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allisonmspiers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Dementia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Animal cruelty
amazelan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexism, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content
spearly's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“Why do you have those scars?”
“Come now,” whispered Ophelia, laying a hand on her little brother’s shoulder. “No ‘why’s on physical appearance, remember?” Hector put the dud photograph in his pocket, and then raised his placid eyes back up at Thorn, not remotely daunted by his height. “Okay. Why are you detestable?”
Dabos really said, "Second book syndrome??? Never heard of her" and pumped out this stunning sequel to A Winter's Promise.
Likewise, she once again stuns with her magnificent prose and world-building. I was enraptured the entire time. Usually, without a clear villain or conflict, I get annoyed, but with The Missing of Clairedelune, I was like, "oh blackmail? cool. oh murder mystery? cool. oh political intrigue? nice. oh the slowest of all slow burn romance? toit." (okay, this one killed me a bit).
The pacing was definitely a plus from the first novel, and we did see a bit less of the side characters near the end. I'm still not sure who the big bad is but I have no doubt that Ophelia will find a way to get involved with that mystery, too. I don't know that I've ever met such an unlucky character! Still, I loved her. She arc has been so gradual that you carrels notice it, but she has such a strength about her, such a sense of loyalty and duty. Where she started out timid, avoiding confrontation, now she's coming head to head with family spirits, going behindThorn's back to protect him and using her abilities to carve out her place in her new world.
But no book is without it's faults. I had hoped, just a bit, to seeThorn love for Ophelia soften him a bit. A few more small smiles, a bit more tenderness in some moments. Instead, he's the same cold, noble, stoic man form the first book. Did the boy pine? Oh yes he did (and I loved every second of it) but I find it hard to believe he's so shaped by his upbringing that he has no social skills whatsoever. At the very least, I would have liked to see that having Ophelia at his side allowed him a few more moments of vulnerability.
I'm so excited for the third book that I've already started it. I'm even more excited that this is a quartet and there is a fourth book whose translation will be released in September!
“Come now,” whispered Ophelia, laying a hand on her little brother’s shoulder. “No ‘why’s on physical appearance, remember?” Hector put the dud photograph in his pocket, and then raised his placid eyes back up at Thorn, not remotely daunted by his height. “Okay. Why are you detestable?”
Dabos really said, "Second book syndrome??? Never heard of her" and pumped out this stunning sequel to A Winter's Promise.
Likewise, she once again stuns with her magnificent prose and world-building. I was enraptured the entire time. Usually, without a clear villain or conflict, I get annoyed, but with The Missing of Clairedelune, I was like, "oh blackmail? cool. oh murder mystery? cool. oh political intrigue? nice. oh the slowest of all slow burn romance? toit." (okay, this one killed me a bit).
The pacing was definitely a plus from the first novel, and we did see a bit less of the side characters near the end. I'm still not sure who the big bad is but I have no doubt that Ophelia will find a way to get involved with that mystery, too. I don't know that I've ever met such an unlucky character! Still, I loved her. She arc has been so gradual that you carrels notice it, but she has such a strength about her, such a sense of loyalty and duty. Where she started out timid, avoiding confrontation, now she's coming head to head with family spirits, going behind
But no book is without it's faults. I had hoped, just a bit, to see
I'm so excited for the third book that I've already started it. I'm even more excited that this is a quartet and there is a fourth book whose translation will be released in September!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Sexism, and Torture
Minor: Medical content and Violence
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