Scan barcode
sjgautreaux's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Kidnapping
tey_lynn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Vomit, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
A great follow up to This Poison Heart, picking up right where we left off and diving right into the action.
Again, loved these characters and loved the relationship that developed between Briseis and Circe. I also loved Persephone, getting to know Nyx better, and Bri developing her powers. I am still conflicted about Marie and Bri being a thing because that age gap is Not It but I also liked how they resolved this dynamic in the end.
While I loved the first half and couldn’t get through it quick enough, I felt that the middle was a bit too slow and it took a bit too long to get on their journey, I think I would have preferred for them to head out in search of the remaining piece and hit more roadblocks along the way instead of taking so long to get in motion.
I felt that Bri’s connection to Karter was wrapped up well and I think there was good character work in his part. I really enjoyed the epilogue although I think I could have read a few more chapters of it because I loved seeing everyone live their best lives! I would not complain about another book set in this same universe!
Again, loved these characters and loved the relationship that developed between Briseis and Circe. I also loved Persephone, getting to know Nyx better, and Bri developing her powers. I am still conflicted about Marie and Bri being a thing because that age gap is Not It but I also liked how they resolved this dynamic in the end.
While I loved the first half and couldn’t get through it quick enough, I felt that the middle was a bit too slow and it took a bit too long to get on their journey, I think I would have preferred for them to head out in search of the remaining piece and hit more roadblocks along the way instead of taking so long to get in motion.
I felt that Bri’s connection to Karter was wrapped up well and I think there was good character work in his part. I really enjoyed the epilogue although I think I could have read a few more chapters of it because I loved seeing everyone live their best lives! I would not complain about another book set in this same universe!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
Unfortunately I think I would have liked this sequel more if I was a mythology girlie. But I'm not, and I'm not really familiar with the base mythology so I was missing that connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
jay_da_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
Kalynn Bayron is an author whose books are an instant buy for me. I really enjoy her ideas and the way she executes them through storytelling. Although, her stories tend take a little bit longer to get to the action. I totally get what she was going for when it came to this duology but after what took place in This Poison Heart I was expecting things to go a little quicker in This Wicked Fate.
I thought we were going to hit the ground running with nonstop action. Instead, Briseis and the gang spend 21 days out of the 28 they had to save her mom sitting around waiting for documentation in order to leave the country. Then that’s when things finally started to pick up.
Overall, if things would have been a little bit more exciting then I would’ve rated it higher. I also wanted to see more interaction between Briseis and Marie because I totally forgot they had started dating in This Poison Heart. So it made believing they were head-over-heels in love kinda hard to do.
I thought we were going to hit the ground running with nonstop action. Instead, Briseis and the gang spend 21 days out of the 28 they had to save her mom sitting around waiting for documentation in order to leave the country. Then that’s when things finally started to pick up.
Overall, if things would have been a little bit more exciting then I would’ve rated it higher. I also wanted to see more interaction between Briseis and Marie because I totally forgot they had started dating in This Poison Heart. So it made believing they were head-over-heels in love kinda hard to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
twistykris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- 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
4.25
A great conclusion to this duology, with delightful additional characters and a true Hero's Journey. There is SO much more Greek mythology in this book, which I really appreciated.
I enjoyed This Wicked Fate, but in all honesty, I liked This Poison Heart more. While I loved getting to know more about Circe, Nyx, Persephone, and Marie, the majority of this book is spent waiting and gathering information. They don't set out on their journey until more than halfway through. It also felt like it lacked a certain danger and action; there are some great tense, heartbreaking moments, but I wish they were drawn out more, and the ending felt abrupt and concluded too quickly for me.
I also wish the relationship between Briseis and Marie was more fleshed out (also I'm now feeling kinda meh about Marie being hundreds of years old dating a 16-year old). While I love some queer rep, their relationship just feels very insta-love; they hardly have any deep conversations and I didn't feel like it developed that much in this story.
That being said, it is still an enjoyable urban fantasy duology with some wonderful characters and strong Black girl magic.
