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frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
guys i thought this was about fairy sex u lied to me 😭😭
Fully convinced that Sarah keeps making these books >800pgs so that by the time we get to the end, we've all forgotten the messy things in the first half. Not with me, Sarah, not with me!! 😤😤
But still, be aware that it took me 20 days to read this (because i was sick and fantasy is hard) and I have probably forgotten all of it.
The beginning had suuuch weird pacing. Bryce spends a solid 200pgs...going through caves?? While her friends are trying to save her and themselves and oh, also the world and she's just acting like me when I go to a museum being like "omg look at that carving!!" "if i were to analyse this..." "well, as an ancient fae historian..." which was extremely relatable to me (as the annoying history student in museums) but I'm not sure if we really needed all of that.
While loads of storylines were satisfyingly ended in this final part, especially in the beginning, there were so many started storylines that just seemed so unnecessary and had no consequences whatsoever for the story.
I'll be the first person to say it – this shit too sci-fi for me. There. The urban fantasy thingy was cute in the first and second book but girl why are we talking about black holes 😭😭 literally read like they were NASA agents at the end iykyk
ACOTAR my love <3 sorry sarah u can't expect to open the multiverse and bring me back to the messy beautiful high fantasy of my heart and then go back to Crescent City. I'd take Azriel's ass over phones any day
wait i forgot about the exposition omg
yall remember that scene in city of bones where clary asks luke what happened with valentine and it just turns into this whole chapter where nothing happens for 20 pages except for luke telling clary what's up?? yeah clary and bryce can bond over that now!
thank god we always have trusty fae ancestors to tell us what went on 15000 years ago 🙏🏻🙏🏻 now available in holographic form!
Now, onto Bryce herself...Bryce, baby, I'm so sorry but you will never be Aelin Galathynius, no matter how hard you try!! Let's just say it like this – Bryce is a great main character, she knows what she wants and how to get it but that also makes her unlikeable at times especially in how she dealt with Hunt and his trauma. He's so understandably scared of going against the Asteri again, he's especially scared of losing her just like he lost Shahar and she basically just tells him to "get through it" 🙃 I wish we could've had more sweet scenes of them, I miss my babies!
Plot-wise (aside from weird physics at the end lol), I really enjoyed this! We've got most of the main cast working together and we get loads of Lydia and Ruhn kinda stepping in and leading everyone when Hunt and Bryce are gone. Goddd, that relationship!! Kill me!!! I love them so much 😭 Lydia has some secrets revealed and she becomes an even more fascinating character and her story has suchhh a good conclusion.
As was already teased at the ending of the last book, the Maasverse has been opened! 👀 Things...have happened and while this isn't ACOTAR 6 (sorry to disappoint), there are loads of new things we learn about Prythian! Can't say I was the biggest fan of that, idk I'm kinda an ACOTAR purist lmao, don't touch my OG trilogy!! but it was still so sweet to return to Prythian <3
There were also some TOG easter eggs and while I already knew, we were gonna have some ACOTAR stuff, I really didn't expect that haha, so that was what had me really screaming.
While I find there are loads of similarities between CC and TOG (esp when looking at Aelin/Rowan/Aedion and Bryce/Hunt/Ruhn, PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one), I feel that Sarah still managed to make this a series that stands apart from her other books. Her writing style, the world building and her plots have just gotten better and better and while I'm still not the biggest fan of urban fantasy, I can still appreciate that!
As I said above, I felt that some new storylines here were unnecessary but at least all old ones were finished. I found myself thinking "hmm haven't heard about [character] in some time, maybe they'll show up again, too?" and it seems like Sarah was listening because EVERYONE appears again – good job, Sarah. I promise, there are still several surprises to be had!
So in conclusion: this was long (too long, some people would say (it's me, I'm people)) but it was a solid ending to the trilogy. We met Bryce as this traumatised young woman and ended with her as someone determined enough to stand against the Asteri and everything that would entail. Without giving anything away about Hunt and Bryce's ending, we also got a relationship arc spanning a whole series!! Woop woop. Sarah truly showed us all that she's capable of writing, pulling together all the fantasy creatures she could think of and I'm so excited to see where she leads us to next 🫶🏻
Fully convinced that Sarah keeps making these books >800pgs so that by the time we get to the end, we've all forgotten the messy things in the first half. Not with me, Sarah, not with me!! 😤😤
But still, be aware that it took me 20 days to read this (because i was sick and fantasy is hard) and I have probably forgotten all of it.
