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liz_tippy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
aprilmaesh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
baoluong's review against another edition
3.0
Really breezed through this and I think it's due to the faster pacing not brought down by the need to initiate the readers.
Here's an age old question. If a hate group seeks out to commit genocide on your people, what are you supposed to do? After a traumatic first book, These Witches Don't Burn, the torture and death continues. I would like to say this is a pretty gruesome book at times. The stakes (pun not intended) are set up in book one and while by the end they're sort of resolved, it's not as satisfying. That may be the point. This is a war where you're fighting for your life. There are sacrifices, ones you didn't make because if it were up to you this wouldn't be happening at all.
Hannah is an elemental witch and is proud of her lineage. It's an extension of who she is and she knows whatever the hunters are up to is devious. How can you cure something that isn't an illness. They've found a way to take magic from the witches but as Hannah explains it feels like a part of you is missing much like if you were to lose your eyesight. This then becomes a biochemical warfare in a race to destroy the poison.
What we come to learn about both the witch covens and hunters is they're both oppressive that are hinted at but not expanded upon. The witch covens are racist (go figure) but not necessarily against humans (but I could definitely see that happening). Instead, their racism exists within the elemental, blood, and caster witches. Some even attempt to murder each other because they're a different race. It's convoluted and not handled well.
In fact, there's a lot going on. From abusive stalker exes (a running theme that's almost romanticized) to recovering from PTSD, the book definitely tackles many subjects. Sometimes they're handled well especially when it comes to Hannah learning how to cope with the literal murder of her father. However, it's mottle by a weak villain and consequently a lackluster twist. It's the case of the "villain" having a good point but I guess the ends does not justify the means. We're asked this hard question of what does it take to start a revolution and fight oppression. And it's not answered but rather swept under the rug as if what it took to get here wasn't extremely painful. As if Hannah wasn't living in relative ignorance and didn't even realize how racist her coven was until she started dating a blood witch.
Suffice to say, it was a quick read and I enjoyed the pacing even if it was clumsy handling the larger implications of the events unfolding. I recommend this for the representation because the relationship between Hannah and Morgan was charming and sweet.
Here's an age old question. If a hate group seeks out to commit genocide on your people, what are you supposed to do? After a traumatic first book, These Witches Don't Burn, the torture and death continues. I would like to say this is a pretty gruesome book at times. The stakes (pun not intended) are set up in book one and while by the end they're sort of resolved, it's not as satisfying. That may be the point. This is a war where you're fighting for your life. There are sacrifices, ones you didn't make because if it were up to you this wouldn't be happening at all.
Hannah is an elemental witch and is proud of her lineage. It's an extension of who she is and she knows whatever the hunters are up to is devious. How can you cure something that isn't an illness. They've found a way to take magic from the witches but as Hannah explains it feels like a part of you is missing much like if you were to lose your eyesight. This then becomes a biochemical warfare in a race to destroy the poison.
What we come to learn about both the witch covens and hunters is they're both oppressive that are hinted at but not expanded upon. The witch covens are racist (go figure) but not necessarily against humans (but I could definitely see that happening). Instead, their racism exists within the elemental, blood, and caster witches. Some even attempt to murder each other because they're a different race. It's convoluted and not handled well.
In fact, there's a lot going on. From abusive stalker exes (a running theme that's almost romanticized) to recovering from PTSD, the book definitely tackles many subjects. Sometimes they're handled well especially when it comes to Hannah learning how to cope with the literal murder of her father. However, it's mottle by a weak villain and consequently a lackluster twist. It's the case of the "villain" having a good point but I guess the ends does not justify the means. We're asked this hard question of what does it take to start a revolution and fight oppression. And it's not answered but rather swept under the rug as if what it took to get here wasn't extremely painful. As if Hannah wasn't living in relative ignorance and didn't even realize how racist her coven was until she started dating a blood witch.
Suffice to say, it was a quick read and I enjoyed the pacing even if it was clumsy handling the larger implications of the events unfolding. I recommend this for the representation because the relationship between Hannah and Morgan was charming and sweet.
sitrisummoned's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this sequel and this is great conclusion to this duology!
Best part for me was Morgan and Hannah relationship, their relationship is so heartwarming.
Gemma is scene stellar.
There is a lot new characters and it's predictable but I wish there is third book.
I really enjoyed this sequel and this is great conclusion to this duology!
Best part for me was Morgan and Hannah relationship, their relationship is so heartwarming.
Gemma is scene stellar.
There is a lot new characters and it's predictable but I wish there is third book.
derry's review against another edition
3.0
I appreciate this is YA, but Hannah honestly seemed exceptionally childish in this one. Grief and mixed emotions are completely understandable, but I felt like some of her decisions were entirely out of character from the first one.
Overall, this was still a fun book that I'm glad I read, but I hoped for more character development and maturity.
