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graceb_b's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
aradhnak's review against another edition
5.0
I just feel like screaming incoherently, I has such a hard time putting this down.
*EDITED*
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Helen!
The story picks up in speed SO MUCH, exactly from where we left off. The novel still follows the same four characters, but in this one, the chapters are a little more even in number – and we delve deep into the secrets all four of them are hiding and secrets that are hidden from them.
Bleak is isolated from the people she had in the first novel, and new characters are introduced that she has to learn to depend on. But because of her growth in the first novel, she is a little less impulsive and a little more willing to work with others, and it feels earned.
Henri also has learnt that she cannot go it alone. She is more willing to listen to other people’s ideas and ways. Her stubbornness is still there, it is still something she is learning to let go of and trust others, but she is surrounded by people that care about her and who want the same thing she does.
Swinton finds his life turned upside down, and surprisingly, I grew fond of him in this one. His conflict is an interesting one, and the secrets he is hiding unveil in such a way that everything he has done might not feel justified, but it feels understandable.
Dash’s life is also turned upside down, and with no spoilers, it really changes things up. It was unexpected, but so interesting.
There were so many twists in this novel, and none of them felt contrived or forced. Bits and pieces are left as breadcrumbs, and once the twist would happen, I would just gape in awe at how well it was set up. And that end! I expected it and was still left breathless.
I finished the novel in two days, something I haven’t done in ages, so that is saying something.
*EDITED*
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Helen!
The story picks up in speed SO MUCH, exactly from where we left off. The novel still follows the same four characters, but in this one, the chapters are a little more even in number – and we delve deep into the secrets all four of them are hiding and secrets that are hidden from them.
Bleak is isolated from the people she had in the first novel, and new characters are introduced that she has to learn to depend on. But because of her growth in the first novel, she is a little less impulsive and a little more willing to work with others, and it feels earned.
Henri also has learnt that she cannot go it alone. She is more willing to listen to other people’s ideas and ways. Her stubbornness is still there, it is still something she is learning to let go of and trust others, but she is surrounded by people that care about her and who want the same thing she does.
Swinton finds his life turned upside down, and surprisingly, I grew fond of him in this one. His conflict is an interesting one, and the secrets he is hiding unveil in such a way that everything he has done might not feel justified, but it feels understandable.
Dash’s life is also turned upside down, and with no spoilers, it really changes things up. It was unexpected, but so interesting.
There were so many twists in this novel, and none of them felt contrived or forced. Bits and pieces are left as breadcrumbs, and once the twist would happen, I would just gape in awe at how well it was set up. And that end! I expected it and was still left breathless.
I finished the novel in two days, something I haven’t done in ages, so that is saying something.
chlosophis's review
4.0
I am straight-up loving adventure books at the moment.
This sequel to Heart of Mist is, by far, superior to its predecessor.
This sequel to Heart of Mist is, by far, superior to its predecessor.
zanybibliophile's review
4.0
Regin of Mist picks up where Heart of Mist left off and the story continues to be told via Bleak, Henri, Swinton and Dash's points of view.
Bleak finds herself in a foreign location with strange creatures and unexpected strangers. She begins to find answers about her past and her true identity though, more often than not, those answers only lead to more questions. Bleak also has to face many more challenges, some for her body and others for her mind, which have shaped the character growth. She is not the same girl we met at the start of Heart of Mist, but she is all the stronger for it.
Henrietta Valia has also changed quite a bit since we first met the Queen of the Valia Kindred. With war hot on her heels and ghosts from her past returning in unexpected ways, Henri and her Valian ways are tested. It was nice to see more of her vulnerable side and how her fighting spirit strengthened the more she let people in.
Commander Swinton was much the same in his actions but more panicked in mind. We finally see the man behind the title which explains some of his past decisions and the real reason for his loyalty to the king. I had suspected the who and why in Heart of Mist but it was interesting to see how it was revealed.
