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secre's review
3.0
This suffered somewhat from a disease that seems to hit many second novels. If the entire book had been the pace and quality of the final third, this would be an easy four stars however. Unfortunately the pace of the first two thirds lags and the novel doesn’t seem to know where it’s going. When combined with a lot of filler and vomit worthy romance gunge, this was distinctly disappointing considering how much I enjoyed the first in the series.
I was also disappointed that so few awesome characters are used here; you are more or less down to Saira, Archer and Ringo for huge swathes of the novel. Out of the three, Ringo wins on interest levels as Saira has gone ditzy with love and romance and bleh and Archer is too busy being the handsome love interest to be interesting. Tom is brought in briefly, but disappointed me with how quickly his involvement was brought to a close. Other brilliant characters like Millicent, Mr Shaw, Ava and Adam are utterly sidelined and that’s a real shame.
Whilst it’s good to see a strong female protagonist and all that jazz, when you have her going soppy eyed you need a better supporting cast. The final third took the hint and played with old and new characters well, but before that it was as though no one else really existed, and the novel as a whole suffers for it. As an aside, I’d love to see a strong female protagonist who doesn’t spend swathes of time goggly eyed for a boy, but hey. The author managed to straddle a decent line in the first novel, but veered too heavily toward the love interest here for me.
That said, this is well written and when it finally gets moving it becomes a rollercoaster of events and emotions. It’s just a pity it takes so long to get there. I’m certainly reading the next instalment and will just hope it has a tighter plot and less sap and filler. The way the author plays with the idea of Descendants of Time and Fate is particularly interesting, as indeed is the way she has slotted science into the mix. There is certainly promise here and we even have an overriding big bad enemy here to focus on, allowing his motives to guide the events that follow through the timeline.
So. Not as good as the first, but not bad. April White has an engaging writing style that draws you in... its just a pity this relies so heavily on filler and romantic mehness. I’m fairly sure I also picked up on some holes in the fabric of the world building - the same person being in the same timeline more than once for instance and Archer’s tendency of feeding versus his unwillingness to kill, but that might just me being picky.
I was also disappointed that so few awesome characters are used here; you are more or less down to Saira, Archer and Ringo for huge swathes of the novel. Out of the three, Ringo wins on interest levels as Saira has gone ditzy with love and romance and bleh and Archer is too busy being the handsome love interest to be interesting. Tom is brought in briefly, but disappointed me with how quickly his involvement was brought to a close. Other brilliant characters like Millicent, Mr Shaw, Ava and Adam are utterly sidelined and that’s a real shame.
Whilst it’s good to see a strong female protagonist and all that jazz, when you have her going soppy eyed you need a better supporting cast. The final third took the hint and played with old and new characters well, but before that it was as though no one else really existed, and the novel as a whole suffers for it. As an aside, I’d love to see a strong female protagonist who doesn’t spend swathes of time goggly eyed for a boy, but hey. The author managed to straddle a decent line in the first novel, but veered too heavily toward the love interest here for me.
That said, this is well written and when it finally gets moving it becomes a rollercoaster of events and emotions. It’s just a pity it takes so long to get there. I’m certainly reading the next instalment and will just hope it has a tighter plot and less sap and filler. The way the author plays with the idea of Descendants of Time and Fate is particularly interesting, as indeed is the way she has slotted science into the mix. There is certainly promise here and we even have an overriding big bad enemy here to focus on, allowing his motives to guide the events that follow through the timeline.
So. Not as good as the first, but not bad. April White has an engaging writing style that draws you in... its just a pity this relies so heavily on filler and romantic mehness. I’m fairly sure I also picked up on some holes in the fabric of the world building - the same person being in the same timeline more than once for instance and Archer’s tendency of feeding versus his unwillingness to kill, but that might just me being picky.
onemanbookclub's review
4.0
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
At Least as Fun as Book One!
Tempting Fate, book two of the Immortal Descendant Series was at least as much fun as book one—maybe even more so thanks to a really cool historical-fiction background for the story.
Time travel? Check.
Often time travel stories get bogged down and confusing when the authors try to over explain. I’m enjoying these stories because there seems to be a really nice balance between tricky-don’t-break-the-future rules and not letting those rules get in the way of telling a fun story.
Vampires? Check.
Yet another version of what it means to be a vampire, but without the sparkles or super powers. Just dudes who need blood to survive, don’t age, are hard to kill, and have to sleep during the day.
Werewolves? Check.
The Romanians. Bad dudes.
Shape Shifters? Check.
Lions, wolves, bears, foxes, gazelles. These are the good guys.
Some cool historical fiction? Check.
The action happens in the year 1554 in the Tower of London where the future Queen Elizabeth I is being held as a prisoner by the current queen and her half-sister, Mary. Man, was there ever some family drama going on there!
Vampire love? Check.
And Barf. How about less getting dizzy looking into each other’s eyes and more blowing stuff up? Oh well, I can’t have everything my way all the time I guess. At least it’s staying age appropriate, which I appreciate very much.