Overall, this was still a fun book that I'm glad I read, but I hoped for more character development and maturity.
lermonysnickers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
marzycxielka's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
asreadbykat's review against another edition
4.0
True Rating: 3.75/5
I read the first book in this duology last year, and I fell in love with how real the characters felt. Often in YA, especially in the ones that take place in our world, the characters almost feel like either miniature adults, or vaguely caricatured versions of teenagers. Sterling did a great job in that first novel of making her characters feel like REAL teenagers, with true-to-life flaws and problems alongside the supernatural elements.
That continues in this finale. In "This Coven Won't Break," Hannah has to help the Clans figure out what the Hunters' plans, as well as deal with the grief and trauma leftover from her father's death and a former friend trying to kill her. Hannah, Morgan, Gemma, and every other teenager that takes center stage in this story feel REAL. Yes, they're witches. Yes, they can control the elements and blood and make potions. But they also make mistakes. They trust and distrust the wrong people. They jump to conclusions. They push their pain back even when accepting it will help more. I'm very happy that Sterling managed to continue this aspect of the story.
I also enjoyed this sequel is because of the themes and questions it brings up. On the surface, it's a Witches vs. Witch Hunters story. But it deals with so much more than that. That storyline is almost pushed to the background by the trauma and grief that Hannah and the other witches are dealing with. We as readers get to go with Hannah along her healing journey, and so much of what she has to deal with is absolutely relatable to anyone who has ever lost someone or was badly hurt by someone they loved. The novel also brings up the unanswerable questions of morality and ethics. If someone does something bad to you, should you retaliate? When does retaliation go too far? How can you make someone who's been indoctrinated to a certain mindset see you for who you really are? These questions are, obviously, not answered, but they are brought up and it really does bring the reader closer to Hannah by making us see the difficulty other characters are having.
At the same time, this book isn't perfect. As I said, the main plotline is overshadowed by the other themes, so much so that often it's a surprise when the Witch vs. Hunter conflict is brought back in. It also feels extremely rushed at times because there isn't much time spent on it. I would have loved to see more interactions between the Hunters and the Witches, not just hear about them. I wanted to see more about how Hannah tries to get her powers back under control. As much as I enjoyed the book, it did have enough flaws that I can't give it a higher rating.
Overall, if you enjoyed the first novel and you want to know how everything ends, you'll probably enjoy this sequel. It's a fast, easy read that deals with some topics that teenagers need help with.
TL;DR: Continues to have great characters that feel real and deals with some important themes, but the main conflict often feels rushed and pushed to the background.
I read the first book in this duology last year, and I fell in love with how real the characters felt. Often in YA, especially in the ones that take place in our world, the characters almost feel like either miniature adults, or vaguely caricatured versions of teenagers. Sterling did a great job in that first novel of making her characters feel like REAL teenagers, with true-to-life flaws and problems alongside the supernatural elements.
That continues in this finale. In "This Coven Won't Break," Hannah has to help the Clans figure out what the Hunters' plans, as well as deal with the grief and trauma leftover from her father's death and a former friend trying to kill her. Hannah, Morgan, Gemma, and every other teenager that takes center stage in this story feel REAL. Yes, they're witches. Yes, they can control the elements and blood and make potions. But they also make mistakes. They trust and distrust the wrong people. They jump to conclusions. They push their pain back even when accepting it will help more. I'm very happy that Sterling managed to continue this aspect of the story.
I also enjoyed this sequel is because of the themes and questions it brings up. On the surface, it's a Witches vs. Witch Hunters story. But it deals with so much more than that. That storyline is almost pushed to the background by the trauma and grief that Hannah and the other witches are dealing with. We as readers get to go with Hannah along her healing journey, and so much of what she has to deal with is absolutely relatable to anyone who has ever lost someone or was badly hurt by someone they loved. The novel also brings up the unanswerable questions of morality and ethics. If someone does something bad to you, should you retaliate? When does retaliation go too far? How can you make someone who's been indoctrinated to a certain mindset see you for who you really are? These questions are, obviously, not answered, but they are brought up and it really does bring the reader closer to Hannah by making us see the difficulty other characters are having.
At the same time, this book isn't perfect. As I said, the main plotline is overshadowed by the other themes, so much so that often it's a surprise when the Witch vs. Hunter conflict is brought back in. It also feels extremely rushed at times because there isn't much time spent on it. I would have loved to see more interactions between the Hunters and the Witches, not just hear about them. I wanted to see more about how Hannah tries to get her powers back under control. As much as I enjoyed the book, it did have enough flaws that I can't give it a higher rating.
Overall, if you enjoyed the first novel and you want to know how everything ends, you'll probably enjoy this sequel. It's a fast, easy read that deals with some topics that teenagers need help with.
TL;DR: Continues to have great characters that feel real and deals with some important themes, but the main conflict often feels rushed and pushed to the background.