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wickedwitchofky's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was super excited to get a Rid and Link spin off! It started off way slower than I anticipated though until about 100 or so pages in. I read the last 225 pages in one sitting though.
Loved the new characters - particularly Necro and Nox. Honestly, I was really rooting for Nox. I hope we get some closure with him in Dangerous Deception.
Loved the new characters - particularly Necro and Nox. Honestly, I was really rooting for Nox. I hope we get some closure with him in Dangerous Deception.
nerdypotsie's review
5.0
TW// brief mention of suicide and brief mention of Marilyn Manson (an abuser)
I was really scared to read this book. I loved Ridley and Link, so as soon as I found out that they had a spin off series, I immediately bought this book. However, after buying the book, I started hearing from internet friends and fellow reviewers about how much they hated this book, so I was worried that I would hate it, too, and that it would destroy my love for this world. Fortunately I was scared for nothing because I fell in love with this book even more than I loved the Caster Chronicles/Beautiful Creatures series, which is surprising because I really loved the final book in that series.
The pacing is what made this book stand out from its original series. The whole Caster Chronicles felt like somewhat of a slog to get through. I feel bad saying that but the Caster Chronicles is so slow and it was extremely repetitive for no reason. Dangerous Creatures seemed to cut out the unnecessary fluff and dragging moments that the original series had. There was still a lot of repetition but it wasn’t as bad as it was in the original series. It worked really well and brought an even more interesting story. This is just my opinion though as I know other people would argue that the Caster Chronicles is better.
This is a really character driven story. The characters from the original series and the new characters blend together seamlessly to create squad goals and fun relationships that made the story really enjoyable. Ridley and Link were of course as amazing as they were in the original series, but Floyd, Necro, Sampson, and Nox were equally fun in their own way. Necro and Floyd in particular are some of my new favorite fictional characters and I couldn’t get enough of them.
This spin off series took an interesting step away from the casters and incubuses of the original series, leaping into the world of darkborns and necromancers. This leap was unexpected for me but it took the story in a unique and intriguing direction. I’m very curious to see what happens in Dangerous Deception and how these new additions to the caster world evolve throughout the final book in this series.
I can see why people wouldn’t like this series as being that Ridley is manipulative and there is a toxic relationship in this book, but I personally loved this book and I’d encourage fans of Ridley and Link to pick up this book. It is definitely very different from the original series, but it is different in all the best ways.
I was really scared to read this book. I loved Ridley and Link, so as soon as I found out that they had a spin off series, I immediately bought this book. However, after buying the book, I started hearing from internet friends and fellow reviewers about how much they hated this book, so I was worried that I would hate it, too, and that it would destroy my love for this world. Fortunately I was scared for nothing because I fell in love with this book even more than I loved the Caster Chronicles/Beautiful Creatures series, which is surprising because I really loved the final book in that series.
The pacing is what made this book stand out from its original series. The whole Caster Chronicles felt like somewhat of a slog to get through. I feel bad saying that but the Caster Chronicles is so slow and it was extremely repetitive for no reason. Dangerous Creatures seemed to cut out the unnecessary fluff and dragging moments that the original series had. There was still a lot of repetition but it wasn’t as bad as it was in the original series. It worked really well and brought an even more interesting story. This is just my opinion though as I know other people would argue that the Caster Chronicles is better.
This is a really character driven story. The characters from the original series and the new characters blend together seamlessly to create squad goals and fun relationships that made the story really enjoyable. Ridley and Link were of course as amazing as they were in the original series, but Floyd, Necro, Sampson, and Nox were equally fun in their own way. Necro and Floyd in particular are some of my new favorite fictional characters and I couldn’t get enough of them.
This spin off series took an interesting step away from the casters and incubuses of the original series, leaping into the world of darkborns and necromancers. This leap was unexpected for me but it took the story in a unique and intriguing direction. I’m very curious to see what happens in Dangerous Deception and how these new additions to the caster world evolve throughout the final book in this series.
I can see why people wouldn’t like this series as being that Ridley is manipulative and there is a toxic relationship in this book, but I personally loved this book and I’d encourage fans of Ridley and Link to pick up this book. It is definitely very different from the original series, but it is different in all the best ways.
delaneybull's review
3.0
I liked getting Ridley's perspective, as she was one of the more intriguing and complex characters in the Beautiful Creatures series. However, her constant self-deprecating tone and constant reitterance of how worthless and Dark she is got old. I also think Link got shunted in this novel. Although it was clear that Ridley was the main narrative, I think the misguided assumption that Link is all brawn, no brains came back in full force in this novel. I think it was a little less carefully written as the Beautiful Creatures series was, but I looved the addition of Nox and the chapters from his perspective. While I'm a little disappointed at the main villain in this novel (been there, done that), I think it will be interesting to see how these authors keep it fresh with the same world and characters as the wildly successful and popular Beautiful Creatures series.
The bandmates were alright, but could have been much more developed for the length of the novel, and I felt the idea of the villain and his story was a little underdeveloped as well. There's a line of keeping and air of mystery while still making the story easy to follow for the reader, and this plot jumped around a little too much and leaned more into the side of mystery, so I was confused as to what the point of a lot of the actions were. I mean, yeah, boy drama and whatever and markers but the deeper meaning was lost, whereas Lena and Ethan always kept the story easy to follow but not boring, and had a lot more insights into individuals' character, which I hope to see in the following Dangerous Creatures novels.