Off to book three for me! Happy reading to you!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
At Least as Fun as Book One!
Tempting Fate, book two of the Immortal Descendant Series was at least as much fun as book one—maybe even more so thanks to a really cool historical-fiction background for the story.
Time travel? Check.
Often time travel stories get bogged down and confusing when the authors try to over explain. I’m enjoying these stories because there seems to be a really nice balance between tricky-don’t-break-the-future rules and not letting those rules get in the way of telling a fun story.
Vampires? Check.
Yet another version of what it means to be a vampire, but without the sparkles or super powers. Just dudes who need blood to survive, don’t age, are hard to kill, and have to sleep during the day.
Werewolves? Check.
The Romanians. Bad dudes.
Shape Shifters? Check.
Lions, wolves, bears, foxes, gazelles. These are the good guys.
Some cool historical fiction? Check.
The action happens in the year 1554 in the Tower of London where the future Queen Elizabeth I is being held as a prisoner by the current queen and her half-sister, Mary. Man, was there ever some family drama going on there!
Vampire love? Check.
And Barf. How about less getting dizzy looking into each other’s eyes and more blowing stuff up? Oh well, I can’t have everything my way all the time I guess. At least it’s staying age appropriate, which I appreciate very much.
Off to book three for me! Happy reading to you!
bananatricky's review
4.0
So, this appeared more coherent - possibly more a reflection of my expectations as a reader than the writing. I thought the initial chapters attempted to summarise everything that happened in the first book too quickly and it made it jar a bit, it also jumbled in some new stuff but once the story got going it was excellent.
In a vision Saira and Archer see Ringo, their friend from the Victorian era, being tortured alongside Queen Elizabeth I (although they don't realise that is who she is at first) by Wilder.
I was enthralled by the young Lady Elizabeth (who is/was a seer) and her imprisonment in the Tower of London, the Wyatt rebellion and Dudley. April White really makes history come alive (sorry for the cliché) and I think I will remember 11 April 1544 (that may be my birthday although not my birth year!!!) and the recipe for explosives for a long time.
Loved it so much I ordered the next book immediately.
In a vision Saira and Archer see Ringo, their friend from the Victorian era, being tortured alongside Queen Elizabeth I (although they don't realise that is who she is at first) by Wilder.
I was enthralled by the young Lady Elizabeth (who is/was a seer) and her imprisonment in the Tower of London, the Wyatt rebellion and Dudley. April White really makes history come alive (sorry for the cliché) and I think I will remember 11 April 1544 (that may be my birthday although not my birth year!!!) and the recipe for explosives for a long time.
Loved it so much I ordered the next book immediately.
slc333's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Another fun instalment in the Immortal Descendants series but I didn't like it quite as much as the first one. Mostly because Saira came across less strong and competent and more selfish and wilful. I also didn't understand the decision to take Ringo back to the 1500's. I mean they see a vision of him being tortured then so they immediately go fetch him from 1888 and take him back to the century in which he is tortured- it made NO SENSE.
divadiane's review
4.0
The first volume in this series was a wonderful surprise. I had downloaded it on a whim because it was free and included a few teasers of topics I am interested in: time travel and Jack the Ripper.
This 2nd installment is just as good, if not better than the first! I'm a much bigger fan of Elizabethan England than of Jack the Ripper and Ms. White has done a bang-up job of integrating details of a historic period, extrapolating them and using them as part of the story in a way which is incredibly convincing.
Sometimes I had a hard time following the logistics, but I think that's more my problem than Ms. White's.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
This 2nd installment is just as good, if not better than the first! I'm a much bigger fan of Elizabethan England than of Jack the Ripper and Ms. White has done a bang-up job of integrating details of a historic period, extrapolating them and using them as part of the story in a way which is incredibly convincing.
Sometimes I had a hard time following the logistics, but I think that's more my problem than Ms. White's.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
literary_chaos's review
5.0
Orignal Review can be found at: www.literarychaos.com
I was ecstatic when I found out April White’s first book, Marking Time, was going to be part of a series, and even more excited when April White asked me to review it for her. I can honestly say I was blown away by the second installment of The Immortal Descendants. It exceeded every expectation I had for this novel.
I absolutely love April White’s writing style. She has so much voice and description to her writing that it makes it easy to lose yourself within the pages of her books. Her novels take the reader on an adventure. She creates a new and exciting world within our own that leaves the reader hooked and wanting more.
White brings back all of the characters that I came to love while reading the first novel, as well as adding some new witty and brazen characters. I said in my review of Marking Time that Ringo is my favorite, and while that still holds true, I absolutely loved Elizabeth Tudor and her ladies in waiting. Elizabeth was so spunky, and for lack of a better term bad ass, I couldn't help but fall in love with her character. I thought it was amazing how she took a person from history and portrayed her in a way I would never have expected.