Dash, the poor young man, does not have an easy go of it and faces perhaps the biggest transformation anyone could ever experience. He is forced to grow up in more ways than one, suddenly his dream of being a knight is not so unrealistic and, if that was not stressful enough, the magic he possesses could make all the difference in this upcoming war.
Reign of Mist kept up the action-filled pace set by its predecessor, though it did suffer a little from middle-book-syndrome in that we know a war is coming thanks to the events at the end of Heart of Mist, yet we only get a glimpse of the war right at the end. However, there are battles that take place, many of which had me gasping or holding my breath as I waited to find out what would happen, and it is through these that we meet new characters and are reunited with old ones that I can see these having some impact on the upcoming war.
As with the first book, the writing was captivating and the plot and characters were interesting and intriguing, but the flicking between characters still bothered me a little. Just as I was getting caught up in a scene and becoming anxious to find out what would happen next, I would be taken away from it and plonked into another. I also dislike that I only really know where two of the four characters are at the end of this novel. One was on the move at least half a dozen chapters before the end with some important secondary characters and another simply was not mentioned after a massive incident that could have resulted in their death. I am usually okay with the last minute reveals and cliffhangers, but I am feeling too much anxiety for these characters and it will plague me until the next Oremere Chronicles novel is in my hands.
Regin of Mist is another amazing book from Helen and it has cemented my love for the series. I cannot wait to read the next instalment!
Bleak finds herself in a foreign location with strange creatures and unexpected strangers. She begins to find answers about her past and her true identity though, more often than not, those answers only lead to more questions. Bleak also has to face many more challenges, some for her body and others for her mind, which have shaped the character growth. She is not the same girl we met at the start of Heart of Mist, but she is all the stronger for it.
Henrietta Valia has also changed quite a bit since we first met the Queen of the Valia Kindred. With war hot on her heels and ghosts from her past returning in unexpected ways, Henri and her Valian ways are tested. It was nice to see more of her vulnerable side and how her fighting spirit strengthened the more she let people in.
Commander Swinton was much the same in his actions but more panicked in mind. We finally see the man behind the title which explains some of his past decisions and the real reason for his loyalty to the king. I had suspected the who and why in Heart of Mist but it was interesting to see how it was revealed.
Dash, the poor young man, does not have an easy go of it and faces perhaps the biggest transformation anyone could ever experience. He is forced to grow up in more ways than one, suddenly his dream of being a knight is not so unrealistic and, if that was not stressful enough, the magic he possesses could make all the difference in this upcoming war.
Reign of Mist kept up the action-filled pace set by its predecessor, though it did suffer a little from middle-book-syndrome in that we know a war is coming thanks to the events at the end of Heart of Mist, yet we only get a glimpse of the war right at the end. However, there are battles that take place, many of which had me gasping or holding my breath as I waited to find out what would happen, and it is through these that we meet new characters and are reunited with old ones that I can see these having some impact on the upcoming war.
As with the first book, the writing was captivating and the plot and characters were interesting and intriguing, but the flicking between characters still bothered me a little. Just as I was getting caught up in a scene and becoming anxious to find out what would happen next, I would be taken away from it and plonked into another. I also dislike that I only really know where two of the four characters are at the end of this novel. One was on the move at least half a dozen chapters before the end with some important secondary characters and another simply was not mentioned after a massive incident that could have resulted in their death. I am usually okay with the last minute reveals and cliffhangers, but I am feeling too much anxiety for these characters and it will plague me until the next Oremere Chronicles novel is in my hands.
Regin of Mist is another amazing book from Helen and it has cemented my love for the series. I cannot wait to read the next instalment!
ellyrarg's review
3.0
Mainly action in this book, but the level of tense action mitigated by moments of rest/recovery/planning, which was nice. A few twists and changes (some predicted, some not).
The character development wasn’t subtle, but that’s okay. I don’t think it was called for in this book.
Looking forward to the final book!
The character development wasn’t subtle, but that’s okay. I don’t think it was called for in this book.
