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kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
I have been putting off reading this because I didn't want to have nothing from A.K. Larkwood to read. I'm so glad I finally read it, it is so so so good. I'm about to go back and read the first one, because I feel like the vibes were different? Like almost companion novels rather than a series? Will report back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Self harm, Torture, and Animal death
fin_pilot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, and Confinement
Minor: Genocide
anxiousnachos's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the sequel to one of my favourite fantasy books ever, but this totally took me by surprise in the best way! It brought my favourite elements of the first book, added some excellent new characters and topped it off with some godly destruction.
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Confinement, and Cannibalism
perditorian's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death and Self harm
misterwisp's review
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's not what I wanted or expected although things to appreciate do remain. It starts great, then something abrupt and unexpected happens and I didn't like it, once I kind of accepted the previous thing it got better again, then it was a mix of impressions until the sort of okay ending.
The love and companionship themes come out a lot. There is a lot on the idea of the terrible things we justify for love, what loneliness does to someone, how it's possible to be totally wrapped up in someone who becomes indifferent as soon as you leave, etc.
Without revealing specifics, there is a decision a character takes near the beginning that makes a huge change to the status quo of the story to that point and we don't even get to see their thought process or any struggle to justify it to themselves.
The dialogue also felt very quippy in a way that seemed out of place for me. It was like how characters talk to each other in Marvel movies.
I wanted to like it more than I did. The setting is awesome and a lot of the ideas are awesome. I appreciate the themes and what it seemed like author was going for. There is a lot of like about the characters. Things just played out in a strange way and the ending felt a little rushed and too clean. That was satisfying in certain ways but didn't fit for me overall. I would still read more by the author but it seems best this series ends with this book.
The love and companionship themes come out a lot. There is a lot on the idea of the terrible things we justify for love, what loneliness does to someone, how it's possible to be totally wrapped up in someone who becomes indifferent as soon as you leave, etc.
Without revealing specifics, there is a decision a character takes near the beginning that makes a huge change to the status quo of the story to that point and we don't even get to see their thought process or any struggle to justify it to themselves.
The dialogue also felt very quippy in a way that seemed out of place for me. It was like how characters talk to each other in Marvel movies.
I wanted to like it more than I did. The setting is awesome and a lot of the ideas are awesome. I appreciate the themes and what it seemed like author was going for. There is a lot of like about the characters. Things just played out in a strange way and the ending felt a little rushed and too clean. That was satisfying in certain ways but didn't fit for me overall. I would still read more by the author but it seems best this series ends with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, War, Self harm, Alcohol, and Animal death
beforeviolets's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
<b>Thank you SO MUCH to TOR for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Still in awe that you sent me one of my most anticipated books! </b>
CW: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, animal death, amputation (offscreen), implied autocannibalism, vomit, suicidal thoughts (brief)
I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS MORE THAN I LOVE MYSELF.
This was an absolute roller-coaster of a novel. I had no idea what to expect, considering the first book ended up on a pretty wrapped-up note, but A.K. Larkwood delivered an incredible story, weaving new elements, characters, and plot points with those of the previous novel. This book makes a huge departure from the first story in terms of narrative style - the first mainly being a sort of coming-of-age adventure for Csorwe with a few other POVs - instead using a range of narrators and plot lines all tangling together and unveiling a much larger storyline.
This would've been an easy 5 star read, except that the first half of the book was really hard to get into and took me a considerable amount of time to read. So much so that I almost considered not finishing it. I think A.K. Larkwood struggles to start their books. They work so hard to keep it action-packed while infodumping and world-building and it just makes everything really muddy and confusing. Too often I felt like the words were just swimming on the page, or like I couldn't really tell what I was meant to be looking at or rooting for.
I also wish this book was more character-driven, because the characters are just SUCH a show-stopping element, but instead it's just too world-driven and sometimes I ended up feeling like I needed more. (TBH, I think I just need a novella filled with Tal and Csorwe banter.)
But the second half of A.K. Larkwood's books are always more than worth the trek through the literary sludge. Riveting action, packed with plot-twists, and told through the perspective of enrapturing characters, this series is one I'm undeniably obsessed with. If you like godpunk fantasy worlds, diverse and queer casts, fascinating religious systems, sapphic romances, and laugh-out-loud dialogue, I really can't recommend this series enough.
CW: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, animal death, amputation (offscreen), implied autocannibalism, vomit, suicidal thoughts (brief)
I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS MORE THAN I LOVE MYSELF.
This was an absolute roller-coaster of a novel. I had no idea what to expect, considering the first book ended up on a pretty wrapped-up note, but A.K. Larkwood delivered an incredible story, weaving new elements, characters, and plot points with those of the previous novel. This book makes a huge departure from the first story in terms of narrative style - the first mainly being a sort of coming-of-age adventure for Csorwe with a few other POVs - instead using a range of narrators and plot lines all tangling together and unveiling a much larger storyline.
This would've been an easy 5 star read, except that the first half of the book was really hard to get into and took me a considerable amount of time to read. So much so that I almost considered not finishing it. I think A.K. Larkwood struggles to start their books. They work so hard to keep it action-packed while infodumping and world-building and it just makes everything really muddy and confusing. Too often I felt like the words were just swimming on the page, or like I couldn't really tell what I was meant to be looking at or rooting for.
I also wish this book was more character-driven, because the characters are just SUCH a show-stopping element, but instead it's just too world-driven and sometimes I ended up feeling like I needed more. (TBH, I think I just need a novella filled with Tal and Csorwe banter.)
But the second half of A.K. Larkwood's books are always more than worth the trek through the literary sludge. Riveting action, packed with plot-twists, and told through the perspective of enrapturing characters, this series is one I'm undeniably obsessed with. If you like godpunk fantasy worlds, diverse and queer casts, fascinating religious systems, sapphic romances, and laugh-out-loud dialogue, I really can't recommend this series enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts
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