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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5. This was disappointing. The fantasy and horror elements were interesting, but the pacing was off (especially at the end) and I really didn’t like how the romance went.
I’m honestly not sure what Slate and Caliban saw in each other. Slate was physically attracted to Caliban against her better judgement, and she was often mean to him. Caliban just let Slate be mean and accepted everything as his fault, even when it wasn’t. At the end, after Brenner’s death, Slate throws all of Caliban’s things out of her room, yells at him, and then doesn’t talk to him for two weeks. And then she’s worried that Caliban might not love her anymore because of the whole thing with Brenner. It just doesn’t make sense that she’d use Caliban as a punching bag the whole journey, regularly refuse his help, threaten to slit his throat, throw his stuff out of her room, and completely stop talking to him, only to worry that he MIGHT'VE gotten the idea that she doesn’t like him or want anything to do with him. How the fuck else is he supposed to take all of that?!
It also seemed like Slate cut Brenner and Edmund a lot of slack, but then she’d get mad at Caliban for just existing. Was Caliban really an arrogant asshole, or was Slate just unreasonably peeved that someone was showing practicality and genuine concern for her well-being?
Slate had a lot of misplaced anger, fear, and frustration for the entire series (especially at the end), and basically all of this was taken out on Caliban. I get that not every couple is going to have a perfectly healthy, communicative relationship. And I’ve read and enjoyed books where the main couple is more than a little bit fucked up. But this ending seemed like Slate and Caliban were together because they didn’t want to be alone, and not because they were actually healthily in love with each other. This is one of the few romances I’ve read where I think the main couple would genuinely be better off without each other.
The ending felt bleak and hopeless - because of the romance, because of the way in which Brenner died, and because the found-family disbanded.
I will say, however, that the other Kingfisher books I’ve read don’t have this problem, so don’t let this negativity deter you from picking up another of her books that isn’t part of this duology.
I’m honestly not sure what Slate and Caliban saw in each other. Slate was physically attracted to Caliban against her better judgement, and she was often mean to him. Caliban just let Slate be mean and accepted everything as his fault, even when it wasn’t. At the end, after Brenner’s death, Slate throws all of Caliban’s things out of her room, yells at him, and then doesn’t talk to him for two weeks. And then she’s worried that Caliban might not love her anymore because of the whole thing with Brenner. It just doesn’t make sense that she’d use Caliban as a punching bag the whole journey, regularly refuse his help, threaten to slit his throat, throw his stuff out of her room, and completely stop talking to him, only to worry that he MIGHT'VE gotten the idea that she doesn’t like him or want anything to do with him. How the fuck else is he supposed to take all of that?!
It also seemed like Slate cut Brenner and Edmund a lot of slack, but then she’d get mad at Caliban for just existing. Was Caliban really an arrogant asshole, or was Slate just unreasonably peeved that someone was showing practicality and genuine concern for her well-being?
Slate had a lot of misplaced anger, fear, and frustration for the entire series (especially at the end), and basically all of this was taken out on Caliban. I get that not every couple is going to have a perfectly healthy, communicative relationship. And I’ve read and enjoyed books where the main couple is more than a little bit fucked up. But this ending seemed like Slate and Caliban were together because they didn’t want to be alone, and not because they were actually healthily in love with each other. This is one of the few romances I’ve read where I think the main couple would genuinely be better off without each other.
The ending felt bleak and hopeless - because of the romance, because of the way in which Brenner died, and because the found-family disbanded.
I will say, however, that the other Kingfisher books I’ve read don’t have this problem, so don’t let this negativity deter you from picking up another of her books that isn’t part of this duology.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Goddammit, Brenner!!!!!!!!!! I knew it would happen somehow! And I became so fond of him!!!!
Ended up liking Learned Edmund SO MUCH!!!! He really grew up and broadened his mind, love to see it.
Caliban and Slate.....ugh what is there to say. I actually wanted Slate to be mad for longer—why is it infuriating to see someone you're mad at martyr themselves????? Arrrgh!!! Anyway, I loved this duo, loved this world. Can't wait for more!
Ended up liking Learned Edmund SO MUCH!!!! He really grew up and broadened his mind, love to see it.
Caliban and Slate.....ugh what is there to say. I actually wanted Slate to be mad for longer—why is it infuriating to see someone you're mad at martyr themselves????? Arrrgh!!! Anyway, I loved this duo, loved this world. Can't wait for more!
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
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