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emilyrpf's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
the_gare_bear's review against another edition
4.0
The bees are something that I find more people deal with than I I think the average person is aware of.
While this series had some hard things to cope with, this book being the end, (at least for the foreseeable future) it was closed in such a way that makes sense and really helps the narrative of life, love, loss,family, and SIRS.
While this series had some hard things to cope with, this book being the end, (at least for the foreseeable future) it was closed in such a way that makes sense and really helps the narrative of life, love, loss,family, and SIRS.
dorota19842000's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
pippin's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
teresab78's review against another edition
5.0
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
Amazing! Crisped + Sere is deliciously dark and twisted, and yet there is hope and love and redemption. This series is on my favourites shelf for all of those things.
Cavalo is haunted and crazy, however he still has feelings and you can see the good in him by the choices he makes. Lucas is also crazy but behind the rage and madness you can see the young man that needs to be loved. Together they make an unlikely pair but you come to see the devotion in each of them.
I loved SIRS and BadDog just as much. BadDog, especially, is my favourite character in the book. I loved how there was still glimpses of humour to lighten things up.
This story is brutal at times, there are many deaths and hardships, but the end is all I could ask for. I enjoyed the journey immensely.
Although my copy did not include the illustrations, I will be purchasing the paper back so I can enjoy them.
I highly recommend this book and series. I hope for more from Cavalo and Lucas.
Amazing! Crisped + Sere is deliciously dark and twisted, and yet there is hope and love and redemption. This series is on my favourites shelf for all of those things.
Cavalo is haunted and crazy, however he still has feelings and you can see the good in him by the choices he makes. Lucas is also crazy but behind the rage and madness you can see the young man that needs to be loved. Together they make an unlikely pair but you come to see the devotion in each of them.
I loved SIRS and BadDog just as much. BadDog, especially, is my favourite character in the book. I loved how there was still glimpses of humour to lighten things up.
This story is brutal at times, there are many deaths and hardships, but the end is all I could ask for. I enjoyed the journey immensely.
Although my copy did not include the illustrations, I will be purchasing the paper back so I can enjoy them.
I highly recommend this book and series. I hope for more from Cavalo and Lucas.
aftgandreil's review against another edition
5.0
this was so intense but god was it good! this series is unlike any i’ve read before — more terrifying, twisted but so very good and intense to read!
madscientistcat's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Blood, Rape, Murder, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Cannibalism, Death, Cursing, and Animal cruelty
ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
Book – Crisped & Sere (Immemorial Year #2)
Author – T.J. Klune
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 340
Cover – Brilliant!
POV – 3rd person, 1 character
Would I read it again – Yes!!!!
Genre – LGBT, Apocalypse, Science Fiction, Adventure
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY DSP PUBLICATIONS, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
It is very rare that a first book in a series is followed by a story that is even better. It's even more rare that a robot can make me blubber like a baby and mean just as much to me as a human character. However, Crisped & Sere managed to do both these things. Eclipsing the brilliance of Withered & Sere, Crisped & Sere is a roller coaster ride of conflicting emotions; rage, love, joy, burning fire and stunned silence.
The fact that this story picked up right after the events of book 1 was made all the better because I decided to re-read book 1 before delving into this, to make sure I remembered all the little important details. This was a great bonus, re-submerging myself into the story and the characters, but you could easily read book 2 after months or a year of reading book 1 and never be confused. Though nothing is re-hashed in detail, thankfully, you're left with the same essence and flow that I loved so much in book 1. Not only that, but there are little things that jog your memory, without going overboard.
With a returning cast from book 1, it was a delight to meet some new characters and explore their role in Cavalo's journey. Though I don't want to give any spoilers away, I will say that I was pleasantly shocked and surprised by the secrets some characters from book 1 were keeping and the way the author let the truth trickle out in that tantalizingly brilliant way of theirs.
Another great thing about reading book 1 immediately before delving into this was that a second read allowed me to notice more easily that SIRS's moments of insanity were really nothing of the sort. I always had a good giggle at his ridiculousness when I first read book 1, but this time around and, more evidently in book 2, I was able to see the sense and logic of what he was belting out in his moments of insanity. Even when no one realised it, SIRS knew so much more than he let on, as he so aptly put it in book 1:
“It has taken losing my mind to find my soul.”
The revelations that came about Lucas, the Dead Rabbit, blew me off my feet even though I'd suspected such a thing in my wilder moments of speculation. The way his character evolved and brought a whole new element to Cavalo's insanity was both charming and wonderful. To see these two crazy people finding their sanity within each other – escaping the bees – even if just for a moment, was beautiful. As was the ever growing and building romance that blossomed between them. Not to mention the hot sex.
