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kristynkelly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readyforit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25⭐️2.5🌶️(one graphic scene from book 1 retold from des’ pov)
Call me crazy but this was my favorite in the series so far! We got some much-needed backstory on des, his parents, his childhood, his friendship with Malakai, his time in the brotherhood and the army, and it picks up with Callie originally calling the bargainer. My only complaint is I wish the book were longer! I really love how the author writes from des’ pov and I really enjoyed his internal monologue much more than Callie’s. Maybe it’s just more fun to read the perspective of the “villain.” We get a lot of repeat convos between him and Callie but with so much extra flavor from his internal monologue and he is SO much more obsessed with her than I thought😩, what a hopeless romantic. I honestly could reread all the books from his perspective.
I remember feeling how the first book was just missing something, especially from the climax/action at the end and I believe it was des’ perspective! We got a lot more action and how his powers work.
I felt like this book was more well-written than the others too, and maybe that has to do with des’ vocabulary since he’s so old? Idk but I enjoyed! Btw I did the math and our shadow daddy is 269 at the end of the book.
The narrator they got for des for the audiobook was AMAZING! This was my first audiobook by him and I’m going to be searching for more. If the last book is good I think I could see myself rereading the series!
Call me crazy but this was my favorite in the series so far! We got some much-needed backstory on des, his parents, his childhood, his friendship with Malakai, his time in the brotherhood and the army, and it picks up with Callie originally calling the bargainer. My only complaint is I wish the book were longer! I really love how the author writes from des’ pov and I really enjoyed his internal monologue much more than Callie’s. Maybe it’s just more fun to read the perspective of the “villain.” We get a lot of repeat convos between him and Callie but with so much extra flavor from his internal monologue and he is SO much more obsessed with her than I thought😩, what a hopeless romantic. I honestly could reread all the books from his perspective.
I remember feeling how the first book was just missing something, especially from the climax/action at the end and I believe it was des’ perspective! We got a lot more action and how his powers work.
I felt like this book was more well-written than the others too, and maybe that has to do with des’ vocabulary since he’s so old? Idk but I enjoyed! Btw I did the math and our shadow daddy is 269 at the end of the book.
The narrator they got for des for the audiobook was AMAZING! This was my first audiobook by him and I’m going to be searching for more. If the last book is good I think I could see myself rereading the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Body horror, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Rape, and Child abuse
All mentions of SA/CSA/rape happen in the past and/or off-page, slavery is about human slaves to fae and is not graphic but mentioned several times throughouthredifer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed the book. It certainly can be skipped without hurting the story. There isn't much that is new. Just a wider background for Desmond and his perspective on all the events with Callie up until the present. It was definitely intersting and very sweet to hear how head-over-heels he has always been, even when he knew he couldn't claim her (at least not at the time).
Overall, a good, short read. I'm glad I read it, but for anyone wondering, you're not missing anything if you decide to skip this one and just move on to the next book.
Overall, a good, short read. I'm glad I read it, but for anyone wondering, you're not missing anything if you decide to skip this one and just move on to the next book.
simplywordsbyjgo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
malice1865's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
caitsreadingcorner's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I didn’t know going into this that it would be entirely from Desmond’s POV but I was pleasantly surprised (didn’t know it was a novella or 2.5 book in the series). Although I found it redundant at times reading repeated scenes and words from the first book, I adored getting it from his angle and felt that the writing style was better. For some reason, some of his thoughts felt more poignant, sentences and scenes felt more compelling and it helped shift a few questions into place for me about his past and his fate.
I just found myself more enthralled by things in this book. I think I honestly would have enjoyed the first book better if it was this well executed through dual POV but I get the idea of wanting to build up that mystery around Des and his dark side. I think Thalassa likely wanted readers intrigued by his motives and to get into their romance before bringing in how he felt all those years. I came out of this feeling that he is more multidimensional and layered than I originally thought him to be. Still, this didn’t do anything to move the needle on the mystery with the Thief of Souls but nevertheless, I enjoyed this
I just found myself more enthralled by things in this book. I think I honestly would have enjoyed the first book better if it was this well executed through dual POV but I get the idea of wanting to build up that mystery around Des and his dark side. I think Thalassa likely wanted readers intrigued by his motives and to get into their romance before bringing in how he felt all those years. I came out of this feeling that he is more multidimensional and layered than I originally thought him to be. Still, this didn’t do anything to move the needle on the mystery with the Thief of Souls but nevertheless, I enjoyed this
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
shelivesinthepages's review against another edition
5.0
The more I read of this series the more I fall in love with this series, each book is amazing in it our heartbreaking way. Learning more about Des past and see everything he went through and how he became king, then to find out that he has a soulmate, and spent years looking for her, and when he finally finds her he wants her to want him for her own and not force her to be his mate. I just want a Des. My heart
tabbaaraq's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5