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A review by brandistoverr
The Deceiver's Heart (the Traitor's Game, Book 2), Volume 2 by Jennifer A. Nielsen
4.0
3.75. This book was a slight let-down. don't get me wrong, I loved it, but I was expecting more. I read the first book in the series last year and rated it 5 stars, so maybe my expectations were just higher than they should have been.
The plot was so fast-paced, I felt like there was no breathing room and it made the pacing feel off as a whole. This is one scenario where reading the book in one sitting was not helpful to the overall experience because I just took in way too much at once. The pacing really bothered me and the action scenes were not balanced with enough other plotlines. And the ones that were included felt so cyclical like the same thing was happening every time. It got boring after a while and I found myself skimming. I also disliked the very beginning - the book really just threw you straight into the plot with no exposition and I wish there had been a chapter or two, it just felt so abrupt. I am also not a fan of the amnesia trope, but thought this book pulled it off well, so I will give props where props are deserved.
Nonetheless, there was so much I loved about this, mainly two things: the political worldbuilding and the romance (two of the most important things in a fantasy book). This world is fascinating and maybe it's nothing special, but I like it. The idea that magic corrupts, the relationships between enemies and allies constantly changing, and the different motivations of all the characters were a lot of fun to read about. I think it is extremely well done and I think it was weaker than the first book, but utilizing the world in different ways really elevated this book and made up for some of my critiques about the plot structure.
My favorite thing was easily Simon and Kestra. They are so tragic and my heart was ACHING. I want them to have a happy ending, but it does not look good. The enemies to lovers to enemies to strangers to friends to lovers to enemies gives you insane whiplash in the best way possible and I was eating it up. No notes on their development, it was a lot of fun.
Overall, it was a good read. I think I am being overly harsh, but I do love this series and am excited to pick up the final book.
The plot was so fast-paced, I felt like there was no breathing room and it made the pacing feel off as a whole. This is one scenario where reading the book in one sitting was not helpful to the overall experience because I just took in way too much at once. The pacing really bothered me and the action scenes were not balanced with enough other plotlines. And the ones that were included felt so cyclical like the same thing was happening every time. It got boring after a while and I found myself skimming. I also disliked the very beginning - the book really just threw you straight into the plot with no exposition and I wish there had been a chapter or two, it just felt so abrupt. I am also not a fan of the amnesia trope, but thought this book pulled it off well, so I will give props where props are deserved.
Nonetheless, there was so much I loved about this, mainly two things: the political worldbuilding and the romance (two of the most important things in a fantasy book). This world is fascinating and maybe it's nothing special, but I like it. The idea that magic corrupts, the relationships between enemies and allies constantly changing, and the different motivations of all the characters were a lot of fun to read about. I think it is extremely well done and I think it was weaker than the first book, but utilizing the world in different ways really elevated this book and made up for some of my critiques about the plot structure.
My favorite thing was easily Simon and Kestra. They are so tragic and my heart was ACHING. I want them to have a happy ending, but it does not look good. The enemies to lovers to enemies to strangers to friends to lovers to enemies gives you insane whiplash in the best way possible and I was eating it up. No notes on their development, it was a lot of fun.
Overall, it was a good read. I think I am being overly harsh, but I do love this series and am excited to pick up the final book.