like I notice how she introduces/ changes certain characters, plot points to get the story where she wants to. But I don't feel like it's quite built in nicely/naturally which takes me out of the story.- Why do girls already mature with 14 like humans even though they're faey?
How they age and their development stages are confusing
- Why do girls already mature with 14 like humans even though they're faey?
- especially the end and the cauldron and book story seems so weird and inconsistent...
... also that the solution seems to be her giving herself up to Tamlin again? I don't get it tbh (for the advancement of the plot and character yes but again, felt the execution lacked) - the trials with the weaver, bone carver, orbe... don't seem very necessary, also the reasons behind why they encountered them are more than a little weak /not natural, except to further the romance/character development get the story where she wants
- Very cringe at times, mostly concerning the romance plot(s)/wording (but I have that with pretty much any romance)
- Sometimes they say: "that's his/her story to tell..." other times people go in depths about trauma's others have endured...
- Less spice than advertised
- very fast character development/pivots:
- Don't think the whole "Tamlin turning bad"-storyline is convincing enough for me and he seems dafter, also ....not necessary. I can imagine maybe the author wanted to create a situation where the readers may reflect in the sense of: "everybody could end up in a abusive relationship", "people can change", "people aren't what they seem"... I can appreciate that.... Or maybe it's just so we automatically "ship" the new couple. but I believe it could be told more convincingly.
- Feyre herself...
Spice/smut 🔥2.3/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
miagic_tome's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. This book consumed my every thought for a few days after reading and I’m eagerly working on the rest of the series. The only reason it is not 5 stars is because the author uses rape and sexual assault as a plot device in an odd way. It is constantly mentioned, and seemingly vital to some characers’ stories. Yet it’s somehow always on the periphery, so content warnings don’t show it but they’re inescapable. Really messed with my immersion when I had to listen to characters throw in threats and stories of raping people along with their villainous plans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Minor: Rape and Kidnapping
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
The only exciting part of this book was picking out what Maas stole from the Black Jewels series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
amutrion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
A egomaniac trying to control and manipulate the FMC and justify his actions UTM, such as drugging, SA-ing and humiliating and the FMC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment
amartin48's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
The difference between this book and ACOTAR was NIGHT AND DAY (no pun intended). I fell in love with these characters and their beautiful, devastating brokenness. What was so lovely about this book is that those characters also fell in love with their flaws, and became better individuals for it. It was heartwarming to read of characters that never gave up on each other, particularly when it was extremely difficult. That, and they made good choices most of the time. When they didn't, they owned up to, and grew from, those moments. I do love love, but I love it even more when it seems like the right kind of love, whether it be sibling, friendship, romantic, or other kinds of love.
That, and a TON of plot happened in this book.The backdrop of a budding war with global life or death stakes, a discovery of not only fated love, but a healthy love, really put this book over the edge for me.
I won't say it's the most beautifully written, nor is it a groundbreaking literary achievement, but this story captured my heart, and I look forward to reading it again.
That, and a TON of plot happened in this book.
I won't say it's the most beautifully written, nor is it a groundbreaking literary achievement, but this story captured my heart, and I look forward to reading it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Body horror, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexism, Rape, War, and Sexual harassment
paigeinabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Grief, Blood, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Excrement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Vomit, War, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship