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delreese's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Sexual content
mazarine_boelen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction
ka_ke's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’ll admit, I was a little disappointed when I realized this book was from Rua’s POV and not more about Remy/Hale and the rest of the original characters. I suppose this was because I found Rua to be intolerable for the first 55% of the book. I wish there had been more of a transition from miserable to confident and happy for her. That being said, I am looking forward to the third book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
frankieclc's review against another edition
4.75
literal only reason it isnt a 5 is cus i struggled to connect with rua in the first part but omg i cried i love these books ???? !!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, War, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
booknchaoswithmarz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Despite this being book two and a continuation of the storyline, it didn't rely on the love it captured for characters in book one to prop it up. Don't worry, those well loved characters are still there but the author let's these new characters have their own journey.
We follow Rua, who is the younger sister of Remy, the MC in book one.
Now while Rua and Remy are sisters and both have a lot of similar traits, they have experienced vastly different upbringings that has shaped each of them into the unique characters we see in each book.
While on the surface it's a tale of an estranged younger sibling entrusted with ensuring the North is stabilised and struggling to not only form bonds with her family but to measure up to the enormous task ahead. However underneath its a heart wrenching journey of recognising self worth and allowing yourself to forgive mistakes made.
Woven amongst the quest to save the realm is a slow burn romance with a tortured love interest that the world sees as cold and calculating but she begins to see it for the mask that it is.
Overall I felt the pacing, character growth and writing improved with this instalment and as with the first the diversity and lbgt representation flows naturally.
This book tackles some sensitive subjects such as mental health, trauma, drug abuse, torture and magical subjugation of certain classes however I believe it has been handled well.
Side note, I do love the little inclusions such as dealing with sanitary products, characters wondering at the logistics of gravel on ice and what happens comes spring, the safety of even having tents on ice in the first place and other things that as a reader you tend to ask yourself these questions while you're reading.
We follow Rua, who is the younger sister of Remy, the MC in book one.
Now while Rua and Remy are sisters and both have a lot of similar traits, they have experienced vastly different upbringings that has shaped each of them into the unique characters we see in each book.
While on the surface it's a tale of an estranged younger sibling entrusted with ensuring the North is stabilised and struggling to not only form bonds with her family but to measure up to the enormous task ahead. However underneath its a heart wrenching journey of recognising self worth and allowing yourself to forgive mistakes made.
Woven amongst the quest to save the realm is a slow burn romance with a tortured love interest that the world sees as cold and calculating but she begins to see it for the mask that it is.
Overall I felt the pacing, character growth and writing improved with this instalment and as with the first the diversity and lbgt representation flows naturally.
This book tackles some sensitive subjects such as mental health, trauma, drug abuse, torture and magical subjugation of certain classes however I believe it has been handled well.
Side note, I do love the little inclusions such as dealing with sanitary products, characters wondering at the logistics of gravel on ice and what happens comes spring, the safety of even having tents on ice in the first place and other things that as a reader you tend to ask yourself these questions while you're reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Abandonment
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