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A review by ortneram
The Sun and Its Shade by Piper C.J.
4.0
I found this second book of the series to be more enjoyable for several reasons. I definitely appreciate the character development (especially Nox), and I appreciate the plot line of this book as well. I cried at the end, but I genuinely prefer books where an author isn't afraid to kill off a character. I want to feel the feels.
Nox remains my favorite character, and I'm so glad the author gave her more depth beyond her obsession/love with Amaris. Her worldview shifts, and she's willing to allow the growth of her mindset to shift as well. It shows someone with emotional maturity. I enjoy her flaws and ability to hold herself accountable. Amaris still irks me with her immaturity and lack of communication. Huge chunks of her chapters could be resolved by simply communicating her concerns. Her lack of concern for anything not centered around her is frustrating.
"But Amanda, she's trying to restore balance, which is altruistic!"
No, she's trying to restore balance based on her egoic idea of her identity. She has very little self-awareness beyond what others think of her and her own self-serving motives. While Nox over extends herself to help Amaris, Amaris does fuck all to consider Nox. While Gadriel repeatedly shows he's got her back, she consistently doubts him and treats him like a fucking 10yr old would. She has the communication skills of a french fry. I'm really hopeful that she will go through a character arc that leads to her being more selfless for no other reason than to just be selfless. No strings attached.
As for the plotline, there are several twists and turns that I really enjoy. I personally felt like it was obvious that Nox was the heir of both kingdoms, but I still really like how it all came together. I also enjoyed the pacing of this book more than the first and found myself more interested in reading it. I'm looking forward to how it all shakes out in the next couple books.
Nox remains my favorite character, and I'm so glad the author gave her more depth beyond her obsession/love with Amaris. Her worldview shifts, and she's willing to allow the growth of her mindset to shift as well. It shows someone with emotional maturity. I enjoy her flaws and ability to hold herself accountable. Amaris still irks me with her immaturity and lack of communication. Huge chunks of her chapters could be resolved by simply communicating her concerns. Her lack of concern for anything not centered around her is frustrating.
"But Amanda, she's trying to restore balance, which is altruistic!"
No, she's trying to restore balance based on her egoic idea of her identity. She has very little self-awareness beyond what others think of her and her own self-serving motives. While Nox over extends herself to help Amaris, Amaris does fuck all to consider Nox. While Gadriel repeatedly shows he's got her back, she consistently doubts him and treats him like a fucking 10yr old would. She has the communication skills of a french fry. I'm really hopeful that she will go through a character arc that leads to her being more selfless for no other reason than to just be selfless. No strings attached.
As for the plotline, there are several twists and turns that I really enjoy. I personally felt like it was obvious that Nox was the heir of both kingdoms, but I still really like how it all came together. I also enjoyed the pacing of this book more than the first and found myself more interested in reading it. I'm looking forward to how it all shakes out in the next couple books.