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jscarpa14's review
4.0
So I think I'm more critical as a reader than I used to be because a lot more things bothered me about this. Like one why introduce the Quixotic crew if they aren't going to be involved in the finale? Two if the prophecies about love are between mages, why match them so many years apart but make the men unable to father children after their early 20s especially since the supposed reason the women don't get their powers until after menopause is to give them the chance to be mothers?
I mean for the most part I love these characters but I can't say I loved the gender imbalance. In fact in general I kind of agreed with Eris on her thoughts about the "gender challenged." Not saying that I rooted for the bad guy, but the dude totally should have been made into a rat. But back to the imbalance, all the male mages were controlling and to a point seemed to see the women as people to be managed. None of the female characters outside of the bad guy had come into powers yet, see above for nonsensical reasons. Dex lies to Vivian and she just forgives him instantly without so much as an apology and the women are treated as little more than a distraction to the "real" fighters. Also there's the whole scene where they're trying to figure out how to defeat the bad guy but she has to keep being reminded to focus because she can't stop thinking about how hot he is? Maybe if she was a teenager I might buy that but from an adult it just read as demeaning to me as if she was just a silly female. You can't build a character up the way Vivian is and then just give her all these silly female moments without it just seeming all sorts of wrong.
I mean I still liked the story but a lot more things stand out to me now than I noticed when I first read and rated this.
I mean for the most part I love these characters but I can't say I loved the gender imbalance. In fact in general I kind of agreed with Eris on her thoughts about the "gender challenged." Not saying that I rooted for the bad guy, but the dude totally should have been made into a rat. But back to the imbalance, all the male mages were controlling and to a point seemed to see the women as people to be managed. None of the female characters outside of the bad guy had come into powers yet, see above for nonsensical reasons. Dex lies to Vivian and she just forgives him instantly without so much as an apology and the women are treated as little more than a distraction to the "real" fighters. Also there's the whole scene where they're trying to figure out how to defeat the bad guy but she has to keep being reminded to focus because she can't stop thinking about how hot he is? Maybe if she was a teenager I might buy that but from an adult it just read as demeaning to me as if she was just a silly female. You can't build a character up the way Vivian is and then just give her all these silly female moments without it just seeming all sorts of wrong.
I mean I still liked the story but a lot more things stand out to me now than I noticed when I first read and rated this.
readmorbookz's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.5
bethb3's review
4.0
This is my favorite in the series so far. Vivian and Dex make a cute couple and I genuinely liked them, unlike many of her earlier couples. I thought Viv and Dex's relationship was too hurried...you've known each other one day and you're falling into bed together? But other than that, a wonderful read.
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