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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I find the main character really frustrating. It almost made me stop reading but I needed to know what happened!
“Because,” Marlow said, without taking her eyes off his. “Because I love him. Because no matter what happened in the past between us, I forgive him. Because if the choice were mine, if there was nothing standing in our way, I’d want to be with him. Because I will always do everything in my power to protect him.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After Garden of the Cursed surprised me with how much I loved it (4.5 stars!), I was checking Netgalley every week waiting for the ability to request this ending to the duology! I'm glad, too, because I don't think I would have recognized by the cover alone. The art style/aesthetic seemed different.
Masquerade of the Heart finds Marlow desperate to continue to end the Adrius' curse. Time is almost out before it become permanent. On top of that, she must also reconcile the news regarding her family and her new living arrangements. Can she save the day without knowing who to trust?
The characters in this book are some of my favorites of the year again, and I was thrilled to be back in the universe. Even the side characters, such as Swift and Silvan (sp? I mainly listened on an audiobook from my library) were so fun. My main gripe with this book is how the plot seems to evaporate? The MC just shows up one day and everything is fixed and -- surprise! -- we're moving onto a new plot! That threw me off quite a bit. The rest of the plot seemed to be Marlow getting into trouble, getting caught or tortured or about to be killed by some big bad or other, and then being saved. It didn't entirely bother me as it was nostalgic to 2012 The CW shows that certainly brought about shippy scenes like "who did this to you?" or wound tending, but it also felt a little.... off in 2024.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After Garden of the Cursed surprised me with how much I loved it (4.5 stars!), I was checking Netgalley every week waiting for the ability to request this ending to the duology! I'm glad, too, because I don't think I would have recognized by the cover alone. The art style/aesthetic seemed different.
Masquerade of the Heart finds Marlow desperate to continue to end the Adrius' curse. Time is almost out before it become permanent. On top of that, she must also reconcile the news regarding her family and her new living arrangements. Can she save the day without knowing who to trust?
The characters in this book are some of my favorites of the year again, and I was thrilled to be back in the universe. Even the side characters, such as Swift and Silvan (sp? I mainly listened on an audiobook from my library) were so fun. My main gripe with this book is how the plot seems to evaporate? The MC just shows up one day and everything is fixed and -- surprise! -- we're moving onto a new plot! That threw me off quite a bit. The rest of the plot seemed to be Marlow getting into trouble, getting caught or tortured or about to be killed by some big bad or other, and then being saved. It didn't entirely bother me as it was nostalgic to 2012 The CW shows that certainly brought about shippy scenes like "who did this to you?" or wound tending, but it also felt a little.... off in 2024.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Some things in this book were wrapped up too easily/suddenly, and sometimes the writing didn't hit quite hard enough. But, other than that? I loved it!
There's just something about the world of Garden of the Cursed that really just hits me. I love the ways spells work, I love the Marshes vs Evergarden, I love the characters, I love the corrupt system. I just love it??? And on top of that, I love the characters. Adrius' daddy issues mirroring Marlow's mommy issues, where they both have to wonder what mark their parents left on them (or took from them). The complicated family dynamic for the Falcrests, Marlow's love for her friends and just her goodness.
Like, seriously, I love that Marlow never let her love for Adrius make her forget her friends or forget *herself.* She always chose herself and what she believed was right, even when that meant she wasn't pursuing her relationship harder. We love portrayals of healthy relationships where both people still have their own lives and independence and values without it meaning the relationship has to shatter.
I also loved the complex nature of morality. Like, Marlow actually was tempted by the viewpoint of the "villain", and there were genuine good in them. It could give the delivery of this message a very on-the-nose quality, especially at the end, which though I didn't like that, I did like the execution of the concept.
Overall, this series just scratched so many of the right itches for me, and I'm sad to see it over T^T But it was a truly fun ride while it lasted <3
There's just something about the world of Garden of the Cursed that really just hits me. I love the ways spells work, I love the Marshes vs Evergarden, I love the characters, I love the corrupt system. I just love it??? And on top of that, I love the characters. Adrius' daddy issues mirroring Marlow's mommy issues, where they both have to wonder what mark their parents left on them (or took from them). The complicated family dynamic for the Falcrests, Marlow's love for her friends and just her goodness.
Like, seriously, I love that Marlow never let her love for Adrius make her forget her friends or forget *herself.* She always chose herself and what she believed was right, even when that meant she wasn't pursuing her relationship harder. We love portrayals of healthy relationships where both people still have their own lives and independence and values without it meaning the relationship has to shatter.
