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ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
Thank you so much Delacorte for sending me a copy in the mail for review!
“Friends, enemies, I don’t think it matters anymore. The chains are just as heavy, no matter who holds the key.”
I loved Ash Princess and the ending had left me hungry for more, so I was super excited when Delacorte sent me a copy of Lady Smoke in the mail for review. I didn't not like Lady Smoke, I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite characters and seeing what they are up too. But I didn't love this book as much as I hoped too. I see so many five star reviews for this one, so I can tell that I am already the black sheep.
I think my biggest problem was that even though I do love these characters I couldn't connect with them on a personal level like I did in Ash Princess. In the first book I was super invested in Theo and Soren and Blaise and their quests. In Lady Smoke I was very bleh about my connection with them. To be brutally honest I really didn't care for the giant quest they had to go on. If I can't connect with characters I am going to have a hard time reading the book. I felt like I spent a majority of Lady Smoke dragging myself through the pages.
I really didn't like the fact that Theo has to find a husband in order to defeat the Kaiser. I get that it is a plot point to the story can move forward. But #girlpower! (Plus, I ship Theo and Soren still so the whole "Theo having to find a husband that isn't Soren" wasn't my favorite thing in the world.)
“Still, there is something to be said about someone seeing your darkest parts and accepting you anyway.”
Overall I just really didn't love Lady Smoke as much as I hoped. It did end on a cliff hanger so I am slightly intrigued on what is going to happen next. I hope the conclusion for the Ash Princess trilogy is going to be just as kick ass and amazing as the first book was.
Thank you so much Delacorte for sending me a copy in the mail for review!
“Friends, enemies, I don’t think it matters anymore. The chains are just as heavy, no matter who holds the key.”
I loved Ash Princess and the ending had left me hungry for more, so I was super excited when Delacorte sent me a copy of Lady Smoke in the mail for review. I didn't not like Lady Smoke, I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite characters and seeing what they are up too. But I didn't love this book as much as I hoped too. I see so many five star reviews for this one, so I can tell that I am already the black sheep.
I think my biggest problem was that even though I do love these characters I couldn't connect with them on a personal level like I did in Ash Princess. In the first book I was super invested in Theo and Soren and Blaise and their quests. In Lady Smoke I was very bleh about my connection with them. To be brutally honest I really didn't care for the giant quest they had to go on. If I can't connect with characters I am going to have a hard time reading the book. I felt like I spent a majority of Lady Smoke dragging myself through the pages.
I really didn't like the fact that Theo has to find a husband in order to defeat the Kaiser. I get that it is a plot point to the story can move forward. But #girlpower! (Plus, I ship Theo and Soren still so the whole "Theo having to find a husband that isn't Soren" wasn't my favorite thing in the world.)
“Still, there is something to be said about someone seeing your darkest parts and accepting you anyway.”
Overall I just really didn't love Lady Smoke as much as I hoped. It did end on a cliff hanger so I am slightly intrigued on what is going to happen next. I hope the conclusion for the Ash Princess trilogy is going to be just as kick ass and amazing as the first book was.
leschroniques_delea's review against another edition
4.0
4,5/5
Je trouve ce deuxième tome encore plus addictif que le premier et j’ai adoré ma lecture. On retrouve Theodosia et les autres personnages une semaine après les derniers événements du tome 1.
Ce tome est plutôt lent, il ne se passe pas énormément d’action mais les intrigues royales et politiques sont plus présentes et j’ai apprécié voir Theodosia évoluer dans un monde tel que celui-ci. Elle qui a toujours vécu à Astrée ne connait pas grand-chose du monde extérieur et des souverains des autres royaumes. Pourtant elle va devoir s’accoutumer pour sauver son pays.
Theodosia est beaucoup plus mature dans ses décisions et elle les prend toute seule sans qu’on lui ordonne,même si elle doit par moment faire semblant et être la « bonne petite reine docile » pour mieux manipuler certaines personnes. Elle devient plus calculatrice, plus observatrice et plus attentive à ce qui l’entoure, même si ses sentiments viennent par fois troubler ses décisions.
Et pour finir ! Une fin des plus inattendue qui laisse présager que du bon pour la suite et laisse le lecteur avec pleins de questions.
Je trouve ce deuxième tome encore plus addictif que le premier et j’ai adoré ma lecture. On retrouve Theodosia et les autres personnages une semaine après les derniers événements du tome 1.
