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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I continue, I will either be bored to death or overwhelmed by cringe. Look, I KNOW this is a YA novel from 2016. But I love YA novels from 2016–and I can forgive a lot out of nostalgia. But this book suffers from every 2016-YA pitfall. It’s the second book in a trilogy (wherein the first book was a self-contained narrative and now we’re ramping up into…something, I guess, but taking FOREVER to get anywhere). The characters don’t feel like characters, they feel like fanart-bait trope machines. The MMC has a tortured relationship with his brother and he’s sooooo powerful that it’s like, a burden. And he frowns a lot. The FMC has a bunch of knives and is afraid of connecting with people. There’s a character named “Alucard.” Like, “Dracula” backwards?? Did you realize that before you chose the name?? Is there a Dracula story in Red London??? 200 pages in and absolutely NOTHING has happened except they’ve spun in silly little circles and had repetitive angst about absolutely nothing. Oh no, I’m too powerful, I’m going to cry about it. Oh no, I have friends, so spooky. Give me a break. It feels like this series wasn’t thought out in the slightest, and I’m over reading low-effort YA schlock. This is my second attempt reading Schwab and I fear it will be my last. RIP my special editions of these books, too bad they didn’t even bother to properly crop the fanart they slapped on the endpapers.
Can't believe I had these books rated at 4 considering how much I love them. I may love them more after this reread. Can't wait for Threads!
adventurous
dark
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
3.5 ⭐️
there were like three pages of this book where I was super into it, other than that it was, you know, pretty good but nothing too special
somehow I feel like almost nothing happened except for at the very end
what the hell was the tournament for?
also I am so sick of how 'not like other girls' Lila is that I'm practically on it
there were like three pages of this book where I was super into it, other than that it was, you know, pretty good but nothing too special
somehow I feel like almost nothing happened except for at the very end
what the hell was the tournament for?
also I am so sick of how 'not like other girls' Lila is that I'm practically on it
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
My reading experience for this one was a little upsetting, but this book was still worthy of all five stars!
V.E. Schwab knows how to make interesting characters and her writing style is a definite work of art. The plot-line is impeccable and the pacing of the story is one to marvel. There are nearly no flaws about this novel and I can not wait until the next book is released... I feel like I deserve it.
FYI: This novel does not have the same closing resolution that the first novel has and it is easier to see the direction the next book is going to take, but this also leaves for a higher desire to have the next book in my hands.
I can't wait to see how this story is going to take shape and I recommend this series to absolutely everyone.
V.E. Schwab knows how to make interesting characters and her writing style is a definite work of art. The plot-line is impeccable and the pacing of the story is one to marvel. There are nearly no flaws about this novel and I can not wait until the next book is released... I feel like I deserve it.
FYI: This novel does not have the same closing resolution that the first novel has and it is easier to see the direction the next book is going to take, but this also leaves for a higher desire to have the next book in my hands.
I can't wait to see how this story is going to take shape and I recommend this series to absolutely everyone.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
Yes. I liked the time on the ship with Alucard, I greatly enjoyed the Essen Tasch magic competition and how both Lila and Kell sneaked into it but of course didn’t fight one another for ages. I knew Holland and his protégée Ojka would eventually get Kell and what a cliffhanger to end on! As I got closer to the end I was reading frantically to find out what would happen.