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rosenau's review against another edition
dark
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Death, Murder, and Blood
alexiab's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
while I wasn't as excited about this book as I was with the first, I still loved August and Kate, and seeing how their characters grew after the events of book 1 was really interesting.
I expected more of August's personal journey to be about his shifting into his monster side and less about accepting the whole soul eating thing, but I suppose those somewhat go hand in hand. I also expected more "people who are sinners aren't necessarily evil" thing to be more of a prominent part of August's story, but whateva.
I'm also knocking off an entire star because I am just... so completely angry that Kate and Ilsa died. It didn't feel like character deaths that were inevitable, or that it was a peace that Kate or Ilsa would have wanted. I've seen Schwab do character deaths that, while devastating, make sense for the character's journey, but this felt like an abrupt stop to everything that Kate had been working for, and an abrupt cut off of everything Ilsa had endured. Overall just REALLY unsatisfying.
the more I think about this book the more irritated I am. I mean damn it's called Our Dark Duet WHERE'S THE DUET?! WHERE'S MY AUGUST AND KATE CONTENT.
I expected more of August's personal journey to be about his shifting into his monster side and less about accepting the whole soul eating thing, but I suppose those somewhat go hand in hand. I also expected more "people who are sinners aren't necessarily evil" thing to be more of a prominent part of August's story, but whateva.
I'm also knocking off an entire star because I am just... so completely angry that Kate and Ilsa died. It didn't feel like character deaths that were inevitable, or that it was a peace that Kate or Ilsa would have wanted. I've seen Schwab do character deaths that, while devastating, make sense for the character's journey, but this felt like an abrupt stop to everything that Kate had been working for, and an abrupt cut off of everything Ilsa had endured. Overall just REALLY unsatisfying.
the more I think about this book the more irritated I am. I mean damn it's called Our Dark Duet WHERE'S THE DUET?! WHERE'S MY AUGUST AND KATE CONTENT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Death
ajboyd_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I AM SO SAD!
I LITERALLY HAD MY HEART TORN OUT OF MY CHEST AND CRAMMED BACK IN. OVER. AND OVER. AND OVER. AGAIN.
WHY COULDN’T AUGUST JUST HAVE A NICE ENDING, HUH? WHY COULDN’T THE BOY HAVE SOME REST?? GIVE HIM A BREAK! AND THE ENDING WITH ISLA AND KATE??! I HATE THIS! I LOVE THE BOOK BUT I HATE THE ENDING BECAUSE HE’S NOW EMOTIONALLY ALONE. THE TWO PEOPLE WHO TRULY KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD HIM ARE NO LONGER BY HIS SIDE AND I AM RIOTING! JUSTICE FOR AUGUST!!!
I LITERALLY HAD MY HEART TORN OUT OF MY CHEST AND CRAMMED BACK IN. OVER. AND OVER. AND OVER. AGAIN.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Slavery, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping
vael's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Child death, Death, Blood, Genocide, and Murder
lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I'm glad I read this book. I wasn't convinced after the first one in the series but I did enjoy reading it. I'm still not the biggest fan but I can appreciate it.
My main issue was that I pretty much hated everyone. I did like the friendship between August and Kate and my favourite character was definitely Ilsa. But I realised that I wasn't really attached to anyone or anything in this story because I wasn't sad even though many sad and horrible things happened.
I did really enjoy the philosophical aspect and the thoughts about humanity and what it means to be good or bad and if there even is a clear distinction. I also thought the concept of a war where one side cannot kill any humans on the other side very intriguing.
All in all I would say great plot, great world building and I totally get why people like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was incredibly violent and I was kind of mentally checked out.
My main issue was that I pretty much hated everyone. I did like the friendship between August and Kate and my favourite character was definitely Ilsa. But I realised that I wasn't really attached to anyone or anything in this story because I wasn't sad even though many sad and horrible things happened.
I did really enjoy the philosophical aspect and the thoughts about humanity and what it means to be good or bad and if there even is a clear distinction. I also thought the concept of a war where one side cannot kill any humans on the other side very intriguing.
All in all I would say great plot, great world building and I totally get why people like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was incredibly violent and I was kind of mentally checked out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Terminal illness and Kidnapping
wiktoria88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Gore, and Death
matthiasreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
ana24gs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This book has left me empty, and although the ending was hopeful, it just hurt a lot that the book ended that way.
I consider that this book was so much better than the first one, but first the cons that I encounter while reading. At the beginning of the book we were introduced to many characters and it was very tedious to learn their names and find out what their role in the book was so that later they were not relevant (or not very relevant). Not only that, but something happens to Kate, something important, and I feel like I didn't see much of it, they exploited it at the beginning, and then little by little it was seen less. But the rest was fine.
Now I want to talk about the characters and I can only say that I LOVE them, from Kate's new friends to Sloan, the characters were very good. I still believe that Victoria has written better characters, but these characters definitely have a place in my heart. I found Kate's entire arc most interesting, and I admire her for the level of strength and perseverance that she had throughout the book. August, I love you, he is my favorite character in the whole series, he changed a lot and in this book he became much more serious, I also admire him for knowing the situations he is in and for his strength, both physically and mentally. Sloan, you're so damn weird, but I was really scared of you so good for you. Special mention to Riley, it didn't cost me anything to love you with the few moments you had in this book, you seemed beautiful to me.
