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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
4 Stars
I preferred the romance in the first book but preferred the adventure and colourful cast of side characters more in this one!
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 what do you mean i have to wait until november??
Telling Maud the truth felt like a dangerous habit to have begun. Stories and secrets were surfacing in Violet like an ocean stirred up by a storm. She would let them out as she chose, and no sooner.
Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I liked the first book in this series a lot. Even though the world building and the magic system didn't do it for me 100 percent, the characters were great, and I adored the romance. I was really expecting to love the second book even more, because it's sapphic, and involved Maud, whom I really loved in the first book. But this just feels like a bit of a let-down.
First of all, the plot. I purposefully didn't look up anything about the synopsis, because I already knew I was going to read it. But just before I started, I saw some comments comparing this to a locked room mystery, talking about how the entire book takes place during one week on a ship, and our protagonists have to figure out a mystery and a murder. I'm in my mystery era, so that kind of excited me. But this was just so stale. Exciting and intriguing at first, when we were collecting information about the murder, getting to know all the secondary characters, getting all of that preliminary information out of the way. But unfortunately, we the readers and the characters become aware of the culprits pretty early on, and then we enter into one of my least favourite scenarios in books. There was just this sort of stalemate where both sides are aware of each other, but because of certain circumstances, they couldn't work openly against each other, or advance things in a tangible way. I don't know if I'm making sense, but it was frustrating to read and not particularly exciting. As for the world building and magic system, I do have a better handle on it after the first book, but unfortunately, understanding it more doesn't really mean that I particularly liked it. I'm finding that magic systems where things get a bit too technical just aren't really fun for me to read. I still definitely give the author kudos for creating something so unique and creative, but it's just not my favourite.
The romance... it was fine? It's just that it didn't feel particularly romantic. Here's the thing: I am not a fan of insta love. But I almost wish that the author had tried to do an insta love scenario, because maybe that might have made me feel something more for the relationship between these two women. There was good chemistry, great setup and premise, and I started this thinking that I would absolutely fall in love with their relationship. Sadly, I did not. I liked both women a lot, especially Maud, because I adore characters who go out of their way to do good and be good. Violet and her backstory were also interesting. But there were a few too many secrets, and ultimately, the connection felt shallow. Maybe by design, because again, this takes place over the course of a week. But I've read other books that take place in that span of time or shorter, and still managed to make me feel obsessed with the romance at the end of the day.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Aysha Kala, and it was okay. There were quite a lot of pacing issues, and the voices weren't the most consistent. Maud especially sounded a lot older than I would have expected for a girl who is 19 or 20. Ultimately, it was a good book, and I enjoyed a lot of the hijinks and thievery, and it was steamy and sweet. I will probably continue the series whenever the next book comes out. But I'm definitely bummed out that I did not enjoy this as much as I was expecting to.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
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:
Yes
Another fun romp in this series! I think the mystery, setting, and overall plot of this sequel is more fun than the first, but the romance did nothing for me. I liked our 2 MCs, but felt no chemistry between them. All that said, I am so excited for the 3rd book!
This would be 4 stars without the narrator. She has a lovey voice but loses her accents and tones in the middle of sentences and it made it very frustrating to get through.
But I absolutely love Violet and Maud and the expansion of the first book. The characters are just so easy to love and I love their flaws too. Good murder mystery plus supernatural. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.
But I absolutely love Violet and Maud and the expansion of the first book. The characters are just so easy to love and I love their flaws too. Good murder mystery plus supernatural. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
I have been SO excited for this book ever since I read A Marvellous Light last year, and this second book definitely delivers. Just like with Marvellous, the magic in this one is so layered and continues the wonderful, complex world building. Great mix of fantasy, historical, queer romance. The book takes place over a week (?) on the Atlantic Ocean heading from America to England. Maud Blyth is accompanying Elizabeth Navenby back to England. Elizabeth has a piece of silver for the Last Contract, that other people on board want a piece of. There’s a power struggle and Elizabeth is murdered, and unmagical Maud has to learn who to trust and how to solve the murder, while falling in love with actress and newly-minted heiress Violet Debenham.
I hadn’t read ML in a while, so I was fuzzy in details, but I honestly think Restless Truth could be read as a stand-alone. You’d miss some context, but the second book fills in pretty well. I also really loved that the book delved into the backstories of more of the characters that we meet in the first book (Flora!!!).
Lesbian knives out on a boat is ENTIRELY ACCURATE. People die!! Magic happens!! Jewels are stolen!! Hijinks ensue!! Everyone on the ship kind of sucks, but I really enjoyed the way that Violet and Maud’s relationship played out. It was heightened because of the short time frame, so a quick burn instead of a slow burn
I hadn’t read ML in a while, so I was fuzzy in details, but I honestly think Restless Truth could be read as a stand-alone. You’d miss some context, but the second book fills in pretty well. I also really loved that the book delved into the backstories of more of the characters that we meet in the first book (Flora!!!).
Lesbian knives out on a boat is ENTIRELY ACCURATE. People die!! Magic happens!! Jewels are stolen!! Hijinks ensue!! Everyone on the ship kind of sucks, but I really enjoyed the way that Violet and Maud’s relationship played out. It was heightened because of the short time frame, so a quick burn instead of a slow burn