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A review by perusinghannah
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
3.0
(6.7/10) - ⭐⭐⭐
It feels a little odd to rate Kingdom of the Cursed lower than I did the first book, but apparently two decimal points lower is where it's at. And really, I do think it created room to better itself in some aspects by dropping the ball on others.
Can we start with the most glaring problem? Because this story just does. not. move. We're now 433 pages further on, and still we don't have any of the truly important answers to the questions raised in book one. Technically, yes, there is plot, but we hardly see any actions or behavior from our main character to further it in any way, until the author randomly gives her epiphanies. I also do not enjoy the way Emilia, who is written in first person, is "holding back" information from the reader that is pulled out the ass whenever we need to turn a corner of the plot rapidly. In those regards, I feel like the first book was actually much stronger. At the very least it felt more focused.
And yes, I do understand that we went off roading into (new?) adult romantasy land, and with that there's a significant tonal shift here - that's actually where it bettered itself for me. Even though I still don't fully buy into the main relationship in this novel, at least the setting they're in makes for an interesting backdrop to the romance development. Many stitches were still dropped in the knitting of that particular scarf, but it was highly entertaining and sometimes I really am but a basic bitch. Give me some angst and some banter, and I'll happily read nonsense.
Do I still vastly prefer Throne of the Fallen? Absolutely, one hundred percent. But I'm entertained enough to keep with the trilogy until the very end. Let's hope it won't be a bitter one.
It feels a little odd to rate Kingdom of the Cursed lower than I did the first book, but apparently two decimal points lower is where it's at. And really, I do think it created room to better itself in some aspects by dropping the ball on others.
Can we start with the most glaring problem? Because this story just does. not. move. We're now 433 pages further on, and still we don't have any of the truly important answers to the questions raised in book one. Technically, yes, there is plot, but we hardly see any actions or behavior from our main character to further it in any way, until the author randomly gives her epiphanies. I also do not enjoy the way Emilia, who is written in first person, is "holding back" information from the reader that is pulled out the ass whenever we need to turn a corner of the plot rapidly. In those regards, I feel like the first book was actually much stronger. At the very least it felt more focused.
And yes, I do understand that we went off roading into (new?) adult romantasy land, and with that there's a significant tonal shift here - that's actually where it bettered itself for me. Even though I still don't fully buy into the main relationship in this novel, at least the setting they're in makes for an interesting backdrop to the romance development. Many stitches were still dropped in the knitting of that particular scarf, but it was highly entertaining and sometimes I really am but a basic bitch. Give me some angst and some banter, and I'll happily read nonsense.
Do I still vastly prefer Throne of the Fallen? Absolutely, one hundred percent. But I'm entertained enough to keep with the trilogy until the very end. Let's hope it won't be a bitter one.