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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
P 3/5 more relationship focused than plot
E 4/5 i waited too long to read and wasn't invested in Dante and alessa
A 4/5 jogged my memory adter 2 + years is impressive
C 3/5 miscommunication and Dante should have stuck up for alessa to Talia waaay sooner
H 3/5 typical gods playing games.
18/25
72% C-
E 4/5 i waited too long to read and wasn't invested in Dante and alessa
A 4/5 jogged my memory adter 2 + years is impressive
C 3/5 miscommunication and Dante should have stuck up for alessa to Talia waaay sooner
H 3/5 typical gods playing games.
18/25
72% C-
2,5 stars
I enjoyed the first it was very good but this one wasn't. The two books left me with exact opposite feelings: the first is a very good young adult book, with a well written romance and a very interesting plot the second one is every young adult cliche you can find, every problem is easily solved, no real stakes before the final, and the final conclusion... well let's not talk about it. I was so curious how the story would develop after book one but it was just 0815. Also the story is mostly told out of Dante's POV and the attempts of character development he goes through made me start to dislike him.
Sadly book two is a lot of wasted potential.
I enjoyed the first it was very good but this one wasn't. The two books left me with exact opposite feelings: the first is a very good young adult book, with a well written romance and a very interesting plot the second one is every young adult cliche you can find, every problem is easily solved, no real stakes before the final, and the final conclusion... well let's not talk about it. I was so curious how the story would develop after book one but it was just 0815. Also the story is mostly told out of Dante's POV and the attempts of character development he goes through made me start to dislike him.
Sadly book two is a lot of wasted potential.
I really struggled with this one. While I loved how This Vicious Grace stood out with a lush world, endearing characters, a realistic romance and an intriguing story, This Cursed Light had very little of that. The Italian-inspired world still remains one of the strongest assets of this series, and despite a lack of real character growth, I still really enjoyed following them and their little found family.
However, the romance has become very different from the slow burn full of banter and chemistry of the first book. This may make sense when considering the plot, but reading +300 pages of the main couple constantly and unjustifiably lying to each other every other chapter just wasn’t enjoyable and added very little to the plot.
When it comes to the plot and the ending, well, they were underwhelming at best. The repetitiveness of the plot, and all the time we spend reading about soldiers’ training, should have at least rewarded us with a compelling climax. It did not. Could this series be another syndrome of duology-that-should-have-stayed-standalone? I think my review of this sequel speaks for itself.
However, the romance has become very different from the slow burn full of banter and chemistry of the first book. This may make sense when considering the plot, but reading +300 pages of the main couple constantly and unjustifiably lying to each other every other chapter just wasn’t enjoyable and added very little to the plot.
When it comes to the plot and the ending, well, they were underwhelming at best. The repetitiveness of the plot, and all the time we spend reading about soldiers’ training, should have at least rewarded us with a compelling climax. It did not. Could this series be another syndrome of duology-that-should-have-stayed-standalone? I think my review of this sequel speaks for itself.
I am withholding my review and rating until St Martin’s Press addresses the demands of the boycott.
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
Gosh, this took for bloody ever. This was such a letdown. I genuinely enjoyed the first book, but this one felt like torture after a certain point. It wasn't good from the start, but I hoped it would get better. Sadly, it did not.
Where do I even start? I hate Adrick and the whole 'romance' between him and Kaleb just felt forced and unnecessary and neglected all at the same time. Kaleb deserved better, but then again he was nothing but the comic relief in this book, so...
And talking of neglected, basically everything that might have been an even remotely interesting plot point in this book was neglected. It was all just a bunch of "super easy, barely an inconvenience" type situations strung together. Just the characters waltzing through, encountering 'problems' that are resolved within a few pages. Oh no, however are they going to navigate an entire continent they basically know nothing about and find anything? Well, they just do and it's easy, that's how.
Worldbuilding wasn't a strong point of the first book either, but since there was nothing good going on to distract me from it, the lack of it really irked me in the sequel.
The mysterious Ghiotte turned out to be an entire community of insufferable juvenile show offs. Then again our main cast from Saverio also was insufferable and juvenile, so they fit right in.
Dante and Alessa were just lusting after each other the whole time and what Dante thought about her body at points just gave me the ick. Like, "bittersweet chocolate truffle with a creamy center"? Really, sir? Ew!
Of course they weren't talking to each other about their respective problems, because why would you be open with the person you love, especially right before the world as you know it might end? There also was a good bit of other unnecessary drama there. None of it was interesting or compelling.
