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A review by theespressoedition
A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I thought, "Oh! This book is a spin-off from FBAA so maybe it'll be a little more interesting to me and it'll be different enough from the other books that I'll really enjoy it." Boy, was I wrong. THESE CHARACTERS ARE IDENTICAL.
Like - was there any point when JLA thought, "maybe I should give them different and unique personality traits?" Because Poppy is stabby and inquisitive. So therefore Sera is stabby and inquisitive. Poppy went off to have sex with randos to feel something. Sera went off to have sex with randos to feel something. I genuinely felt like I was reading FBAA all over again with different character names. The only difference? I somehow disliked Sera and Nyktos more than Poppy and Casteel. If they're the same characters, how is that possible? I don't know, it just is.
Someone noticed what I was reading when I was on vacation and said, "do you like your book?" I said, "no, not really." They said, "oh, well, does it at least have good writing?" I said, "no, definitely not." And they said, "why are you reading it then?" And I genuinely didn't have an answer. Why did I read this? Solely because I was hoping it would be a different formula than FBAA.
If you've read FBAA and are hoping for something new - THIS ISN'T IT. It even had the same pacing. Slow as molasses, repetitive as heck, and a super fast-paced and interesting ending with a MASSIVE reveal in the last few pages. I need something new. Stat.
Like - was there any point when JLA thought, "maybe I should give them different and unique personality traits?" Because Poppy is stabby and inquisitive. So therefore Sera is stabby and inquisitive. Poppy went off to have sex with randos to feel something. Sera went off to have sex with randos to feel something. I genuinely felt like I was reading FBAA all over again with different character names. The only difference? I somehow disliked Sera and Nyktos more than Poppy and Casteel. If they're the same characters, how is that possible? I don't know, it just is.
Someone noticed what I was reading when I was on vacation and said, "do you like your book?" I said, "no, not really." They said, "oh, well, does it at least have good writing?" I said, "no, definitely not." And they said, "why are you reading it then?" And I genuinely didn't have an answer. Why did I read this? Solely because I was hoping it would be a different formula than FBAA.
If you've read FBAA and are hoping for something new - THIS ISN'T IT. It even had the same pacing. Slow as molasses, repetitive as heck, and a super fast-paced and interesting ending with a MASSIVE reveal in the last few pages. I need something new. Stat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, and Toxic relationship