The beginning had suuuch weird pacing. Bryce spends a solid 200pgs...going through caves?? While her friends are trying to save her and themselves and oh, also the world and she's just acting like me when I go to a museum being like "omg look at that carving!!" "if i were to analyse this..." "well, as an ancient fae historian..." which was extremely relatable to me (as the annoying history student in museums) but I'm not sure if we really needed all of that.
While loads of storylines were satisfyingly ended in this final part, especially in the beginning, there were so many started storylines that just seemed so unnecessary and had no consequences whatsoever for the story.
I'll be the first person to say it – this shit too sci-fi for me. There. The urban fantasy thingy was cute in the first and second book but girl why are we talking about black holes 😭😭 literally read like they were NASA agents at the end iykyk
ACOTAR my love <3 sorry sarah u can't expect to open the multiverse and bring me back to the messy beautiful high fantasy of my heart and then go back to Crescent City. I'd take Azriel's ass over phones any day
wait i forgot about the exposition omg
yall remember that scene in city of bones where clary asks luke what happened with valentine and it just turns into this whole chapter where nothing happens for 20 pages except for luke telling clary what's up?? yeah clary and bryce can bond over that now!
thank god we always have trusty fae ancestors to tell us what went on 15000 years ago 🙏🏻🙏🏻 now available in holographic form!
Now, onto Bryce herself...Bryce, baby, I'm so sorry but you will never be Aelin Galathynius, no matter how hard you try!! Let's just say it like this – Bryce is a great main character, she knows what she wants and how to get it but that also makes her unlikeable at times especially in how she dealt with Hunt and his trauma. He's so understandably scared of going against the Asteri again, he's especially scared of losing her just like he lost Shahar and she basically just tells him to "get through it" 🙃 I wish we could've had more sweet scenes of them, I miss my babies!
Plot-wise (aside from weird physics at the end lol), I really enjoyed this! We've got most of the main cast working together and we get loads of Lydia and Ruhn kinda stepping in and leading everyone when Hunt and Bryce are gone. Goddd, that relationship!! Kill me!!! I love them so much 😭 Lydia has some secrets revealed and she becomes an even more fascinating character and her story has suchhh a good conclusion.
As was already teased at the ending of the last book, the Maasverse has been opened! 👀 Things...have happened and while this isn't ACOTAR 6 (sorry to disappoint), there are loads of new things we learn about Prythian! Can't say I was the biggest fan of that, idk I'm kinda an ACOTAR purist lmao, don't touch my OG trilogy!! but it was still so sweet to return to Prythian <3
There were also some TOG easter eggs and while I already knew, we were gonna have some ACOTAR stuff, I really didn't expect that haha, so that was what had me really screaming.
While I find there are loads of similarities between CC and TOG (esp when looking at Aelin/Rowan/Aedion and Bryce/Hunt/Ruhn, PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one), I feel that Sarah still managed to make this a series that stands apart from her other books. Her writing style, the world building and her plots have just gotten better and better and while I'm still not the biggest fan of urban fantasy, I can still appreciate that!
As I said above, I felt that some new storylines here were unnecessary but at least all old ones were finished. I found myself thinking "hmm haven't heard about [character] in some time, maybe they'll show up again, too?" and it seems like Sarah was listening because EVERYONE appears again – good job, Sarah. I promise, there are still several surprises to be had!
So in conclusion: this was long (too long, some people would say (it's me, I'm people)) but it was a solid ending to the trilogy. We met Bryce as this traumatised young woman and ended with her as someone determined enough to stand against the Asteri and everything that would entail. Without giving anything away about Hunt and Bryce's ending, we also got a relationship arc spanning a whole series!! Woop woop. Sarah truly showed us all that she's capable of writing, pulling together all the fantasy creatures she could think of and I'm so excited to see where she leads us to next 🫶🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, War, Sexual content, Violence, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical content, Child death, and Sexual harassment
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was the best in the Crescent City series! I highly recommend to those who have already read ACOTAR. This book truly made everything come together and so much makes more sense. It ties up loose ends but also makes room for some new storylines. Was different than I thought it would be but also somehow better?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Torture, Body horror, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Colonisation, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Child abuse, War, Death, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence
jessicarenz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
All of the cut scenes and POV switches were annoying (seriously, going from an action-packed scene with one character to a dull by comparison single paragraph of another scene about a different character, then to yet another character’s completely different scene was not fun). But the third Crescent City book wasn’t bad like I’ve heard some people say; it was a pretty good ending for the characters and overall story while leaving room for spinoffs or additional books down the line. And of course I loved the ACOTAR tie ins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, War, Excrement, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Classism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Excrement, and Confinement
liss_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Don’t bother. SJM is really just collecting her check.
