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A review by inkdrinkers
The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well that was a book. It had some words put together to make sentences and then sentences that made chapters. That's about my feelings on this one.
I feel like we got spoiled with the Court of the Vampire Queen series, it was the perfect amount of wildly unhinged mixed with interesting politics and intriguing characters. Then, the Dragon's Bride did it's thing and it was pretty solid - some issues here and there. Then... we got this.
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm not enough of a brat to enjoy Lina and Thane's dynamic, but I really struggled with how much they seemed to dislike and be absolutely ill-fitted for each other. The plot starts out in a pretty similar fashion to The Dragon's Bride, but once Catalina is taken to Thane's kingdom, things quickly go haywire. We're given vague backstories for both characters that never have any meat on them. It's like biting down into a chicken wing and realizing it's all breading - there's not even a bone in it for some structure. There was no substance, whatsoever, in either of their backstories. I desperately wanted to understand Catalina's character, but instead she just became incredibly annoying with her hot and cold, back and forth, will she or won't she, attitude. She never has a full conversation with Thane about what, exactly, her life was like pre-demon bargain and it's just swept away during the HEA.
I understand Thane's grief to a point, he's grieving the love of his life after five years, and he has a moment where he admits things weren't perfect and the grief clouded his love for his husband. But then it's just reduced to a plot device to make Thane and Lina endgame. I felt like we could have had so much more between Thane and Catalina having actual conversations instead of just tentacles every ten pages. The same goes for Embry and the very clouded plot of Thane forfeiting his kingdom/being a firstborn who never wanted to rule. There was so much that could have been explored but it was all very surface level.
This part is just me being grumpy because it's after 1am and I just finished this book:
At 45% I noted, "So far this girl has been so thoroughly traumatized and we've not even gotten an inkling of an apology or her standing up for herself. I miss Briar and Sol." What prompted this? Oh, just Thane locking Catalina in a watery tower for a week and leaving her to eat slices of half-stale bread. THIS IS NOT THE MONSTER HUSBAND I SIGNED UP FOR. Where Sol was patient and a little brash at times, Thane is just daft and abandons her.
I think my gripe with this book just boils down to the fact that I, you, Katee Robert - everyone knows where this is ending. It's going to be a happily ever after - so at least make the things leading up to it make sense. I don't want to read 80% of a book questioning if the main pairing actually tolerates each other or if they're just horny. At least give me some emotional payoff if you're going to make me tap through descriptions of suckers on tentacles and prehensile appendages.
This is the second book I've read this year with a main character named Lina that I couldn't tolerate. I'm beginning to think I have unresolved issues with this name. Will update if I ever read another book with a "Catalina" in it, but I think that's just become one of my book red flags.
Two stars for... I guess the vaguely wholesome bits at the end? And the feminism and queer rep was nice.
I feel like we got spoiled with the Court of the Vampire Queen series, it was the perfect amount of wildly unhinged mixed with interesting politics and intriguing characters. Then, the Dragon's Bride did it's thing and it was pretty solid - some issues here and there. Then... we got this.
Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm not enough of a brat to enjoy Lina and Thane's dynamic, but I really struggled with how much they seemed to dislike and be absolutely ill-fitted for each other. The plot starts out in a pretty similar fashion to The Dragon's Bride, but once Catalina is taken to Thane's kingdom, things quickly go haywire. We're given vague backstories for both characters that never have any meat on them. It's like biting down into a chicken wing and realizing it's all breading - there's not even a bone in it for some structure. There was no substance, whatsoever, in either of their backstories. I desperately wanted to understand Catalina's character, but instead she just became incredibly annoying with her hot and cold, back and forth, will she or won't she, attitude. She never has a full conversation with Thane about what, exactly, her life was like pre-demon bargain and it's just swept away during the HEA.
I understand Thane's grief to a point, he's grieving the love of his life after five years, and he has a moment where he admits things weren't perfect and the grief clouded his love for his husband. But then it's just reduced to a plot device to make Thane and Lina endgame. I felt like we could have had so much more between Thane and Catalina having actual conversations instead of just tentacles every ten pages. The same goes for Embry and the very clouded plot of Thane forfeiting his kingdom/being a firstborn who never wanted to rule. There was so much that could have been explored but it was all very surface level.
This part is just me being grumpy because it's after 1am and I just finished this book:
At 45% I noted, "So far this girl has been so thoroughly traumatized and we've not even gotten an inkling of an apology or her standing up for herself. I miss Briar and Sol." What prompted this? Oh, just Thane locking Catalina in a watery tower for a week and leaving her to eat slices of half-stale bread. THIS IS NOT THE MONSTER HUSBAND I SIGNED UP FOR. Where Sol was patient and a little brash at times, Thane is just daft and abandons her.
I think my gripe with this book just boils down to the fact that I, you, Katee Robert - everyone knows where this is ending. It's going to be a happily ever after - so at least make the things leading up to it make sense. I don't want to read 80% of a book questioning if the main pairing actually tolerates each other or if they're just horny. At least give me some emotional payoff if you're going to make me tap through descriptions of suckers on tentacles and prehensile appendages.
This is the second book I've read this year with a main character named Lina that I couldn't tolerate. I'm beginning to think I have unresolved issues with this name. Will update if I ever read another book with a "Catalina" in it, but I think that's just become one of my book red flags.
Two stars for... I guess the vaguely wholesome bits at the end? And the feminism and queer rep was nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Confinement, and Abandonment
Moderate: Abortion and Child abuse
Most of the abandonment and child abuse are vague references to Catalina's past. The abortion is done via potion and she's asleep for the procedure. There's lots of tentacles and they are very active during the sex scenes.