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emmhardt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
inter0bang's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.0
kitty_reads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
4.0
idk exactly what I want to rate this yet but I am so satisfied with that ending!! here’s my random thoughts…
going into this series I didn’t expect such a magical, heart wrenching tale about oppression, war, morality grief, love, etc. but I am glad for the perspective this book gave me.
not sure why, but this book didn’t hit the same as the first book. I think it’s because it was more serious and made me anxious most the time… especially after the 70% mark OMG. I had no idea what was going to happen 😭 I liked lainis purple prose for the most part, but during some scene I just wanted to know what was happening already (bc of my anxiety).
now that I know what happens, and can analyze the book without all the worry, I appreciate all the parts much more. the way Laini weaves the magical elements into her story telling + themes is SO good.
going into this series I didn’t expect such a magical, heart wrenching tale about oppression, war, morality grief, love, etc. but I am glad for the perspective this book gave me.
not sure why, but this book didn’t hit the same as the first book. I think it’s because it was more serious and made me anxious most the time… especially after the 70% mark OMG. I had no idea what was going to happen 😭 I liked lainis purple prose for the most part, but during some scene I just wanted to know what was happening already (bc of my anxiety).
now that I know what happens, and can analyze the book without all the worry, I appreciate all the parts much more. the way Laini weaves the magical elements into her story telling + themes is SO good.
djierie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Trafficking
Minor: Suicide, Sexual violence, and Child death
yodamom's review against another edition
Quitting @20%- (audiobook) I just keep losing interest. I find myself ignoring the audio completely. I am putting it aside I may come back some day or not.
ashablue's review against another edition
5.0
This 2 book series is a work of staggering beauty and exquisite world building where the characters don't get left behind. A girl who shouts moths and shapes dreams and fails at not kissing? A little girl who isn't really a little girl who survived unspeakable horror and who catches ghosts like balloons on strings? A goddess who eats memories? A woman who dares to defy her fate and steals the powers of gods and kills her way through dozens of worlds to save her sister? Beings who made holes in the worlds and linked them together for better and for worse? All this and more. So much emotion, tenderness and wander in every chapter. Laini Taylor makes you feel what her characters feel, taking you well along for the ride and making you care, really care about what happens to them.
There's lots of magic and fantasy but there's so much wonderful, relatable humanity in it all. Even supporting characters are dynamic, fully fleshed, funny and endearing with so much depth to their own story even as it unfolds in the shadows of the main.
I think it's a great fantasy read and if I had read this as a teen I may have gotten into fantasy much earlier in my life.
There's lots of magic and fantasy but there's so much wonderful, relatable humanity in it all. Even supporting characters are dynamic, fully fleshed, funny and endearing with so much depth to their own story even as it unfolds in the shadows of the main.
I think it's a great fantasy read and if I had read this as a teen I may have gotten into fantasy much earlier in my life.
uutopicaa's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 y no sé si redondear hacia arriba o hacia abajo todavía. En unos días pondré la reseña.
lfjm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Once upon a time, a sister made a vow she didn't know how to break, and it broke her instead. Once upon a time, a girl did the impossible, but she did it just a little to late.
The story was so beautiful and heartbreaking. Laini Taylor became one of my favorite authors. Her writting style is very smooth and lyrical. Its a YA fantasy romance, which never lets you know what happens next. After the end of Strange the Dreamer, I was really scared to start the second book. But Im sooo glad that I did it right away. There was so much left to unpack and I couldnt imagine it happening all in this 500 pages. The whole book was a rolar coaster of emotions. I was always afraid for different characters and the treat always came From somewhere else. I could never see it coming and was speechless every time.
Lazlo Strange, our kind and selfless hero deserves all the Love there is to give, Im happy that he finally has a family and knows now who he is.
Sarai still beeing able to enter dreams, finally discoverd who she wants to be, what her goal will be and Im happy that she can finally look forward into a bright future.
Minya.... how I hated her and then loved her. When we learned of her past and how she indirectly gave her love through the Ellens to her family was heartbreaking. Im sooo glad that she let go of all the poor souls and started a new chapter in her life.
