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erikariehigano22's review against another edition
5.0
HOLY MOLY. This was an intense ride from start to finish! And I am confident to say this is one of my most favourites in this series, as of writing this review.
I never expected for this book to explicitly show Lila's morally ambiguity. But I love it! The dilemma of me loving a female character that's just sooo messed up?.
Poor Kell and his feelings of inadequacy towards his royal parents. :( I never thought much about those two, but it's implied along the lines that Kell respects them as his parents regardless of biological connections.
Ojka! This girl has intrigued me from the beginning, when she was introduced, until the final moments in the book. I do wonder about her true nature. Is she an actual Antari? Or did Holland cast a spell (or a curse?) for her to have the abilities of an Antari? And where do the Antari came from?. I do hope the next book answers these questions relating to Kell's origin. I think the only downfall of this book was the lack of answers thrown around Kell's past before the royal family and before being Master Tieren's student in the Sanctuary.
I am currently in one of my busiest times in my final year of school. But this book series has been a delightful distraction from the chaos of real life. I think no fantasy book has ever trapped me in the intricate and compelling world building in this book. I'm starting to believe that maybe I myself want to be an Antari? LOL
I am still restraining myself from not looking up about anything related to this book. Why was this not adapted to a movie series or a TV Show yet? I do definitely hope it does!!
I never expected for this book to explicitly show Lila's morally ambiguity. But I love it! The dilemma of me loving a female character that's just sooo messed up?
Spoiler
Literally, she never hesitated in thinking she can assault a competitor and stole his identity just so she can participate in the Games. And killing her former competitor? That's definitely some bold attitude right there, Delilah Bard. But I still love her!Poor Kell and his feelings of inadequacy towards his royal parents. :( I never thought much about those two, but it's implied along the lines that Kell respects them as his parents regardless of biological connections.
Ojka! This girl has intrigued me from the beginning, when she was introduced, until the final moments in the book
Spoiler
where she was hunting Kell and managed to manipulate him into joining her to travel to White LondonI am currently in one of my busiest times in my final year of school. But this book series has been a delightful distraction from the chaos of real life. I think no fantasy book has ever trapped me in the intricate and compelling world building in this book. I'm starting to believe that maybe I myself want to be an Antari? LOL
I am still restraining myself from not looking up about anything related to this book. Why was this not adapted to a movie series or a TV Show yet? I do definitely hope it does!!
amy_salyer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
elizabethbooks226's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ahollman's review against another edition
4.0
now did anything major happen other than the two mc’s yearning for each other the whole book? absolutely not and yet it still hits
katinova's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
5.0
caitlinww's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
ciuli's review against another edition
3.0
3,5/5
I'm kind of sad that I can't give this book a higher rating. I had really high hopes for this sequel as I loved the first book, but this one was kind of boring for me. I only started to enjoy it when the games began, meaning 3/4 of the book in. I liked it less than the first one, but I definitely enjoyed reading it anyway. The world building is amazing, and I liked the introduction of more subplots, as the tension within the other countries, and the new characters, even though it took me until the very end of the book to really like Alucard. I think that this book was meant to be a filler, a way to link what happened in the first one, and the aftermath of the black night on everyone's lives, and what is going to happen in the next one, but 500 pages are definitely too much for a filler.
As I was saying, in this book we see the aftermath of the Black Night, how everyone's lives has changed. We have Lila, who after leaving Red London in search of an adventure, is now part of Alucard's crew and sails the seas on the Night Spire. There is Rhy, who can't quite come to peace with having come back from the dead, and is hunted by the feeling that it's not right for him to be alive. And there's Kell, who now feels more of a prisoner than ever before both in the palace, having lost the king's trust, and his own skin, having to be careful of his every move as not to harm Rhy. Along with their struggles to find their place in this world again, come the Essen Tasch, the magic games held in Red London, where the best magician from every country get to compete and show their skills in front of their monarchs.
Tbh, the best part of this book was Kell finally losing his shit and telling everyone that he is tired of being the only one held accountable for his actions, as everyone has their share of responsibilities and faults. I had been waiting a book and half for that and I was not disappointed.
I'm kind of sad that I can't give this book a higher rating. I had really high hopes for this sequel as I loved the first book, but this one was kind of boring for me. I only started to enjoy it when the games began, meaning 3/4 of the book in. I liked it less than the first one, but I definitely enjoyed reading it anyway. The world building is amazing, and I liked the introduction of more subplots, as the tension within the other countries, and the new characters, even though it took me until the very end of the book to really like Alucard. I think that this book was meant to be a filler, a way to link what happened in the first one, and the aftermath of the black night on everyone's lives, and what is going to happen in the next one, but 500 pages are definitely too much for a filler.
As I was saying, in this book we see the aftermath of the Black Night, how everyone's lives has changed. We have Lila, who after leaving Red London in search of an adventure, is now part of Alucard's crew and sails the seas on the Night Spire. There is Rhy, who can't quite come to peace with having come back from the dead, and is hunted by the feeling that it's not right for him to be alive. And there's Kell, who now feels more of a prisoner than ever before both in the palace, having lost the king's trust, and his own skin, having to be careful of his every move as not to harm Rhy. Along with their struggles to find their place in this world again, come the Essen Tasch, the magic games held in Red London, where the best magician from every country get to compete and show their skills in front of their monarchs.
Tbh, the best part of this book was Kell finally losing his shit and telling everyone that he is tired of being the only one held accountable for his actions, as everyone has their share of responsibilities and faults. I had been waiting a book and half for that and I was not disappointed.
bookwormneedsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.75