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wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Fun things happen in this one and while it has a lot of gruesome death, the stakes keep getting higher.
Kate continues her journey in blood magic, we meet Roman (and Ascanio, who can be humorous), Andrea is back, Julie is back from boarding school, Evdokia and the witches be plotting.
And the threat of Hugh lingers.
Kate continues her journey in blood magic, we meet Roman (and Ascanio, who can be humorous), Andrea is back, Julie is back from boarding school, Evdokia and the witches be plotting.
And the threat of Hugh lingers.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping, Medical content, Self harm, War, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Hate crime, Infertility, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Torture, and Violence
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
God, I love these books. They flip flop between slice of life and bloodthirsty fantasy/adventure.
I'm really glad to see The return of Andrea and Grendel. Andrea being kicked out of the order (forcably retired) was upsetting, knowing how much it meant to her, but I'm glad to see her and Kate working together again, and for the chance she and Rafael could get back together. Aunt Bea's meddling, which nearly killed the kids, really frustrated me. I like her, but I'm glad Andrea punches her. Ascanio is a great new addition to the cast of characters. His playboy attitude at the beginning of the novel compared to what he went through to try to save Julie and the actual kind kid behind the bravado makes me hope hope he'll be a recurring character. Kate's childhood being dismantled during her visit with baba yaga was also really interesting. The story of her mother, princess like, staying behind to sacrifice yourself while Voron escaped with baby Kate makes a lot more sense knowing that Voron's immortality was tired to be coming a virtual slave of Roland's. The efforts to which Voron went to train Kate, depriving her of a childhood and not letting her know her maternal relatives or be trained magically are put into an even darker light with the revelations in this book. I'm very interested in how Kate's magical training will go, and I want to know more about the voice she spoke to while cleansing Julie's blood. Part of me thinks it was Hugh, hence the flowers, but another part of me thinks it was a god like Morrigan or possibly Kate's mom. Curran threatening to leave if Kate ever performs that variety of blood magic again felt almost out of character, but not in a bad way. It just felt out of place after learning that Curran was willing to give up the pack for Kate. I look forward to seeing more slice of life content, or at least familial content now that Kate's extended and adopted family has expanded again.
I loved the cookbook scene.
I loved the cookbook scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Body horror, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Animal death, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
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