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ambrose_7's review against another edition
5.0
For me at least it's a lot more typical for a series to get progressively worse or boring. There are exceptions of course (Red Rising) but the normal for me is that the longer I read a series the less I enjoy it. This was not the case for Shadow Scale it was astoundingly better than Seraphina was. The character-building in this one was better. You really get a sense of who Seraphina is and I at least really liked It. I also really really liked the "villain" of this story. She was incredibly written. She is perfectly evil but someone you still feel sympathetic for once you learn her backstory. I think that the beauty of these two books partly lies in how Hartman writes such a logical fantasy world. It really makes it stand out to me. It reminds me of how Brandon Sanderson writes his words. I mean the ending kind of reminded me of Mistborn book three so I guess that makes sense. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, just like the first book, I would definitely tell people to check out these two books, well worth it!
_aoibheann_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
middenprincess's review against another edition
2.0
i don’t like this one as much as i feel it is not as organized as the first book. i liked part of the ending but i also feel as though a lot is missing from it. maybe i’m just overly attached to orma and the open ending leaves me a bit disappointed. i also don’t like the lack of resolution with seraphina/kiggs/selda. i feel like glisselda honest to god always had more chemistry with seraphina and i feel like glisselda getting with the ityasaari and musician that everyone has a good opinion of (seraphina) would have appeased the people as much as her marrying lucian. i also just don’t think kiggs and seraphina ever had good chemistry! glisselda always saw seraphina as she was when she first became her harpsichord teacher. also, coming back to orma, i feel so awful that jannoula took him away as well. it just felt like an unsatisfying ending for a character like seraphina. it felt like she really never developed a backbone or as a character, like she was just passively experiencing everything that happened in the book. she also deserved better than losing the uncle who was more of a father to her than her own father. orma lost parts of himself he likely could never get back, and for what? and are she and the queen and king a triad now or is she just lucian’s side piece while glisselda pines for her because that feels fucking unfair for everyone involved… also why is eskar having ardmagar’s egg that also feels unfair as hell to orma unless dragons aren’t as monogamous as humans, which was really never explained!!
kebreads's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was just as good as in the first book. The characters are complex and grow and change throughout the story. The story took many unexpected twists and turns. There are parts I absolutely loved. There were parts I am somewhat uncomfortable with. And since it's the second book in the series, I am left with wondering what direction the story will take next. I am still very much intrigued by the world and the story, but I do worry the morals in the next book will follow a direction I will be uncomfortable with.
Content: half a dozen swear words, some innuendo, allusions to homosexuality
Content: half a dozen swear words, some innuendo, allusions to homosexuality
coolhandluke140's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
halynah's review against another edition
1.0
The first book was amazing. This one -utterly boring. That's the first in my experience, when there is such a difference in class between the two installments of the same series. To put it mildly, I'm disappointed.
coltgalben's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Good book,
have a few things to mention tho. Please stop with the age gap difference in romance instances! It's not cute or hot or anything like it. It's creepy and disgusting and it's ruining the whole book, which is a shame, because I was realy enjoying it... And it happened not once, but multiple times.
It's a fantasy book, nobody forces you to put anything in it and you are not constrained by historical accuracies! This things were put by the author with their free will and it wasn't critical for the plot or anything. It was put there for the sake of what?
Another thing I didn't like was the outcome of the relationship between Orma and Eskar. It made no sens for Eskar to have an egg with Comonot, there were no hints leading to this, it came out of nowhere and it was out of character. It realy left me with a bad taste. wierd decision for the book.
That is my opinion
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide attempt, Rape, Body horror, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Torture
klarial's review against another edition
4.0
I stumbled across Seraphina by Rachel Hartman while perusing YA reviews on Goodreads, and I am ever so glad that I did. It has fantastic, detailed world building, a smart, capable heroine, and a love story that doesn’t feel recycled and cliche. It ends with the perfect balance of closure while still leaving the door open for a continuation of the story. A few years have passed and Rachel Hartman has gifted us with Shadow Scale, book two of Seraphina’s story!
For the most part Shadow Scale delivers on the promise of its predecessor. We get to see the world Hartman created in Seraphina on a larger scale as Seraphina travels outside of her homeland to find her fellow half dragons. Each of the places she visits has its own language, culture, and customs. This novel also delves deeper into the mythology surrounding half dragons. There is a good balance of detail in order to build a complex world, without drifting into info dumping. Seraphina herself is still strong and witty, and though she makes quite a few mistakes on her journey she remains likeable. The villain in this story is pretty terrifying. I cannot say much more without giving too much away, but it definitely has you on the edge of your seat near the climax.
One of my favorite parts of this novel, as well as Seraphina, is the way it deals with the romance. It isn’t insta-love, it takes awhile for the relationship to form and it is based on mutual admiration and respect. Seraphina also doesn’t give up on her family or goals to be with this love interest. Most importantly the “rival” isn’t depicted as a villain, in fact she is an admirable, likeable character. The ultimate resolution of this love story is unique, unexpected, and refreshing. In a genre where many of the love stories can feel unimaginative and trite, Shadow Scale offers something different, and it works.
I also have to note that the romance is not even the most powerful relationship in this novel. It is the relationship between Seraphina and her Uncle Orma which stays with the reader long after the book closes. Their relationship is written with such detail and love, and this novel shows the reader another, unexpected side of Orma.
The only complaint I have is that parts of the story felt rushed. Specifically the journey near the beginning of the novel and the final showdown near the end. This may just be that I wanted more time in this world and with these characters. However, the book is fairly long as it is and if more time was spent with these moments perhaps it would have felt overlong, but I wouldn’t have complained.
Overall, Shadow Scale was a fun, sweet read and a good followup to Seraphina. If you loved Seraphina, you’ll enjoy reading the conclusion of her journey.
For the most part Shadow Scale delivers on the promise of its predecessor. We get to see the world Hartman created in Seraphina on a larger scale as Seraphina travels outside of her homeland to find her fellow half dragons. Each of the places she visits has its own language, culture, and customs. This novel also delves deeper into the mythology surrounding half dragons. There is a good balance of detail in order to build a complex world, without drifting into info dumping. Seraphina herself is still strong and witty, and though she makes quite a few mistakes on her journey she remains likeable. The villain in this story is pretty terrifying. I cannot say much more without giving too much away, but it definitely has you on the edge of your seat near the climax.
One of my favorite parts of this novel, as well as Seraphina, is the way it deals with the romance. It isn’t insta-love, it takes awhile for the relationship to form and it is based on mutual admiration and respect. Seraphina also doesn’t give up on her family or goals to be with this love interest. Most importantly the “rival” isn’t depicted as a villain, in fact she is an admirable, likeable character. The ultimate resolution of this love story is unique, unexpected, and refreshing. In a genre where many of the love stories can feel unimaginative and trite, Shadow Scale offers something different, and it works.
I also have to note that the romance is not even the most powerful relationship in this novel. It is the relationship between Seraphina and her Uncle Orma which stays with the reader long after the book closes. Their relationship is written with such detail and love, and this novel shows the reader another, unexpected side of Orma.
The only complaint I have is that parts of the story felt rushed. Specifically the journey near the beginning of the novel and the final showdown near the end. This may just be that I wanted more time in this world and with these characters. However, the book is fairly long as it is and if more time was spent with these moments perhaps it would have felt overlong, but I wouldn’t have complained.
Overall, Shadow Scale was a fun, sweet read and a good followup to Seraphina. If you loved Seraphina, you’ll enjoy reading the conclusion of her journey.
rhrie38's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked it. Don't have any particularly strong feelings, but it wrapped up nicely. Pacing was fine, even though the book was quite long.