For me, the bees are practically a character of their own. From Warren to Jaime, their presence added some mystery and a supernatural element to Cavalo's experiences. There can be no doubt that some “higher power”, even if it is only the bees swarming inside Cavalo's insanity, led Cavalo to his destiny. And, in the following books, will very likely lead him to his future.
The world building and plot exploration is second to none. Though Immemorial Year is my first foray into T.J. Klune's genius, I had already decided by the end of book 1 that they had become an auto-buy author and someone I would never hesitate to pick up, when I needed a good read. Crisped & Sere has just catapulted that love astronomically. It's been a long time since I was so encapsulated by a series and the characters involved that I read every space second I could, rather than waiting for the next convenient time that I could binge read for an entire day. There was no waiting here. There was no chance of it. I had to know what was happening, I had to read more, even if I only had a spare five minutes to read a few pages. Waiting was torture.
Down sides? It was an ARC, so there were the expected pre-edit issues of missing words, spelling mistakes and such. But, to be quite honest, I stumbled over them neatly, always able to make sense of what was happening or being said, without them. They were non important and I know, for sure, that they'll be corrected in the final proof.
~
Overall, the genius of this series will stay with me for a long time. Each time a new book comes out, you know I'll be grabbing my copies of the previous ones to binge read them in order. Not because it's needed or because I've forgotten anything, but just because it's so much more fun to revisit Cavalo and Lucas time and time again, reliving their 'moments', reliving the heat, the fire and the insanity.
And you can be damned sure that though this is the first time I've cried over a robot, I doubt T.J. Klune will let it be the last. And, strangely enough, I'm okay with that.
As long as they keep writing books, I'll keep reading them. And that “holy shit!” ending? Well, I'll be first in line to buy books 3 and 4 (and any more they want to write) in this series. Because the minute I read that last little paragraph, from the author, you know I was practically sobbing in relief.
~
Favourite Quotes
I practically highlighted the entire book, but I will share my favourites, because they're the ones that will stay with me the longest:
““You okay?” he asked Bad Dog as he turned in circles before laying down on the blanket.
Head hurts, he said. He looked at Cavalo with big eyes. Some jerky would help.
“Would it?”
Yes.
“I don't know if we have any jerky.”
There's a whole bag in your pack. I can smell it.
“Can you? You must be feeling better, then.”
I can barely smell it, Bad Dog corrected. He whined and lay his head down on his paws. Getting...dark. Must have...rabbit jerky.”
“His heart was dark. He had murder in his eyes and death on his lips.”
“He was my son, and he died fighting for something good. I am going to go home and stand upon his grave, and I will rant. I will rave. I will suffer. But I will know why it happened. And one day, I will be able to remember him with nothing but an ache and a smile.”
“AND I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND”
Author – T.J. Klune
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 340
Cover – Brilliant!
POV – 3rd person, 1 character
Would I read it again – Yes!!!!
Genre – LGBT, Apocalypse, Science Fiction, Adventure
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY DSP PUBLICATIONS, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
It is very rare that a first book in a series is followed by a story that is even better. It's even more rare that a robot can make me blubber like a baby and mean just as much to me as a human character. However, Crisped & Sere managed to do both these things. Eclipsing the brilliance of Withered & Sere, Crisped & Sere is a roller coaster ride of conflicting emotions; rage, love, joy, burning fire and stunned silence.
The fact that this story picked up right after the events of book 1 was made all the better because I decided to re-read book 1 before delving into this, to make sure I remembered all the little important details. This was a great bonus, re-submerging myself into the story and the characters, but you could easily read book 2 after months or a year of reading book 1 and never be confused. Though nothing is re-hashed in detail, thankfully, you're left with the same essence and flow that I loved so much in book 1. Not only that, but there are little things that jog your memory, without going overboard.
With a returning cast from book 1, it was a delight to meet some new characters and explore their role in Cavalo's journey. Though I don't want to give any spoilers away, I will say that I was pleasantly shocked and surprised by the secrets some characters from book 1 were keeping and the way the author let the truth trickle out in that tantalizingly brilliant way of theirs.
Another great thing about reading book 1 immediately before delving into this was that a second read allowed me to notice more easily that SIRS's moments of insanity were really nothing of the sort. I always had a good giggle at his ridiculousness when I first read book 1, but this time around and, more evidently in book 2, I was able to see the sense and logic of what he was belting out in his moments of insanity. Even when no one realised it, SIRS knew so much more than he let on, as he so aptly put it in book 1:
“It has taken losing my mind to find my soul.”
