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A review by astravars
A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
4.75
this book very much felt like that second book in a longer series.
We get to know the characters a lot better, getting more insight on their past and present experiences and feelings. There's even a new pov!
That said the plot doesn't move very fast and there isn't that much going on in general. I personally didn't mind this at all! i still thought the pacing was much better than the first book. And, despite the majority of the book being very character focused, there are a few twists especially towards the end and in the last couple chapters EVERYTHING. GOES. TO. SHIT.
I still haven't recovered tbh... The cliffhanger is horrible, I NEED that third book! And if you have a problem with cliffhangers I would honestly wait until the third book comes out because this one is agonising.
the way this book handled plot and characters reminded me a lot of "a gathering of shadows" by v.e. schwab. They're very different in many ways but just like "a cruel and fated light", "a gathering of shadows" is very character focused and has a huge event at the very end, ending in a cliffhanger. So if you've read that one i think that might give you an idea of whether or not you'll enjoy this one. I certainly did.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one for some reason. I personally really like character focused books so that might be why. But then again my favourite characters (vehan, aurelian, celadon) get a lot more on-page time too so that's something else I appreciated!
+ We have an even more prominent genderfluid character (luck) in this book AND one of the main characters is questioning being nonbinary!
We get to know the characters a lot better, getting more insight on their past and present experiences and feelings. There's even a new pov!
That said the plot doesn't move very fast and there isn't that much going on in general. I personally didn't mind this at all! i still thought the pacing was much better than the first book. And, despite the majority of the book being very character focused, there are a few twists especially towards the end and in the last couple chapters EVERYTHING. GOES. TO. SHIT.
I still haven't recovered tbh... The cliffhanger is horrible, I NEED that third book! And if you have a problem with cliffhangers I would honestly wait until the third book comes out because this one is agonising.
the way this book handled plot and characters reminded me a lot of "a gathering of shadows" by v.e. schwab. They're very different in many ways but just like "a cruel and fated light", "a gathering of shadows" is very character focused and has a huge event at the very end, ending in a cliffhanger. So if you've read that one i think that might give you an idea of whether or not you'll enjoy this one. I certainly did.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one for some reason. I personally really like character focused books so that might be why. But then again my favourite characters (vehan, aurelian, celadon) get a lot more on-page time too so that's something else I appreciated!
+ We have an even more prominent genderfluid character (luck) in this book AND one of the main characters is questioning being nonbinary!