Reviews

I gave it five chapters before deciding that I couldn't deal with it anymore. Every single thing relies on everyone being a complete fool. Diana is a bungling ignoramus with zero self-confidence. Matthew is even more controlling. Also, nearly every member of the School of Night who actually has lines to speak in the story is obnoxious. We're to accept that Matthew was Matthew Roydon, about whom very little is supposed to be known, even though he was a noted poet and has a fairly well fleshed out Wikipedia article about him. And the whole idea of going back to Elizabethan England was freakin' stupid to begin with for the exact reasons that come to play very early in the book. I have no idea what story Harkness wants to tell with this setting and these characters, but it's not the one that I was hoping for. The whole thing is just too tedious for me to continue.

mscookielady's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

amber2020's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad 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? Yes

4.0

sloph's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I liked this one much more than the first in the series. I am interested in what is going to happen in the last installment as the characters have come a long way in this book and I am much more interested in their story now. It is a very complicated story and bit of world building but I am hoping that it is all going to pay off.

charlote_1347's review against another edition

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3.0

The author seems more at home with the setting, plot and characters in this second contribution to the All Souls Trilogy - not surprising considering her occupation. This knowledge helps her to weave a clear, vivid rendering of London in 1590, as well as portrayals of other locations, such as France and Prague. Character development was vastly improved (for me personally) in this novel too. Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Raleigh, Phillipe, Louisa...so many vibrant, brilliant creations. My enjoyment of the book was increased tenfold by their antics and attitudes.

tessawall's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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