I am so excited for Saira’s next adventure, and to see what time period she and her friends will end up in next. The end of this book has left me wanting more. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.
I was ecstatic when I found out April White’s first book, Marking Time, was going to be part of a series, and even more excited when April White asked me to review it for her. I can honestly say I was blown away by the second installment of The Immortal Descendants. It exceeded every expectation I had for this novel.
I absolutely love April White’s writing style. She has so much voice and description to her writing that it makes it easy to lose yourself within the pages of her books. Her novels take the reader on an adventure. She creates a new and exciting world within our own that leaves the reader hooked and wanting more.
White brings back all of the characters that I came to love while reading the first novel, as well as adding some new witty and brazen characters. I said in my review of Marking Time that Ringo is my favorite, and while that still holds true, I absolutely loved Elizabeth Tudor and her ladies in waiting. Elizabeth was so spunky, and for lack of a better term bad ass, I couldn't help but fall in love with her character. I thought it was amazing how she took a person from history and portrayed her in a way I would never have expected.
I am so excited for Saira’s next adventure, and to see what time period she and her friends will end up in next. The end of this book has left me wanting more. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.
ayanamifaerudo's review
5.0
I was running with Saira the moment I joined her again in Tempting Fate. I thought we were running for our lives again and I was honing my survival skills. Good thing everything was in motion at the beginning, just like in the first book, because it set the tone and the anticipation for the rest of the book. I knew exactly what I was going to get: adventure.
I said this before in my review of the first book, Marking Time, but Saira is a really good character. Great even. What makes me admire her is that when she makes mistakes, when she’s being reprimanded and scolded by people who love her, she learns from them and she owns them and she would say I’m sorry like she means it and strive to be a better person not only for herself but for others she’s finding she cares about and who cares for her in return. This is a continuation of her personal journey from Marking Time. She grew up taking care of herself and she was afraid that if and when she lets others take care of her and love her like she is deserved to be loved, then she would lose herself in the process. She was terrified and it took a queen-to-be and a brother-from-another-mother that she’s hurting herself more along with the people, Archer in particular, who loves her. But she realized that and the fact that she’s not so alone anymore. “And is it so great, what ye’re holding onto?” asked Ringo. All she had to do was be brave and jump.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
I said this before in my review of the first book, Marking Time, but Saira is a really good character. Great even. What makes me admire her is that when she makes mistakes, when she’s being reprimanded and scolded by people who love her, she learns from them and she owns them and she would say I’m sorry like she means it and strive to be a better person not only for herself but for others she’s finding she cares about and who cares for her in return. This is a continuation of her personal journey from Marking Time. She grew up taking care of herself and she was afraid that if and when she lets others take care of her and love her like she is deserved to be loved, then she would lose herself in the process. She was terrified and it took a queen-to-be and a brother-from-another-mother that she’s hurting herself more along with the people, Archer in particular, who loves her. But she realized that and the fact that she’s not so alone anymore. “And is it so great, what ye’re holding onto?” asked Ringo. All she had to do was be brave and jump.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
behowel's review
4.0
Historical Fantasy
Really enjoyed this sequel and second book in The Immortal Descendants series. I love YA fantasy, and I love History and to have them combined so creatively is a real treat.
Really enjoyed this sequel and second book in The Immortal Descendants series. I love YA fantasy, and I love History and to have them combined so creatively is a real treat.
rhodered's review
3.0
I enjoyed it certainly enough to be looking forward to the next books in the series as it comes out. The historic details, especially about the sheer smelliness of 16th century London, were marvelous. I also loved seeing Ringo become a young man very much worthy of respect, as well as seeing Archer and Saira's relationship deepen (especially, delightfully, without the sex that seems to be so prevalent in YA stories now.)
The whole complex plot with everyone dashing about to fight evil using clever homemade explosions and poisons, hidden identities, dashes to and fro across time, hidey holes, etc etc just wore me out after awhile. I couldn't concentrate enough perhaps. And too much hung on the hands of luck and half-remembered science classes.
I also have a pet peeve against authors who bring in major historic figures as secondary characters for their novels. In this case Elizabeth I. For gosh sakes, she was amazing enough in real life, we don't also need to make her paranormal.
However the author's note at the end of the book, complete with a portrait of Elizabeth decked out with her black pearls, was a lot of fun and did quite a bit to win me to the cause.
The whole complex plot with everyone dashing about to fight evil using clever homemade explosions and poisons, hidden identities, dashes to and fro across time, hidey holes, etc etc just wore me out after awhile. I couldn't concentrate enough perhaps. And too much hung on the hands of luck and half-remembered science classes.
I also have a pet peeve against authors who bring in major historic figures as secondary characters for their novels. In this case Elizabeth I. For gosh sakes, she was amazing enough in real life, we don't also need to make her paranormal.
However the author's note at the end of the book, complete with a portrait of Elizabeth decked out with her black pearls, was a lot of fun and did quite a bit to win me to the cause.
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