A review by readwithria
The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Rose & the Dagger was a beautiful conclusion to Renée Ahdieh’s debut series. It took the lush world we were introduced to in the first book, and brings it even more to life.

I think this book did a better job of fleshing out the characters. I felt a lot more connected to the cast, and believed their motivations more strongly.

One thing I didn’t fully understand was how magic works, and I don’t understand it because it isn’t explained. This is a historical fantasy romance series, and while I felt the history and romance quite strongly I was missing the fantasy elements.

Even nearly ten years after publication this duology stands up quite well, and it was definitely worth the read. 4 stars.
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