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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Incredible! Even better than The Black Witch! Epic world building that rivals Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great edition to the series
The second installment in this YA fantasy series was definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, it should get more than 5 stars kind of book. I once again fell head first into the story and was equally desperate to read it all at once and also to savor it and make it last. The storyline was imaginative, the characters were real and relatable, and the writing was captivating. The world building was meticulously done, woven together scene by scene, layer by layer until it became a living breathing place full of three dimensional beings. The story had a perfect balance of all the best plot elements. This is book 2 is the Black Witch Chronicles and picks up where the last book left us. Elloren, unlike her grandmother, the infamous Black Witch, is interested in fighting alongside the resistance rather than forcing other people to be subjugated to the Gardnerians. She has collected a large group of non-Gardnerians as allies. They are protecting a stolen military dragon and an abused Selkie in order to free them. Meanwhile, her affinity lines continue to strengthen despite not outwardly exhibiting magic. My least favorite part in the book is the sort of love triangle between Elloren, Lukas and Yvan. One she wants to be with but cannot and the other she does not want to be with but may be forced to. The conflict does allow for some character growth for Elloren. The pacing of this story was well done - the tension continuing to ratchet up higher and higher with a hopeful plateau right before the crushing storm. The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - intrigue, fighting, dangerous situations, end of the world scenarios, paranormal creatures, evil masterminds, henchmen, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, secrets, mystical coincidences, snark, laughs, soulmates, redemption, deep emotions, and so many plots twists. There is another cliffhanger ending which means reading the next book asap.
I really loved this novel. The action picks right up from the first in the series and the mysteries deepen even as more information is revealed. I found myself getting more and more emotionally connected with the characters - I'll admit it - I cried more than I thought I would! I'm a sucker for an underdog and there are plenty of them in this series but they aren't hang dog. I'm not sure I'm always a critical reader, but I know I love a novel when I don't want to put it down, and I definitely did NOT want to put this one down. The other thing I like about this series so far is that each novel ends with something being accomplished but with the next challenge waiting, and that, for me, is important. I don't like a series where one novel is only the segue to the next - where I finish and feel like there wasn't really a point to the novel.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The emotional roller coaster I rode in this book is UNBEARABLE. I cannot stop screeching