Reviews with content warning for Murder - This Wicked Fate

A great follow up to This Poison Heart, picking up right where we left off and diving right into the action.

Again, loved these characters and loved the relationship that developed between Briseis and Circe. I also loved Persephone, getting to know Nyx better, and Bri developing her powers. I am still conflicted about Marie and Bri being a thing because that age gap is Not It but I also liked how they resolved this dynamic in the end.

While I loved the first half and couldn’t get through it quick enough, I felt that the middle was a bit too slow and it took a bit too long to get on their journey, I think I would have preferred for them to head out in search of the remaining piece and hit more roadblocks along the way instead of taking so long to get in motion.

I felt that Bri’s connection to Karter was wrapped up well and I think there was good character work in his part. I really enjoyed the epilogue although I think I could have read a few more chapters of it because I loved seeing everyone live their best lives! I would not complain about another book set in this same universe!

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takarakei's review

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adventurous medium-paced

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

3.75

Unfortunately I think I would have liked this sequel more if I was a mythology girlie. But I'm not, and I'm not really familiar with the base mythology so I was missing that connection.

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twistykris's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious

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

4.25

A great conclusion to this duology, with delightful additional characters and a true Hero's Journey. There is SO much more Greek mythology in this book, which I really appreciated.

I enjoyed This Wicked Fate, but in all honesty, I liked This Poison Heart more. While I loved getting to know more about Circe, Nyx, Persephone, and Marie, the majority of this book is spent waiting and gathering information. They don't set out on their journey until more than halfway through. It also felt like it lacked a certain danger and action; there are some great tense, heartbreaking moments, but I wish they were drawn out more, and the ending felt abrupt and concluded too quickly for me.

I also wish the relationship between Briseis and Marie was more fleshed out (also I'm now feeling kinda meh about Marie being hundreds of years old dating a 16-year old). While I love some queer rep, their relationship just feels very insta-love; they hardly have any deep conversations and I didn't feel like it developed that much in this story.

That being said, it is still an enjoyable urban fantasy duology with some wonderful characters and strong Black girl magic.

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asourceoffiction's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.0

I loved This Poison Heart. I thought it was a brilliant combination of mythic and real, with wonderful protagonists and the biggest heart (pun not intended). And although I did love This Wicked Fate, I actually think it may have suffered in comparison to its superior predecessor.

The book follows on immediately from the events of the first one, and it was great (if emotionally wrenching) to dive straight back into the world. I loved getting more of Circe's history and seeing more of Persephone and Nyx. Briseis's found family in these books is just EVERYTHING.

I also loved the tension in parts of the book, but I did feel it lacked some of the danger and action that peppered the first. There were a couple of great dramatic moments but a lot of the story was spent waiting or gathering information, which slowed the pace a little. I also just wished it could have been longer. To really draw out the drama would have hooked me a bit more, and the end felt incredibly abrupt after so much build up.

It's still a great end to an amazing mini series, but This Poison Heart was definitely the better of the two for me.

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hanofgreengables's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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kaynova's review

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adventurous emotional reflective 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

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christineolivia's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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lennie_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my arc.

After the dramatic cliffhangers from the end of first book I was desperate to know what Briseis was going to do next.

I absolutely loved her as a character and I also really loved her mum's, and how normal they all felt. I also loved the little found family that Bri gathered around her.

I found the magic system fascinating and loved all of the plant lore and Greek Mythology, especially some of the lesser known ones.

I still think the romance was a bit insta-love-y and i had trouble at times really investing in it.
I really liked both of the characters but i feel like we missed the part where they got to know each other before liking each other. Idk maybe I'm just being cynical.

I really enjoyed the ending and in my mind I like to imagine Bri and her family running their little apothecary in their quaint little town whilst solving mysteries and getting involved with supernatural hijinks. It feels rife for a tv spin off tbh and i for one would absolutely devour a cosy witchy low stakes black girl magic tv show.

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