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ivylucia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
WTF?! This book is a roller coaster ride and the ending is… ugghh. The spicy scenes are A1 but there’s too much happening for true character development and too much to unpack. Reading the 3rd when it’s out bc I must know what happens next… but also, what the actual 🤬
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Murder, Gore, War, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
kbowles24's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Gore, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, War, and Pregnancy
julesfrigault's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
kristannereads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
charliexox's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
yliana's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I hoped that the world building and plot would be more developed in this one but it still kinda fell flat for me. The romance also was kinda meh tbh😭 I dont really see how isolde and Adrian are actually into each other you know?
I really do like isolde though, I think she's a badass and she's so okay with the violence and punishments against traitors I fucking love ittt
Even though I this book is just okay, I think I'll still read the next one just because I wanna know how it ends
I really do like isolde though, I think she's a badass and she's so okay with the violence and punishments against traitors I fucking love ittt
Even though I this book is just okay, I think I'll still read the next one just because I wanna know how it ends
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
shaylac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm a little underwhelmed to say the least.
After finishing the first book in the series I was excited to start the second book to get a more in-depth look at some of the characters but it felt like it was a bit lackluster. There wasn't much plot or character building in this book, granted there were a lot of things that happened throughout the book. It almost felt as though there were too many issues instead of the characters having to focus on one or two; as a reader there wasn't a main focal point as it almost felt chaotic.
To be fair, there were a lot of twists and turns that you would have or not have picked up hints on throughout the book. There's also a good amount of spice that was included, which I think we're all here for 😉
After finishing the first book in the series I was excited to start the second book to get a more in-depth look at some of the characters but it felt like it was a bit lackluster. There wasn't much plot or character building in this book, granted there were a lot of things that happened throughout the book. It almost felt as though there were too many issues instead of the characters having to focus on one or two; as a reader there wasn't a main focal point as it almost felt chaotic.
To be fair, there were a lot of twists and turns that you would have or not have picked up hints on throughout the book. There's also a good amount of spice that was included, which I think we're all here for 😉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, and Rape
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pregnancy
cjfray's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Rape, War, Sexual assault, and Torture
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Whilst I didn't like this book as much as the first one I still think it was good and eventually found it's foot towards the last half.
The lore and world building for this series is still very well done in my opinion. We keep learning more history and why certain things are the way they are in their current timeline compared to the past. I think a lot of the secondary characters really pulled the story along and kept it going since Isolde and Adrian were not a highlight this book. The plot of the book was also lackluster but did at least build to a hopefully a more interesting third book.
The real issue I had with this story was Isolde and Adrian and their relationship. It felt very toxic on both sides, a lot of their actions didn't feel like they matched their characters at all. The book bought up so many issues between them and then made waved it away with sex between them.In particular I felt that Isolde was abusive towards Adrian. She would yell and event hit him at times when she was angry at something Adrian did and never apologised for her actions whilst whenever Adrian was in the wrong he at least apologised eventually and in character. Adrian on the other hand doesn't feel like he understand that Isolde is not her past life at all despite what he says. It's not even a struggle that we really see play out and that he comes to terms with, this is a words don't match actions issue. I didn't feel like he loved Isolde at all but only what she was in the past and keeps comparing the two.
Event after everything I will still read the third book and see if any of the build up pays off and hopefully there are some much needed improvements.
The lore and world building for this series is still very well done in my opinion. We keep learning more history and why certain things are the way they are in their current timeline compared to the past. I think a lot of the secondary characters really pulled the story along and kept it going since Isolde and Adrian were not a highlight this book. The plot of the book was also lackluster but did at least build to a hopefully a more interesting third book.
The real issue I had with this story was Isolde and Adrian and their relationship. It felt very toxic on both sides, a lot of their actions didn't feel like they matched their characters at all. The book bought up so many issues between them and then made waved it away with sex between them.
Event after everything I will still read the third book and see if any of the build up pays off and hopefully there are some much needed improvements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
booksbytheglass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
this series is absolutely nuts!! I swear, scarlett st clair must put crack in her writing because the plot is so repetitive, the dialogue is weak, and the characters seem to be regressing on their personalities - BUT I COULD NOT STOP READING THIS!
the secrets and betrayals of war really made this one for me! I appreciated the decrease in spice scenes from the first one to make way for more world building and characterization - except it felt like a lot of the characters definitely were weaker emotionally and physically compared to the first book…
and the plot itself was beyond repetitive, especially when isolde gets betrayed and stabbed by those she trusted approximately three different times 🫠 like, we couldn’t switch it up? just betrayal after betrayal?
I felt like I was reading ten fantasy novels at once, and while it felt like lazy writing and editing, I also really loved it so please don’t change hahaha! this review is really just a contradictory mess pls excuse me
and that cliffhanger? that I have to now wait 6+ months on? I shouldn’t be this invested in what happens next, but boy am I 👀 sometimes we need a hot messy book to get us going okay
now delaney needs to hurry up and finish too so we can scream together!!!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: beaujolais nouveau
the secrets and betrayals of war really made this one for me! I appreciated the decrease in spice scenes from the first one to make way for more world building and characterization - except it felt like a lot of the characters definitely were weaker emotionally and physically compared to the first book…
and the plot itself was beyond repetitive, especially when isolde gets betrayed and stabbed by those she trusted approximately three different times 🫠 like, we couldn’t switch it up? just betrayal after betrayal?
I felt like I was reading ten fantasy novels at once, and while it felt like lazy writing and editing, I also really loved it so please don’t change hahaha! this review is really just a contradictory mess pls excuse me
and that cliffhanger? that I have to now wait 6+ months on? I shouldn’t be this invested in what happens next, but boy am I 👀 sometimes we need a hot messy book to get us going okay
now delaney needs to hurry up and finish too so we can scream together!!!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: beaujolais nouveau
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape