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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
Oh, this was lovely. The way Laurent and Damen come to understand more of each other against the threat of political upheaval around the corner is perfect. Damen's PoV once again draws me into every detail. Everything he sees as important as all he does not.
This felt like a completely different book from the first. I was hesitant to continue the series but I am glad I listened to other’s recommendations. What little I liked from the first book was the treason, court politics, and dialogue between L and D. That is 100% what the second book is about. This is a slow burn, but worth it.
I literally couldn't put the hook down. Not for a second
I was impressed by how their relationship developed in this one. It was so natural and subtle that you didn't even realize what was happening until it was too late.
Meh, no sé si sea mi versión del libro, pero la narración en general no es muy buena. En los conflictos bélicos, se salta de una posición a otra que cambia completamente el curso de la pelea y lo explica solo cuando ya lleva rato de haber cambiado. Además, la trama y subtrama es bastante predecible, guarda secretos que se ven venir desde el inicio como si fueran tremendo plot twist. Aunque, en general es divertido de leer (si ignoramos de forma vehemente todas las red flags), ya que se centra en hechos y acciones relevantes (más que relleno y desarrollo de trama).
La verdad la única razón por la que sigo leyendo esta trilogía es porque me gusta mucho la forma en que piensa Laurent, me parece interesante.
La verdad la única razón por la que sigo leyendo esta trilogía es porque me gusta mucho la forma en que piensa Laurent, me parece interesante.
Don't you just love it when an author makes you change your mind and you end up loving a book you thought you'd hate?
I read the first volume in the summer, which was my first mistake. I read it while on holiday, in Florida and New Orleans, when in all honesty I should have been reading short novellas and light rom coms. But no, I went for the mentally heavy and brainy kinda historical, kinda fantasy/dystopian, I guess, definitely fiction MM romance, which I had my issues classifying as romance.
And then the other day I picked the second volume up because I've been craving some good MM and I figured that I might as well pick up something I had already started, in a way.
And oh boy, am I happy I did!
This book delivered on all the fronts the first book didn't. The first now seems more like a way too long prologue, while this book should have been the focus. While the first book was more centered on the court, the Veretian intrigues and culture, their ambiguity, and Laurent's distrust towards Damen, this book was fantastic.
Most of it is set during a mission to the border. The Regent has sent Laurent and Damen there so that they'll fall in a trap and I loved how the sense of foreboding was well balanced with Laurent's opaque strategies to prevent that.
But moreover, this book finally delivered on the romance. This author did a fantastic job at keeping her character so strong, personality-wise, and yet created a slow-burn which allowed for a naturalness in their relationship that felt inevitable.
I also want to praise this author for not believing in her readers' mental capabilities. I hate when authors feel the need to explain every single thing to the reader, and Pacat was incredible at giving us little crumbs here and there, but never really enough to figure out the big picture. And even in the end, things got complicated enough that it took me some effort to piece everything back together. And I loved it. This book requires you attention and it rewards you with a satisfying ending in which at least some of the loose ends get cut and some mysteries resolved.
The shining star of this book is undoubtledly Laurent. I feel like his character is such a powerful one, so rigid, so stoic, so constrained in his own personality, which worked so perfectly with Damen. Every inch Laurent conceded was a victory, every layer he peeled off his skin and his mental armor a thrill. Damen, too, was a well rounded character. We are in his head throughout the book, and I loved how even in his eyes Laurent is mainly a mystery, although Damen is getting to know what make shim tic.
Overall, a great story that develops the narration on so many levels, from the interpersonal dynamics, to the political affiliations, the intrigues and the subterfuges, from the plot to the cultural diversities between the regions, it truly makes for an entertaining and fresh read.
I read the first volume in the summer, which was my first mistake. I read it while on holiday, in Florida and New Orleans, when in all honesty I should have been reading short novellas and light rom coms. But no, I went for the mentally heavy and brainy kinda historical, kinda fantasy/dystopian, I guess, definitely fiction MM romance, which I had my issues classifying as romance.
And then the other day I picked the second volume up because I've been craving some good MM and I figured that I might as well pick up something I had already started, in a way.
And oh boy, am I happy I did!
This book delivered on all the fronts the first book didn't. The first now seems more like a way too long prologue, while this book should have been the focus. While the first book was more centered on the court, the Veretian intrigues and culture, their ambiguity, and Laurent's distrust towards Damen, this book was fantastic.
Most of it is set during a mission to the border. The Regent has sent Laurent and Damen there so that they'll fall in a trap and I loved how the sense of foreboding was well balanced with Laurent's opaque strategies to prevent that.
But moreover, this book finally delivered on the romance. This author did a fantastic job at keeping her character so strong, personality-wise, and yet created a slow-burn which allowed for a naturalness in their relationship that felt inevitable.
I also want to praise this author for not believing in her readers' mental capabilities. I hate when authors feel the need to explain every single thing to the reader, and Pacat was incredible at giving us little crumbs here and there, but never really enough to figure out the big picture. And even in the end, things got complicated enough that it took me some effort to piece everything back together. And I loved it. This book requires you attention and it rewards you with a satisfying ending in which at least some of the loose ends get cut and some mysteries resolved.
The shining star of this book is undoubtledly Laurent. I feel like his character is such a powerful one, so rigid, so stoic, so constrained in his own personality, which worked so perfectly with Damen. Every inch Laurent conceded was a victory, every layer he peeled off his skin and his mental armor a thrill. Damen, too, was a well rounded character. We are in his head throughout the book, and I loved how even in his eyes Laurent is mainly a mystery, although Damen is getting to know what make shim tic.
Overall, a great story that develops the narration on so many levels, from the interpersonal dynamics, to the political affiliations, the intrigues and the subterfuges, from the plot to the cultural diversities between the regions, it truly makes for an entertaining and fresh read.
EXCUSE ME?! EXCUSE ME?! okay, let me breathe... EXCUSE ME?!
The book made me want to bite down on concrete, take that for what you will!! This book had me hanging on every. single. word. "Laurent, I am your slave." LIVES WERE LOST, SPECIFICALLY MINE. These two men have the most engaging dynamic that I've read in quite some time. Once again, the ENEMIES were LOVING, and the burn was SLOWLY EXCRUCIATING. Watching them circle each other, reaching out with the barest hints was so fucking fun.
Even the politics were interesting to read, which took me aback. The ending was wild, and I jumped into the next book with a speed you would not believe!!
The book made me want to bite down on concrete, take that for what you will!! This book had me hanging on every. single. word. "Laurent, I am your slave." LIVES WERE LOST, SPECIFICALLY MINE. These two men have the most engaging dynamic that I've read in quite some time. Once again, the ENEMIES were LOVING, and the burn was SLOWLY EXCRUCIATING. Watching them circle each other, reaching out with the barest hints was so fucking fun.
Even the politics were interesting to read, which took me aback. The ending was wild, and I jumped into the next book with a speed you would not believe!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
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