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adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
Took me awhile to get back into this since it’s been awhile since I read the last book. This one focuses a lot more on Bree and Nick, and moves forward the story of them and Sel (though Sel isn’t in this book much). I was pretty lost in the beginning, it would be good to find a quick recap before starting.
I think I liked this book more than the others and maybe it’s because it included a lot more likable characters (the Cambians and rootcrafters)
Summary for myself
At the start of this book Bree has been taken by Erebus - who is revealed to be The Shadow King. TSK is a full on demon, a Nightshade? and a powerful one at that. Bree has made an agreement with him in exchange for him taking Selwyn to his mother (after Sel sacrificed himself to save Bree). She also wants him to turn her into a weapon. Part of what she agreed to give up was her memories. She forgets the people from her previous life but can still remember events kind of blurrily.
Alice is in a coma. Being watched over by the root users/ Cambiens.
Nick is still with the order, along with Will, but are on bad terms with most of them since Bree was taken / gone missing.
Selwyn is basically a whole entire feral Cambien now, lost all his humanity, and seems very dangerous. Most of his parts of this book are told through his mom’s PoV as she tries to restore his humanity. Apparently she, Natascia, knew Bree’s mom and had been responsible for protecting her. Eventually Sel escapes
Bree begins training with TSK and two of his apprentices? Disciples? Two twin cambiens named Elijah and Xoelle (who is a trans woman) they become a unit after they fight and try to kill each other but TSK tells them to get along. TSK sends Bree and Xo to the Penumbra - a high society/ dark society event/auction to steal TSK’s crown. It has been “cursed” by Morgains so he cannot touch it himself.
At this event they assume fake identities for this party - at which everyone is masked and has anonymity. When Bree goes to steal the crown, she ends up fighting some guy who turns out to be Nick. But she can’t remember him though he feels very familiar to her. Most of the book that I can remember takes place in this Penumbra party.
Fast forward through a few plot points:
- Bree’s alternative motivation for coming to this event is to save missing black girls who have been abducted and enslaved to continue giving root for this auction
- The root folks that Sel introduced her to help her save those girls who end up being sold to someone from The Order. They keep the girls at The Institute, which is where Will finds them
- Will and Larkin might be a thing? Like a couple?
- Nick knows that something happened between Bree and Sel. But Bree doesn’t know because it’s one of the things she forgot.
-Bree has burned her access to root because she didn’t want Arthur to have access to possess her anymore.
- at the end of the story, Nick, Xoelle, Mariah, Natascia, Valyk, Bree (and more?) end of trying to capture Sel again because they know he is hunting for Bree in his current state of mind.
- Sel does end up finding Nick and Bree and at the end of the book Sel seems to die but return as a demon and they know that Sel is the son of TSK as he puts on the crown. He seems to have turned completely evil.
I think I liked this book more than the others and maybe it’s because it included a lot more likable characters (the Cambians and rootcrafters)
Summary for myself
At the start of this book Bree has been taken by Erebus - who is revealed to be The Shadow King. TSK is a full on demon, a Nightshade? and a powerful one at that. Bree has made an agreement with him in exchange for him taking Selwyn to his mother (after Sel sacrificed himself to save Bree). She also wants him to turn her into a weapon. Part of what she agreed to give up was her memories. She forgets the people from her previous life but can still remember events kind of blurrily.
Alice is in a coma. Being watched over by the root users/ Cambiens.
Nick is still with the order, along with Will, but are on bad terms with most of them since Bree was taken / gone missing.
Selwyn is basically a whole entire feral Cambien now, lost all his humanity, and seems very dangerous. Most of his parts of this book are told through his mom’s PoV as she tries to restore his humanity. Apparently she, Natascia, knew Bree’s mom and had been responsible for protecting her. Eventually Sel escapes
Bree begins training with TSK and two of his apprentices? Disciples? Two twin cambiens named Elijah and Xoelle (who is a trans woman) they become a unit after they fight and try to kill each other but TSK tells them to get along. TSK sends Bree and Xo to the Penumbra - a high society/ dark society event/auction to steal TSK’s crown. It has been “cursed” by Morgains so he cannot touch it himself.
At this event they assume fake identities for this party - at which everyone is masked and has anonymity. When Bree goes to steal the crown, she ends up fighting some guy who turns out to be Nick. But she can’t remember him though he feels very familiar to her. Most of the book that I can remember takes place in this Penumbra party.
Fast forward through a few plot points:
- Bree’s alternative motivation for coming to this event is to save missing black girls who have been abducted and enslaved to continue giving root for this auction
- The root folks that Sel introduced her to help her save those girls who end up being sold to someone from The Order. They keep the girls at The Institute, which is where Will finds them
- Will and Larkin might be a thing? Like a couple?
- Nick knows that something happened between Bree and Sel. But Bree doesn’t know because it’s one of the things she forgot.
-Bree has burned her access to root because she didn’t want Arthur to have access to possess her anymore.
- at the end of the story, Nick, Xoelle, Mariah, Natascia, Valyk, Bree (and more?) end of trying to capture Sel again because they know he is hunting for Bree in his current state of mind.
- Sel does end up finding Nick and Bree and at the end of the book Sel seems to die but return as a demon and they know that Sel is the son of TSK as he puts on the crown. He seems to have turned completely evil.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Literally no one talk to me for 5-7 business days while I process this masterpiece.
Effffffffff
Effffffffff
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I have no words at the moment. I am unwell…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief
Minor: Death, Trafficking, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Trafficking, Kidnapping
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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 literally have no words right now except for WHAT DO YOU MEAN. Like WHAT DO YOU MEAN. I need answers and I need the next one and I need answers. I will need 5-10 business days to process and will potentially add more later once I’ve collected my thoughts. READ THIS SERIES PLEASE ANYONE AND EVERYONE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Grief, War
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Classism
Minor: Death, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
Tracy Deonn has done it again!
All of the characters are so believable; the relationships are realistic, and I love love love Bree. She's been through so much in less than a year as a 16/17-year-old and had to deal with so much on her own. She's such a strong person and a great protagonist.
The more I read, the more Nick grew on me. I didn't think much of him before, but he's settled so easily into actual allyship; low key he's setting the bar. He's also so much more clever than I think anyone gave him credit for.
All of the characters are so believable; the relationships are realistic, and I love love love Bree. She's been through so much in less than a year as a 16/17-year-old and had to deal with so much on her own. She's such a strong person and a great protagonist.
The more I read, the more Nick grew on me. I didn't think much of him before, but he's settled so easily into actual allyship; low key he's setting the bar. He's also so much more clever than I think anyone gave him credit for.
With a single phone call, Nick Davis manipulated the entire Council of give a Regents into sending him on a fully sanctioned, unsupervised mission that to end could take weeks, months, or even years to complete. And no matter how much the Council hates the trap Nick set for them, they can't refuse him-or they'll die.
"Briana Matthews cannot be the only voice that speaks against you." Nick's face turns derisive. A bright fury, rising beneath his skin. "Not when she bears our burdens for us and goes so unprotected. Not when you erase her humanity to guard your own power and protect your own whiteness."
The characters, the magic, the story, THE END. Omg the end—Tracy when I catch you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Car accident