I enjoyed This Wicked Fate, but in all honesty, I liked This Poison Heart more. While I loved getting to know more about Circe, Nyx, Persephone, and Marie, the majority of this book is spent waiting and gathering information. They don't set out on their journey until more than halfway through. It also felt like it lacked a certain danger and action; there are some great tense, heartbreaking moments, but I wish they were drawn out more, and the ending felt abrupt and concluded too quickly for me.
I also wish the relationship between Briseis and Marie was more fleshed out (also I'm now feeling kinda meh about Marie being hundreds of years old dating a 16-year old). While I love some queer rep, their relationship just feels very insta-love; they hardly have any deep conversations and I didn't feel like it developed that much in this story.
That being said, it is still an enjoyable urban fantasy duology with some wonderful characters and strong Black girl magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
christineolivia's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Terminal illness
lennie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my arc.
After the dramatic cliffhangers from the end of first book I was desperate to know what Briseis was going to do next.
I absolutely loved her as a character and I also really loved her mum's, and how normal they all felt. I also loved the little found family that Bri gathered around her.
I found the magic system fascinating and loved all of the plant lore and Greek Mythology, especially some of the lesser known ones.
I still think the romance was a bit insta-love-y and i had trouble at times really investing in it.
I really liked both of the characters but i feel like we missed the part where they got to know each other before liking each other. Idk maybe I'm just being cynical.
I really enjoyed the ending and in my mind I like to imagine Bri and her family running their little apothecary in their quaint little town whilst solving mysteries and getting involved with supernatural hijinks. It feels rife for a tv spin off tbh and i for one would absolutely devour a cosy witchy low stakes black girl magic tv show.
After the dramatic cliffhangers from the end of first book I was desperate to know what Briseis was going to do next.
I absolutely loved her as a character and I also really loved her mum's, and how normal they all felt. I also loved the little found family that Bri gathered around her.
I found the magic system fascinating and loved all of the plant lore and Greek Mythology, especially some of the lesser known ones.
I still think the romance was a bit insta-love-y and i had trouble at times really investing in it.
I really liked both of the characters but i feel like we missed the part where they got to know each other before liking each other. Idk maybe I'm just being cynical.
I really enjoyed the ending and in my mind I like to imagine Bri and her family running their little apothecary in their quaint little town whilst solving mysteries and getting involved with supernatural hijinks. It feels rife for a tv spin off tbh and i for one would absolutely devour a cosy witchy low stakes black girl magic tv show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Death of parent
icarusandthesun's review
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
an okay read—really, just okay.
i read this poison heart some years ago and thought it was quite enjoyable—the greek mythology, the plants, the likable characters. this wicked fate still had all three of those, but somehow it just didn't have the same impact, the same excitement to it.
i found the whole story except for the ending pretty average and uninteresting. the storyline had this basic, linear feeling to it—it was pretty obvious what was going to happen most of the time. you knew in advance how the next chapter was going to make you feel.
the romance between briseis and marie was a little unbelievable? not because they weren't compatible but simply because they never really talked? not a lot of (deep) coversations, nothing. the only times they interacted was to plot or to kiss/hug. their relationship didn't go through any sort of development, wasn't deepened at all. i think that was handled way better in the first book.
i did however like the ending! it made me tear up a little bit and was all in all just very wholesome. definitely the only extraordinary thing this book's got going on for it.
i read this poison heart some years ago and thought it was quite enjoyable—the greek mythology, the plants, the likable characters. this wicked fate still had all three of those, but somehow it just didn't have the same impact, the same excitement to it.
i found the whole story except for the ending pretty average and uninteresting. the storyline had this basic, linear feeling to it—it was pretty obvious what was going to happen most of the time. you knew in advance how the next chapter was going to make you feel.
the romance between briseis and marie was a little unbelievable? not because they weren't compatible but simply because they never really talked? not a lot of (deep) coversations, nothing. the only times they interacted was to plot or to kiss/hug. their relationship didn't go through any sort of development, wasn't deepened at all. i think that was handled way better in the first book.
i did however like the ending! it made me tear up a little bit and was all in all just very wholesome. definitely the only extraordinary thing this book's got going on for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent