You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
alicia_rausch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked Divine Rivals but honestly didn't get the hype. It was a good book but the plot holes were numerous and the lore seemed half-baked. The love story was sweet but it seemed like it was trying to be enemies to lovers, when in reality it was insta love. That being said, Roman Kitt is lovely and I enjoyed Iris's intelligence and resourcefulness and the development of their relationships.
THIS, howver, was a slog. It finally started to get into my complaints about the first novel - the lack of explanation for the war, more of the background info, etc., but it did so at the cost of characters. Poor Forest got completely sidelined. It was finally trying to balance the relationship and the lore and failed on both fronts.
I enjoyed Roman and Irisโs relationship in this one but ultimately I had so many questions about the lore (again) that I think this is better suited to someone who can just vibe and enjoy the romance? Maybe? I honestly ended up more interested in Dacre and Envaโs story, which also had so many plot holes??? And for what?? Also the ending seemed a bit too โฆ easy to me. All this build up and it was so fast? Just like that? That's how we win the war?
Rebecca Ross's writing is beautiful, and the only reason I'm giving this as many stars as I am.
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
blacksphinx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
But... I love historical fantasy and what kept me enthralled in the first book was the up-close depictions of warfare. And there's plenty of warfare, spying, and tense action scenes in this sequel to keep me turning the pages. I'm now left hankering for another book series that blends non-magical warfare with a fantasy setting.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Violence, Vomit, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death of parent
avacadosocks's review
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
auga's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lyss_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
rneel95's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood and War
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
martapsalvado's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The pace of this second book is slower than the first and it focuses a lot more on the fantasy elements and the war. I'm a romance reader to the core, so that's why I didn't love this as much as Divine Rivals.
Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed Ruthless Vows. The found family, the angst, the letters, the writing (!!!!) and just ๐๐๐ Iris and Roman ๐๐๐
A duology that I certainly will come back to.
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
weenweenschnitzel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
saying goodbye was like punching a hole in my chest as if you were searching for my heart but you werent strong enough to pull it out.
ok that was very bad and weird and oddly specific but you get the point
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
erinkellyreads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
In terms of differences between this and it's predecessor, the stakes are higher and so is the tension. I had to take a couple of breaks from it while reading it simply because I was nervous for the characters and was putting off any potential pain. However, the bonds between all of the character continue, and we add in a few more interesting connections between existing and new characters. The one thing that I didn't love was the final showdown feeling too quick (and not necessarily easy, but... I think you'll see what I mean when you get there). I've seen other people saying that they felt DR was slow, but I didn't feel that way. If you did feel that way, I think you won't for RV.
Overall, the beauty of the writing and the atmospheric nature of the world and the souls of our characters are stunning, and I would 100% recommend this duology to anybody. A fantasy book that feels like contemporary history, a war book that feels like poetry, and a love story that feels like releasing a breath on a sunny, windy day.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit