4.24 AVERAGE


I have really enjoyed this series. This one was a bit slower for me but I did not mind at all. It definitely built more on some of the relationships and events that help define the state of Erthia. Absolutely will continue on to the next book.

This series keeps getting better and better. I'm so ready for the next book!

I don't have too much to say about this book, as I finished it about a month ago, but overall I liked it better than the first book, but not as much as the two prequel novellas. I'm still fairly engaged in this story, but I feel like the books are way longer than they need to be and Elloren, despite being the main character, is still probably my least favorite character lol.

4.5 stars

4.5

“Even in the midst of so much horror, it’s wonderful to finally find each other.”

As someone who was apprehensive to finish this series, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Upon finishing the black witch, I was intrigued by this series but unsure if I would enjoy the follow up novel.

Eleanor has a lot of prejudices throughout the first novel, leaving you wondering if her intentions are really reflective of the greater good or if she just wants others to view her that way.

In this novel she is truly unselfish, putting her wants and needs aside in the best interest of her friends, family and unlearning all of her previous prejudices. The gardnarians want to rid the earth of those they believe to be “evil and unpure” when they are truly the vile ones, wanting to purge the world of anyone who differs from them, killing off almost entire species, committing genocide after genocide. In this novel we get a front row seat to what goes through the minds of the oppressors, and see that while thee very same blood runs through the veins of Eleanor and family, she is nothing like them.

Throughout this novel I felt an array of emotions at certain attoricities that occurred as well as finding many parts hard to stomach but these parts are so important- often the most telling.

One thing I have always been adamant about and this book proves is that Books are set in reality. In this novel we see a connection to real life leaving me to argue that even while fictional, books serve as a parallel for the reality we currently reside in. With all of the current atrocities and state of the world today, I feel like I read this book at a very fitting time. We need to speak for those oppressed, who cannot speak for themselves for fear they are not being listened to- for those who need our help.

In every novel we read we find a way to connect ourselves somehow whether it be to a character we see much of ourselves in or a world that reflects our own. The connection may be small, often overlooked or it may resonate with us for years to come. The connection may be grief, mental illness, or something as small as finding a character that has physical similarities and these connections may differ from reader to reader but they are there and we find them, searching for books and characters that feel compatible to us; that dig their way into our hearts because they serve as a reflection to our inner selves.

It shows that what we see at first glance isn’t what lies beneath the surface, that people may surprise you and take you off guard, often in both good and bad ways alike.

This book discusses religion and how it serves as a separation of humanity, how so many people judge others based on the scripture of books created thousands of years ago.

With a wonderful cast of characters that differ in species and abilities, the enemies to lovers trope, star crossed lovers, and so much more this book was so hard to put down and I find myself apprehensive to start the third novel as I’m unsure if the rest of this series can live up to this one.

This would’ve been five stars, but I felt some parts dragged and were unnecessarily long in length, but despite this small imperfection, I really enjoyed this book.

“How can anyone put into words all that has happened? The immensity of the evil we are up against.”

Okay this is great. This is SO GOOD.

Also there is an instance of the "oh no we don't have enough money for two rooms at this in and were forced to share a bed!" Trope and omg it was GREAT.

Really excellent character development and I'm pleased with the reaching into the religious structure if the cultures and how it's informed their world views. But the important point here is the use of bed sharing trope and HOW FRUSTRATING IT WAS I LOVED IT.
adventurous 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
dark sad tense
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

very slow first half of the book, but if you can muddle through that the second half is

2022: 5.0
2025: 4.5
= 4.75 Overall