Scan barcode
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For everyone considering reading these books: READ THE BOOKS RATHER THAN LISTENING TO THE AUDIOBOOKS. I'm a huge audiobook lover. I really, really adore them and listen to more of them than I read physical books. For this series, it's an absolute necessity to read rather than listen. There are a few reasons why.
1) The audiobook has one narrator for several character POVs which gets really confusing. A few people have similar names when spoken (Zélie and Tzain) and there's very little indication of character changes in the audio. Reading this sequel in the physical format helped me understand the intricacies of the characters so much more. I actually enjoyed learning about them in this way.
2) There is so much information in the audiobook that it can be really hard to follow. Reading the sequel gave me the opportunity to skim incantations or breeze through political negotiations. I understood the gist without having to listen to a narrator slowly explain every minutia that didn't really interest me.
I had a super tough time with the first book because I listened to it. I read the sequel in less than 24 hours (only 2 sittings) because I was actually interested in what was happening. Now, I can't say I loved it, but I at least liked it. The characters are definitely all infuriating to me because they're all so focused on their own pain and their own problems that they can't see past them to what everyone around them is dealing with. That drives me nuts. I especially hate Inan for that. I would be shocked if he redeems himself at any point.
There was a particular death in this book that SHOOK ME. I actually cried. Like crocodile tears on my pages. That took me by surprise (not the death, but the tears). I actually anticipated the death, but I kept hoping it wouldn't happen and when it did, I was wrecked.
It'll be really interesting to see what happens in the next book!
1) The audiobook has one narrator for several character POVs which gets really confusing. A few people have similar names when spoken (Zélie and Tzain) and there's very little indication of character changes in the audio. Reading this sequel in the physical format helped me understand the intricacies of the characters so much more. I actually enjoyed learning about them in this way.
2) There is so much information in the audiobook that it can be really hard to follow. Reading the sequel gave me the opportunity to skim incantations or breeze through political negotiations. I understood the gist without having to listen to a narrator slowly explain every minutia that didn't really interest me.
I had a super tough time with the first book because I listened to it. I read the sequel in less than 24 hours (only 2 sittings) because I was actually interested in what was happening. Now, I can't say I loved it, but I at least liked it. The characters are definitely all infuriating to me because they're all so focused on their own pain and their own problems that they can't see past them to what everyone around them is dealing with. That drives me nuts. I especially hate Inan for that. I would be shocked if he redeems himself at any point.
There was a particular death in this book that SHOOK ME. I actually cried. Like crocodile tears on my pages. That took me by surprise (not the death, but the tears). I actually anticipated the death, but I kept hoping it wouldn't happen and when it did, I was wrecked.
It'll be really interesting to see what happens in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
starryorbit12's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, and Murder
tree_hugging_ginge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, and Kidnapping
lj_parkinson's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Murder, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Death, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism
natakat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Unlike a lot of people, I went into this book with fairly low expectations because I had seen some negative reviews before I picked it up. I still wanted to give it a try but in the end I found that it was not as good as good as the first. I will parrot every other reviewer and say that the characters just weren't the same; they were flat and annoying in this installation. Each protagonist lives in their own bubble and they completely stop communicating with and working with each other.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations (I guess maybe they do since they have to suck the life out of Titans to gain power, but our center antagonist just doesn't care and sacrifices them all).
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, and Violence
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Genocide, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Racism
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Children of Blood and Bone was such a unique take on magic and the dystopian tropes that we have seen so often in Young Adult, especially in the last 10 years. So with its predecessor doing so well, I thought the latter would live up to what the first book laid the ground work for and build off of it.
But that did not happen.
I tried so many times to like this book but there was one point where I almost DNF’d it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get through it. I muscled on however and was sadly disappointed by the result.
But that did not happen.
I tried so many times to like this book but there was one point where I almost DNF’d it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get through it. I muscled on however and was sadly disappointed by the result.
Children of Vengeance and Virtue flickers between multiple perspectives, like the first book, which I normally do not like but Adeyemi does a great job of making each transition seamless and not jarring.
The story picks right back up where we left off at the end of the first book where Zelie and the others have brought magic back to the world. What ensues in this book is them trying to overthrow the monarchy and the monarchy trying to crush the maji. Now that magic is back, not only are the maji more powerful but royals and other people of power in the monarchy have magic which I thought was very interesting. I liked seeing this new side of magic that even the maji were baffled at. There are battles periodically through out the book, power struggles with Amari and the maji leaders, inner struggles of Zelie as she comes to grips with what happened in the first book and other minor subplots for majority of the novel. The climax happens the last 40 pages or so of the book with a twist ending that made little to no sense.
I know the author wants to make the reader interested in the next book but all the meandering and floundering around of the plot before the main battle, Zelie’s continual and constant despisement for Amari and a few other things just rubbed me the wrong way made me think twice about my rating. I was going to give this 3 stars but thinking back on my reading experience, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.
The rich world of the maji is still beautiful and stunning, all the characters are more or less fleshed out and the author does a great job of balancing three perspectives as well as helping us understand and sympathize with even the most twisted of characters. Sadly, the last 40 pages or so of the book finally reaching its climax just could not carry or save the other 364 pages of this book.
The story picks right back up where we left off at the end of the first book where Zelie and the others have brought magic back to the world. What ensues in this book is them trying to overthrow the monarchy and the monarchy trying to crush the maji. Now that magic is back, not only are the maji more powerful but royals and other people of power in the monarchy have magic which I thought was very interesting. I liked seeing this new side of magic that even the maji were baffled at. There are battles periodically through out the book, power struggles with Amari and the maji leaders, inner struggles of Zelie as she comes to grips with what happened in the first book and other minor subplots for majority of the novel. The climax happens the last 40 pages or so of the book with a twist ending that made little to no sense.
I know the author wants to make the reader interested in the next book but all the meandering and floundering around of the plot before the main battle, Zelie’s continual and constant despisement for Amari and a few other things just rubbed me the wrong way made me think twice about my rating. I was going to give this 3 stars but thinking back on my reading experience, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.
The rich world of the maji is still beautiful and stunning, all the characters are more or less fleshed out and the author does a great job of balancing three perspectives as well as helping us understand and sympathize with even the most twisted of characters. Sadly, the last 40 pages or so of the book finally reaching its climax just could not carry or save the other 364 pages of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
littleseven's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
bodiesinbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, and Vomit
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I agree with most people on here that it's not as a good as the first book in this installment, though I don't think I particularly think it's a terrible book. I thought the character arc for Amari didn't particularly make much sense, and the fact there was no real consequence for her actions beyond her own personal relationships was kind of meh. It's a good continuation, and I think I'll pick up the third book to see where it goes, because it ends on quite the cliffhanger and it makes me think this book was very much a bunch of plot points to get to whatever is coming next for this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Violence