The revelations that came about Lucas, the Dead Rabbit, blew me off my feet even though I'd suspected such a thing in my wilder moments of speculation. The way his character evolved and brought a whole new element to Cavalo's insanity was both charming and wonderful. To see these two crazy people finding their sanity within each other – escaping the bees – even if just for a moment, was beautiful. As was the ever growing and building romance that blossomed between them. Not to mention the hot sex.
For me, the bees are practically a character of their own. From Warren to Jaime, their presence added some mystery and a supernatural element to Cavalo's experiences. There can be no doubt that some “higher power”, even if it is only the bees swarming inside Cavalo's insanity, led Cavalo to his destiny. And, in the following books, will very likely lead him to his future.
The world building and plot exploration is second to none. Though Immemorial Year is my first foray into T.J. Klune's genius, I had already decided by the end of book 1 that they had become an auto-buy author and someone I would never hesitate to pick up, when I needed a good read. Crisped & Sere has just catapulted that love astronomically. It's been a long time since I was so encapsulated by a series and the characters involved that I read every space second I could, rather than waiting for the next convenient time that I could binge read for an entire day. There was no waiting here. There was no chance of it. I had to know what was happening, I had to read more, even if I only had a spare five minutes to read a few pages. Waiting was torture.
Down sides? It was an ARC, so there were the expected pre-edit issues of missing words, spelling mistakes and such. But, to be quite honest, I stumbled over them neatly, always able to make sense of what was happening or being said, without them. They were non important and I know, for sure, that they'll be corrected in the final proof.
~
Overall, the genius of this series will stay with me for a long time. Each time a new book comes out, you know I'll be grabbing my copies of the previous ones to binge read them in order. Not because it's needed or because I've forgotten anything, but just because it's so much more fun to revisit Cavalo and Lucas time and time again, reliving their 'moments', reliving the heat, the fire and the insanity.
And you can be damned sure that though this is the first time I've cried over a robot, I doubt T.J. Klune will let it be the last. And, strangely enough, I'm okay with that.
As long as they keep writing books, I'll keep reading them. And that “holy shit!” ending? Well, I'll be first in line to buy books 3 and 4 (and any more they want to write) in this series. Because the minute I read that last little paragraph, from the author, you know I was practically sobbing in relief.
~
Favourite Quotes
I practically highlighted the entire book, but I will share my favourites, because they're the ones that will stay with me the longest:
““You okay?” he asked Bad Dog as he turned in circles before laying down on the blanket.
Head hurts, he said. He looked at Cavalo with big eyes. Some jerky would help.
“Would it?”
Yes.
“I don't know if we have any jerky.”
There's a whole bag in your pack. I can smell it.
“Can you? You must be feeling better, then.”
I can barely smell it, Bad Dog corrected. He whined and lay his head down on his paws. Getting...dark. Must have...rabbit jerky.”
“His heart was dark. He had murder in his eyes and death on his lips.”
“He was my son, and he died fighting for something good. I am going to go home and stand upon his grave, and I will rant. I will rave. I will suffer. But I will know why it happened. And one day, I will be able to remember him with nothing but an ache and a smile.”
“AND I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND”
beata's review against another edition
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? No
4.5
Am I on some crazy pills or did the ending suggest there should be 2 more books in the series? I'm guessing it was canned.
loishojmark's review against another edition
5.0
And the Oscar for best supporting character goes to: SIRS!
This was a tuff book to read. I caught myself procrastinating to prolong or prevent reading. I didn't want it to end, but I didn't want to read it either. Well of course I wanted to read the book, but it was rather bleak.
One of my all time favorite books is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Klune has stated that it was one of his inspirations behind this series. I can see that. So if you like The Road I'm pretty sure you'll like these two books.
But but but this is definitely one of my favorite series, and I'm so sad that it has been discontinued. I really, really would have liked to know who it was, that wasn't what he seemed.
Damn how I love The Dark Klune (yes I capitalized that!
This was a tuff book to read. I caught myself procrastinating to prolong or prevent reading. I didn't want it to end, but I didn't want to read it either. Well of course I wanted to read the book, but it was rather bleak.
One of my all time favorite books is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Klune has stated that it was one of his inspirations behind this series. I can see that. So if you like The Road I'm pretty sure you'll like these two books.
But but but this is definitely one of my favorite series, and I'm so sad that it has been discontinued. I really, really would have liked to know who it was, that wasn't what he seemed.
Damn how I love The Dark Klune (yes I capitalized that!