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sotheresthisbook 's review for:
Warring Tides
by M.K. Ahearn
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Let me preface by saying I really liked book one, Broken Flames. I thought the story and characters were genuinely good and I enjoyed both the pacing and the writing.
Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the first. In many ways, it felt like it wasn’t even written by the same person.
⚠️SPOILERS BELOW⚠️
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1. The writing style doesn’t seem the same at all? Aside from needing a lot of editing, there were continuity issues, and certain things were worded sooo strangely. Example: “He shook his head in response, and I knew the answer wasn’t what I hoped to hear.” The first time I saw this sentence structure, I ignored it. After the third time… it’s very odd and clunky.
Other examples:
“I smelt it before my eyes located it: a chimney carried puffs of smoke from a fire I knew I would find burning inside.”
“‘You can tell Mother yourself,’ I said, knowing he meant the love of his life.”
2. Nyla. Honestly, what a mess of a character. Her whole transformation in book two was so shallow it was unbelievable. I severely disliked her in this book, from her first POV chapter, all the way to the end. She needed far deeper development. It felt like the author just wrote whatever they wanted to support an Azula style plunge into madness and it was 0% effective. There’s no way I will be reading her book. Why would I?
3. The romance. I let the weird intimate scenes slide in book one, but they did not get any better in book two. I do not like the way this author writes romance or intimacy, tbh. I was hoping that the actual romance itself would deepen in this book, but it did not. Again, it’s very surface level, zero real emotions. Awkward. Not good.
Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the first. In many ways, it felt like it wasn’t even written by the same person.
⚠️SPOILERS BELOW⚠️
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
Other examples:
“I smelt it before my eyes located it: a chimney carried puffs of smoke from a fire I knew I would find burning inside.”
“‘You can tell Mother yourself,’ I said, knowing he meant the love of his life.”
2. Nyla. Honestly, what a mess of a character. Her whole transformation in book two was so shallow it was unbelievable. I severely disliked her in this book, from her first POV chapter, all the way to the end. She needed far deeper development. It felt like the author just wrote whatever they wanted to support an Azula style plunge into madness and it was 0% effective. There’s no way I will be reading her book. Why would I?
3. The romance. I let the weird intimate scenes slide in book one, but they did not get any better in book two. I do not like the way this author writes romance or intimacy, tbh. I was hoping that the actual romance itself would deepen in this book, but it did not. Again, it’s very surface level, zero real emotions. Awkward. Not good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence