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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
........... Dana, you ragged on this book, nay the whole SERIES, and you gave it 4 stars?
Look, I don't know what happened either. I was telling everyone at work I was hate-reading it halfway though and somehow I super happy at the end? I feel like this book manipulated me more than Blackwood tried to manipulate Henrietta.
Let me go over the shit (AGAIN) that bothered me... a lot. First, this book is an excellent example of how IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION IS. Because this WHOLE SERIES could have been one (albeit long) book if people told the damn truth. Every character is lying through their teeth at every minute and it's the most frustrating thing to watch unfold.
There's also the fact that no one seems to really care for one another unless its Henrietta. Everyone is falling over themselves for her otherwise they act super selfishly. It's, again, frustrating. Especially since Henrietta herself can't make up her damn mind over who she loves/what to do. I tried explaining the love... square? to my partner and it was like a solid ten minutes of explaining just the bare minimum. It was so unnecessarily complicated! One second she's utterly smitten with her childhood love, the next with dashing Blackwood, then runs back to Magnus. I was utterly confused and frustrated (that's three for those counting!).
I also thought that there were SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING in this book that the pace was at a breakneck speed. The ending fight was WAY too short and that was very disappointing even though I actually really enjoyed it. I complained about the addition of faeries in the series and I think the time spent with them could have been used more wisely elsewhere. I really think that the series could have omitted faeries and would have functioned all the same. But that's me.
I have to admit; I LOOOOVE that Maria is gay, Wolff and Lambe are so utterly in love, and that none of the gays died as a plot point. V good. Much love.
There's other wonderful things about the series; the prose is wonderful, the characters have wonderful arcs, the IDEAS are interesting. But everything falls just a few inches short of absolutely spectacular. This COULD HAVE been a 5-star series but it just... isn't.
The ending though.... I liked it. I liked what happened, how things turned out, and the epilogue was... nice... mostly. I actually cried at the end and after the epilogue. Trust me, I was the most surprised.
There are little things that bugged the shit out of me; just because you can use contractions, doesn't mean you should. My most hated one was some weird contraction with 'us'. There are just so many times there's a bizarre contraction and it's not even used in dialogue so I didn't get it. I get that people usually talk with contractions, but otherwise, it's best to not confuse your readers.
Overall.... wow I can't even think of a summary. I was hooked to the premise but overall just disappointed in the execution. Not a bad way to waste time, but I kinda want my hours back.
Look, I don't know what happened either. I was telling everyone at work I was hate-reading it halfway though and somehow I super happy at the end? I feel like this book manipulated me more than Blackwood tried to manipulate Henrietta.
Let me go over the shit (AGAIN) that bothered me... a lot. First, this book is an excellent example of how IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION IS. Because this WHOLE SERIES could have been one (albeit long) book if people told the damn truth. Every character is lying through their teeth at every minute and it's the most frustrating thing to watch unfold.
There's also the fact that no one seems to really care for one another unless its Henrietta. Everyone is falling over themselves for her otherwise they act super selfishly. It's, again, frustrating. Especially since Henrietta herself can't make up her damn mind over who she loves/what to do. I tried explaining the love... square? to my partner and it was like a solid ten minutes of explaining just the bare minimum. It was so unnecessarily complicated! One second she's utterly smitten with her childhood love, the next with dashing Blackwood, then runs back to Magnus. I was utterly confused and frustrated (that's three for those counting!).
Spoiler
In the end, she gets her "happy ending" with Magnus and I was just like WHY???????????? They were amazing friends and it felt like a cop-out to FORCE her to be paired off with someone in the end... and since the other two died... he was all that's left and that's low key even worse?I also thought that there were SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING in this book that the pace was at a breakneck speed. The ending fight was WAY too short and that was very disappointing even though I actually really enjoyed it. I complained about the addition of faeries in the series and I think the time spent with them could have been used more wisely elsewhere. I really think that the series could have omitted faeries and would have functioned all the same. But that's me.
I have to admit; I LOOOOVE that Maria is gay, Wolff and Lambe are so utterly in love, and that none of the gays died as a plot point. V good. Much love.
There's other wonderful things about the series; the prose is wonderful, the characters have wonderful arcs, the IDEAS are interesting. But everything falls just a few inches short of absolutely spectacular. This COULD HAVE been a 5-star series but it just... isn't.
The ending though.... I liked it. I liked what happened, how things turned out, and the epilogue was... nice... mostly. I actually cried at the end and after the epilogue. Trust me, I was the most surprised.
There are little things that bugged the shit out of me; just because you can use contractions, doesn't mean you should. My most hated one was some weird contraction with 'us'. There are just so many times there's a bizarre contraction and it's not even used in dialogue so I didn't get it. I get that people usually talk with contractions, but otherwise, it's best to not confuse your readers.
Overall.... wow I can't even think of a summary. I was hooked to the premise but overall just disappointed in the execution. Not a bad way to waste time, but I kinda want my hours back.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I mean the end was great. But this whole love triangle--like literally three. It's so annoying. But then it matches the whole 16 yearold "love" issues. LOL. She finally acts like a teenager.
the end was pretty cool. Maria is still my favorite character. Book 3 introduces two same sex relationships. or maybe that was the last book.
And SPOILER ALERT
book 3 does finally have Blackwood and Howel "deal" with their attraction.
One last thing that annoyed me--the whole thing of having Blackwood and Howel have identical stave markings really didn't have the connections I thought it would. And again---nothing Howel did ever reminded me she was only 17. I don't care how "mature" a 17 yearold is. The way she thought and acted was much too adult for her to be JUST 17. SO I had to suspend my belief. LOL
the end was pretty cool. Maria is still my favorite character. Book 3 introduces two same sex relationships. or maybe that was the last book.
And SPOILER ALERT
book 3 does finally have Blackwood and Howel "deal" with their attraction.
One last thing that annoyed me--the whole thing of having Blackwood and Howel have identical stave markings really didn't have the connections I thought it would. And again---nothing Howel did ever reminded me she was only 17. I don't care how "mature" a 17 yearold is. The way she thought and acted was much too adult for her to be JUST 17. SO I had to suspend my belief. LOL
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A Sorrow Fierce and Falling is the exciting and romantic conclusion to an epicly wonderful young adult series from Jessica Cluess. This entire series was amazing and reminded me of Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series. I loved the Victorian England setting with the added fantasy elements that made the series both fun and unique.
Jessica Cluess has such a talent when it comes to writing characters. Everyone she creates is complex and deep. They all have their talents, good attributes, and their human flaws. I love the complex emotions I end up feeling about each and every one of them.
I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to a series I've come to love. Their was action, adventure, romance, loss, healing, and love all packed between the pages. I simply could not put this book down. I was so invested in the story, I read all 400 pages in a day and had a bittersweet mix of emotions rolling through me when I reached the end.
Jessica Cluess has such a talent when it comes to writing characters. Everyone she creates is complex and deep. They all have their talents, good attributes, and their human flaws. I love the complex emotions I end up feeling about each and every one of them.
I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to a series I've come to love. Their was action, adventure, romance, loss, healing, and love all packed between the pages. I simply could not put this book down. I was so invested in the story, I read all 400 pages in a day and had a bittersweet mix of emotions rolling through me when I reached the end.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
I just really hate/love all of these characters. From the very beginning of this series I started liking most of them, then it turned to dislike, then love, then hate, then acceptance. I definitely love the story, and there is some representation in here, which is super cool. But! I’m the kind of person who needs to love the characters to love the story. So overall 4/5 stars :)
