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trisha_thomas's review against another edition
4.0
"You will be my anchor."
Just when I think a book 2 could not possibly be as good as the first, Alison Goodman proves me wrong. I loved this one. Equal parts historical and magical demon fighting goodness, I never felt it slowed down or lacked intrigue. I absolutely hung on every word.
The twists and turns, I could never see more than a few steps in front of Helen and her growing gang of Club members. I am not happy about all the twists and turns and am most unhappy with the ultimate outcome. I'm glad there's another book. I'm hoping this gross error is fixed in the next one :)
Just when I think a book 2 could not possibly be as good as the first, Alison Goodman proves me wrong. I loved this one. Equal parts historical and magical demon fighting goodness, I never felt it slowed down or lacked intrigue. I absolutely hung on every word.
The twists and turns, I could never see more than a few steps in front of Helen and her growing gang of Club members. I am not happy about all the twists and turns and am most unhappy with the ultimate outcome. I'm glad there's another book. I'm hoping this gross error is fixed in the next one :)
Spoiler
Helen and Carlston must be together. The duke babies her and puts her at risk - he doesn't see her for the strong, powerful woman she is. He only sees her as a woman he needs to protect. and obviously Carlston is okay to divorce his wife.....I mean, she's a spy that staged her own murder.....aharrison_33's review against another edition
5.0
A sequel that surpasses the first in the trilogy! I couldn’t put this book down, for the intrigue, wit, romance, and tension which made the first book compelling are heightened in this follow-up. Any fans of regency fiction should absolutely read this; Goodman’s research is impeccable. She does an artful job of using her extensive research to make the world of Brighton immersive and vivid without bogging us down with rambling descriptors.
Fan of urban fantasy? Read this series for something new and refreshing. It’s a new tale of demon slaying.
That said, there is graphic violence. If you don’t have the stomach for gory imagery, know that the climactic scenes are loaded with it.
Fan of urban fantasy? Read this series for something new and refreshing. It’s a new tale of demon slaying.
That said, there is graphic violence. If you don’t have the stomach for gory imagery, know that the climactic scenes are loaded with it.
lisamparkin's review against another edition
5.0
The mix of a historical setting with the scandalous magic of Deceivers was once again masterfully combined. I'm hooked for more!!
readingoverbreathing's review against another edition
3.0
"Never turn yer back on the sea, and remember what's hidden beneath her is always more deadly than what's in plain sight."
I was honestly so excited to dive back into this series so soon, as I had such a fun time with [b:The Dark Days Club|15993203|The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1)|Alison Goodman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439928937l/15993203._SY75_.jpg|21750762]. However, its sequel here, unfortunately, turned out to be kind of disappointing for me.
The primary problem was that the first half was just so slow. It took a couple hundred pages before anything exciting happened as Goodman really took her time reorienting the reader in Brighton and establishing the latest stakes for the characters. Once it picked up, I really started enjoying it more, but it still took entirely too long to get to that point.
I also had a much harder time connecting to these characters and their world than I did last time, which I think may mostly be due to how long it took me to get into this because of its early slow pacing. I think more personality could have been given to Brighton, for one thing, and for another, the characters I had previously really liked actually here started to drive me a little crazy. Lady Margaret was too bossy, Carlston was aloof and problematic (although admittedly through no fault of his own), and don't even get me started on how controlling and sexist the Duke has gotten.
One thing I do want to throw in that I appreciate with this series is the love triangle dynamic between Helen, Carlston, and the Duke. It is so not your typical YA romantic conundrum but is instead based on real social constraints and patriotic duty which to me really raises its stakes and heightens the books' overall drama. And honestly, I can't resist a good 'she's mine' sort of fight, despite the problematic issues of gender that might need to be unpacked there.
The final hundred pages or so, where most of the book's action really happened, did do a considerable amount to revive my overall interest. Goodman wrapped up just enough loose ends here to satisfyingly conclude this installment whilst also unravelling a few new ones to set the stakes for the final book, which I am definitely planning on picking up, as I really do need to find out how she's going to solve that unevenly balanced love triangle. This is still such a fun series, one that's really right up my alley, and I am excited to soon see where Goodman takes it next.
shaf164's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
arsenic's review against another edition
3.0
Un tome dans la lignée du 1er. J'aime l'ambiance, le monde et ses particularités. On en apprend un peu plus sur le Club des Mauvais Jours. Lady Helen fait des progrès dans sa formation, y'a des moments assez divertissants là dessus. L'histoire reste plutôt sympa.
En revanche, certains points m'ont moins plu comme le triangle amoureux à deux balles mais aussi.
Carlston est globalement chiant, il a un côté assez je-sais-tout très exaspérant. Par contre, pas mal de personnages secondaires sont très réussis.
J'ai pas non plus aimé
Bref, une lecture sympathique avec des bémols mais encore une fois, on a l'impression que les vraies péripéties arriveront dans le prochain tome.
En revanche, certains points m'ont moins plu comme le triangle amoureux à deux balles mais aussi
Spoiler
la proportion d'Helen à s'embarquer dans les coups foireux sans aucun plan, comme quand elle rejoint Lowry pour qu'il devienne son Terrène... Elle sait qu'elle va se faire avoir, elle a aucun plan et au final, tout finit bien mais pas de son fait.Carlston est globalement chiant, il a un côté assez je-sais-tout très exaspérant. Par contre, pas mal de personnages secondaires sont très réussis.
J'ai pas non plus aimé
Spoiler
l'hostilité de Margaret vis-à-vis d'Helen sous le seul prétexte que Carlston semble s'intéresser à Helen. Ça rend le personnage de Margaret inintéressant et la laisse au rang d'admiratrice transie et pas du tout objective... C'est dommage de souvent opposer des personnages féminins pour ce genre de raisonsBref, une lecture sympathique avec des bémols mais encore une fois, on a l'impression que les vraies péripéties arriveront dans le prochain tome.
inwonderland49's review against another edition
This review was originally posted on In Wonderland
My Thoughts
I am so thankful for Penguin for sending me the paperback of the first book and an ARC of the second one. I have to say the first one was a solid 3.5 stars for me, but the second installment really had me hooked! I liked Lady Helen even more in this second one. I don't know if it was because Lady Helen seems stronger or what, but I definitely loved reading her story.
There is so much that happens in this story and I honestly do not want to spoil anything for you guys. Just know that if you enjoyed the first book, you'll love this second one and you will be left dying for the third book!
About the Author
Alison Goodman (www.alisongoodman.
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Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win either one (1) grand prize set of Lady Helen books, including a paperback of The Dark Days Club and a hardcover of The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman (ARV: $28.98), or to be one of five (5) second prize winners to receive paperback copies of The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman (ARV: $10.99).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on January 23, 2017 and 12:00 AM on February 13, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about February 14, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
Tour Schedule
Week One:
1/23 – A Page With a View – Like/Try/Why
1/24 – Tales of a Ravenous Reader – Interview
1/25 – Twinning for Books – Review + Mood Board
1/26 – My Friends Are Fiction – Guest Post
1/27 – In Wonderland – Review
Week Two:
1/30 – Alexa Loves Books – Bookish Style File
1/31 – The Reading Nook Reviews – Interview
2/1 – Xpresso Reads – Playlist
2/2 – The YA Book Traveler – They Did What?!
2/3 – Icey Books – Guest Post
Week Three:
2/6 – YA Book Central – Excerpt
2/7 – Fiction Fare – Guest Post
2/8 – Forever Young Adult – Coming-Out Ball Mishaps
2/9 – Dark Faerie Tales – Interview
2/10 – Adventures of a Book Junkie – Reasons to Read