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fanfare's review against another edition
4.0
Still super wholesome, good story like the first book. The ending was everything that I wanted.
eva333's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
I absolutely loved reading this book and this duology as a whole.
The story is gripping and the characters are incredibly loveable, especially with the whole found family they have going on. The writing style was easy and comfortable for me to read, although it could be partly due to me already being familiar with her writing that made it easier.
Even though tense and dangerous events occur to the main character and the people he's the closest to, it never got very angsty for me, which kept it kind of a lighthearted and fun adventure story, which actually sneakily focuses more on the characters than on their quest.
One thing I also really enjoyed was the whole relationship between Lucíen and Glory. They just read like they're so good for each other. I adored reading how they grew closer and became more open with each other.
The story is gripping and the characters are incredibly loveable, especially with the whole found family they have going on. The writing style was easy and comfortable for me to read, although it could be partly due to me already being familiar with her writing that made it easier.
Even though tense and dangerous events occur to the main character and the people he's the closest to, it never got very angsty for me, which kept it kind of a lighthearted and fun adventure story, which actually sneakily focuses more on the characters than on their quest.
One thing I also really enjoyed was the whole relationship between Lucíen and Glory. They just read like they're so good for each other. I adored reading how they grew closer and became more open with each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Death
ceeceegee's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
jameser's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
lenahe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
5.0
The book is not perfect, but I had such a blast reading it that I can't rate it less.
The book has some cozy vibes, even though the stakes are high. The plot is mostly straightforward, but I could read about this characters doing anything, really.
There's lots of smut, which I didn't expected since the first book is much more tame. At times, the sex scenes did interrupt the pacing of the plot, but they were such wonderful written scenes that I can't really complain.
Finally, if there is one point of improvement is that I really wanted to see more of Glory's backstory. She is such a good/perfect character, that at times didn't felt real. And she is such a pivotal character, that the book could be richer still if there was more to her.
The book has some cozy vibes, even though the stakes are high. The plot is mostly straightforward, but I could read about this characters doing anything, really.
There's lots of smut, which I didn't expected since the first book is much more tame. At times, the sex scenes did interrupt the pacing of the plot, but they were such wonderful written scenes that I can't really complain.
Finally, if there is one point of improvement is that I really wanted to see more of Glory's backstory. She is such a good/perfect character, that at times didn't felt real. And she is such a pivotal character, that the book could be richer still if there was more to her.
mxsallybend's review
5.0
It's no secret that His Secret Illuminations was not just one of my favorite reads of last year, but one of my favorite books of all time. It was a book that slipped deep into my romantic heart, connected with my submissive soul, and joyously celebrated my love of high fantasy.
Part of me wanted to read the sequel immediately, to find out how Glory and Lucian's relationship developed, and to discover how the overall quest was resolved.
Another part of me wanted to wait as long as possible, to spread out the enjoyment, and to save what was sure to be another wonderful comfort read for when I really needed it.
Yet another part of me (and this was a small part) was afraid to read it all, lest the realization of that sweet female-led love somehow not stand up to the dance of submissive male seduction that was so artfully woven in the first book.
Since it would be unfair to the rest of my library to have two favorite reads from the same author in the same year, I decided to wait just long enough to reacquaint myself with Scarlett Gale to make His Sacred Incantations my first favorite read of the new year - and I am delighted to say it didn't disappoint.
This is a different book than the first, more mature in terms of both sex and violence and, as such, I loved it differently. It is the culmination of everything that was set up in the first book, resolving all the plot threads that were established there, and it does a fabulous job of tying up loose ends while providing closure for many of the characters. It's a story that peaks three times, the first being the big plot climax, the second being a character climax, and the third being the romantic climax, and all of them are wonderfully satisfying.
With the sweet dance of seduction and submission having been realized by the end of the first book, this second story follows our lovers into female-led passion and kink. We get to see timid Lucian become an enthusiastic lover, but one who still suffers shame over his darker desires. I adored how Glory gave him time and space to confess those desires, while lovingly supporting him and tenderly reassuring him at every turn. What it lacks in the will-they-won't-they angst of the first book, it more than makes up for with erotic anticipation of the inevitable.
