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alexandergrantwriter's review against another edition
5.0
~ Great Continuation! ~
Whyyyyy Lisa!!!?!?!?
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I thought the ending of this book was the start to the third and I was not emotionally ready
Whyyyyy Lisa!!!?!?!?
•
I thought the ending of this book was the start to the third and I was not emotionally ready
lydiastorytime's review against another edition
3.0
Positives: beautiful magical world with unique magical creatures. Loving found family. Mischievous twin girls with strong unruly magical abilities.
Platonic life partners raising children.
Negatives: Implied that the negative events bring out the best in people. Lack of parental guidance or appropriate adult child relationships.
Spoiler…
I hate that Alex was killed so ridiculously similarly to mr today and that he did not prepare for it seems so unlikely given how he wished mr. Today had and how he had in previous battles.
Triggers for sensitive minds
Physically violence: inhuman treatment of prisoners human and animal, cruel tyranny and king, slavery (work based), illness from hunger and dehydration.
description of wounds, forced drinking of magical broth that causes physical changes, isolation, various forms of coercion, fighting to escape and to rescue with space lethal spells, death of main character and father figure.
Emotional pain: grief of loved one and of disability, fear of death and imprisonment, abandonment, coercion, shock,
Platonic life partners raising children.
Negatives: Implied that the negative events bring out the best in people. Lack of parental guidance or appropriate adult child relationships.
Spoiler…
I hate that Alex was killed so ridiculously similarly to mr today and that he did not prepare for it seems so unlikely given how he wished mr. Today had and how he had in previous battles.
Triggers for sensitive minds
Physically violence: inhuman treatment of prisoners human and animal, cruel tyranny and king, slavery (work based), illness from hunger and dehydration.
description of wounds, forced drinking of magical broth that causes physical changes, isolation, various forms of coercion, fighting to escape and to rescue with space lethal spells, death of main character and father figure.
Emotional pain: grief of loved one and of disability, fear of death and imprisonment, abandonment, coercion, shock,
ccpprrjj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
This book was much better than the previous one. Mostly because I cared more about the storylines that we followed. I'll start with the Thisbe one, and then move into the devastating Fifer/Alex one.
Thisbe Storyline
I find Thisbe to be a really compelling character. She's both brave, angry, scared, and compassionate all at the same time, and this book really shows it. She just wants to prove to herself (and Alex) that she's not evil. That just because she has these destructive powers and killed someone when she was two doesn't mean that she's a bad person. Her inner conflict in this book was so enjoyable to read about. And Eagala was totally manipulating her. The parts where Eagala was telling her that she's more evil than good were total lies. There's no way. I refuse to believe that Thisbe is more evil than good. She got upset over seeing the bones of a baby dragon. Would an evil person even care? Yes, maybe she's morally grey (I'd call it a light grey-the worst things she does are lie and occasionally shoot fireballs at attackers). But anyways. And I love her relationship with Rohan. His gentleness balances out Thisbe's more rash moments and they make a great team. Any content with the two of them is just so wholesome.
Fifer/Alex Storyline
And now to the depressing storyline. I'll start by saying that I still don't like Fifer. She's just so. . .arrogant. And not aware of it. She thinks she's the most powerful and important person in the room, especially around people her age, that she just drives me crazy. I get where Alex is coming from with his annoyance with her. That's not to say he's completely in the right either. He was definitely over sheltering her and doing his whole 'pushing people away' thing. But then Fifer would come along and (whether internally or out loud) make some comment about a super traumatizing part of his life like it's nothing. Like. Child. These things you've read about aren't just stories to Alex. He lived through them. And he doesn't want you to have to go through anything similar. On a different note, I loved Alex's growth in this book. I felt like his recovery process was well-written and in character. I feel like all the characters from the original series still feel like themselves here, but this book really focused on Alex and his mental space. However, this being a reread. I couldn't help but be sad while reading the happier parts where he reconciled with Fifer. Because I knew it wouldn't last. Which brings me to the part of this book that destroys me emotionally. Alex's death. Seeing him die just when he was getting better is so devastating. When I first read it, it felt like my childhood had died with him. Even now it's hard to read. Harder than any of the deaths in the original series, that's for sure. And I really appreciated the scene afterwards with Crow and the 'I am with you' bit. Absolutely devastating. Now, emotions aside, I do appreciate Alex's death from a narrative standpoint. It opens such an interesting avenue for the rest of the books to explore: what do you do when the main character dies. And that allows for so much growth and interesting situations to put our characters in. I'm saddened by Alex's death, but not angered by it. It was a bold and effective choice on McMann's part to move the story forward and shift its focus to the other Stowe siblings.
Overall, this was a good book. Not as good as the original series, but an enjoyable and emotional read nonetheless. Onto the next book!
Thisbe Storyline
I find Thisbe to be a really compelling character. She's both brave, angry, scared, and compassionate all at the same time, and this book really shows it. She just wants to prove to herself (and Alex) that she's not evil. That just because she has these destructive powers and killed someone when she was two doesn't mean that she's a bad person. Her inner conflict in this book was so enjoyable to read about. And Eagala was totally manipulating her.
Fifer/Alex Storyline
Overall, this was a good book. Not as good as the original series, but an enjoyable and emotional read nonetheless. Onto the next book!
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in the second Unwanteds series following the adventures of Fifer and Thisbe Stowe, Alex and Aaron's younger twin sisters. It picks up were the first left off, with Thisbe a prisoner on the Island of Dragons and Fifer arriving back at Aritme near death. Fans of the original Unwanteds will want read this series as well. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
shoelessgirl's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked aspects of this, but then it sort of started to mirror the first series, which was a bit disappointing. I’ll still check out the next book.
marcel's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
connon's review against another edition
4.0
GAAAAHH, Lisa är ingen snäll människa och lämnar massa massiva cliffhangers efter sig hela tiden! OCH HON DÖDADE ALEX! Han var aldrig min favoritkaraktär och jag förstår kanske varför hon valde att göra så, men han hade ju precis fått tillbaka sitt gamla jag!
Det är inte heller några problem längre att skilja på tvillingarna och de verkar ha potential att bli mer intressanta än Alex/Aaron (men Aaron är fortfarande min Babe och jag gillar honom väldigt mycket!)
Det är inte heller några problem längre att skilja på tvillingarna och de verkar ha potential att bli mer intressanta än Alex/Aaron (men Aaron är fortfarande min Babe och jag gillar honom väldigt mycket!)