A review by lolsous
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I enjoyed the first book, but this was mostly unpleasant and never engaging to read. The writing is not good, it is clear the book was rushed and not edited. Descriptions can be repeated almost word for word a few sentences apart, as if one left in by mistake. There is also a lack of consistency in descriptions, between a paragraph and the next the length of travel, the timeline, or the colour or function of an object will change without any reason.

The story also makes no sense most of the time. The same person will be super smart and cunning or blind and stupid, trusting or mistrusting depending on what is needed for the story to progress in a certain way, what makes sense for the character is not considered.

There is a small treasure hunt that is too easy and never exciting. The unraveling of Oraya's backstory offers no suprises and is hollow. The tension and slow burn romance between Oraya and Raihn from the first book never hits right again, their chemistry is gone and we are left with neck biting. 

The only good thing is the very believable relationship between Oraya and her father, and Oraya's complicated feelings towards her father after his death.
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