The plot of the book is also very entertaining, although it took a while to get to it I think it was worth it, but the plot related to Kate seemed much more interesting because it was about internal monsters that you cannot control.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
That ending, wow, how painful, I knew that Kate would die (some people describe this book as a reinterpretation of ROMEO AND JULIET, I already knew what I was getting into) but it still hurt a lot when it happened, mostly because she died in the arms of my beautiful August.
Continuing with Kate, I feel that they could exploit much more the monster that she had inside her, Victoria did well in the first part but I wanted much more, I wanted to see more how that monster spoke to her and induced her to be extremely violent. I also would have liked to see a lot more of the friends she made in Prosperity, I really liked her relationship a lot, especially the one she had with Riley, it could have been super strong but unfortunately what happened happened.
When Ilsa died it was so sad, she turned into stardust, and my August saw it, leave my poor boy alone.
I don't have much to say about August I love him and all, but everything that had to happen to his character happened. He became colder and forgot the dreams he had of being a good human, but after all, he discovers that people are complicated and gray and he is ready to navigate the world.
I really thought it was a good book and it kept me completely interested from moment one. Loved it.
I consider that this book was so much better than the first one, but first the cons that I encounter while reading. At the beginning of the book we were introduced to many characters and it was very tedious to learn their names and find out what their role in the book was so that later they were not relevant (or not very relevant). Not only that, but something happens to Kate, something important, and I feel like I didn't see much of it, they exploited it at the beginning, and then little by little it was seen less. But the rest was fine.
Now I want to talk about the characters and I can only say that I LOVE them, from Kate's new friends to Sloan, the characters were very good. I still believe that Victoria has written better characters, but these characters definitely have a place in my heart. I found Kate's entire arc most interesting, and I admire her for the level of strength and perseverance that she had throughout the book. August, I love you, he is my favorite character in the whole series, he changed a lot and in this book he became much more serious, I also admire him for knowing the situations he is in and for his strength, both physically and mentally. Sloan, you're so damn weird, but I was really scared of you so good for you. Special mention to Riley, it didn't cost me anything to love you with the few moments you had in this book, you seemed beautiful to me.
The plot of the book is also very entertaining, although it took a while to get to it I think it was worth it, but the plot related to Kate seemed much more interesting because it was about internal monsters that you cannot control.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
That ending, wow, how painful, I knew that Kate would die (some people describe this book as a reinterpretation of ROMEO AND JULIET, I already knew what I was getting into) but it still hurt a lot when it happened, mostly because she died in the arms of my beautiful August.
Continuing with Kate, I feel that they could exploit much more the monster that she had inside her, Victoria did well in the first part but I wanted much more, I wanted to see more how that monster spoke to her and induced her to be extremely violent. I also would have liked to see a lot more of the friends she made in Prosperity, I really liked her relationship a lot, especially the one she had with Riley, it could have been super strong but unfortunately what happened happened.
When Ilsa died it was so sad, she turned into stardust, and my August saw it, leave my poor boy alone.
I don't have much to say about August I love him and all, but everything that had to happen to his character happened. He became colder and forgot the dreams he had of being a good human, but after all, he discovers that people are complicated and gray and he is ready to navigate the world.
I really thought it was a good book and it kept me completely interested from moment one. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and War
creepypiespice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Confinement
aromarrie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
this fantasy duology was so incredibly captivating—the idea of giving the monsters of the story voices of their own and reveling in an existence lit by humanity is so brilliant that i had to give this second and final book more than just a simple four-star.
the darkness that permeates this world isn’t just physical, and it doesn’t just live with the monsters of verity but also in the humans responsible for their existence, some humans suffering as a result. every single character breathed a life of their own and while the ending of the first book felt a bit anti-climactic, this one was a rush of adrenaline all in its own, shifting between different perspectives in a war that didn’t rev up its final engine until the last couple of chapters. they were all so well-developed, and i was immediately fascinated with them as soon as i revisited this world, feeling so unlike the dread i had before i finally decided it was time to finish this duology.
while i admit the ending felt a bit,,,off, almost as if there was something missing, that’s a whole grief of its own that has no choice but to create another monster while we’re at it. i highly recommend this duology to the readers who like to see a fantasy so grounded not by magic, but by the horrors and darkness that humanity still stir up to this day.
it’s up to us to shine our own light.
the darkness that permeates this world isn’t just physical, and it doesn’t just live with the monsters of verity but also in the humans responsible for their existence, some humans suffering as a result. every single character breathed a life of their own and while the ending of the first book felt a bit anti-climactic, this one was a rush of adrenaline all in its own, shifting between different perspectives in a war that didn’t rev up its final engine until the last couple of chapters. they were all so well-developed, and i was immediately fascinated with them as soon as i revisited this world, feeling so unlike the dread i had before i finally decided it was time to finish this duology.
while i admit the ending felt a bit,,,off, almost as if there was something missing, that’s a whole grief of its own that has no choice but to create another monster while we’re at it. i highly recommend this duology to the readers who like to see a fantasy so grounded not by magic, but by the horrors and darkness that humanity still stir up to this day.
it’s up to us to shine our own light.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death