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bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Infidelity, and Cursing
Moderate: Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Body shaming
baexlee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
2.25
I had really high hopes for this book. When I first got it delivered I actually waited until I finished my re-read of the first two books in the series before I started because I enjoyed those so much. While overall I enjoyed reading this and it was a continuation of the story, it felt like a downgrade from what I had been enjoying previously. Perhaps it was the mindset that I was going into it with, but overall the plot feels convoluted and confusing and some of the character choices are difficult to reconcile with the idea of them I had from previous installments like Casteel deciding to Ascend Poppy, risks be damned, when she was killed being freed from the Unseen, and he despite his hatred for the Ascended he would kill anyone who tried to kill her even if she was no longer the same? It felt so out of character and it is explained away with Heartmates which is also weakly explained and followed through with. The impact just isn't there.
Nothing feels planned out at all, and the twists feel like they were decided as they were happening and it really just leaves me wanting more. There are some glaring editing errors that just made me feel like the entire thing was rushed (if you want an example of what I'm talking about look at the contradiction that is written one sentence after something is stated on page 639) This installment honestly feels almost wholly separate from the other installments in the series in some ways. It does manage to shine in other regards though.
The main reason that I don't give this a rating lower than a 2 is that the romance is still steamy and Poppy and Casteel still manage to steal my breath away, which is always a redeeming factor, and in addition to that the relationship between Poppy and the wolven is interesting and developed. There was enough that reminded me of the previous installments, well planted call backs and genuinely laugh out loud heart warming moments that I have hope the story can be redeemed in later installments, but as it currently stands I'm nervous to see where Poppy's Crown will take her.
Nothing feels planned out at all, and the twists feel like they were decided as they were happening and it really just leaves me wanting more. There are some glaring editing errors that just made me feel like the entire thing was rushed (if you want an example of what I'm talking about look at the contradiction that is written one sentence after something is stated on page 639) This installment honestly feels almost wholly separate from the other installments in the series in some ways. It does manage to shine in other regards though.
The main reason that I don't give this a rating lower than a 2 is that the romance is still steamy and Poppy and Casteel still manage to steal my breath away, which is always a redeeming factor, and in addition to that the relationship between Poppy and the wolven is interesting and developed. There was enough that reminded me of the previous installments, well planted call backs and genuinely laugh out loud heart warming moments that I have hope the story can be redeemed in later installments, but as it currently stands I'm nervous to see where Poppy's Crown will take her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture and Infidelity
mybookthrone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Gore, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Torture, and Confinement
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Physical abuse and Child death
lisacanteven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Let me preface this review with this: I am a huge JLA fan. Bury me with her books. So this review could be a little biased.
However this book is my favorite book of all time. I have never quite had such a connection with a book before. I just finished it a few hours ago, and I haven't though about much else. I am ready to reread it, and maybe I will when it releases in 26 hours since I received an early copy (this did not affect my review) so I can read with everyone else.
I love this series, and I thought FBAA was by far the stronger book out of the first two. KOFAF was very much a second book. I still loved it because JLA, but it dragged and didn't reveal as much as I was hoping. That is because JLA was waiting to hit us with this third book. WHOA. She lets it all out in this book, and now I see why she had to extend the series. Not only did she answer so many of our questions, but she brought in new characters and new fantasy races. I'm dying for everyone else to see what shapeshifters we get the in the next however many books. They are going to be better than the wolves (sorry Kieran). The only thing (and it's so minor) that I didn't love about this book is that Kieran got on my nerves. He needs better jokes basically, and I don't fault JLA for this because I think that's just his character. He is definitely the comic relief in these books, but he needs to step up his game or get laid.
One thing I noticed is that we got a lot more fantasy in this book than the previous two books. The romance was as good as ever, but I guess since the chase was gone there was more time for fantasy and A LOT OF POLITICS which honestly I love in a fantasy novel. Give me kingdoms fighting over politics and kingdoms fighting internally over politics and I am in. Sign me up. The politics in this series have always been there, but they were ramped up in this third book.
I thought I would be sad if I didn't get that one thing I wanted out of this book, but honestly it was too good the way it was to notice. I would not change a thing about it, and I am just praying that JLA is almost done with the next book because the ending took my breath away. Literally no breath was left.
"Bow before your queen or you will bleed before her."
However this book is my favorite book of all time. I have never quite had such a connection with a book before. I just finished it a few hours ago, and I haven't though about much else. I am ready to reread it, and maybe I will when it releases in 26 hours since I received an early copy (this did not affect my review) so I can read with everyone else.
I love this series, and I thought FBAA was by far the stronger book out of the first two. KOFAF was very much a second book. I still loved it because JLA, but it dragged and didn't reveal as much as I was hoping. That is because JLA was waiting to hit us with this third book. WHOA. She lets it all out in this book, and now I see why she had to extend the series. Not only did she answer so many of our questions, but she brought in new characters and new fantasy races. I'm dying for everyone else to see what shapeshifters we get the in the next however many books. They are going to be better than the wolves (sorry Kieran). The only thing (and it's so minor) that I didn't love about this book is that Kieran got on my nerves. He needs better jokes basically, and I don't fault JLA for this because I think that's just his character. He is definitely the comic relief in these books, but he needs to step up his game or get laid.
One thing I noticed is that we got a lot more fantasy in this book than the previous two books. The romance was as good as ever, but I guess since the chase was gone there was more time for fantasy and A LOT OF POLITICS which honestly I love in a fantasy novel. Give me kingdoms fighting over politics and kingdoms fighting internally over politics and I am in. Sign me up. The politics in this series have always been there, but they were ramped up in this third book.
I thought I would be sad if I didn't get that one thing I wanted out of this book, but honestly it was too good the way it was to notice. I would not change a thing about it, and I am just praying that JLA is almost done with the next book because the ending took my breath away. Literally no breath was left.
"Bow before your queen or you will bleed before her."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Car accident, Murder, Animal death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Torture, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Car accident = carriage accident
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