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friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Gore, Abandonment, Dementia, Violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Torture
Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Child death
jstilts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Whereas the first book struck me as a Jane Austen novel gone deliciously wrong with a streak of somewhat unnecessary fantasy trappings to give it pizzazz, this continuation of the story leans much more heavily on the fantasy in that you would be very hard pressed to tell the story without it - and it's a very compelling tale that justifies the slow setup.
Briefly, Ophelia now finds herself very much out of the shadows as she thrusts herself fully into court life, grabbing the impossible-to-hold attention of this societies ruler-come-deity, a prospect as useful as it is dangerous. While we explore this new world and Opehlia's ever-changing status within it, mysteries sneak up unexpectedly (rather neatly done) as the book unfolds.
This sequel has a more satisfying, less rushed ending than the first book - although this time it's one more of plot than emotional journey, although my goodness Ophelia develops massively over this volume.
Bring on the next one!
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder, Dementia, and Forced institutionalization
allisonmspiers's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence, Death, Dementia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Animal cruelty
bookswithgracie's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Pregnancy, Child death, and Death
harmony822's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Stalking, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Dementia, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
anainthecastle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Blood, Dementia, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide
Minor: Gun violence
spearly's review against another edition
- 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
“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!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Sexism, and Torture
Minor: Medical content and Violence
jane_frances's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Minor: Dementia
aunteaandbiscuits's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Dementia, Medical content, Murder, Racism, and Terminal illness
The society is harsh, but elite and elegant.