You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by melsshelves
This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark
fast-paced
5.0
I’m SO glad Bookish Box is doing a special edition of this. I picked it up to see if I was going to commit to the purchase/skip and after reading the sample, I immediately downloaded on KU and read 30% until 1am.
For anyone wondering if you need to read the OG series, “A Court this Cruel and Lovely” I would say yes. This feels like a continuation of the main series, not a new one. Similar to “serpent and the wings of night, “the bridge kingdom”, or “ACOTAR” where it’s one overarching series but follows different leads.
While this touched on plot beats from the previous storyline, I don’t think you’ll truly grasp the importance of the motivations of the MMC and FMC. It picks up nearly right after the series ended (albeit a few months of boat travel that is summed up at the beginning) and I believe that you need Madinia’s background to fully appreciate her. It would be like reading TOG andnever seeing Lysandra’s backstory with Aelin and her time serving.
Now that that’s out of the way….
1. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS WAS MADINIA’S STORY?!
2. I didn’t particularly love “A Court this Cruel and Lovely”. That series is fast paced and a fun read that had me laughing and crying but I didn’t particular get obsessed over them. I say this incase anyone reading this review also felt luke warm about the original series and is intrigued by this one!! - not to dissuade anyone from reading that series!
I crave a darker character and story and this delivered as far as a fantasy goes (without falling into dark fantasy, imo). Madina and Calysian were my favorite from ACTCAL and I was so bummed that I didn’t see more of her and them but this? This right here was everything I needed.
While this felt like the same writing I fell into with the prequel series, the writing and plotting felt so much more experienced.
The story feels original and the twist at the end felt well plotted and very interesting. The beginning chapter?? I knew this was for me from that alone. I love how this isn’t exactly enemies to lovers but…they sure fight like hellllll to not trust the other.
I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!!
Audio is duel POV, dual narrators.
For anyone wondering if you need to read the OG series, “A Court this Cruel and Lovely” I would say yes. This feels like a continuation of the main series, not a new one. Similar to “serpent and the wings of night, “the bridge kingdom”, or “ACOTAR” where it’s one overarching series but follows different leads.
While this touched on plot beats from the previous storyline, I don’t think you’ll truly grasp the importance of the motivations of the MMC and FMC. It picks up nearly right after the series ended (albeit a few months of boat travel that is summed up at the beginning) and I believe that you need Madinia’s background to fully appreciate her. It would be like reading TOG and
Now that that’s out of the way….
1. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS WAS MADINIA’S STORY?!
2. I didn’t particularly love “A Court this Cruel and Lovely”. That series is fast paced and a fun read that had me laughing and crying but I didn’t particular get obsessed over them. I say this incase anyone reading this review also felt luke warm about the original series and is intrigued by this one!! - not to dissuade anyone from reading that series!
I crave a darker character and story and this delivered as far as a fantasy goes (without falling into dark fantasy, imo). Madina and Calysian were my favorite from ACTCAL and I was so bummed that I didn’t see more of her and them but this? This right here was everything I needed.
While this felt like the same writing I fell into with the prequel series, the writing and plotting felt so much more experienced.
The story feels original and the twist at the end felt well plotted and very interesting. The beginning chapter?? I knew this was for me from that alone. I love how this isn’t exactly enemies to lovers but…they sure fight like hellllll to not trust the other.
I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!!
Audio is duel POV, dual narrators.