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janchamp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, and Homophobia
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
I think it's a solid middle book, but it stumbles through many of the pitfalls that many second books in a trilogy do. Everything in this book as set up to get us to book 3, and I think some of the weaknesses in the writing that were present in book 1 came to focus a little more because of it. I still liked reading about Adam and Vic and their journey to getting together (though my dumb ass missed that months had passed between the second to last chapter of the first book and the start of this one), dealing with the death of someone in the family you thought you knew really well, and the magic. I guess I just do not care about the politics of elves and whatnot and I really just felt like it dragged in spots. I still finished it and it got me interested enough to get to book 3, but I did feel like it stumbled a bit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Murder
Minor: Forced institutionalization
kal517's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Kidnapping, Addiction, and Cancer
tifftastic87's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just as fun and creative as the first.
Adam Binder is a young man with a gift, one that often feels like a curse. Now a full warlock, though not as powerful as the one he is still tracking, Adam is a called home to Oklahoma by his aunt's cat. Something is wrong and he's on his way, without even calling his boyfriend, or his job.
Again in this book we get a journey, but the journey this time is told through the perspective of Vic as he journeys from Denver to Guthrie with Argent the Elf. Vic is coming to terms with being a reaper and learning about Adam and the spirit world. While he grapples with this, Adam grapples with his family history and his new relationship with his mom and brother, who have both followed him to Guthrie. Can he have a new life in Denver and who is the warlock and how is he related to Adam, and further, what is wrong with his cousin? Midway through the internal conflict becomes external with Vic finding himself witness to a secret plot from the sea elves to overtake the Court of Swords, Adam discovers the warlock is after his cousin, and Vic discovers the secret about Adam's dad that has been hidden from him.
I really liked how Vic became a main character, how his and Adam's relationship was explored and how the family trauma was shown to run deep, back generations. Adam is still deeply scarred from his upbringing, but not enough that he can't start to trust and watching how Vic handles that was very touching. These two characters are so respectful of each other and I appreciate how Vic being bi is handled and presented.
Overall, a wonderful YA hero story with a bit of magic and journey vibes.
Adam Binder is a young man with a gift, one that often feels like a curse. Now a full warlock, though not as powerful as the one he is still tracking, Adam is a called home to Oklahoma by his aunt's cat. Something is wrong and he's on his way, without even calling his boyfriend, or his job.
Again in this book we get a journey, but the journey this time is told through the perspective of Vic as he journeys from Denver to Guthrie with Argent the Elf. Vic is coming to terms with being a reaper and learning about Adam and the spirit world. While he grapples with this, Adam grapples with his family history and his new relationship with his mom and brother, who have both followed him to Guthrie. Can he have a new life in Denver and who is the warlock and how is he related to Adam, and further, what is wrong with his cousin? Midway through the internal conflict becomes external with Vic finding himself witness to a secret plot from the sea elves to overtake the Court of Swords, Adam discovers the warlock is after his cousin, and Vic discovers the secret about Adam's dad that has been hidden from him.
I really liked how Vic became a main character, how his and Adam's relationship was explored and how the family trauma was shown to run deep, back generations. Adam is still deeply scarred from his upbringing, but not enough that he can't start to trust and watching how Vic handles that was very touching. These two characters are so respectful of each other and I appreciate how Vic being bi is handled and presented.
Overall, a wonderful YA hero story with a bit of magic and journey vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Blood, Homophobia, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Genocide
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Cancer
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent
mallorypen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
Another super-solid sequel and I am here for it! This was almost better than the first book, and that is sometimes hard for me once the romantic leads are together or the direction has already been set. However, the real conflict between Vic and Adam (communication really do be everything) plus the evolving family dynamics kept me hooked, as well as the b plot of the elves plotting against one another and the conflict between the Winter court.
The twists in this novel were just as good if not better than the first. I was guessing along with Adam as to the true nature of the Druid, and even though the great grandfather was introduced later and wasn’t seeded earlier in the story, it didn’t strike me as clumsy or lazy writing to introduce him as such.
I also felt that now that I was fully immersed in the world building and had bought into all the characters, the stakes felt higher though the conflict (family loss versus loss of all humanity) in the a plot was ostensibly smaller. I loved Adam dealing with the repercussions of becoming a warlock, and that his actions ultimately saved him from being a target for the Druid in the end.
The introduction of Vren was fresh and interesting: with all the elves taking a somewhat similar approach to humanity and the differences between them and elves, Vren as a kind of asshole teenager with a core of goodness is refreshing. I also really loved the baby steps into Vic’s new identity as a reaper; it didn’t completely take over his character, but it built throughout the story until the climax with his father and then his battle with the Druid.
I might have to buy the next book in the trilogy simply to find out what happened next!
The twists in this novel were just as good if not better than the first. I was guessing along with Adam as to the true nature of the Druid, and even though
I also felt that now that I was fully immersed in the world building and had bought into all the characters, the stakes felt higher though the conflict (family loss versus loss of all humanity) in the a plot was ostensibly smaller. I loved Adam dealing with the repercussions of becoming a warlock, and that his actions ultimately saved him from being a target for the Druid in the end.
The introduction of Vren was fresh and interesting: with all the elves taking a somewhat similar approach to humanity and the differences between them and elves, Vren as a kind of asshole teenager with a core of goodness is refreshing. I also really loved the baby steps into Vic’s new identity as a reaper; it didn’t completely take over his character, but it built throughout the story until the climax with his father and then his battle with the Druid.
I might have to buy the next book in the trilogy simply to find out what happened next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore, Murder, Body horror, and Death of parent
morbidlyobtuse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Loved it. This second novel goes on where the first left off and widens not only the development of the characters, but also builds the world up more.
I've rapidly become invested in everything that happens with Adam and his family, and I'm looking forward to the third novel.
I've rapidly become invested in everything that happens with Adam and his family, and I'm looking forward to the third novel.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Death of parent, Murder, and Homophobia
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Kidnapping
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I love that this is the second book in the series and I’m so blown away by it! The story was not what I was expecting and also exactly what I needed it to be. This book was kind of like an emotional pinball machine, bouncing from one disaster to another. But damn, did it have a satisfying but also cliffhanger ending.
I loved that we got to see so much of the Binder’s family history and that we got to see more of Adam’s family. Even if they are a truly fucked up tangled mess. I also really liked that we got to see so much more of Vic and his developing powers! I’m super excited to see where that goes. Also! The things happening with Silver and Argent?? I really need that next book now.
I really enjoyed reading this one and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! If you love urban fantasy books, this is definitely a series to check out. And I’m giving this one a solid four and a half stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Grief, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia