Reviews

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

_bookishdaydreamer_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

liv_182's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

jess_walkinshaw's review

3.0

This last installment of the Kiss of Deception was quite good.... **SPOILERS **** I thought it was great until the actual battle scene. I thought that the jumping around from character to character was a little great but there wasn't a lot of detail in those perspectives, if they were longer and had more detail about whats going on as a whole scene, it would have made a big difference. Also I felt the Komizar's death wasn't satisfying, I would have liked more if it was at Lia's hand and not over a cliff, if the author made Lia take that distraction to her advantage. Also the ending was very rushed. I felt there wasn't enough satisfying detail about what happened after the battle ended. There could have been more, More emotion, more description and it could have been carried out in the separate perspectives. And Lastly I wished there was an epilogue of a few years after everything happened and how they "are living now".

On a separate note i loved so many characters like Jeb, Tavish, Griz, Ebon,I liked her father the Kings reaction and her "punishment". I loved that Kaden and Pauline ended up together, and that Lia and Jax ended up together, And I loved that in the end the vision that Kaden had with Him and Lia together in Venda with a baby on his hip actually happened. All in all the books were great but I would have liked more in the last quarter of the book. With that said I would give his book a 3/5 stars.

ryann0312's review

4.0

4.5*

gracemmunro's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

ein_frau_ag's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I loved the first two books, hated this one. The pacing felt off and I fell out of love with almost all the characters. I'm so mad about certain choices, so this goes into Spoiler territory now: Rafe just becomes a controlling Jackass, gaslighting Lia and being totally condescending and belittling to her. Him and Lia are just toxic in the end. But hey, true Love, right? The ending also completely negated the point about sacrifices and putting other people's wellbeing above your own personal happyness. It could have been bittersweet, but no. Or you know, she could have ended up with the person, who grew in this series, who genuinely regretted how he treated her in the beginning, the one she had way better chemistry and a deeper understanding with. All of that would have been better than that ending.

Also

Kaden and Pauline

? WTF?! It came out of nowhere and felt completely forced. Not every character needs to be coupled up, especially the one with a child, who had a kickass female support system but obviously isn't fullfilled until she has a man. 🙄

Also, also: the war?! The komizar?! Just WTF all around. I'm still reeling at how you can ruin a series so completely with the third book, after two great ones. The Stars are mostly for those first books and some side characters (Like Natya, Eben or Rafe "sidekicks") and single scenes I liked. 

angevba's review

4.0

I grew to love the characters in this trilogy and that's the main reason I'm giving it 4 stars. Basically, It was very angsty at some points and I really struggled in the middle to keep reading, but I'm glad I finished it.
I thought I wouldn't like the ending (because reasons) but I ended up really liking it, i feel like everyone got what they deserved, so great.

janivewe's review

5.0

The whole series is a MUST READ

Favourite quotes: "I wondered at the way we all change, all the outside forces that press and mold and push us into people and things we hadn't planned to be. Maybe it happened so gradually that by the time we noticed, it was too late to be anything else."

"Once we fear to take a stand, tyranny will have won."

Lia is definitely one of the strongest female characters, and not in the typical way. She explains this with her own words "My kind of strength isn't the same as yours."
There is a lot of political intrigue, and strategies and friendship and family and romance and I must agree that is the perfect ending to this trilogy.
I admit at first I was angry with the way it ended. I kept asking myself "Is that it?" but after I gave it some thought, I realize I might actually like it.
I still crave a short story of all of their lives after they've settled everything and will continue to hope my wishes might be granted someday in the future.

Happy reading everyone!

sivantzur's review

4.0

Too long
And that ending!
But beautiful writing as always

kashan's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75