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ariel790's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Coming of age story, focusing on Ruadora Damascus, princess of the High Mountain Court. Starts shortly after the events of the first book of its series, from her pov dealing with the aftermath of her choosing to wield the Imortal Blade. Darkness and loneliness has been her bread and butter her whole life, the sword only seems to amplify those feelings. She must now fight for herself while being pulled in many directions at once.
I feel this second story of the Five Crowns of Okrith was well improved over the first. Rua is much more developed and given more depth than even Remy was in her story. This, I felt, made her more interesting.
The story telling was smoother. Less repetitive. Lulled in some spots, but still very enjoyable.
I feel this second story of the Five Crowns of Okrith was well improved over the first. Rua is much more developed and given more depth than even Remy was in her story. This, I felt, made her more interesting.
The story telling was smoother. Less repetitive. Lulled in some spots, but still very enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Slavery, and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Torture, Classism, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
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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