The first book planted a lot of plot seeds, but it's only here that we begin to understand how significant each of them is. The search for the missing books is still the driving force, but as the shadow of one looms ever darker over Lucian, the story finds its threat, Lucian finds his heroic arc, and Glory gets to show us why she's the feared She-Wolf. The fantasy aspect of the story shifts from light-hearted adventuring to high-stakes sword-and-sorcery, and Gale handles that perfectly, not just crafting a suitable villain for the story, but a perfect antagonist who connects so much of the underlying religious, philosophical, and social conflicts.
As part of that shift to sword-and-sorcery, the traveling duo of Glory and Lucian becomes a proper quest party, complete with familiar faces and some important new ones - including Sister Evelyn, a transgender woman with whom Lucian shares a surprising history. Her introduction into the story is part of resolving those underlying conflicts I mentioned, particularly the religious one, and she adds a whole new dimension of friendship to things, rounding out Lucian's found family with a second sister (The Knife, who is back and bad-ass as ever, being the first).
In terms of theme, structure, and genre convention, His Sacred Incantations is a better, stronger, more well-rounded book than the first . . . but, in terms of novelty, originality, and romantic convention, I have to give the edge to His Secret Illuminations. I struggled over how to compare the two, how to gauge my enjoyment and my appreciation, and it all comes down to what I said earlier - I didn't necessarily love one more than the other, I just loved them differently.
https://www.sallybend.com/2022/01/fantasy-romance-book-review-his-sacred.html
Part of me wanted to read the sequel immediately, to find out how Glory and Lucian's relationship developed, and to discover how the overall quest was resolved.
Another part of me wanted to wait as long as possible, to spread out the enjoyment, and to save what was sure to be another wonderful comfort read for when I really needed it.
Yet another part of me (and this was a small part) was afraid to read it all, lest the realization of that sweet female-led love somehow not stand up to the dance of submissive male seduction that was so artfully woven in the first book.
Since it would be unfair to the rest of my library to have two favorite reads from the same author in the same year, I decided to wait just long enough to reacquaint myself with Scarlett Gale to make His Sacred Incantations my first favorite read of the new year - and I am delighted to say it didn't disappoint.
This is a different book than the first, more mature in terms of both sex and violence and, as such, I loved it differently. It is the culmination of everything that was set up in the first book, resolving all the plot threads that were established there, and it does a fabulous job of tying up loose ends while providing closure for many of the characters. It's a story that peaks three times, the first being the big plot climax, the second being a character climax, and the third being the romantic climax, and all of them are wonderfully satisfying.
With the sweet dance of seduction and submission having been realized by the end of the first book, this second story follows our lovers into female-led passion and kink. We get to see timid Lucian become an enthusiastic lover, but one who still suffers shame over his darker desires. I adored how Glory gave him time and space to confess those desires, while lovingly supporting him and tenderly reassuring him at every turn. What it lacks in the will-they-won't-they angst of the first book, it more than makes up for with erotic anticipation of the inevitable.
The first book planted a lot of plot seeds, but it's only here that we begin to understand how significant each of them is. The search for the missing books is still the driving force, but as the shadow of one looms ever darker over Lucian, the story finds its threat, Lucian finds his heroic arc, and Glory gets to show us why she's the feared She-Wolf. The fantasy aspect of the story shifts from light-hearted adventuring to high-stakes sword-and-sorcery, and Gale handles that perfectly, not just crafting a suitable villain for the story, but a perfect antagonist who connects so much of the underlying religious, philosophical, and social conflicts.
As part of that shift to sword-and-sorcery, the traveling duo of Glory and Lucian becomes a proper quest party, complete with familiar faces and some important new ones - including Sister Evelyn, a transgender woman with whom Lucian shares a surprising history. Her introduction into the story is part of resolving those underlying conflicts I mentioned, particularly the religious one, and she adds a whole new dimension of friendship to things, rounding out Lucian's found family with a second sister (The Knife, who is back and bad-ass as ever, being the first).
In terms of theme, structure, and genre convention, His Sacred Incantations is a better, stronger, more well-rounded book than the first . . . but, in terms of novelty, originality, and romantic convention, I have to give the edge to His Secret Illuminations. I struggled over how to compare the two, how to gauge my enjoyment and my appreciation, and it all comes down to what I said earlier - I didn't necessarily love one more than the other, I just loved them differently.
https://www.sallybend.com/2022/01/fantasy-romance-book-review-his-sacred.html
memibb's review against another edition
5.0
WOOOP WOOOP BOOK OF THE YEAR (2022, even though I’m leaving a review months later
vortacist's review
adventurous
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? No
5.0
naylopez13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75