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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
What Hunts Inside the Shadows is the second book in the Of Flesh & Bone series. It picks up following the ending revelations of book 1, and that’s a major focus for Estrella throughout this book. She needs to come to terms with her relationship and feelings for Caelum while also processing his betrayal. I really enjoyed this aspect. It felt natural and realistic to go between emotions. I also thought her development arc in general was well done. Additionally, I loved that we got more world building and more of the fae lore. It really added to my overall enjoyment of the book and series. The plot was also stronger in this installment. It was more of a fully developed arc, and I appreciated that. For me, book 2 was better than book 1. If the writing and plot development continues at this pace, each book will be better than the last, and I’m here for it. The audiobook narration was really good for this book. Lucas continued to do well in her role, but what I really loved was the addition of Johnson. I really appreciate when multiple narrators are used to voice different POVs. They brought the chemistry and energy between Estrella and Caelum. I’m excited to continue the series with the next book.
✨
✨
Edition shown: eARC courtesy of Bramble Romance
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Wow! I definitely liked this one more than the first! A lot more romance and the plot was even more interesting for me. And I saw some things coming but some of it shook me! The cliffhanger is definitely something I'm glad I didn't have to wait months for the next book for! Onto the 3rd one!
This is like reading [b:The Two Towers|61215372|The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654216149l/61215372._SY75_.jpg|2963845] if the characters had graphic sex every time they stopped for the night.
Oh, poor, sad, Estrella is so betrayed by the knowledge that her boyfriend with the mysterious powers and knowledge about the fae and ability to find her is.... GASP! a fae. Girl, you've only been betrayed by your own damn idiocy and the inability for your last two remaining brain cells to rub together.
The constant "I hate him, but I love him" is so freaking boring to me, especially when she continues to have sex with him but always wakes up and is regretful. Why do romance authors like this always make their main female leads so insatiably horny that they just can't help themselves? If she honestly felt so betrayed that she hated him, she wouldn't be with him. Sorry.
And the whole pretending to be treated the same way as the other Fae Marked thing was idiotic as well. They're all traveling stacked on top of each other in a rickety cart while she is on horseback and she thinks because she wears fake shackles on her wrists they are going to like her?? Honey. Your fae boyfriend betrayed them all and you're still screwing him. Yeah, they don't like you. And the part where he leaves her alone with them was completely out of character and only existed for the sole purpose of a voyeurism sex scene. In fact, every scene in the book was just a reason for the next bit of smut to begin. There's just only so much I can read without any damn plot (besides walking to the next town) happening.
I'll read the final one in the series, because of course I will, but this series is lame.
Oh, poor, sad, Estrella is so betrayed by the knowledge that her boyfriend with the mysterious powers and knowledge about the fae and ability to find her is.... GASP! a fae. Girl, you've only been betrayed by your own damn idiocy and the inability for your last two remaining brain cells to rub together.
The constant "I hate him, but I love him" is so freaking boring to me, especially when she continues to have sex with him but always wakes up and is regretful. Why do romance authors like this always make their main female leads so insatiably horny that they just can't help themselves? If she honestly felt so betrayed that she hated him, she wouldn't be with him. Sorry.
And the whole pretending to be treated the same way as the other Fae Marked thing was idiotic as well. They're all traveling stacked on top of each other in a rickety cart while she is on horseback and she thinks because she wears fake shackles on her wrists they are going to like her?? Honey. Your fae boyfriend betrayed them all and you're still screwing him. Yeah, they don't like you. And the part where he leaves her alone with them was completely out of character and only existed for the sole purpose of a voyeurism sex scene. In fact, every scene in the book was just a reason for the next bit of smut to begin. There's just only so much I can read without any damn plot (besides walking to the next town) happening.
I'll read the final one in the series, because of course I will, but this series is lame.
very slow and I lowkey got bored with all the smut lol
honestly, I feel like nothing really happened in this book
honestly, I feel like nothing really happened in this book
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I kept going back and forth between "just shut up" and "this is great!" Estrella kept going around in circles with her thoughts and love/hate emotions. It was annoying, and I felt sorry for Caelum most of the time; he deserved better, and I just kept thinking he was too good for her. My favorite parts were (obviously the smut parts) when Estrella would lose control and become a total badass. Those special abilities were incredible, and I hope we explore them more in the next book.
