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steenabean 's review for:
The Cursed Sea
by Lauren DeStefano
This is the first time I have ever consciously chosen to put a book down and walk away. DNF at 76%. It's really a shame because I absolutely loved the first book in this duology, but this book loses the majority of what made that book so great.
To begin with, the complex romance dynamic between the two characters devolved into a typical mushy romance. I understand that they're teenagers but their relationship became so ripe with cliché in this sequel that it lost everything that made it unique and interesting.
Additionally, every turn of the plot felt rushed and crammed together, making it feel somewhat incoherent. The problem wasn't that the plot was inconsistent. It just seemed like the author tried so hard to shock the reader with the turn that instead of evoking that "of course, why didn't I think of that!" reaction that makes this technique enjoyable to read, it came across as clumsy and forced, and again, fell into the trap of clichés. The final straw for me was when the main character was brought back from the dead by the prince's love. While this is clearly supposed to be a fairy tale, it just felt a little too traditional and contrived, making it bland instead of spectacular. I might have been able to forgive that and rate this book three stars if The Glass Spare hadn't been so stunning. I feel cheated, because I know this author and this story are both capable of better.
You might be wondering why I didn't rate this one star, and I have to say, Espel and Massalee really saved the day here. While technically only supporting characters, their motivations were so interesting that they helped me limp through to the point that I stopped reading. It doesn't hurt that we are given a realistic, touching portrayal of a WLW relationship where nobody has to die for us to feel emotionally invested (up to the point I read anyway).
Ultimately, I won't be giving up on Lauren DeStefano's writing altogether after this book, but I found myself extremely disappointed and underwhelmed.
To begin with, the complex romance dynamic between the two characters devolved into a typical mushy romance. I understand that they're teenagers but their relationship became so ripe with cliché in this sequel that it lost everything that made it unique and interesting.
Additionally, every turn of the plot felt rushed and crammed together, making it feel somewhat incoherent. The problem wasn't that the plot was inconsistent. It just seemed like the author tried so hard to shock the reader with the turn that instead of evoking that "of course, why didn't I think of that!" reaction that makes this technique enjoyable to read, it came across as clumsy and forced, and again, fell into the trap of clichés. The final straw for me was when the main character was brought back from the dead by the prince's love. While this is clearly supposed to be a fairy tale, it just felt a little too traditional and contrived, making it bland instead of spectacular. I might have been able to forgive that and rate this book three stars if The Glass Spare hadn't been so stunning. I feel cheated, because I know this author and this story are both capable of better.
You might be wondering why I didn't rate this one star, and I have to say, Espel and Massalee really saved the day here. While technically only supporting characters, their motivations were so interesting that they helped me limp through to the point that I stopped reading. It doesn't hurt that we are given a realistic, touching portrayal of a WLW relationship where nobody has to die for us to feel emotionally invested (up to the point I read anyway).
Ultimately, I won't be giving up on Lauren DeStefano's writing altogether after this book, but I found myself extremely disappointed and underwhelmed.