Looking forward to the final book!
coffeedragon's review
4.0
I received a free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. This review was written as part of the Blog Tour hosted by That Bookshelf Bitch. To see the full schedule, check out my post!
Where do I even begin without accidentally spoiling the book?!
This book picks up directly after book one where Bleak has sailed into the Mist. I think this book does a great job of keeping up the pace of the action and the characters IF you read the first book directly before this. Since it’s been about a year for me and I have a terrible memory, I had a bit of trouble recalling what had happened previously. But once I got my reminder, I was in for the ride
I feel like this book is what you would expect from the second book in a series. There are A LOT of things happening now that the King has been exposed. We’re still following the story via four different points of views (Bleak, Henri, Dash, and Swinton) and it’s hard to pick which I preferred to read from. Bleak has recently discovered her origins while on Oremere, Henri is rallying forces for the upcoming battle (ok I admit this part was a bit on the boring side), Dash is in danger (GASP), and Swinton is torn between doing what he knows is right and keeping his loved ones safe
I’m really excited to see where the plot is going to go from here. While we did get a battle at the end, what seemed to be the focus here was building up the plot and character development. There were a lot of things I hoped would be covered because of hints from the first book (Dash’s heritage and Swinton’s development) and things I hadn’t even expected (let’s just say Valia). Speaking of Dash, I’m really excited about how “involved” he was in this book. In book one, I felt like we were only starting to get to know him, but with the king actively attacking the Ashai, I feel like he’s going to become a major character. Also, trying not to scream here because I want to know what he’s going to do or think when he learns about his origins!!!
I also found myself interested in future character involvements and THE DRAMA. For one, Olena and Prince Nazuri’s future involvement, Swinton’s growth (though his growth in this book had me a little confused since he doesn’t seem really committed to what he’s doing yet), Princess Olena and Dash’s reunion (GASP), and even what’s happening with Henri and the kindred of Valia.
As for why I didn’t give this book a solid 5/5 like I did Heart of Mist. It’s mainly the plot…I wasn’t really convinced. I get that Ines, the Queen of Oremere, is plotting with the king and she has evil torturous henchmen, but she doesn’t feel as developed as any of the other characters even though she’s supposed to be the main antagonist (she feels very typical bad guy and since Helen’s made such rounded and developed characters, I kind of expected more). This makes me less invested in the actual physical war since I’m too busy being emotional over our main cast. Not to mention the whole royalty shebang that was introduced and explained! I understood it after they mentioned it a couple times (it’s the names! I’m so bad at remembering new characters) but I felt it was a bit sudden. I get that we got a couple hints in book one, with Bleak’s memories of her parents being killed, but it just didn’t feel as integrated as I would have liked. There’s also another thing I want to mention but that goes into spoiler territory. My only hint on this is “Mariette”. I was not only not expecting it but also confused
Not really related but Bren is officially on my dislike list. I feel like RAGING. Like how could he say those things?!
Anywho, I can’t wait for book 3!
Where do I even begin without accidentally spoiling the book?!
This book picks up directly after book one where Bleak has sailed into the Mist. I think this book does a great job of keeping up the pace of the action and the characters IF you read the first book directly before this. Since it’s been about a year for me and I have a terrible memory, I had a bit of trouble recalling what had happened previously. But once I got my reminder, I was in for the ride
I feel like this book is what you would expect from the second book in a series. There are A LOT of things happening now that the King has been exposed. We’re still following the story via four different points of views (Bleak, Henri, Dash, and Swinton) and it’s hard to pick which I preferred to read from. Bleak has recently discovered her origins while on Oremere, Henri is rallying forces for the upcoming battle (ok I admit this part was a bit on the boring side), Dash is in danger (GASP), and Swinton is torn between doing what he knows is right and keeping his loved ones safe
I’m really excited to see where the plot is going to go from here. While we did get a battle at the end, what seemed to be the focus here was building up the plot and character development. There were a lot of things I hoped would be covered because of hints from the first book (Dash’s heritage and Swinton’s development) and things I hadn’t even expected (let’s just say Valia). Speaking of Dash, I’m really excited about how “involved” he was in this book. In book one, I felt like we were only starting to get to know him, but with the king actively attacking the Ashai, I feel like he’s going to become a major character. Also, trying not to scream here because I want to know what he’s going to do or think when he learns about his origins!!!
I also found myself interested in future character involvements and THE DRAMA. For one, Olena and Prince Nazuri’s future involvement, Swinton’s growth (though his growth in this book had me a little confused since he doesn’t seem really committed to what he’s doing yet), Princess Olena and Dash’s reunion (GASP), and even what’s happening with Henri and the kindred of Valia.
As for why I didn’t give this book a solid 5/5 like I did Heart of Mist. It’s mainly the plot…I wasn’t really convinced. I get that Ines, the Queen of Oremere, is plotting with the king and she has evil torturous henchmen, but she doesn’t feel as developed as any of the other characters even though she’s supposed to be the main antagonist (she feels very typical bad guy and since Helen’s made such rounded and developed characters, I kind of expected more). This makes me less invested in the actual physical war since I’m too busy being emotional over our main cast. Not to mention the whole royalty shebang that was introduced and explained! I understood it after they mentioned it a couple times (it’s the names! I’m so bad at remembering new characters) but I felt it was a bit sudden. I get that we got a couple hints in book one, with Bleak’s memories of her parents being killed, but it just didn’t feel as integrated as I would have liked. There’s also another thing I want to mention but that goes into spoiler territory. My only hint on this is “Mariette”. I was not only not expecting it but also confused
Not really related but Bren is officially on my dislike list. I feel like RAGING. Like how could he say those things?!
Anywho, I can’t wait for book 3!
whalien_reads's review
4.0
3.5-4/5 ☆
Oh boy where to begin... I was so glad to jump back into this world with all the characters I loved as well as the new faces we met! Getting to see how all their stories interwove and interconnected with one another was fantastic and certainly made for some surprising reveals. I really liked how we got more of Swinton's backstory because it made me more empathetic towards him and his actions but that still did not stop me from wanting to punch him once or twice through out the book. Just like 'Heart of Mist' this was equally as fast-paced, which is one of the things I love about it (since I have such a short attention span), there were times where I wished certain scenes were drawn out. I felt like things were starting and ending within a page or so and I would have liked to see it play out for longer and to have gone more in-depth. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it leaves a good setup for the third and final book in the series! I'm so ready to see what happens next!
Oh boy where to begin... I was so glad to jump back into this world with all the characters I loved as well as the new faces we met! Getting to see how all their stories interwove and interconnected with one another was fantastic and certainly made for some surprising reveals. I really liked how we got more of Swinton's backstory because it made me more empathetic towards him and his actions but that still did not stop me from wanting to punch him once or twice through out the book. Just like 'Heart of Mist' this was equally as fast-paced, which is one of the things I love about it (since I have such a short attention span), there were times where I wished certain scenes were drawn out. I felt like things were starting and ending within a page or so and I would have liked to see it play out for longer and to have gone more in-depth. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it leaves a good setup for the third and final book in the series! I'm so ready to see what happens next!
tobia's review
5.0
It’s been a while since a book sucked me in like this and everything fell to the wayside.
This is a beautiful crafted story with characters that a so interesting and multilayered. Snippets of storytelling come back to you later and it’s just amazing how easily everything fits. It’s very well thought out.
I already started the last one in the trilogy and feel sad that it doesn’t continue.
This is a beautiful crafted story with characters that a so interesting and multilayered. Snippets of storytelling come back to you later and it’s just amazing how easily everything fits. It’s very well thought out.
I already started the last one in the trilogy and feel sad that it doesn’t continue.
katiedarmer's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a good book. You get sucked into their world and root for these characters. You cheer, laugh, and cry with the narrators as you journey through their story with them. I can’t rave enough about this book. It was soooooo good. Definitely one of those books that sticks with you! I can’t wait for the next one...