Ce tome est plutôt lent, il ne se passe pas énormément d’action mais les intrigues royales et politiques sont plus présentes et j’ai apprécié voir Theodosia évoluer dans un monde tel que celui-ci. Elle qui a toujours vécu à Astrée ne connait pas grand-chose du monde extérieur et des souverains des autres royaumes. Pourtant elle va devoir s’accoutumer pour sauver son pays.
Theodosia est beaucoup plus mature dans ses décisions et elle les prend toute seule sans qu’on lui ordonne,même si elle doit par moment faire semblant et être la « bonne petite reine docile » pour mieux manipuler certaines personnes. Elle devient plus calculatrice, plus observatrice et plus attentive à ce qui l’entoure, même si ses sentiments viennent par fois troubler ses décisions.
Et pour finir ! Une fin des plus inattendue qui laisse présager que du bon pour la suite et laisse le lecteur avec pleins de questions.
mariyah_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.25
Blaise annoys me. I didn't really like Soren in the first book but I'm actually growing to like the whole dynamic between him and Theo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, War, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Classism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Rape, and Toxic friendship
apatty187's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
sleepyzpanda's review against another edition
4.0
ok slay
(she's still leading both the mls on bc she can't choose so I still don't like the romance)
(she's still leading both the mls on bc she can't choose so I still don't like the romance)
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
**NO MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS REVIEW**
"Hope is contagious,” she says. “When you have enough, it spreads naturally.”
I really wish I had gotten around to reading the sequel a few years ago, or maybe listening to it would have been a different experience. I dont know...I just think sometimes ive grown out of the typical YA books and such. And this definitely had elements of a typical ya book. Semi love triangle. Uprising and gathering rebellion. A girl being made into a leader. Political charade, etc. Although not alot of physical action happened, alot of political action happened. And I can enjoy some political intrigue as much as the next gal. Though some of the book made me believe this was a cross between the selection and the red queen.
The writing did get a bit better, there wasnt as much...annoyance and laze in it. But some of the descriptions were a bit unnecessary in regards to the scenes. And I wish she had drawn out of the battle, instead of clustering it, i may have been more engaged. But it be what it be. The writing was engaging enough, I did enjoy some bits of how theos kaiser like mind worked. I actually thought it was brought it, to show her upbringing and how much that impacted her. I liked how she was dealing with all her trauma and her light weight chains. I didnt want her to forget who she was or had been, because those are what shape her in the future. She grows a little bit in this novel, but i felt the plot was focused on more external dillemmas than theos internal stuff.
But really, the main star of the show is Soren. That sweet baby boy deserves more. He deserves to have someone who loves him with all their heart. He deserves the world. And I hope he gets it.
Honestly I really liked how the 'side' characters bring their unique personalities to the story, and their experiences. They shape the story, they dont feel like plot devices, they feel like more friends.
Alright, that is all my ramblings. If you want your own, read the series.
"Hope is contagious,” she says. “When you have enough, it spreads naturally.”
I really wish I had gotten around to reading the sequel a few years ago, or maybe listening to it would have been a different experience. I dont know...I just think sometimes ive grown out of the typical YA books and such. And this definitely had elements of a typical ya book. Semi love triangle. Uprising and gathering rebellion. A girl being made into a leader. Political charade, etc. Although not alot of physical action happened, alot of political action happened. And I can enjoy some political intrigue as much as the next gal. Though some of the book made me believe this was a cross between the selection and the red queen.
The writing did get a bit better, there wasnt as much...annoyance and laze in it. But some of the descriptions were a bit unnecessary in regards to the scenes. And I wish she had drawn out of the battle, instead of clustering it, i may have been more engaged. But it be what it be. The writing was engaging enough, I did enjoy some bits of how theos kaiser like mind worked. I actually thought it was brought it, to show her upbringing and how much that impacted her. I liked how she was dealing with all her trauma and her light weight chains. I didnt want her to forget who she was or had been, because those are what shape her in the future. She grows a little bit in this novel, but i felt the plot was focused on more external dillemmas than theos internal stuff.
But really, the main star of the show is Soren. That sweet baby boy deserves more. He deserves to have someone who loves him with all their heart. He deserves the world. And I hope he gets it.
Honestly I really liked how the 'side' characters bring their unique personalities to the story, and their experiences. They shape the story, they dont feel like plot devices, they feel like more friends.
Alright, that is all my ramblings. If you want your own, read the series.
pebbletown's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not as gripping as the first one, maybe because the stakes of the palace intrigue felt higher there—and the pacing was a little unbalanced. But good continuation of the worldbuilding and Theo’s character development.