I've read a few other people's reviews, and I agree with what a lot of people are saying about Ridley. She wasn't the strong, badass, sexy and sensual character that I LOVED in the Beautiful Creatures series. She wasn't the antithesis of Lena (one of my LEAST favorite characters in a novel EVER). She became much the same as Lena after she got her half Dark prognosis or whatever. Whiny, crying, UNBELIEVABLY self-pitying, and I was so disappointed! I mean, yes you need to have some depth to a character like Ridley or else she gets stale, but I think it was taken in the wrong direction. What happened to the confident woman who KNEW she could get Link back and enjoyed the play between them? Instead we get a winy, wimpy girl who will let herself get pulled between boys and doesn't defend herself or what she wants because she's so Dark so everything haaas to suck for her. Sure. I really hope the authors figure out that women don't have to be one or the other, there's a mix of vulnerability that still defends a woman's choice and preserves her agency, which was really missing in the novel. Especially in the ending. I mean, So I sincerely hope that she FIGURES SHIT OUT. Because if she gets made into a Lena clone in this series I will be very, very unhappy.
The bandmates were alright, but could have been much more developed for the length of the novel, and I felt the idea of the villain and his story was a little underdeveloped as well. There's a line of keeping and air of mystery while still making the story easy to follow for the reader, and this plot jumped around a little too much and leaned more into the side of mystery, so I was confused as to what the point of a lot of the actions were. I mean, yeah, boy drama and whatever and markers but the deeper meaning was lost, whereas Lena and Ethan always kept the story easy to follow but not boring, and had a lot more insights into individuals' character, which I hope to see in the following Dangerous Creatures novels.
I've read a few other people's reviews, and I agree with what a lot of people are saying about Ridley. She wasn't the strong, badass, sexy and sensual character that I LOVED in the Beautiful Creatures series. She wasn't the antithesis of Lena (one of my LEAST favorite characters in a novel EVER). She became much the same as Lena after she got her half Dark prognosis or whatever. Whiny, crying, UNBELIEVABLY self-pitying, and I was so disappointed! I mean, yes you need to have some depth to a character like Ridley or else she gets stale, but I think it was taken in the wrong direction. What happened to the confident woman who KNEW she could get Link back and enjoyed the play between them? Instead we get a winy, wimpy girl who will let herself get pulled between boys and doesn't defend herself or what she wants because she's so Dark so everything haaas to suck for her. Sure. I really hope the authors figure out that women don't have to be one or the other, there's a mix of vulnerability that still defends a woman's choice and preserves her agency, which was really missing in the novel. Especially in the ending. I mean,
Spoiler
going right from kissing Nox goodbye as he gives himself up to Abraham to protect her RIGHT back into Link's arms after he was SUCH a douche because she was being realistic and, oh, I dunno, LOGICAL about the shit going down at Sirene. Come on. In what universe would the badass that WAS Ridley Duchannes ever do that?percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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
cocoaxreads_'s review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The relationships between characters were realistic. I hope there is a bit more of Sampson in the next book he is the one I feel I didnt know very well. It was a good read. I didn't like that they referred to fandoms or that all of a sudden Link has "gauges" and I don't know how I feel about the ending all I could say was "What the fuck?!"
brunettebibliophile's review
5.0
I need the next book now! That was too much of a cliff hanger! You can't just make me wait until 2015!!?!
lberestecki's review
3.0
2.5 Stars.
There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. Ridley was a lot less likable than I remembered - I felt like her characterization was inconsistent, and she came off as a bit whiney. I also thought that Nox x Ridley was a lot more compelling than Link x Ridley, but I didn't particularly want her to be with either guy. Plot-wise, there was one thing that was mentioned a few times and seemed like it was going to be a huge part of the plot, but nothing really happened with it. I'm sure it will become a plot point in later books, but it seemed pointless to include it so much in this story. I also am not a fan of huge cliffhanger endings, so the ending turned me off of the book more than I already was.
This book was a disappointment to me since I've enjoyed Ridley and Link previously, but I'm sure many fans of the full Beautiful Creatures series will enjoy it.
There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. Ridley was a lot less likable than I remembered - I felt like her characterization was inconsistent, and she came off as a bit whiney. I also thought that Nox x Ridley was a lot more compelling than Link x Ridley, but I didn't particularly want her to be with either guy. Plot-wise, there was one thing that was mentioned a few times and seemed like it was going to be a huge part of the plot, but nothing really happened with it. I'm sure it will become a plot point in later books, but it seemed pointless to include it so much in this story. I also am not a fan of huge cliffhanger endings, so the ending turned me off of the book more than I already was.
This book was a disappointment to me since I've enjoyed Ridley and Link previously, but I'm sure many fans of the full Beautiful Creatures series will enjoy it.
cole_092's review against another edition
3.0
It is really nice to come back into a world you've visited before and kind of be able to pick up where you left off because you know the characters already, but we get see secondary characters become the main protagonists of the story and it was really fun to explore more of the caster world from the pov of Ridley and Link. If you'd like to read more of my thoughts, please click the link to my blog post.
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