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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
This book dragged on and on and was so boring and then it ends in a way that made me regret ever starting this series.
The constant changing POV is somewhat confusing even though I do like seeing what’s going on in everyone’s perspective.
I think Lucas is alive. I don’t know how but I can hope.
I think Lucas is alive. I don’t know how but I can hope.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can now see why I didn’t see any promotion or hype for this book.
adventurous
The only reason it’s at a 3 is because of the ending.
This book really dragged. The pace felt incredibly slow and the cast has gotten too big. Since we are focused on so many characters it felt like we were getting a lot of information that wasn’t necessary or wasn’t pushing the plot forward in anyway.
I wish we could go back to just following Elloren, or even just limiting the POVs to just the main players instead of it being basically every character.
This book really dragged. The pace felt incredibly slow and the cast has gotten too big. Since we are focused on so many characters it felt like we were getting a lot of information that wasn’t necessary or wasn’t pushing the plot forward in anyway.
I wish we could go back to just following Elloren, or even just limiting the POVs to just the main players instead of it being basically every character.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fourth book in the black witch series. It seems that these books prioritize romance over the fantasy aspect. The book should’ve been called “The Lavender/Xishlon Moon” because that’s what most of it was about. The threat of Vogel took a backseat to all the romantic feelings people had for each other. And every kiss either physically changes your blood, gives you physical pain, or literally transports you to another world or gives you the illusion of that. A big chunk of the book (like 20%) was Trystan and Vothe trying to fight their feelings for each other. In my opinion, too many characters are in love with each other. (Too many characters were gay or lesbian too.) Its unrealistic. Can’t some characters be happily single or have an unrequited love? Tierney having feelings for Or’myr seemed to come out of nowhere, after there had already been chapters of her having feelings for a death fae and an asrai too.
After all these romantic chapters were gotten out of the way (like 80% of the book), the story finally got exciting and back to the plot. I liked the ending, although I was disappointed that I have to read yet another (probably big, romance filled) book in order to get the final ending.
Other minor complaints:
1. I don’t mind the different character perspectives, but i would gave preferred if the author consistently stayed in either first or third person tense.
2. All the Ys (and apostrophes) in people’s names. Would be nice the author tried to have more distinction between the names of people from different cultures. Like only have all the Ys in one culture, all the apostrophes in another. Instead, there are Y names in nearly every one (and the apostrophes are almost as common):
Bleddyn the urisk
Effrey
Emberlyyn the urisk
Evralyr the amaz
Fernyllia
Freyja Zyrr the amaz
Fyn’ir the icaral
Fyon Hawkkyn the smaragdalfar
Fyordin the asrai
Fyn’ir the icaral
Fyya Lo
Heelyn the noi
Mora’lee Starr’lyrion
Ny’laea which is supposed to be an elfhollen name
Nym’ellia the half mage, half urisk
Oaklyyn the dryad
Olilly the urisk
Or’myr Syll’vir the mage urisk
Pyrgo the icaral
Rivyr’el the alfsigr/elf
Sagellyn Gaffney
Soollyndrile the wyvern
Sylvi the amaz
Sylmire the amaz
Sylla the death fae
Sylus the mage
Sylvan the dryad
Syr Vho the noi
Tierney the asrai
Trystan the mage
Tibryl the urisk
Vestylle the amaz/smaragdalfar
Vyvian the mage
Wyn juun the noi
Wynter the icaral
Ysilldir the amaz/alfsigr
Yvan the kelt icaral
Zosh Lyyo the noi
3. The democrat/leftist bent of the book:
Racism - the moral of the story seems to be not to be prejudice against a person just because of their race. Even if a racial group is doing bad things or believes bad things doesnt mean everyone of that race is bad or believes those same things. This is a good moral to have.
Homosexuality - There are a lot of homosexuals in this story, and the evil mage land is against them, without seeming to have any reason for it.
Birth control - This is another thing the evil mage land is against, but the protagonists are not (355). I don’t have a problem with birth control, but it’d be nice for variety’s sake to not have every single heterosexual pairing using it. Doesn’t any person want to have a baby with the one they love? While on the one hand it’s nice to have the option to prevent pregnancy when you’re not ready for it yet or don’t want to have *too* many children, an unfortunate side effect of easily obtainable birth control is that it encourages loose sexual morality—sleeping around with many partners whom one is not committed to (plus increased STDs). And since birth control is not 100% effective, accidents can still happen, and you can still end up with an unwanted baby. Frequent and easy sex cheapens it, makes it something done for fun or entertainment, instead of a special, sacred thing reserved for your one true love. As one character says, “Delayed pleasure can be so gratifying” (388). Using a condom is like indirectly telling your partner, “I’m not serious enough about you to want to stay with you for life. You’re just a temporary fling.”
Illegal immigration & socialized medicine - the democrats seem to overlook the fact that republicans aren’t against immigration, but illegal immigration, and giving out free stuff to people who never intend on becoming citizens, working, or paying taxes. Republicans have a problem with the fact that the democrats want to let everyone in south of the border with no screening at all, including criminals, drug dealers, and the covid infected. The book has some refugees infected with the red grippe, and characters arguing that these people should be treated (283, 369). Treated using whose money? And why should immigrants get something for nothing while working citizens have to pay for their own treatments? This disparity is what republicans are against. And while the masses of democrats are probably just for illegal immigration because of compassion or conformity, you can bet that the actual democrat politicians are just for it so they can acquire more votes. It’s obvious that the wealthy democrats don’t truly care about the immigrants when they’re only okay with their presence when it’s happening somewhere far away like Texas, and not in their own backyard.
“You shouldn’t have to be rich to get medicine” (293). The same could be said of many things: “You shouldn’t have to be rich to have internet, running water, working plumbing, a home, a car, clothes, food, electricity, heat, air conditioning, a phone, a computer, etc.” So we should all just sit on our couches doing absolutely nothing and get everything handed to us on a silver platter? If everyone gets everything they need for nothing, there is no reason to work. And if everyone stops working, then there won’t be stuff available to give away for free. Not to mention, if everyone stops working, there won’t be any tax money coming in to fund everyone’s “free” stuff. Having people work for what they want to buy is fair and just. Giving someone the fruit of someone else’s labor is unfair and unjust.
Both sides of the political aisle should learn from this book another message—that the infighting isn’t helpful, that the true enemy is something larger than our differences of opinion or race or sexual orientation, something that seeks to oppress us all, & that we should unite against it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I needed a day or so to process what I read after going on this wild adventure in the fourth installment of this series! I still love everything about the Black Witch Chronicles, but this one was probably my least favorite in the series so far. I'm still eagerly going to be awaiting the final book to be published (hopefully this year!?
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No