There was a huge lemon throwing fight towards the end of the book which felt like something my twelve year old self would have really vibed with as a scene. It was ridiculous and stupid. I never cared much for lemons, but the author seems to really, really love them. A lot.
There were also a lot of inconsistencies, while logic as well as common sense were mostly absent.
Buddyread with Aleetaya <3 without that I would probably have dnfed...
Where do I even start? I hate Adrick and the whole 'romance' between him and Kaleb just felt forced and unnecessary and neglected all at the same time. Kaleb deserved better, but then again he was nothing but the comic relief in this book, so...
And talking of neglected, basically everything that might have been an even remotely interesting plot point in this book was neglected. It was all just a bunch of "super easy, barely an inconvenience" type situations strung together. Just the characters waltzing through, encountering 'problems' that are resolved within a few pages. Oh no, however are they going to navigate an entire continent they basically know nothing about and find anything? Well, they just do and it's easy, that's how.
Worldbuilding wasn't a strong point of the first book either, but since there was nothing good going on to distract me from it, the lack of it really irked me in the sequel.
The mysterious Ghiotte turned out to be an entire community of insufferable juvenile show offs. Then again our main cast from Saverio also was insufferable and juvenile, so they fit right in.
Dante and Alessa were just lusting after each other the whole time and what Dante thought about her body at points just gave me the ick. Like, "bittersweet chocolate truffle with a creamy center"? Really, sir? Ew!
Of course they weren't talking to each other about their respective problems, because why would you be open with the person you love, especially right before the world as you know it might end? There also was a good bit of other unnecessary drama there. None of it was interesting or compelling.
There was a huge lemon throwing fight towards the end of the book which felt like something my twelve year old self would have really vibed with as a scene. It was ridiculous and stupid. I never cared much for lemons, but the author seems to really, really love them. A lot.
There were also a lot of inconsistencies, while logic as well as common sense were mostly absent.
Buddyread with Aleetaya <3 without that I would probably have dnfed...
I am... utterly confused. And very much speechless.
I have absolutely no idea what happened here. I liked the first book very much, liked Alessa, her chemistry with Dante, her interesting powers, her finding friends, a family.
But this?
The second book is a monstrosity. It feels like it was written by an entirely different person. It feels utterly immature and laughable (not the good kind). I mean the worlds best fighters, Deas world-saving army doesn't have any discipline, everyone is constantly flipping around and.. throwing rotten lemons on each other.
And there is SO. MUCH. DRAMA. And I couldn't care less. But that I have in common with the characters. Many things are happening, supposedly dramatic, heartbreaking, ground shaking. And nobody gives a shit for more than one sentence.
And don't get me started on the continuity mistakes.
Or that permanent drooling of the mc over one another. It was cringy. I had enough when he called his favorite part of her "bittersweet chocolate truffle with a creamy center".
I am very deeply sorry. But even if I was looking forward to reading this book and really trying to like it, there was not one thing, I liked about it. Not even the cat.
So, merely one star from me.
Buddyread with MissBookwyrm <3
I have absolutely no idea what happened here. I liked the first book very much, liked Alessa, her chemistry with Dante, her interesting powers, her finding friends, a family.
But this?
The second book is a monstrosity. It feels like it was written by an entirely different person. It feels utterly immature and laughable (not the good kind). I mean the worlds best fighters, Deas world-saving army doesn't have any discipline, everyone is constantly flipping around and.. throwing rotten lemons on each other.
And there is SO. MUCH. DRAMA. And I couldn't care less. But that I have in common with the characters. Many things are happening, supposedly dramatic, heartbreaking, ground shaking. And nobody gives a shit for more than one sentence.
And don't get me started on the continuity mistakes.
Or that permanent drooling of the mc over one another. It was cringy. I had enough when he called his favorite part of her "bittersweet chocolate truffle with a creamy center".
I am very deeply sorry. But even if I was looking forward to reading this book and really trying to like it, there was not one thing, I liked about it. Not even the cat.
So, merely one star from me.
Buddyread with MissBookwyrm <3
adventurous
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
SHE WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BROKEN THING HE'D EVER SEEN. HE WOULD'VE MADE GLUE FROM HIS BONES TO FIX HER WORLD IF HE COULD.
SHE WAS HIS LIGHT, AS HE WAS HERS.
AND NOW HIS LIGHT WOULD GUIDE HER HOME.
THIS CURSED LIGHT IS A BEAUTIFUL CONCLUSION TO THE LAST FINESTRA DUOLOGY. THIS CURSED LIGHT WEAVES A CAPTIVATING NARRATIVE OF SACRIFICE, LOYALTY, AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF POWER.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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