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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Dreams
Hard Mode: The dream is not mystical or unusual, just a normal dream or nightmare. (DONE)
I was really looking forward to going back to this series and this book absolutely did not disappoint! I loved it as much as the first book, if not more - there was so much chewy politics and travelling and relationship drama with Phedre and Joscelin, oh my god! As usual, I'm really looking forward to the next ones in the series!
Hard Mode: The dream is not mystical or unusual, just a normal dream or nightmare. (DONE)
I was really looking forward to going back to this series and this book absolutely did not disappoint! I loved it as much as the first book, if not more - there was so much chewy politics and travelling and relationship drama with Phedre and Joscelin, oh my god! As usual, I'm really looking forward to the next ones in the series!
adventurous
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The characters, both from the previous book and new ones, are written with so much pre-context and lore that I would easily pick up their spin-offs if they existed. The cultural influence and the not-so-subtle nods towards their IRL counterpart makes this already-complicated universe a lot easier to understand.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest
Similar to Kushiel’s Dart, for about the first third I was intrigued but slowly by the end of it started to get a little bit bored, but then it picked up and never slowed down. After reading a lot of ACOTAR-esque books recently, the beautiful writing style and politics and world building had me enthralled-it has been a nice change. Not sure how to describe it other than the writing invokes so much depth and emotion, and how the plot unfolds is not something I would ever expect yet the story still flows. Soooo good!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
I don't really know where to begin with this book. I guess, since I have made comments and reviews throughout the book, I will start at the end. You know that fairytale ending everyone hopes for in movies and books. That moment at the end of the book when all of the pieces have fallen into place, and everything is right in the world. I was afraid that moment would not come in this novel, and, ironically, it did not. On the surface, it seems that the Terre d' Ange is at peace, Joscelin and Phedre are happily united (sort of), and Melisande is doomed to wilt away locked in Serenissma. Unfortunately, this is not the case if you read a little deeper and look for what was *not* stated. Phedre still wants to free Hyacinthe which will undoubtedly cause a schism to come betweeen Joscelin and Phedre. Then, I had to think about Melisande. For the most part, she has physically been taken out of the scheme, but there are still loose ends. Where there are loose ends, Melisande's influence and deception will find a way to cause more disruption. Even with the seemingly happy ending, there is a storm a-brewing.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this novel (just like I did the first). It is full of intrigue, planning, and more romance (not sex). You will not regret picking up this book if you are willing to subject yourself to an emotional roller coaster. I can't wait for the the last book in the series, Kushiel's Avatar.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this novel (just like I did the first). It is full of intrigue, planning, and more romance (not sex). You will not regret picking up this book if you are willing to subject yourself to an emotional roller coaster. I can't wait for the the last book in the series, Kushiel's Avatar.
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Admittedly, I skimmed a good bit of the middle. But I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time.
I feel an urge to start the next book immediately, which I certainly didn't feel after experiencing the emotional damage of finishing the first book.
I feel an urge to start the next book immediately, which I certainly didn't feel after experiencing the emotional damage of finishing the first book.
Last read from 6/8/12 to 6/18/12.
Light spoilers ahead?
Just like the first, I couldn't put it down. My only criticism (and I'm not entirely sure if it IS criticism) is that it feels like it follows the first one too closely in terms of story structure. Phedre finds a mystery, tries to solve it, gets kidnapped/banished/etc, somehow builds a relationship with her captors, and fights her way back home, saving the day in the nick of time. Although there are definitely some stark difference between Gunter and Kazan (and I do liken Kazan to Gunter FAR more than Waldemar), their parts in the grand scheme of things just felt a little too repetitive, though Kazan is granted far more page time and development. All that being said, I loved the first one, and sometimes more of the same isn't a bad thing at all. However, I am hoping (as I start Kushiel's Avatar) that Carey mixes it up a bit this time.
Light spoilers ahead?
Just like the first, I couldn't put it down. My only criticism (and I'm not entirely sure if it IS criticism) is that it feels like it follows the first one too closely in terms of story structure. Phedre finds a mystery, tries to solve it, gets kidnapped/banished/etc, somehow builds a relationship with her captors, and fights her way back home, saving the day in the nick of time. Although there are definitely some stark difference between Gunter and Kazan (and I do liken Kazan to Gunter FAR more than Waldemar), their parts in the grand scheme of things just felt a little too repetitive, though Kazan is granted far more page time and development. All that being said, I loved the first one, and sometimes more of the same isn't a bad thing at all. However, I am hoping (as I start Kushiel's Avatar) that Carey mixes it up a bit this time.