I also loved the complex nature of morality. Like, Marlow actually was tempted by the viewpoint of the "villain", and there were genuine good in them. It could give the delivery of this message a very on-the-nose quality, especially at the end, which though I didn't like that, I did like the execution of the concept.
Overall, this series just scratched so many of the right itches for me, and I'm sad to see it over T^T But it was a truly fun ride while it lasted <3
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ughhh this year for finale of anticipated series is killing me :(.
2.5 ⭐️
I'm sad that this one ended up being a disappointing read for me. The first book was one of my favorite reads of 2023. This second book was my most anticipated read for this year. I loved the first ones charm with the characters, world building, and romance. I had found it to be unique and absolutely loved Adrius and Marlow dynamics/relationship.
I'm not sure what the decision making process was to make this duology versus a trilogy. I think many of my next comments regarding what didn't work in this second book could be related to this being two books. Trying to force everything into this one book.
I noticed right away the pacing of the book was off. We left first book with Marlow breaking Adrius trust. It was very significant thing that she did that impacted his consent and autonomy. I was expecting in this second book there would a period of her rebuilding his trust for her and vice versa as he also broke hers the year before. That didn't really seem to ever be discussed and it just never really happened. I'm also really surprised to see the main topic of what was going on with Adrius was just simply tied up in a neat bow and just felt very like it didn't matter at all.
I think my biggest disappointment was the romance between Marlow and Adrius. The charm and chemistry just disappeared. I didn't understand their motives anymore or felt their feelings were genuine. It felt like we missed an entire book leading up to this.
Circling back I really wished this was either a longer second book or trilogy. The pacing seemed to be rushed to tie up all the plot lines. It would have been great to have the second book to truly resolve the first main curse, Adrius/Marlow work thru their trust issues with eachother, and get more information regarding the five families motives/goals.
Although I'm disappointed am really grateful for getting a chance to read these two books thru NetGalley. I don't think I would have discovered Katy Rose Pool for awhile otherwise. I'm very interested in reading more from her. I absolutely adored that first book. The romance and magic system was nothing I had ever read before. I am really looking forward to what else she writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
2.5 ⭐️
I'm sad that this one ended up being a disappointing read for me. The first book was one of my favorite reads of 2023. This second book was my most anticipated read for this year. I loved the first ones charm with the characters, world building, and romance. I had found it to be unique and absolutely loved Adrius and Marlow dynamics/relationship.
I'm not sure what the decision making process was to make this duology versus a trilogy. I think many of my next comments regarding what didn't work in this second book could be related to this being two books. Trying to force everything into this one book.
I noticed right away the pacing of the book was off. We left first book with Marlow breaking Adrius trust. It was very significant thing that she did that impacted his consent and autonomy. I was expecting in this second book there would a period of her rebuilding his trust for her and vice versa as he also broke hers the year before. That didn't really seem to ever be discussed and it just never really happened. I'm also really surprised to see the main topic of what was going on with Adrius was just simply tied up in a neat bow and just felt very like it didn't matter at all.
I think my biggest disappointment was the romance between Marlow and Adrius. The charm and chemistry just disappeared. I didn't understand their motives anymore or felt their feelings were genuine. It felt like we missed an entire book leading up to this.
Circling back I really wished this was either a longer second book or trilogy. The pacing seemed to be rushed to tie up all the plot lines. It would have been great to have the second book to truly resolve the first main curse, Adrius/Marlow work thru their trust issues with eachother, and get more information regarding the five families motives/goals.
Although I'm disappointed am really grateful for getting a chance to read these two books thru NetGalley. I don't think I would have discovered Katy Rose Pool for awhile otherwise. I'm very interested in reading more from her. I absolutely adored that first book. The romance and magic system was nothing I had ever read before. I am really looking forward to what else she writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
I adored the first book in this series, and the sequel lived up to my expectations.
The world of Caraza and the spell/curse magic system remain unique and exciting; I would love to see more books set there.
I LOVE Marlow and Adrius, and Swift and Silvan. This book answers all of the questions you might have had, but the pacing makes it not as strong as the first.
*I voluntarily provided a review after receiving an ARC.
The world of Caraza and the spell/curse magic system remain unique and exciting; I would love to see more books set there.
I LOVE Marlow and Adrius, and Swift and Silvan. This book answers all of the questions you might have had, but the pacing makes it not as strong as the first.
*I voluntarily provided a review after receiving an ARC.