Scan barcode
A review by writervid
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
4.0
Reread part 4!
If I were to split this book in half and rate the first half and the second half on their own, the ratings would be extremely different. The first half involved a lot of character regression, a lot of setting up the new alliances and parts of the world. I enjoyed the worldbuilding of Kraeshia and the development into Amara's character, but that was all that compelled me about the first section. The issue with such a large cast is that not every character can be making interesting and excited plot developments all the time, but a balanced narrative is necessary, so sometimes you're just sitting around for setup for a few chapters with not much else to do.
NOTE: My initial read through notes say: "I WANT BUILDUP NOT SETUP GODDAMNIT." Yep. I think this book and Gathering Darkness probably remain the most similar in what I think now vs. what I thought then.
However. The second half of the book? HELL YES. This was the first real shift in power dynamic we've seen, the first really solid and certain relationship between Cleo and Magnus (I love me a slow burn, but there were a lot of false starts in there), the real raising of the stakes that I'm always excited to see. Occupation changes all of the alliances and motivations of the characters, and that was done well here. I was also excited to see Lucia stop acting like an idiot. She has such little common sense, and gets so irrationally angry at small inconveniences, while refusing to see what's right in front of her face. This (or at the very least, the ending) has been her first step away from that (although every time she talked about Timotheus I wanted to roll my eyes), which is certainly to be appreciated.
NOTE: My notes from my initial read through say "What is Lucia even doing," which I think sums it up well.
So, Frozen Tides was a mixed bag. Gathering Darkness still ranks above it because of how consistently good throughout it was, whereas this followed the book 1 model of lots of buildup to a huge climax (only with a less compelling first part and a more compelling second part). You win some, you lose some?
If I were to split this book in half and rate the first half and the second half on their own, the ratings would be extremely different. The first half involved a lot of character regression, a lot of setting up the new alliances and parts of the world. I enjoyed the worldbuilding of Kraeshia and the development into Amara's character, but that was all that compelled me about the first section. The issue with such a large cast is that not every character can be making interesting and excited plot developments all the time, but a balanced narrative is necessary, so sometimes you're just sitting around for setup for a few chapters with not much else to do.
NOTE: My initial read through notes say: "I WANT BUILDUP NOT SETUP GODDAMNIT." Yep. I think this book and Gathering Darkness probably remain the most similar in what I think now vs. what I thought then.
However. The second half of the book? HELL YES. This was the first real shift in power dynamic we've seen, the first really solid and certain relationship between Cleo and Magnus (I love me a slow burn, but there were a lot of false starts in there), the real raising of the stakes that I'm always excited to see. Occupation changes all of the alliances and motivations of the characters, and that was done well here. I was also excited to see Lucia stop acting like an idiot. She has such little common sense, and gets so irrationally angry at small inconveniences, while refusing to see what's right in front of her face. This (or at the very least, the ending) has been her first step away from that (although every time she talked about Timotheus I wanted to roll my eyes), which is certainly to be appreciated.
NOTE: My notes from my initial read through say "What is Lucia even doing," which I think sums it up well.
So, Frozen Tides was a mixed bag. Gathering Darkness still ranks above it because of how consistently good throughout it was, whereas this followed the book 1 model of lots of buildup to a huge climax (only with a less compelling first part and a more compelling second part). You win some, you lose some?