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Actual rating 4.5.
I am a Will Kempen defender. Will did nothing wrong.
The thing that makes me obsessed with this series is Pacat's really unique exploration and subversion of the queer villian. Is villiany produced through nature or nurture? Pacat complicates this question and offers a nuanced critique of how the fantasy genre treats their Great Supreme Dark Lords.
I continue to love all the characters, but I think Violet's plotline suffered from the range of POV chapters in this book and she overall had less to do. Elizabeth surprised me because I normally hate kids, but she was just the best. Visander is my little pookie bear. As discussed, I think Will is one of the most compelling YA protagonists I've read for a whie and his dynamic with James was so interesting. I loved how we also got glismpes into the past, to the mythic figures of the Old World.
It was a breeze to get through, the writing so easy to read that I managed to read 350 pages in a day. However, I probably slightly prefered Dark Rise because the world felt fresh and I was hooked because of all the plot hooks. I thought the introduction of the macguffin at the end with no build up was a bit annoying. But I thought this was a great sequel as it fleshed out the world and magic system in compelling and logical ways.
Merged review:
Actual rating 4.5.
I am a Will Kempen defender. Will did nothing wrong.
The thing that makes me obsessed with this series is Pacat's really unique exploration and subversion of the queer villian. Is villiany produced through nature or nurture? Pacat complicates this question and offers a nuanced critique of how the fantasy genre treats their Great Supreme Dark Lords.
I continue to love all the characters, but I think Violet's plotline suffered from the range of POV chapters in this book and she overall had less to do. Elizabeth surprised me because I normally hate kids, but she was just the best. Visander is my little pookie bear. As discussed, I think Will is one of the most compelling YA protagonists I've read for a whie and his dynamic with James was so interesting. I loved how we also got glismpes into the past, to the mythic figures of the Old World.
It was a breeze to get through, the writing so easy to read that I managed to read 350 pages in a day. However, I probably slightly prefered Dark Rise because the world felt fresh and I was hooked because of all the plot hooks. I thought the introduction of the macguffin at the end with no build up was a bit annoying. But I thought this was a great sequel as it fleshed out the world and magic system in compelling and logical ways.
I am a Will Kempen defender. Will did nothing wrong.
The thing that makes me obsessed with this series is Pacat's really unique exploration and subversion of the queer villian.
Spoiler
What pushes Will further and further down the path of being the Dark King is the shame that comes from something he had no control over, a legacy he never wanted.Spoiler
Will is just the ultimate unreliable narrator. Yes, his logical reasoning makes sense in the moment, but the readers can't fully trust him. This really hit home at the end when Cyprian directly called this out, saying conviently the solutions proposed all benefit Will and gives him more power. Chefs kiss.I continue to love all the characters, but I think Violet's plotline suffered from the range of POV chapters in this book and she overall had less to do. Elizabeth surprised me because I normally hate kids, but she was just the best. Visander is my little pookie bear. As discussed, I think Will is one of the most compelling YA protagonists I've read for a whie and his dynamic with James was so interesting. I loved how we also got glismpes into the past, to the mythic figures of the Old World.
It was a breeze to get through, the writing so easy to read that I managed to read 350 pages in a day. However, I probably slightly prefered Dark Rise because the world felt fresh and I was hooked because of all the plot hooks. I thought the introduction of the macguffin at the end with no build up was a bit annoying. But I thought this was a great sequel as it fleshed out the world and magic system in compelling and logical ways.
Merged review:
Actual rating 4.5.
I am a Will Kempen defender. Will did nothing wrong.
The thing that makes me obsessed with this series is Pacat's really unique exploration and subversion of the queer villian.
Spoiler
What pushes Will further and further down the path of being the Dark King is the shame that comes from something he had no control over, a legacy he never wanted.Spoiler
Will is just the ultimate unreliable narrator. Yes, his logical reasoning makes sense in the moment, but the readers can't fully trust him. This really hit home at the end when Cyprian directly called this out, saying conviently the solutions proposed all benefit Will and gives him more power. Chefs kiss.I continue to love all the characters, but I think Violet's plotline suffered from the range of POV chapters in this book and she overall had less to do. Elizabeth surprised me because I normally hate kids, but she was just the best. Visander is my little pookie bear. As discussed, I think Will is one of the most compelling YA protagonists I've read for a whie and his dynamic with James was so interesting. I loved how we also got glismpes into the past, to the mythic figures of the Old World.
It was a breeze to get through, the writing so easy to read that I managed to read 350 pages in a day. However, I probably slightly prefered Dark Rise because the world felt fresh and I was hooked because of all the plot hooks. I thought the introduction of the macguffin at the end with no build up was a bit annoying. But I thought this was a great sequel as it fleshed out the world and magic system in compelling and logical ways.