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kristie_beth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
fedytsubasa's review
5.0
Loved this as much as I loved the 1st book and will pick the last one up ASAP!
auburnedge's review
5.0
Love this series!!!
This book is absolutely fantastic! I loved the first and have been waiting for this one. It starts right where the last one left off. There is nonstop action, slow burn romance, and so much bad. Honestly I am worried as to how the author will be able to resolve everything because the cliffhanger is quite big!
This book is absolutely fantastic! I loved the first and have been waiting for this one. It starts right where the last one left off. There is nonstop action, slow burn romance, and so much bad. Honestly I am worried as to how the author will be able to resolve everything because the cliffhanger is quite big!
fairytale42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
If you thought the plague of the gem couldn't get any worse than in the first book, you're wrong. The stakes have officially been upped in the sequel, and although the fighting is less horrific compared to the shock of the first book, it's still plenty dark. The deaths are still tragic, the terror is still real, and Ilsaletta is still the merciful mortal we know her to be. (Sorry, Vargaard, not a goddess.)
The plot definitely gets deeper in this book, as we see the true reach of the gem and Jendaya's plan. It got to the point where I didn't know how Ilsaletta was going to survive even with her beloved shadow. And now I REALLY don't know how they're going to survive that ending. It always feels like a miracle they're alive and well, and I'm wondering how much more of this our characters can take.
And speaking of characters, I was heartily surprised by the duke, Stekkan. Ilsaletta and I both were astounded by his stupidity, his concern, and his utility, in turn. Just when you think you've made up your mind about him, you end up changing your view. Even Vargaard changed his stance a few times. I'm thoroughly impressed with Stekkan's character development, and I'm glad we got to see more of him.
But onto the main character, Ilsaletta. Don't worry - she's still the kind girl we know and love. She's definitely a bit more hardened, but she is still rocked by the injustice and horror of this new world as much as she was in the first book. I love her concern for others, her commitment to doing the right thing, and her honesty. She's clever and quick-witted, too, although she does make mistakes that make me wonder how on EARTH she is going to survive. (But I still adore her as a protagonist.)
And that brings me to my beloved Vargaard. I'm still in love with a shadow, folks, although I find his flowery language is less impactful than the first book. I do love how we really get to see his character change to become more like Ilsaletta - kinder, softer, and more gentle. I also love that he respects Ilsaletta and her decisions even when she's wrong (and she is wrong on occasion).
On the romance side, I did feel a bit let-down, perhaps, but only because I LOVE mutual pining which wasn't much of a factor in this book. They've both very much hinted at their regard for one another per the last book, so there was only one path forward here. The romance does get more resolution here, which is enjoyable, but it feels more like a conclusion and less like a continuation. (Still clean, though, thank heavens!)
The writing style doesn't feel as polished or poetic as the first book, which was disappointing, but I'm not surprised, since this book was far more plot-focused. We'll just have to see what the rest of the series brings.
Overall, I loved it, I'm thrilled I get to own it, and I'm still in love with Vargaard.
If you thought the plague of the gem couldn't get any worse than in the first book, you're wrong. The stakes have officially been upped in the sequel, and although the fighting is less horrific compared to the shock of the first book, it's still plenty dark. The deaths are still tragic, the terror is still real, and Ilsaletta is still the merciful mortal we know her to be. (Sorry, Vargaard, not a goddess.)
The plot definitely gets deeper in this book, as we see the true reach of the gem and Jendaya's plan. It got to the point where I didn't know how Ilsaletta was going to survive even with her beloved shadow. And now I REALLY don't know how they're going to survive that ending. It always feels like a miracle they're alive and well, and I'm wondering how much more of this our characters can take.
And speaking of characters, I was heartily surprised by the duke, Stekkan. Ilsaletta and I both were astounded by his stupidity, his concern, and his utility, in turn. Just when you think you've made up your mind about him, you end up changing your view. Even Vargaard changed his stance a few times. I'm thoroughly impressed with Stekkan's character development, and I'm glad we got to see more of him.
But onto the main character, Ilsaletta. Don't worry - she's still the kind girl we know and love. She's definitely a bit more hardened, but she is still rocked by the injustice and horror of this new world as much as she was in the first book. I love her concern for others, her commitment to doing the right thing, and her honesty. She's clever and quick-witted, too, although she does make mistakes that make me wonder how on EARTH she is going to survive. (But I still adore her as a protagonist.)
And that brings me to my beloved Vargaard. I'm still in love with a shadow, folks, although I find his flowery language is less impactful than the first book. I do love how we really get to see his character change to become more like Ilsaletta - kinder, softer, and more gentle. I also love that he respects Ilsaletta and her decisions even when she's wrong (and she is wrong on occasion).
On the romance side, I did feel a bit let-down, perhaps, but only because I LOVE mutual pining which wasn't much of a factor in this book. They've both very much hinted at their regard for one another per the last book, so there was only one path forward here. The romance does get more resolution here, which is enjoyable, but it feels more like a conclusion and less like a continuation. (Still clean, though, thank heavens!)
The writing style doesn't feel as polished or poetic as the first book, which was disappointing, but I'm not surprised, since this book was far more plot-focused. We'll just have to see what the rest of the series brings.
Overall, I loved it, I'm thrilled I get to own it, and I'm still in love with Vargaard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Gore, and Grief
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