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adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was unfortunately really hard to get through. I found my attention waning around 50% (and in hindsight probably should’ve called it quits then). Same critique with the first book was that I felt disconnected from Sorin’s POV though we did get more chapters in this book. The world building lacked and I didn’t feel like I got to know the new characters well or invest in the school setting. I found the reveal of Sorin’s intent to be lacking because the reader has this birds eye view all along. The trials felt disjointed and entirely separate from the first book. I also wanted more of Everen and Arcady together rather than via dreamscape. On a positive I liked the recap at the beginning and the queer rep, but definitely enjoyed the first book better. Oof.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Was it as good as the first book? No. Did I still enjoy following Arcady and Everen as they finished their story? Absolutely.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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:
Complicated
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Emberclaw was such a solid and fantastic duology ender. I loved the multiple POV particularly because Lam is able to explore themes of prophecy and agency. We can think that a future is set in stone, but what happens when what we think isn't the whole story? What role do we have in our own life? The power to re-write the ending? Fresh off the destruction wrought and the promise of more to come, Emberclaw hits the ground running. It's about the danger they post not only to fate, but also themselves and the ones they love.
Emberclaw was such a solid and fantastic duology ender. I loved the multiple POV particularly because Lam is able to explore themes of prophecy and agency. We can think that a future is set in stone, but what happens when what we think isn't the whole story? What role do we have in our own life? The power to re-write the ending? Fresh off the destruction wrought and the promise of more to come, Emberclaw hits the ground running. It's about the danger they post not only to fate, but also themselves and the ones they love.