The manuscript was clearly rushed out the door by the publisher - occasionally lacking appropriate punctuation or even finishing a sentence in one case. Could have used more revision. How could ALL of the events that took place in this way too long book have happened over the course of one week??
Bryce is a the antithesis of the character she was built out to be in the first two books, and the mimicked those she claimed to rally against. The other characters are fighting for air time somehow in such a long book. Lidia is best supporting actress.
Two extra irritating things:
- the entire book is written like a tv show- short scenes with constant location changes - but there are no visual indicators. Not even a chapter change to swap locations and characters. Just a double line break between paragraphs and we’re jumping one world to another.
- the most irksome sentences in these books are “it was all he could do” WHAT WAS ALL HE COULD DO??
The manuscript was clearly rushed out the door by the publisher - occasionally lacking appropriate punctuation or even finishing a sentence in one case. Could have used more revision. How could ALL of the events that took place in this way too long book have happened over the course of one week??
Bryce is a the antithesis of the character she was built out to be in the first two books, and the mimicked those she claimed to rally against. The other characters are fighting for air time somehow in such a long book. Lidia is best supporting actress.
Two extra irritating things:
- the entire book is written like a tv show- short scenes with constant location changes - but there are no visual indicators. Not even a chapter change to swap locations and characters. Just a double line break between paragraphs and we’re jumping one world to another.
- the most irksome sentences in these books are “it was all he could do” WHAT WAS ALL HE COULD DO??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Gore, War, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Colonisation
louisepea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Gore and Sexual assault
bluehouseonthesalishsea's review against another edition
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Torture, Death, Confinement, Gore, Grief, War, Violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault
cranberry101's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
IM FREE!!!! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!!!
My thoughts are as follows.
My thoughts are as follows.
- First of all, why are all these books 800 pages long? My main gripe with this series is that they are 800 pages long and BORING.
- This world is so messy and confusing I kept having to go back and check the Wiki because nothing makes any sense. There are also 8000000 characters and all of them are boring and forgettable. Not to mention it’s been two years since book 2 was released, how am I supposed to remember who this rando from book 1 (who had like 2 lines) is??????
- So many irrelevant side characters with their own POVs and for what. I genuinely want to know if there’s anyone who cares about Ithan or Tharion because I don’t. Ithan kind of redeemed himself in this, but I am coming out loud and proud as a Tharion hater. I know SJM doesn’t kill characters, but if anyone should have died it should have been him.
- I need SJM to get a new editor ASAP. So many weird sentences and terrible use of punctuation, this was a nightmare.
- Take a shot every time “like calls to like” is used and you will die from alcohol poisoning.
- Bryce is the epitome of corny. All her comebacks were basically “I know you are but what am I?” and every “male” (vomits) eats it up. Also she’s so #feminist but there are no female characters in her entourage besides Lidia and that other girl but they barely interact YAY!!!! Also remember Bryce’s “best friends” from the first book? They’re back after making no appearances in book 2 (from my remembrance) and have all about two lines of dialogue before being locked back into the irrelevant woman dungeon by SJM.
- The smut scenes felt super out of place, there was a scene where two pages before the characters were mourning all these people that had been literally murdered, and not even two minutes later they’re like you know what we should do now…. ;)
- Maybe the SJM crossover was the friends we made along the way. Super hilarious that this book is marketed as a crossover but it’s all done by the 40% mark. I kind of already knew that Bryce and Hunt couldn’t be separated for that long because SJM needs smut scenes to keep the TikTok girlies hooked, but wow, it was disappointing. (not that my hopes were high to begin with)
- There are no stakes ever. Oh no we can’t speak the same language as the Pyrinthians?? Here’s a magic bean where you can speak the same language!! (never mentioned in any other book by the way) Oh no there's a poison and we need a cure??? It will be made in like 5 minutes!!!
- The absolute worst thing is this -- Oh no someone died??? NECROMANCY!!! Which then makes their deaths totally pointless.
I know we all hate on Veronica Roth for killing Tris, but at least she had the guts to follow through with killing her main character. SJM FLOP for not leaving FLOP Bryce dead.
Anyways I was happy about finishing this for all of 0.2 seconds until I found SJM has “plans” to continue this series. Why
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore
caitcosentino's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, Blood, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
kristinallard's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, War, Blood, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and Fire/Fire injury