Toward the end, I kept asking myself what the f*ck was going on. Many things were unnecessary, and I had to re-read to figure out what the hell was going on and how some decisions were being made. Estrella kept being selfish and making all the decisions herself. However, in the end, I wished Caelum would have listened to Estrella and truly felt her fear about not going in.
Overall, I liked this book; more than the first one. I hope the third one is the last book in this series.
Toward the end, I kept asking myself what the f*ck was going on. Many things were unnecessary, and I had to re-read to figure out what the hell was going on and how some decisions were being made. Estrella kept being selfish and making all the decisions herself. However, in the end, I wished Caelum would have listened to Estrella and truly felt her fear about not going in.
Overall, I liked this book; more than the first one. I hope the third one is the last book in this series.
I was excited for the release of this book after really enjoying the first one, but I find that it left me with mixed feelings.
First off… Caldris. ❤️
“I have spent centuries feeling you fall in love with men who didn’t deserve you. Feeling your heart flutter for men who would never have been able to give you what your would craved in the end, and knowing that, I was trapped on the other side of the Veil waiting for you. Just waiting for centuries to be able to hold you.”
As far as the fated mate trope goes, he’s doing it right. He’s suffered for hundreds of years, waiting to be able to get to Estrella, feeling her live and die over and over again. Yes, he’s possessive, he can be a brute at times, but I think we all know what we’re getting into with the fated mate trope by now. He’s also patient, devoted, protective, and supportive.
Estrella… is alright once she stops being a wishy-washy brat for the first half of the book. I lost count of how many times she told Caldris she hated him, threatened to kill herself before she’d cross into Fae lands with him or accept him as her mate, blah blah blah. Eventually she gets it together and accepts him… and even while she still thinks she hates him, it doesn’t stop her from giving into the physical urges the bond creates. There’s a hefty dose of spice in this book.
Overall, the pacing of this book was a little slow for me. It’s a bridge between the first and third books, and it’s also a “traveling” book. There’s a lot of riding, camping, and sex. I can accept that… but just know that most of it is their travel, sprinkled with spice, and Estrella’s developing power. The most action occurs at the very end of the book, which then leaves us on a big cliffhanger. Something else that I kept noticing throughout the book was the combination of both Greek and Norse mythology that was woven into the world building. Maybe it’s just me, but this kind of bothered me… maybe I’m just a purist. Pick one and stick with it.
First off… Caldris. ❤️
“I have spent centuries feeling you fall in love with men who didn’t deserve you. Feeling your heart flutter for men who would never have been able to give you what your would craved in the end, and knowing that, I was trapped on the other side of the Veil waiting for you. Just waiting for centuries to be able to hold you.”
As far as the fated mate trope goes, he’s doing it right. He’s suffered for hundreds of years, waiting to be able to get to Estrella, feeling her live and die over and over again. Yes, he’s possessive, he can be a brute at times, but I think we all know what we’re getting into with the fated mate trope by now. He’s also patient, devoted, protective, and supportive.
Estrella… is alright once she stops being a wishy-washy brat for the first half of the book. I lost count of how many times she told Caldris she hated him, threatened to kill herself before she’d cross into Fae lands with him or accept him as her mate, blah blah blah. Eventually she gets it together and accepts him… and even while she still thinks she hates him, it doesn’t stop her from giving into the physical urges the bond creates. There’s a hefty dose of spice in this book.
Overall, the pacing of this book was a little slow for me. It’s a bridge between the first and third books, and it’s also a “traveling” book. There’s a lot of riding, camping, and sex. I can accept that… but just know that most of it is their travel, sprinkled with spice, and Estrella’s developing power. The most action occurs at the very end of the book, which then leaves us on a big cliffhanger. Something else that I kept noticing throughout the book was the combination of both Greek and Norse mythology that was woven into the world building. Maybe it’s just me, but this kind of bothered me… maybe I’m just a purist. Pick one and stick with it.