Ruby and Feral should just get it over with and have their happy ever after, the whole back and forth will hopefully not drag on forever.
Our sweet and kind Sparrow, our saviour in need, she deserves to finally find her own love and that she will no longer feel useless.
Thyon Nero finally has the character development I was waiting for and their was even a little romance going on with Ruza, where I would have loved to see more of. ( And I totaly knew he had a crush on Lazlo!)
Im so happy and relieved that Eril-Fane and Azareen got a happy end. I was so scared for them in the meantime. They deserve to be a happy family. Azareen never gave up and waited 15 years for her husband.
I know that Eril-Fane did some unforgivable things. However, he made a decision at that moment, believing he could save everyone after accomplishing something seemingly impossible. We've all made mistakes before and he's spent the last 15 years regretting his actions and almost being crushed under their weight.
In the second book you get to know a second story, that of two sisters, two parts of a whole, who were trying to find their way back to each other. It was very exciting to see how the two stories would come together. I did not think it would be possible at the beginning of the book, but I felt even more connected to the sisters than to our main characters. Their characters were just so well written and their end unbelievable heartbreaking. I cried so much throughout the book.
This was a masterpiece of fantasy storytelling. It was utterly captivating from beginning to end. The ending leaves so much to the Imagination and I really really wish a third part of this world will be Released at some point in the future. One of my Highlights of 2024 so far!
The story was so beautiful and heartbreaking. Laini Taylor became one of my favorite authors. Her writting style is very smooth and lyrical. Its a YA fantasy romance, which never lets you know what happens next. After the end of Strange the Dreamer, I was really scared to start the second book. But Im sooo glad that I did it right away. There was so much left to unpack and I couldnt imagine it happening all in this 500 pages. The whole book was a rolar coaster of emotions. I was always afraid for different characters and the treat always came From somewhere else. I could never see it coming and was speechless every time.
Lazlo Strange, our kind and selfless hero deserves all the Love there is to give, Im happy that he finally has a family and knows now who he is.
Sarai still beeing able to enter dreams, finally discoverd who she wants to be, what her goal will be and Im happy that she can finally look forward into a bright future.
Minya.... how I hated her and then loved her. When we learned of her past and how she indirectly gave her love through the Ellens to her family was heartbreaking. Im sooo glad that she let go of all the poor souls and started a new chapter in her life.
Ruby and Feral should just get it over with and have their happy ever after, the whole back and forth will hopefully not drag on forever.
Our sweet and kind Sparrow, our saviour in need, she deserves to finally find her own love and that she will no longer feel useless.
Thyon Nero finally has the character development I was waiting for and their was even a little romance going on with Ruza, where I would have loved to see more of. ( And I totaly knew he had a crush on Lazlo!)
Im so happy and relieved that Eril-Fane and Azareen got a happy end. I was so scared for them in the meantime. They deserve to be a happy family. Azareen never gave up and waited 15 years for her husband.
I know that Eril-Fane did some unforgivable things. However, he made a decision at that moment, believing he could save everyone after accomplishing something seemingly impossible. We've all made mistakes before and he's spent the last 15 years regretting his actions and almost being crushed under their weight.
In the second book you get to know a second story, that of two sisters, two parts of a whole, who were trying to find their way back to each other. It was very exciting to see how the two stories would come together. I did not think it would be possible at the beginning of the book, but I felt even more connected to the sisters than to our main characters. Their characters were just so well written and their end unbelievable heartbreaking. I cried so much throughout the book.
This was a masterpiece of fantasy storytelling. It was utterly captivating from beginning to end. The ending leaves so much to the Imagination and I really really wish a third part of this world will be Released at some point in the future. One of my Highlights of 2024 so far!
dkadastra's review against another edition
4.0
Delivered on the promise of the first book, and explained the mysteries in a cool way. Main detractions were the overly saccharine descriptions, at times, and while the final confrontation was good and true to the characters it seemed a little ...underwhelming I guess. Overall, I really enjoyed the duology and I'd read more in this universe.